Today’s Reflections
I would say, “Mr. Brown! You did an excellent job!”, but you would probably think I was talking to myself.
So, ….. “Ben-nie, Ben-nie, Ben-nie and the Cubs!” Hmph, cheesy.
Ben Brown delivered Friday night, four innings pitched, no runs, no hits, 31-of-46 pitches for strikes, one batter over the minimum. Excellent. What ever else could the Cubs need from the mound?!
Javier Assad, come on down! 3.2 IP of shutout ball, a hit and walk, 26-of-41 pitches strikes. And if the Cubs needed any more — Ethan Roberts pitched a solid inning and didn’t hurt himself on a chunk of metal!
The offense showed itself off below. Hope they keep it going during the rest of the road trip!
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- Jordan Bastian (MLB.com): Ten, again! Brown sets the tone as Cubs reach SECOND double-digit win streak. “North Siders become 5th team in MLB history with multiple distinct 10-game winning streaks before 40th game”
- Paul Sullivan (Chicago Tribune): Ordinary day in an extraordinary run for Chicago Cubs, who post their 2nd 10-game winning streak. “Ben Brown threw four hitless innings in his first start for the injured Matthew Boyd, and Javier Assad notched the win with 3 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing one hit.”
- Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): Cubs’ next-man-up mentality highlighted by another 10-game winning streak. “Every organization in professional sports talks about the next-man-up mentality. …… But the Cubs are actually making it work.”
- Gordon Edes (Chicago Sun-Times): Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson treats his glove with love. “Swanson goes to great lengths to keep what he calls ‘an extension of my hand’ in working order.”
- Paranjoy Goswami (Total Pro Sports): MLB Rumors: Two Teams Emerge As Early Landing Spots For Freddy Peralta. “The Athletics are in a playoff race this year, but need some help with their starting pitching to sustain their challenge” said Curt Bishop of Sports Illustrated. ….. “The Cubs need somebody to eat innings and carry the torch in the rotation. A trade to the Cubs would also reunite him with his former manager, Craig Counsell.”
- Evan Altman (Cubs Insider): Cubs RP Hunter Harvey Suffers Stress Reaction Near Triceps, Shut Down 4 More Weeks. “He experienced abnormal soreness following his bullpen on Thursday, and a subsequent MRI revealed a stress reaction in the triceps area.”
- Casey McAleer (Da Windy City): Craig Counsell’s Nico Hoerner quote perfectly explains the Cubs’ identity. “The Cubs manager pointed toward one defensive play as the perfect example of how Chicago has built its historic stretch.”
Food For Thought:
A taste of the tremendous duo’s bios:
With his astonishingly accomplished guitar playing, Stevie Ray Vaughan ignited the blues revival of the ’80s. Vaughan drew equally from bluesmen like Albert King, Buddy Guy, and Albert Collins and rock & roll players like Jimi Hendrix and Lonnie Mack, as well as jazz guitarists like Kenny Burrell and Wes Montgomery, developing a uniquely eclectic and fiery style that sounded like no other guitarist, regardless of genre. Vaughan bridged the gap between blues and rock like no other artist had since the late ’60s. From 1983 to 1990 Stevie Ray was the leading light in American blues, consistently selling out concerts while his albums regularly went gold. His tragic death in 1990 at age 35 cut short a brilliant career in blues and American rock & roll just as he was on the brink of superstardom.
Albert King (1923-1992), who was billed as “King of the Blues Guitar,” was famed for his powerful string-bending style as well as for his soulful, smoky vocals. King often said he was born in Indianola and was a half-brother of B. B. King, although the scant surviving official documentation suggests otherwise on both counts. King carved his own indelible niche in the blues hierarchy by creating a deep, dramatic sound that was widely imitated by both blues and rock guitarists.
An Illinois man who collects Bearbricks toys earned a Guinness World Record when his collection was tallied at 3,482 pieces.
Daniel Park, aka BrickChicago on social media, officially cataloged his collection in March, and it was confirmed by Guinness World Records as the largest collection of Bearbrick bears. Park said he started collecting the colorfully painted plastic figures after opening a blind box about five years ago. “What captivated me then, and continues to drive me now, is the brilliance of the standard platform,” Park told Guinness World Records. “It is a remarkable canvas that allows for infinite creative expression, while maintaining a consistent, iconic silhouette.”
“2026 is shaping up to be the biggest travel year of the decade — and this video is your ultimate cheat code. 🌍✈️ We’re counting down the TOP 25 places to visit in 2026, spanning Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, the Middle East, and beyond. From iconic cities you’ve dreamed about your whole life to wild, unexpected destinations most travelers never dare to visit, this list has it ALL.
“We’re talking jaw-dropping landscapes, legendary food scenes, once-in-a-lifetime cultural experiences, and places that will absolutely blow up on social media this year. One destination even has a famous street food where the local favorite is literally mice on a stick 🐭🔥 — and yes, we’re telling you why people LOVE it.Whether you’re planning your next big international trip, building your travel bucket list, or just dreaming about escaping everyday life, this is the most important travel video you’ll watch for 2026.
👉 “Perfect for:
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“Watch till the end — #1 might completely surprise you.“ (VIDEO)
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