Cub Tracks’ flash friction

Here at CUB TRACKS NEWS AND NOTES™, we have news for you. The Home Run Derby is boring, that’s not really news. Excruciating, really. The format and the announcers make it an exercise in masochism for me, just as it probably would be for Venus, furs or no.

Sort of like watching the Cubs, without the fandom angle to make it palatable. And there are no Cubs in it.

Not so much coverage to cover today. Nobody was traded, yet.

As always, * means autoplay on, or annoying ads, or both (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome). {$} means paywall. {$} means limited views. Italics are often used on this page as sarcasm font. (In the comments section, use @ before and after your remarks @ to produce sarcasm font. In the text body. It doesn’t work in the headlines.)

• Paul Sullivan (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Willson Contreras said what needed to be said — and now it’s up to his Chicago Cubs teammates to listen and respond. “Soon Cubs fans will be asked to pay some of the highest ticket prices in the game to watch a team that likely will be in a constant state of turnover throughout the second half.” Brett Taylor also has words about those words. Patrick Mooney does, too {$}.
• Brian Sandalow (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): David Ross: Effort not a problem for Cubs. “In response to Willson Contreras’ comments, Ross disagreed with his catcher and thought the sentiments should’ve stayed in the clubhouse.” Patrick Mooney has additional thoughts {$}.
• Meghan Montemurro (Chicagon Tribune* {$}): For the Chicago Cubs’ Kris Bryant and Craig Kimbrel, it’s hard to escape the shadow of the trade deadline even at the All-Star Game. “...when I’m done playing this game, I can look back on however long I spent in this uniform and be very proud of it,” Bryant said.
• Steve Greenberg (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Cubs prospect Brennen Davis wins Futures Game MVP, looks ahead to making it to Wrigley. “That was electric,” Davis said Sunday at Coors Field.
• MLB.com*: Jordan Wicks talks about being drafted [VIDEO].
• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation*): The Cubs didn’t expect Jordan Wicks to still be on the board at pick 21. “...Dan Kantrovitz, who is leading his second draft for the Cubs, spoke about taking Jordan Wicks in the first round...”

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading.