Cub Tracks ups and downs

Here at CUB TRACKS NEWS AND NOTES™, we have news for you. The NooCubs are showing some spirits. Are they friendly spirits? Well, they’re not Malört.

That. And Ian Happ’s clutch single and then the clutch slipped a little. The Cubs lost a run on a bs call and Salvador Perez buried a ball in the bleachers, but the vibe was still positive, even with color-man carousel going on. One hopes that JD isn’t persona au gratin.

I think Dep is right, and the group ‘loosened up’ a lot after that first win. The hitters don’t look as if they’re trudging across the tundra and the pitchers haver stinkier cheese.

The 4-2 lead didn’t seem as insurmountable as leads had seemed during the losing streak, but it was still a two-run lead. Okay, three runs. Four. I see a pattern and it’s trending down.

Another rough day on the diamond for Rex Brothers and Jake Jewell and the Cubs in general. Better luck today. Keegan Thompson returns and he’s on the hill.

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• MLB.com*: Injuries & Moves: Alzolay throws BP session. All the latest.
• Gordon Wittenmyer (NBC Sports Chicago*): MLB’s Rob Manfred talks Cubs All-Star hopes, CBA progress, tanking. “Manfred would not comment on details of talks so far or specific objectives.”
• Paul Sullivan (Chicago Tribune* {$}): The Chicago Cubs drop their 11th straight home game with a 6-2 loss to Kansas City Royals. Is it time to kiss another goat? “We’ll let the goat run the bases and water the outfield,” Tom Trebelhorn said after loss No. 9. “We’ll let him eat some grass and I’ll kiss him. Whatever it takes.”
• Russell Dorsey (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): David Ross gaining new perspective during difficult season as he prepares Cubs for future. “I’ve probably jotted down a lot more stuff that I will take [and] implement. Just long-term thoughts and goals,” Ross said.
• Maddie Lee (NBC Sports Chicago*): Cubs’ Keegan Thompson to start Saturday vs. Royals. Hey, that’s today! Steve Greenberg has more.
• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation*): Even after everything, a Cubs-Javy Báez reunion “Might not be a far-fetched idea”. Interpreting Patrick Mooney article {$}. Steve Cohen went all Ray Kroc on the Mets’ hitters.
• Danny Abriano (Yahoo Sports*): Why Jacob deGrom-less Mets were right to not go all-in on Cubs blockbuster at trade deadline. “...why go all-in if they’re possibly going to be without their ace for the remainder of the regular season and postseason?” SI version.
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): It’s been a rough week for former Cubs pitchers, front office exec. “... not every former Cub had a strong go of it over the last few days...”
• Todd Johnson (Cubs Insider*): Wild variation among 4 Cubs prospect lists following influx of new talent. “... about the only thing those four have in common is that Brennen Davis is now the consensus top prospect in the system and is rising up the overall boards.”

Food for Thought:

Thanks for reading!