Cub Tracks reins in the plain

Welcome to today’s edition of Cub Tracks news and notes™, featuring material from current beat writers, bloggers, and the occasional in-house habitué, moonlighting. These pieces center around #Cubs, #MiLB, and #MLB baseball.

Marcus Stroman took the hill for the Cubs, opposing Baltimore hurler Jordan Lyles at his home field, Camden Yards. But first there was a lengthy rain delay, then a postponement.

So the Cubs don’t win or lose. On to the Big Apple.

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• Joshua Burt (Cubbies Crib*): As Cubs fans know, it’s always darkest just before the dawn. “There have been more bad seasons of baseball than good.”
• Gordon Wittenmyer (NBC Sports Chicago*): Cubs’ Suzuki, Miley might return from IL vs. Yankees. “Wade is definitely an option in New York,” said Ross. “Suzuki has participated in full pregame activities in Baltimore Tuesday and Wednesday.”
• Meghan Montemurro (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Keegan Thompson won’t let his 1st bad outing of 2022 for Chicago Cubs diminish his confidence: ‘I know I’m still good enough’. “... I think going through those struggles last year kind of helped me mentally getting through a night like tonight.”
• Tony Andracki (Marquee Sports Network*): Alec Mills returns and others could be close behind as Cubs inch toward full strength. “Millsy’s like the Swiss Army knife of the staff,” David Ross told Taylor McGregor Tuesday.
• Jake Misener (Cubbies Crib*): Cubs could net insane haul in Willson Contreras, David Robertson trades. “This roster is loaded with potential trade chips...”
• Gordon Wittenmyer (NBC Sports Chicago*): Arbitration champ Ian Happ offers advice to Contreras. “I think it’s a lot easier when you win,” said Happ.
• Gordon Wittenmyer (NBC Sports Chicago*): Cubs’ Morel: ‘A team could build around’ Contreras. “From my perspective, he’s someone that a team could build around, even during a rebuild,” said rookie Christopher Morel.
• Joe Trezza (MLB.com*): Latin stars reaching out to rookie sensation Morel. “A lot of people that I admire a lot have written me messages of support,” Morel said Wednesday.
• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation*): Nick Madrigal’s contact quality is alarmingly bad, and it is impacting the defensive positioning against him. “... the conversation about letting Madrigal work at Triple-A for a while is completely reasonable at this point.” Based on Sahadev Sharma article {$}. Evan Altman adds on.
• Joe Trezza (MLB.com*): ‘We feed off him’: Morel extends historic start. “That’s the spark he brings,” manager Ross said.
• Tony Andracki (Marquee Sports Network*): Catching up with Cubs prospect Owen Caissie. “The outfielder doesn’t turn 20 until July but has already shown he can make adjustments at Advanced Class-A South Bend.” [VIDEO]
• Maddie Lee (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Ross on Angels firing Joe Maddon: ‘Thoughts go out to him’. ‘‘Just thinking about him,’’ Ross said. ‘‘That’s a sucky thing to hear. I love Joe...”

Food for Thought:

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