It’s here. It’s now.
It’s urgent.
The Cubs are on the clock to start the second half of the season, needing to heat up in a hurry before president of baseball operations Theo Epstein’s hammer comes down and busts up this lukewarm 2019 party. Time and the July 31 trade deadline wait for no man.
And right on cue comes the perfect foe: the Pirates. You remember the Pirates, don’t you? They embarrassed the Cubs in Pittsburgh just last week, taking three of four games. And they drew a line in the sand by repeatedly throwing inside at Cubs hitters.