Cub Tracks’ end of the road

#Cubs, #MLB, and #MiLB news, notes, and commentary, four days a week, rain or shine. El Jaguar comes for coffee, the Cubs drop two out of a three-game trip, and the season is mercifully almost over.

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. No artificial intelligences were deployed, employed, entranced, or embalmed in the commission of this missive (apparently I might be training some though). Cub Tracks eagerly awaits the advent of robotic umpires and has already amended the three laws. The going is weird. Cub Tracks turned pro a long time ago.

Cub Tracks. Where the great ones run away.

El Jaguar is in the lineup, in right, wearing #13. I hope he gets plenty of playing time in these final four games. Javier Assad (7-5, 3.49) started for the Cubs versus LHP Christopher Sánchez (11-9, 3.22), in this final road contest of the 2024 season. Assad was hit hard early as the Phillies took a 3-0 lead and Sánchez kept that goose egg while Philly added a run, but Nico Hoerner brought the Cubs close in the top of the fourth.

The Phillies weren’t done, though. Neither were the Cubs.

Sadly, that was it for Cubs scoring. Kevin Alcantara did get his first major-league hit, though. The Phillies won 2 out of 3 on this short Cubs road trip. Today’s an off-day, and then the final series of the year at home against the Cincinnati Reds. THEN the speculation station will be open for business while other teams play in October.

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• MLB.com*: Weekend passes for 2025 Cubs Convention go on sale tomorrow. “Cubs Convention weekend passes are $125 and include access to three days…”
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Cubs’ offseason focus central to becoming annual playoff contenders. “… there is still a clear need for improvement.” Sahadev Sharma has more {$}.
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Justin Steele leading by example in Cubs’ rotation: ‘He’s a real bulldog’. “… if he’s healthy and he’s out there, he’s a top starter in the league.” Maddie Lee has more.
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): Cubs reportedly being primed to pursue top-line pitching scares me on 3 levels. “Patrick Mooney {$} has made it quite clear that pitching is a priority for the Cubs…”
• Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic {$}): An update on Cade Horton and a look at 5 under-the-radar Cubs pitching prospects. “… this season was ultimately a little disappointing with how the young pitchers impacted the big-league club…”
• Meghan Montemurro (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Another hot 2nd half shows the consistency — and big bat — Seiya Suzuki can provide the Chicago Cubs offense. “… I do think if I didn’t get hurt my numbers could have been better.”
• NBC Sports Chicago*: Suzuki suffers injury vs. Phillies, team confirms. “… he is likely done for the year…”
• Jim Callis (MLB.com*): Here’s what to expect from Cubs’ Alcántara in The Show. “… it may be difficult for Alcántara to claim a long-term spot in the Cubs’ outfield.”
• Ryan O’Rourke (Cubbies Crib*): Matt Shaw ends his first full-season in Cubs’ farm system with biggest honor yet. “Despite a season split between Double-A and Triple-A, Matt Shaw continues showing his future is bright by winning the Southern League MVP award.”
• Cristián Sanchez (Marquee Sports Network*): The inside story on the trade that brought Rick Sutcliffe to the Cubs in 1984. “Before the 2016 Cubs won the World Series, many considered the 1984 squad to be the greatest team the Cubs fielded since their last World Series appearance in 1945.”
• Paul Gotham (Pickin’ Splinters*): Ben Martin continues to thrive with role in Cubs’ organization. “Helping players develop their games, that’s what the former Churchville-Chili Saint has been doing for the past four years…”

Food for Thought:

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