Cub Tracks splits it up evenly

Here at CUB TRACKS NEWS AND NOTES™, we have news for you. Let’s look toward a brighter future, I say. I’m a longtime speculative fiction fan and I’m all for it, despite my tendency toward cyberpunk dystopiae. It would be easy to just sit back and damn the Cubs’ top brass., but that inevitably leaves a sour taste in my mouth. There’s a lot to digest in this unabridged Cub Tracks, and most of it is to be savored.

Speaking of sour tastes, the Cubs played two Wednesday. Double your pleasure with a double-dip of Wrigley’s finest! I bet Ernie’s smiling.

Zach Davies started the first game. This season has been a wreck for Davies, and he’s trying to salvage something for a prospective employer to look at. He did okay, actually. He and the relievers kept the club in the game long enough for the power to arrive, and the first game had a happy ending.

Justin Steele started the second. He’s trying to quell all fence-sitters’ doubts with effective late-season performance. There are still a few doubts. Still, fun game, with some of this:

The Cubs tried to self-destruct after that. Connor Joe hit a granny and the relief sprang a leak. But Ian Happ wasn’t having any of that and made with the Happenstance, which causes happy dance with two men on. This offense has moments. Not quite enough of them in the second game, but it was fun.

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.

• Jon Greenberg (The Athletic {$}): Are we witnessing the worst Cubs team … ever?: Chicago Baseball Authority. Al gets a shoutout. “The roster is certainly capable of fulfilling that destiny.”
• Michael Cerami (Bleacher Nation*): The Two Chicago Cubs presidents reiterate: rather than a lengthy rebuild, winning again soon is the goal. “Empty words? Eh, maybe a little.”
• Todd Johnson (Cubs Insider*): Cubs’ roster flexibility, MiLB depth make 40-man roster decisions exercise in upside. “In remaking the 40-man roster for 2022 and what they promise will be a competitive team very soon, the Cubs are going to have a lot of decisions to weigh.”
• Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): Trevor Story will listen if Cubs are serious about quick turnaround at Wrigley Field: ‘It’s a special place’. “When you’re here, there’s something different about it. Here and New York and Boston, in those three stadiums, you just feel a different atmosphere...” Gordon Wittenmyer interprets.
• Tim Stebbins (NBC Sports Chicago*): Where Cubs farm system ranks after deadline selloff. Depends on who you ask.
• Russell Dorsey (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Cubs providing plenty of opportunity in second half of growth. “That’s rewarding for me. It’s very powerful,” David Ross said.
• Gordon Wittenmyer (NBC Sports Chicago*): Why Hendricks says ‘none of [Cubs rookies] is the next me’. “None of them is the next me because they’ve got way better stuff...”
• Tim Stebbins (NBC Sports Chicago*): Steele confident better starts ahead: ‘It’s going to come’. “I think there’s a huge upside potential in there,” Ross said.
• Gordon Wittenmyer (NBC Sports Chicago*): Meet the Cubs’ ‘Monster’ in ‘Game of Thrones’ drama. “It’s ours for the taking. If you want it, you’ve got to go get it,” Sampson said.
• Meghan Montemurro (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Adam Morgan’s road back from arm surgery to landing with the Chicago Cubs has brought the reliever some clarity: ‘Hey, surprise yourself, see what you can do’. “I’ve learned a lot over those years — it’s been a crazy ride.”
• Tony Andracki (Marquee Sports Network*): Cubs receive good news on Nico Hoerner, Willson Contreras on road to recovery. “Contreras (knee), might be back in the lineup as soon as this weekend.”
• Maddie Lee (NBC Sports Chicago*): Wisdom dancing into Rookie of the Year conversation. “I just go out there every day and just play hard,” he said. “Those accolades will happen at the end of the year if they’re meant to happen.”
• Tim Stebbins (NBC Sports Chicago*): Cubs’ Patrick Wisdom within 5 of Kris Bryant’s team record for homers by a Rookie. “With a little over a month left this season, Wisdom has a great chance to etch his name into team history.”
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Happ’s El Mago flair not enough in nightcap. “Happer’s starting to show a lot of the signs that we’ve been waiting to see,” Cubs manager Ross said earlier this week.
• NBC Sports Chicago*: Kris Bryant shares how Giants remind him of 2016 Cubs title team. “I’m happy I’m here, I’m happy I’m helping the team,” he said. “What a great place to play.”
• Marc Severson (Fansided*): Andre Dawson came to a brutal Chicago Cubs team, became a fan favorite. “... Dawson was the heart of the Cubs for six years.”
• Anna Davlantes (WGN-720): Cubs historian talks new Hall of Fame [AUDIO].

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading!