Cub Tracks’ one swell foop (2024)

WELCOME to today’s episode of Cub Tracks news and notes™, a greatest-hits collection of Chicago-style beat writers and bloggers, ground from #Cubs, #MiLB, and #MLB baseball, overheated, steeped in writers’ tears, and then cold-brewed overnight for maximum flavor.

Hayden Wesneski ( 2-0, 0.64) stepped on the mound at the Friendly Confines to oppose the team that beer made famous and their hurler Joe Ross (1-3, 4.66) in a duel for first place. Both pitchers allowed the odd hit but nary a run, twice through the order.

Ross shoved with onions.

Wes threw some of this:

Mike Tauchman brought his glove, and so did PCA:

Christopher Morel brought his bat:

Badbert showed up, though. Disheartening. Worth crooked numbers to the Brewers. And then... no happy ending.

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• Paul Sullivan (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Craig Counsell unsurprisingly downplays his 1st meeting as Chicago Cubs manager vs. Milwaukee Brewers. “Look, we’re just trying to win a baseball game,” he said. Pat Murphy’s into it, says The Score.
• Andrew Seligman (AP*): Contreras keys 3-run 8th as Brewers rally to beat Cubs 3-1 in first game against Counsell. “... Trevor Megill handled the ninth for his second save.”
• Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): Justin Steele and Adbert Alzolay are Cubs pitchers heading in opposite directions. “... there are limits to every organization’s depth chart.”
• Rich Eberwein (Cubbies Crib*): Javier Assad has emerged as the most valuable Chicago Cubs pitcher. “The young right-hander has been an unsung hero for a pitching staff riddled with injuries.”
• Bill Ladson (MLB.com*): Long Island native Brown relishes dream at Citi, if not the outcome. “Brown blamed himself for the loss.”
• Andy Martinez (Marquee Sports Network*): Miguel Amaya’s leadership, intangibles have helped him grow into Cubs’ primary backstop. “I think, No. 1, just the confidence he carries back there. You see him more confident in his total game — receiving, throwing, game calling, game managing,” pitching coach Tommy Hottovy said.
• Riley Cavanagh (Cubbies Crib*): Chicago Cubs may have to move on from this former top prospect. “Matt Mervis has been completely overmatched by big league pitching and time is running out for him to figure things out in Chicago.”
• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation*): That extremely slick helmet thing PCA did … was against the rules. “Fun. It’s over now.”
• Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic {$}): The Endless Summer of Mike Tauchman. “Tauchman is out to prove with his play that his 2023 performance wasn’t just a summer fling.”
• Josh Frydman (WGN9*): Club 400 raises thousands for fellow Cubs fans. “... Club 400 has opened its doors to dozens of Cubs players past and present, hosting events that have raised $851,000 for various foundations and individuals in need.”
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): Cubs, Ghost Energy announce new multiyear partnership. “We’re excited to welcome GHOST® ENERGY to the Cubs as our Official Energy Drink partner,” said Alex Seyferth, Vice President of Corporate Partnerships, Cubs.

Food for Thought:

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