Cub Tracks’ great rock ‘n’ roll Schwindel

Here at CUB TRACKS NEWS AND NOTES™, we have news for you.

First, I’m going to apologize for my role in a recent contretemps. 100 percent my fault. It will not happen again. I’m well aware that I’m not exactly a people person, and that I take everything personally. But that doesn’t need to be expressed in that manner, if at all. I’m sorry.

Secondly, I am also contributing material to Cubbies Crib these days — wanted to spread out and do some different things. I’ll still be doing dailies and articles here at BCB. My first piece is below.

Thirdly, there was a game Saturday afternoon, which is why we’re all here. Kyle “The Professor” Hendricks took the hill against Pirate hurler JT Brubaker, who has been known to cover his offerings in tomato sauce. Let’s just say that neither pitcher turned in a quality start, and Hendricks seemed horrified by the prospect of actually having a lead. Check Al’s recap for details.

Frank Schwindel, of course, Tanked. Boy Howdy! 450-footer. Good stuff. Frank’s a great story. He’ll make a good DH against LHPs if there is a next year. He sure takes some vicious cuts up there.

I don’t know about you, but that particular three-person booth (Beth Mowins, Doug Glanville, and the renascent Jim Deshaies) worked pretty well for me. None of the commentators is especially voluble, and their laconic stylings led to a lot of undead air, fitting for the Field of Nightmares theme that crept in during Sam Howard’s warmup pitches.

Oh and Svengoolie had War of the Colossal Beast. There’s a metaphor buried in there somewhere. Quite a game. These NooCubs are pretty likeable. Schwindel Javy’d. Cubs win their fifth in a row.

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.)

• Gordon Wittenmyer (NBC Sports Chicago*): Get the shot: Hoyer, Ross news should be call to action. “... the team is bracing for the likelihood that multiple unvaccinated players will test positive in the coming days...” Tim Stebbins continues the theme.
• Paul Sullivan (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Andy Green says David Ross remains symptom-free except for ‘late-night snacking’ after the Chicago Cubs manager tests positive for COVID-19. “We’re trying to figure things out on the fly right now,” Green said.
• Andy Martinez (Marquee Sports Network*): How David Ross continues to lead while he’s away from the Cubs. “This guy’s locked into baseball every day,” bench coach and interim manager Green said.
• Michael Consolo (Cubbies Crib*): Next year’s Chicago Cubs team could look a lot like this year’s squad. “There’s a very real possibility this is a ‘core’ for next season...”
• Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic {$}): How Cubs reliever Scott Effross became ‘a completely different pitcher’ with one major change. “Throwing side-arm hadn’t taken away any of his command, but it added an element that he lacked before: consistent swing-and-miss.”
• Ryan Herrera (MLB.com*): Walk-off ‘W’: Welcome to ‘The Schwindy City’. “Surging Schwindel hits 450-foot HR, drives in winning run in epic comeback.” Sahadev Sharma adds on {$}.

• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation*): Cubs First Rounder Jordan Wicks will make his full-season debut tomorrow at South Bend. “...a major feather in the cap that he’s gonna get a cup of coffee at HIGH-A right out of the gate.”
• Duane Pesice (Cubbies Crib*): Chicago Cubs History: Sammy Sosa sets team single-season HR record. “It was a summer to celebrate like a rock star...”
• Kelly Barnicle, Micah Materre (WGN9*): Iconic Cubs anthem singer uses voice to help others as well. “John Vincent is one of Chicago’s Very Own.” More Vincent from WGN.

Food for Thought:

Thanks for reading.