Cub Tracks clutches up

Here at CUB TRACKS NEWS AND NOTES™, we have news for you. Good news! The Cubs played eight innings of a 2-1 game that didn’t seem that close and then came on in the top of the ninth in a game that featured entirely too much suspense given the Cubs’ offensive ineptitude and turned on a four-pitch sequence when the Cubs erupted for three hits, the third of which was a two-run homer by young catcher Willson Contreras, who followed elder backstop Robinson Chrinos’ clutch liner with one of his own, after Rafael Ortega delivered a clutch two-bagger.

Kimbrel time.

Double your pleasure, double your fun. The meat loaf is in, the brooms will be out, tomorrow. The world seems brighter. The food tastes better, the wife is prettier, laughter comes more easily.

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“All the reports and rumors flying from now until then, you probably could put a full scrapbook together and see the rollercoaster that it’s going to take everyone on. My position is just staying one day at a time and not really worrying about what’s going to happen. What’s going to happen is going to happen. None of us have any control of it.” — Anthony Rizzo.

• Kyle Williams (Marquee Sports Network*): Despite All-Star snub, Kyle Hendricks’ consistency will be key for Cubs in second half. “Hendricks and Craig Kimbrel were the two most consistent pitchers on the Cubs roster through the all-star break.”
• Marquee Sports Network*: Zach Davies talks to Taylor McGregor [VIDEO].
• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation*): Rowan Wick is finally headed out on a rehab assignment! “The Cubs will want to make sure he’s recovering well.”
• Russell Dorsey (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}) Manager David Ross on Cubs’ second half: ‘We just got to focus on today’. “I think that if we get outside of focusing on beating the Arizona Diamondbacks tonight, then we’re going to shortchange ourselves,” Ross said on Friday.
• Meghan Montemurro (Chicago Tribune* {$}): With the Joc Pederson trade behind them, the Chicago Cubs kick off the second half of their season: ‘There’s not a lot of time for sadness in this game,’ manager David Ross says. “You hate to lose Joc, but there’s too many baseball games left in the season to focus on one guy’s absence.”
• Russell Dorsey (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Willson Contreras getting opportunity to be Cubs’ new leadoff hitter. “I think he’s done a nice job having professional at-bats,” Ross said before Saturday’s game. Maddie Lee writes about this.
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): Anthony Rizzo on Cubs Future: ‘I have no idea what’s going to happen’. “I have no idea what’s going to happen tomorrow.” They miss Pederson. Tim Stebbins whips this up. Patrick Mooney tops it off {$}.
• Tim Stebbins (*NBC Sports Chicago*): Javy Báez could be ‘perfect match’ for Mets. Buster Olney started this one.
• Tim Stebbins (*NBC Sports Chicago*): Cubs: Matt Duffy ‘Feels great,’ David Bote starts rehab assignment. “...a pair of sidelined infielders continue to progress in their recoveries.”
• Jeff Agrest (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Scouting Jon Sciambi halfway through his first season on Cubs’ Marquee Sports Network. ‘‘There’s something about being here that feels like this is right,’’ he said. ‘‘I have to think that that’s affecting the broadcast in a positive way.’’

Food for Thought: