Cub Tracks’ hair apparent

Here at CUB TRACKS NEWS AND NOTES™, we have news for you. Today the Cubs play the Twins in the first of a two-game series. Griffin Jax (3-4, 6.65 ERA) is set to oppose the Cubs’ Alec Mills (6-6, 4.50 ERA) in a battle of right-handers. The Cubs stand a better-than-even chance here to take two, as they took two at home from the Twins.

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• Joel Rippel (Minneapolis Star-Tribune*): Twins-Chicago Cubs series preview. “Twins are 8-10 in interleague games this season...”
• Paul Sullivan (Chicago Tribune* {$}): How should Chicago Cubs manager David Ross be evaluated after a strange 2021 season? “I never had trouble sleeping until I got this job,” he said with a laugh. Gordon Wittenmyer also has words. Jake Misener loads them up.
• Greg Huss (Cubs Insider*): Righty pitching prospect Daniel Palencia closes season whiff incredible performance. “Palencia has shown the ability to hold his upper-90s velocity deep into his starts...”
• Jake Misener (Cubbies Crib*): Chicago Cubs lack a clear succession plan if they trade Willson Contreras. “... the Cubs catcher has shown continued improvement behind the plate again this year...”
• Russell Dorsey (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Cubs infielder Nico Hoerner wants to finish strong after injury-filled season. “When this year is done, there will be a lot to reflect on,” Hoerner said.
• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation*): Execs still expect Javy Báez’s free agent contract to be huge. “... his season line is now up to .264/.318/.506 with a 119 wRC+.”
• Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic {$}): “Frank the Tank” Schwindel is an old-school hitter who waited a long time to crush it with the Cubs. “He’s always hit wherever he was,” said Cubs pitcher Alec Mills.
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): ‘We needed that’ — Wisdom breaks record. “Wisdom crushed a 98-mph sinker to center, where it came crashing down to the left of the batter’s eye.”
• Meghan Montemurro (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Patrick Wisdom sets a Chicago Cubs rookie record with his 27th homer — and his home run rate puts him in rare company in MLB history. “The one thing that I love about Patrick is that he just keeps having his at-bats,” manager David Ross said. Gordon Wittenmyer adds wisdom.
• Tony Crumpton (Cubs HQ*): Skittles gifts Ian Happ a customer Skittles helmet to make up for unruly fans. “... a happy and tasty ending for Happ.”
• Tommy Call III (Warriors Wire*): Warriors’ Klay Thompson reacts to brother Trayce’s first home run with Chicago Cubs. “The 30-year-old outfielder went 1-3 with an RBI and a walk.”

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading.