Cub Tracks’ center cuts

Here at CUB TRACKS NEWS AND NOTES™, we have news for you. The All-Star Game is over and the AL has continued their dominance. There is a game on the schedule today, between the Yankees and the Red Sox.

Kris Bryant wouldn’t mind being a Dale Murphy, which is interesting. I’ve long thought corner outfield is his future, but I’ve no complaint there. Jake Marisnick might... also, in news out of left field, maybe the Cubs will pony up for Nick Castellanos, who has an opt-out and clearly enjoyed his time in Chicago? The Cubs could give him whatever money they were earmarking for Joc Pederson, who has seemed to be a Spring Training flash so far. I mean, if there is a 2022 season, which is still up in the air. Bryant also said he’s proud to wear Cubbie blue.

That and some interesting draft coverage comprise part of today’s offerings as the beats and bloggers had a busy day. I tried to save the best of the best of or at least a representative selection so as not to have 1,500 words to read before clicking or to occupy the department of redundancy department. 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.)

• Lamond Pope (Chicago Tribune* {$}): As baseball’s top players gather for the All-Star Game, the storm clouds of impending labor negotiations are off in the distance. “... while one eye is on the field, the other is on the collective bargaining agreement that expires in December.”
• Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): Is David Ross still the right manager for whatever the Cubs are going to become next? “... the Cubs will probably be in a similar place next year as a .500-ish team in a division that will be up for grabs.”
• Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic {$}): How the Cubs’ Kyle Hendricks is working to level up in the second half: ‘I know there’s more in there’. “It’s both the mental and physical combining together,” Hendricks said.
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): ‘Future Hall of Famer’ Craig Kimbrel back at ASG. “Prior to coming to us, he had an amazing career already,” Tommy Hottovy reminded.
• Greg Zumach (Cubs Insider*): Data, scouting reports on ‘Complete Package’ Jordan Wicks. “... the Cubs were ecstatic that Wicks was available when they were on the clock.”
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): 8th-rounder Opitz a pitcher’s best friend. “Casey Opitz let out a slight laugh when asked about his post-pitch reactions that are made for social media.”
• Michael Cerami (Bleacher Nation*): If Kris Bryant could play one position moving forward it would be … Center Field? Just put me in, Coach.
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*}: Bryant ‘proud’ to represent Cubs at ASG. “Right now, I’ve still got the ‘Cubs’ on my chest and I’m proud of that,” Bryant said during his mic’d-up moment.
• Steve Greenberg (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): All-Star Kyle Schwarber weighs in on the anticipated breakup of the Cubs’ core. “I know the fans will be hurt, probably,” he said. “But the guys, who are my friends, they’re going to be just fine.”
• Tim Stebbins (NBC Sports Chicago*): ‘Surviving’ to thriving: How Cubs changed Castellanos. “They leveled me up,” Castellanos said Monday at All-Star Game media availability.
• Meghan Montemurro (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Chicago Cubs ‘shoot for the stars’ with high school talent on Day 3 of the MLB draft after ‘strategic’ Day 2 picks. “The 2021 MLB draft developed in three phases for the Chicago Cubs and vice president of scouting Dan Kantrovitz.”
• Samantha Waddell (WSBT.com*): Derek Casey speaks on his journey to the South Bend Cubs. “It was a journey several years in the making...”

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading.