Cub Tracks’ how schweet it is

Let’s be frank — this team is &$@?% fun now. They deserve all the love they can get. And so do you.

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Holy gamethread, Batman! No wonder that one never made it to the air.

Oh yeah, and there was a game, too. The Cincinnati Reds blew into town and Sonny Gray took the mound to oppose rookie Justin Steele, who is trying to claim a spot in the rotation for 2022.

The Reds are a contendah and the Cubs are in the unenviable position of also running. My inner editor wonders who Delinio DeShields is. Whoever he is, he batted eighth. Joey Votto rode the pine. Asdrúbal Cabrera filled his shoes.

I wonder too if Austin Romine isn’t the next DFA candidate, given Robinson Chirinos’ play and Willson Contreras’ return to the lineup. Might depend on Nico Hoerner’s oblique strategy. Several reporters said that Nico took BP and did fielding drills Monday, but whether he returns this season is still up in the air.

Pittsburgh-area native Ian Happ got the ball up in the air and gave Steele a lead after the first.

Steele pitched like he was grateful for the runs until Codi Heuer had to be summoned to quell an uprising in the sixth. That didn’t quite work out. More runs were needed as it became a brand-new ball game.

Frank Schwindel to the rescue after an awesome 10-pitch at-bat by Alfonso Rivas. The suddenly resilient bullpen held on for the W.

See Al’s recap for further details. Still undefeated in September!

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.)

(Note: Al did write about that!)

• Russell Dorsey (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Justin Steele continues to take steps forward in Cubs’ win over the Reds. “Steele allowed three runs over his five innings of work in Monday’s 4-3 win over the Reds. He pitched into the sixth inning for the first time this season.” Tim Stebbins has remarks.
• Hal McCoy (Dayton Daily News*): Struggles continue for Reds in loss to Cubs. “Cincinnati has lost 9 of its last 13 games.”
• Russell Dorsey (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Frank Schwindel clutch again as RBI-single lifts Cubs to seventh win in a row. “I was borderline giddy in the dugout thinking, ‘It can’t happen again, can it?’, interim manager Andy Green said after the game.
• Tim Stebbins (NBC Sports Chicago*): Cubs cautiously optimistic COVID-19 situation has not spread. “As far as I know, this day, every one of the guys who’ve come in — including myself — have tested negative, so we haven’t seen it spread,” said Andy Green.
• Paul Sullivan (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Managing by committee might be the Chicago Cubs’ best solution in David Ross’ absence. “All five coaches “collaborated” on the managerial duties, according to Hottovy.” Jared Wyllys asserts that it’s still David Ross’ team.
• Jared Wyllys (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Cubs pitching coach Tommy Hottovy getting the best out of his new-look bullpen. In short, Hottovy said it’s finding out “what makes them the best version of themselves.”
• Tim Stebbins (NBC Sports Chicago*): Cubs mindful of Kyle Hendricks’ workload after shortened season. “... he was among MLB’s innings leaders in 2020 and is again this season.”
• Tim Stebbins (NBC Sports Chicago*) Cubs’ Keegan Thompson’s IL stint chance to hit reset button. “It’s just basically him not recovering [between starts] the way we want to right now,” Hottovy said.
• Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic {$}): He’s on the team for next year: A look at those vying for a spot in the Cubs’ 2022 rotation. “... that no-doubt homegrown starter remains elusive.”
• Sam Dykstra (MLB.com*): 4 Top 100 prospects lead Team of the Week. Jordan Nwogu is one of them.
• Jake Misener (Cubbies Crib*): Chicago Cubs need to take a page from the rival St. Louis Cardinals. “... there are cases where you do right by the players and your fans...”
• Todd Johnson (Cubs Insider*): Cubs Prospect Stock Watch: Getting a head start on next year’s sleepers. “... now is a good time to start thinking about adding some lesser-known Cubs prospects to your list for next year.”

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading.