At 13-3, the Chicago Cubs are off to their best start since 1907, and it’s their best 16-game stretch at any part of the season since 2016. I’ll spare you the facile comments about what happened to those two Cubs teams, but let’s just say: the Cubs have played extraordinarily well so far this year.
• Although a new manager can’t and won’t take all the credit for a performance like this, I think it’s fair to say that these Cubs have clearly been put in a position to succeed, both on a daily basis and on an overall preparation basis. David Ross is likely doing very well as the new manager of the Cubs, and his players love him:
As a player, David Ross was a key component in helping the @Cubs win a World Series.
Now, @D_Ross3 gets a chance to manage his former teammates: pic.twitter.com/UyO3WWz1ot
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) August 14, 2020
• And Ross definitely feels the same way about his players:
David Ross appreciates #Cubs' approach to this odd season, which he's cherishing even if it's not what he ever imagined.
"It's really easy when you got great players and they got this kind of attitude on a daily basis," Ross says.https://t.co/sIg6bMzsI9 via @CEmma670 pic.twitter.com/GsWAGYBV7s
— 670 The Score (@670TheScore) August 14, 2020
• More from Ross on his players: “They come in, they’re focused at the task at hand. They’re in the weight room, they’re on the field, they’re in the batting cage, they’re in the video room, they’re doing all their homework. They do it all with a good attitude. They do it with a smile after all the things that are asked of them. They bring the energy that makes it fun in the dugout. It makes it fun for me. And then you see them go out there and compete.”
• Since he came into the 7th inning at 90 pitches, both Yu Darvish and David Ross knew he wasn’t going to complete the no-hitter last night (Cubs.com). Darvish was expecting that to be his last inning either way. Perhaps that helped him stay perfectly steady out there even after he gave up the homer to Justin Smoak – in a way, nothing was really lost in that moment, just a run given up.
• Steven Souza tried to send a souvenir to the rooftops, but it looks like they didn’t notice:
Incoming. pic.twitter.com/3ljScTlxdZ
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) August 14, 2020
• Not only does this seem like it’ll be a great new stadium, cool development, and slightly better geographic location, it also seems like a strong indication that the Smokies believe their affiliation with the Cubs will continue for a long time:
From TN Smokies Owner, Randy Boyd: Boyd Sports is teaming up with so many others in Knoxville to explore a potential new baseball complex in Downtown Knoxville – modeled after Chicago's famed Wrigleyville with a state-of-the-art stadium, apartments, shopping, and restaurants. pic.twitter.com/8esZlHclOs
— Tennessee Smokies (@smokiesbaseball) August 12, 2020
Tennessee Smokies owner Randy Boyd is going public with his plan for a $142-million mixed-use development in Knoxville's Old City area, featuring a new ballpark. #MiLB #sportsbiz https://t.co/1i0508M3ue pic.twitter.com/VQL8HjjASa
— Ballpark Digest (@ballparkdigest) August 11, 2020
• Remember, the likely outcome of the current MLB/MiLB talks is that about 40 teams affiliations are going away, and MLB orgs will now have just four full-season affiliates above rookie ball. That means there is going to be a lot of movement – including some minor league teams changing leagues and levels – but apparently the Cubs and Smokies are locked up. At least per the Smokies’ expectations.
• Mookie Betts had ANOTHER three-homer game last night, which is historic:
#Dodgers Mookie Betts ties the major league record with six career three-homer games. He is 27 years, 311 days old.
Two others have six (age on day of their sixth):
Johnny Mize (37 years, 251 days)
Sammy Sosa (33 years, 271 days)Mize had four and Sosa had one at Betts's age.
— Ryan M. Spaeder (@theaceofspaeder) August 14, 2020
• By the way, if you missed the good Bulls news: they finally fired Jim Boylen.