Cub Tracks is ready to get ready

Here at CUB TRACKS NEWS AND NOTES™, we have news for you. Having experienced the dizzying heights of a two-game winning streak and a series win, the NooCubs scheduled Zach Davies to pitch Friday, with sadly predictable results. Davies might have been better to serve the bolognese. Also, the world is a vampire. One needs garlic bread. It’s sub-optimal.

Anyway Keegan Thompson returned from the cornfields to start Saturday’s matinee. He’s been effective in Iowa, parlaying his cheese and sides into four scoreless starts, though none of them stretched him more than four innings and change. He can’t be said to be well-proofed yet but perhaps he can rise to the occasion. Thompson kept his composure through some self-created jams, which will aid in the evaluation process for the coaching staff. Just a couple of runs scored early... no run support or Thompson could have stayed longer.

“When you have these guys go down there and dominate — which they should — and [with] the success [Thompson] has had here, and just getting his pitch count up, it’s a good indication that as soon as they’re ready to be able to start, to give some length, they’re ready.” David Ross.

In the interests of stretching things out, that’s the full-length version above. And now, in the interest of keeping a short story short, we’re ready with the news. Al has a medley of their hit in his recap. 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.

• Paul Sullivan (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Here’s a list of 23 candidates for the new Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame — including José Cardenal, Bill Madlock and Kerry Wood. “The Cubs haven’t said how they will decide on new members...”
• Tim Stebbins (NBC Sports Chicago*): Cubs Observations: Home losing streak ties franchise record. “Well, at least the Cubs didn’t get no-hit.” Paul Sullivan has similar thoughts.
• Jared Wyllys (MLB.com*): Bubic shines in no-no bid: ‘Good rhythm’. “That’s just a shame that he wasn’t able to keep rolling there, I’ve never seen anything like that,” Matheny said. Brett Taylor has more laughs.
• Ryan Herrera (MLB.com*): Thompson, solid, looks to prove he belongs. “I can get guys out,” said Thompson.
• Maddie Lee (NBC Sports Chicago* {$}): Injury update: Nico Hoerner to start rehab assignment. “The Cubs plan to move Hoerner to Iowa in the next couple days, after their Triple-A affiliate returns from a road series at St. Paul.”
• Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic {$}): Could the Cubs have a late-bloomer success story in Michael Hermosillo? “Hermosillo was one of the Cubs’ priority minor-league signings this past winter and was actually on their radar last season.”
• Jake Misener (Fansided*): Chicago Cubs: How are replacements faring compared to the former core? “It’s been a little more than three weeks since...”
• Bryan Horowitz (MLB.com*): Wrestler CM Punk’s inspiration: Jon Lester (!) “This is the easiest home run I’ve ever hit, and it was a legit thank you,” Punk told the media post-show.
• Maddie Lee (NBC Sports Chicago*): Fergie Jenkins lays out how Sosa could join Cubs HOF. ‘Hey, I want to come back.’
• Tim Stebbins (NBC Sports Chicago*): Cubs’ David Ross, Kyle Hendricks look forward to Field of Dreams. “When we did the Little League game a couple years ago, it was awesome just doing something different and getting out of the routine,” Cubs starter Hendricks said.

Food for Thought:

Thanks for reading!