The #1 source for #Cubs, #MLB, and #MiLB news and notes. The All-Star break is here. Home Run Derby Monday night, All-Star game Tuesday.
The going is weird. Cub Tracks™ turned pro a long time ago. Cub Tracks™. Where the great ones run away.
Any MLB team can beat you. The good teams WILL beat you.
Okay, so the All-Star break is upon us. I’m going to ignore the Home Run Derby, which frankly bores me to tears, and maybe do something productive with my Monday night. Tonight’s game has two starters from OUR TEAM, though, so I’ll watch.
That said, here are some HRD highlights, and then some. The Big Dumper took home the hardware.
Results, highlights, and more [VIDEO].
I’m not going to try to gauge the Cubs’ long-term intentions by their draft picks. That’s a fool’s errand at best, There’s not enough information to make informed judgements. The smart money is on awaiting developments.
We have a ton of video today. Enjoy.
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- Ronald Blum (AP*): Shohei Ohtani to hit leadoff for NL in All-Star Game, followed by Ronald Acuña Jr. of host Braves. Kyle Tucker bats seventh, with PCA ninth.
- Meghan Montemurro (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Chicago Cubs (57-39) head into All-Star break with the NL’s 2nd-best record. “Shota Imanaga never seems fazed by road environments.” Maddie Lee has more* {$}.
- Jared Greenspan (MLB.com*): First-place Cubs surge into break as Shota sizzles for series win over Yanks. “Matt Boyd was masterful yesterday, Shota was masterful today,” manager Craig Counsell said. “It was just wonderful pitching. High, high level of execution.”
- Tony Andracki (Marquee Sports Network*): Cubs ace Matthew Boyd explains why he won’t pitch in MLB All-Star Game. “The Cubs are prioritizing the big picture as they build toward what looks to be a pressure-packed pennant chase.”
- Meghan Montemurro (Chicago Tribune*{$}): How the Chicago Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong, a 1st-time All-Star at 23, has become elite in every facet. “The damage he is doing is really, really impressive,” Hoyer said. “He’s worked really hard to close up the holes that he had.” Jordan Bastian has more PCA. Maddie Lee has the defense* {$}. Patrick Mooney has some, too {$}.
- Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): Free-agent-to-be Kyle Tucker is making the most of his year with the Cubs. “Kyle has a way of making the game look easy,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said.
- Zoe Grossman (Marquee Sports Network*): Cubs not fazed by 2025 MLB Draft pick Ethan Conrad’s shoulder injury. “That’s definitely the goal for me — to get up there as quickly as possible, put my best foot forward and strive to be the best that I can,” Conrad said. Wake Forest had this to say. Tony Andracki has more*. He’d play for Team USA, says Marquee Sports Network*.
Food for thought:
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