It’s walk-through day for the two big kiddos before they go back to school, and since The Wife already went back to school, herself, that means it’s time for dad to bust out the parenting pants. I remember when I did The Little Girl’s first walk-through a couple years ago, I couldn’t quite keep in the tears (thankfully, she was too young to be embarrassed). I figure I’ll be able to hold it together better today. I’m a veteran now.

• Here’s a factual statement: the Cubs have not lost a series in over two weeks. And unless they get swept by the Brewers in these two games, that factual statement will carry forward for a few more days. It certainly has felt like a much worse stretch than that, and the Cubs haven’t done much to really pull away from the pack in the Central (especially now that the Cardinals are blistering hot), but things could be so much worse. Have I mentioned lately that the Cubs are playing without Kris Bryant, Yu Darvish, and Brandon Morrow, three of the most important players on their roster?
• Carrie Muskat charts David Bote’s progress in life from a middle-rounds draft pick to a mission trip in Africa to struggling to even get playing time in the minor leagues to a breakout prospect who explodes into the big leagues. When you consider how this was a guy who nearly left the game entirely just a couple years ago (understandably, because at some point, if you’re into your 20s and a bench guy in the low minors, you have to start thinking about the rest of your life), this story is a movie.
• It wasn’t just the grand slam for Bote, by the way – dude had a great week:

We can be heroes. #CarryTheFreight pic.twitter.com/gHM2JwExUe

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) August 14, 2018

• And there’s already a Bote shirt out for the walk-off, which you can get right here from our partner BreakingT:

• In an interview with 670 The Score, Bote offered a very good and simple perspective on that homer: “Sometimes baseball can just give you a moment to enjoy. Just enjoy this time, this moment, this minute.” That’s how it should be for all of us, because these things don’t come around every day.
• It’s a bit of a bummer that he was even compelled to speak about this:

"I didn't even realize I did it until I saw it on the replay … I meant no disrespect by any means. It was the heat of the moment."

— #Cubs' David Bote on his bat flip

— 670 The Score (@670TheScore) August 13, 2018

• That shouldn’t even come up after a homer like that. Heck, hitting a big league homer is hard enough as it is – celebrate them all, damn it.

• Something to ponder: if Kris Bryant returned TODAY, would the Cubs figure out a roster way to keep Bote up, AND would they relegate Addison Russell to the bench so that Bote could start regularly at second base while Javy Baez moves to shortstop? Sure seems like it would be hard NOT to do those things. It’s all academic, because Bryant is still unlikely to return until September.
• I just realized: the way the Cubs sorted out their rotation this week means that Kyle Hendricks pitches on his own Bobblehead Day tomorrow. It’s fate. He’s going to dominate. That, or his head will kinda wiggle around all start, causing all kinds of problems.
• A new promo from the Cubs:

“Lemme hear ya, everybody!” #EverybodyIn pic.twitter.com/OK8XsWt4xw

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) August 13, 2018

• Fun idea, but nobody can make Ian Happ laugh, apparently:

#MakeIanLaugh … ? pic.twitter.com/swmdgK3Y2b

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) August 13, 2018

• This is NOT A JINX, I am just passing this on in a Bullet:

The Cubs set pricing for 2018 postseason tickets — and in many cases, the costs has gone down.https://t.co/KKVBmjfFOb via @Timbannon pic.twitter.com/j5tB89XZ2o

— ChicagoSports (@ChicagoSports) August 10, 2018

• Tools, shavers, computers, fancy dog food … very nice collection of Deals of the Day at Amazon today.