Cub Tracks’ if at third you don’t succeed

Here at CUB TRACKS NEWS AND NOTES™, we have news for you. The Cubs won an entertaining game Monday night against Cincinnati. We have mostly tweets and the details about Andrew Chafin.

Once upon a time, the game started out in fine fashion with the third baseman in left field showing off his arm and Anthony Rizzo going deep. Rizzo has more home runs than any other left-hander since 2013 (226).

Kyle Hendricks, though, was getting a lot of home plate and didn’t stick around. Neither did Wade Miley. Lots of RISPy business, LOB-American-style, for you and me. Willson Contreras tied it up late. Javier Baez won it, later. Al will have details in his recap.

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“That was long,” David Bote said of his IL stint. “That’s the first time I ever experienced something like that, so it feels really good to be back. I missed playing. Ready to get going here. I had a good time in Iowa playing. ... The shoulder feels great. The training staff, we did a really good job and we worked really hard.” — MLB.com.

• Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): If this is not a rebuild, then the Cubs should copy the Red Sox again and go after free agents. “The culture here of winning, having that taste with this run of winning, I think it’s kind of built-in now to move forward without having to tear it all down,” said Cubs quality assurance coach Mike Napoli.
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): David Ross admits trade talk has been distraction for Cubs. “I think we would be naive to say it hasn’t affected [our play]” Ross said Sunday. Based on Patrick Mooney article {$}.
• Steve Adams (MLB Trade Rumors*): Cubs not actively shopping Kyle Hendricks. “... the team would only move him if approached with a strong offer.”
• Steve Greenberg (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Cubs’ Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo with a double kiss goodbye — emphasis on ‘goodbye’. “The Cubs stare the trade deadline in the face...”
• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation*): Javy Báez’ injury is a bruised heel: “It’s pretty sore to be honest.” “... when Báez bruised his heel back in 2019, he missed two days before returning to the lineup.” As reported by Elise Menaker on the pregame. #nugglife
• Tony Andracki (Marquee Sports Network*): Cubs sorting out the roster puzzle as injured players return. “... the Cubs are inching toward full strength with regards to the roster.”

Food for thought:

Here’s to happy endings. Thanks for reading.