Cub Tracks throws it in park

Here at CUB TRACKS NEWS AND NOTES™, we have news for you. If you can’t win with the Professor on the mound, something isn’t right. Even Kyle Hendricks needs runs. He’ll get a no-decision.

Michael Hermosillo made sure Kyle didn’t get tagged with the loss. Rafael Ortega gave the Cubs the win. Quite the ball game. Maybe the best since the deadline.

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.

• Jerry Davich (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Cubs fan since World War II hurls his season pass from 1959 at Ricketts family out of disgust. “This is how I feel about the Cubs this season and their decision to trade away our favorite players,” George Bodnar said in disgust.
• Maddie Lee (NBC Sports Chicago*): Wrigley can’t soften deadline blow as Cubs set new low. “We’re just trying to come in every day and try to do our best and compete,” Ross said. “
• Michael Cerami (Bleacher Nation*): Codi Heuer was the piece that put the Nick Madrigal-Craig Kimbrel deal over the top. Based on Jesse Rogers article.
• Maddie Lee (NBC Sports Chicago*): Why White Sox matchup could speed up Contreras’ return. David Ross: “... if he can hit and run the bases, we might be able to get him back a little bit sooner.”
• Ryan Herrera (MLB.com*): Cubs being cautious with Hoerner’s rehab. “I don’t think anybody likes setbacks, right?” Ross said.
• Russell Dorsey (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): If Nick Castellanos opts out this winter, Cubs should pick up the phone. “Castellanos can opt-out of his four-year, $64 million deal with the Reds at the end of the 2021 season.”
• Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic {$}): He’s on the team for next year: A look at position players fighting for a spot on the 2022 Cubs. “... evaluating players down the stretch for a losing team can be a difficult process. But it’s what David Ross and the Cubs will have to do over these next weeks.”
• Bryan Smith (Bleacher Nation*): The Cubs face a whole lot of Rule 5 and Minor League free agency decisions. “... it’s essential they don’t lose useful, controlled young talent at the margins.”

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading.