Cub Tracks raises the steaks

Here at CUB TRACKS NEWS AND NOTES™, we have news for you. The Cubs and Phillies played the middle game of a three-game series Wednesday night in the city where they booed Santa Claus and the Cubs went to play. I prefer provolone on my cheesesteak.

Robinson Chrinos was thinking meatloaf.

But JT Realmuto hit that meatloaf into the right-field stands.

Matt Duffy said “Hold my tank.”

But, alas, it wasn’t to be. Trevor Megill had other ideas. The Professor goes today.

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• Todd Zolecki (MLB.com*): Phils win on bizarre walk-off vs. Cubs. “Andrew Knapp scored from third base on a walk-off passed ball...”
• Kevin Goldstein (Fangraphs*): The Cubs audition some not-so-young hitters. “... some of these players may deserve a legitimate roster spot as opposed to being roster fodder.” Brett Taylor elaborates.
• Tony Andracki (Marquee Sports Network*): No panic: Alfonso Rivas’ incredibly calm approach has impressed Cubs. “That’s kinda been my game — be a hitter first rather than just start launching balls,” Rivas said.
• Meghan Montemurro (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Patrick Wisdom ties Kris Bryant’s rookie home run record with the Chicago Cubs: ‘Pretty good company for a guy that wasn’t even on the radar’. “ Wisdom had a chance to chat with Bryant, who told him, “When you break my record, congrats on everything.”
• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation*): More on Jason Heyward’s concussion symptoms. “... unfortunately it doesn’t sound good.” He’s also up for the Roberto Clemente Award.
• Tyler Maun (MLB.com*): Cubs’ Brennen Davis shows power bat in Triple-A debut. “In his first game at Triple-A, Davis showed some early aptitude for the Minors’ highest stage.” Sahadev Sharma assesses this {$}.
• Patrick Mooney The Athletic {$}): Amid the losing, Cubs trying to win their side of Craig Kimbrel trade by threading the needle with Codi Heuer, Nick Madrigal. “Analyzing the Kimbrel trade at this point and declaring a winner and a loser would be premature.”
• Tim Stebbins (NBC Sports Chicago*): Former Cubs manager Joe Maddon wanted two more years when fired. “The flip side is it’s actually turned out really well for me and my family,” Maddon said.
• Ryan O’Rourke (Cubbies Crib*): Chicago Cubs villain Ryan Braun leaves behind a complicated legacy. “... we’ll always hold a little bit of hatred in our hearts for Braun as an all-time Cubs villain.”
• Thomas Erbe (Cubbies Crib*): Chicago Cubs: Getting to know Joe, the founder of Obvious Shirts. “I wanted to make the most basic, uncreative, stupidest, simplest shirt.”

Food for thought: