Cub Tracks throws it around a little

Here at CUB TRACKS NEWS AND NOTES™, we have news for you. The Cubs faced the Cardinals in Busch Monday, with the opening game of the four-game series going to the Redbirds, 8-3. Javier Baez did not have his best day in the field. The Cubs in general looked a little off. Probably didn’t have much to do. St. Louis is boring, you know. Patrick Wisdom had a good day in a losing cause.

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• Mark Feinsand, Alyson Footer and Jon Paul Morosi (MLB.com*): Deadline roundtable: Cubs control the market. “... this could be one of the most action-packed stretch runs as we’ve seen in recent times.”
• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation*): What’s the Over-Under on Cubs players traded this month? I’ll take the under. Based on Ken Rosenthal article {$}.
• Paul Sullivan (Chicago Tribune* {$}): As trade talk swirls, Chicago Cubs players say they’re able to shut out the noise. “We’re really not sure in there,” starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks said, referring to the direction of the club.
• Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): Why Hendricks has ‘zero’ anxiety about the trade deadline and the Cubs’ future. “At the end of the day, control what you can control.”
• Russell Dorsey (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Cubs trying to stay in the moment in uncertain second half. “The Cubs took two of three games against the D-backs and hope it’s a jumping-off point for a strong second half.”
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): Speculation has Javier Báez Seeking $200 million deal. “MLB Network’s Jon Heyman tossed out a very large number...” Maddie Lee says he’s not really paying attention to that.
• Meghan Montemurro (Chicago Tribune* {$}): As Patrick Wisdom battles through his 1st slump of the season, the Chicago Cubs 3rd baseman remains a cornerstone for David Ross: ‘He’s somebody that I’ve come to trust’. “... I like his approach,” Ross said Sunday. “Even when he’s getting out, it seems like a pretty competitive at-bat night in and night out.”
• Todd Johnson (Cubs Insider*): Bryce Ball shows easy power, solid plate approach in South Bend debut. “... he has some really long levers in his swing that might make him susceptible to offspeed pitches.”

Food for thought:

Mmm donuts. Thanks for reading.