Following up on that big, weird-shaped box that was under the tree for Christmas: It was an outdoor folding chair for me to take to my daughter's cross-country meets. There was also a seat cushion for the football games where my other daughter plays in the band, and I can't tell you how thankful I am for that gift. I don't think I've sat on more uncomfortable bleachers than the ones at my daughter's high-school football stadium. That or I'm just getting old and cranky.
Here's the latest from around the web:
From Comcast SportsNet Chicago:
- Tony Andracki examines the meaning of the phrase "personal catcher" as it pertains to David Ross.
From Cubs.com:
- Carrie Muskat takes a look back and lists her top five storylines of the 2014 season.
- Following up on the story that Starlin Castro was detained in the Dominican Republic, Castro's agent Paul Kinzer says that Castro was not detained and that he went to the police voluntarily.
From the Chicago Tribune via RedEye Chicago:
- More information about the incident involving Castro's brother and bodyguards in the Dominican Republic, this time from Paul Sullivan.
From the Chicago Sun-Times:
- Continuing their Top 10 Chicago sports stories of 2014, the hiring of Joe Maddon comes in at number 4 on the list.
From Chicago Cubs Online:
- Sports Illustrated also thinks highly of the hiring of Joe Maddon, naming it their best move of the offseason by any team.
- David Ross spoke with Steve Phillips and C.J. Nitkowski on Christmas Eve on MLB Network Radio.
- Fangraphs has the Steamer projections for all of the position players on the 40-man roster...
- ...As well as their projections for the pitching staff.
From Cubs Den:
- John Arguello examines the options that the Cubs have at the fifth starter position.
From Chicago Cubs 101:
- Tim Duxbury lists his breakout prospects for the 2015 season.
- Should the Cubs retire the number 21 for Sammy Sosa?
From Cubs Insider:
- We know what the new Cub pitching acquisitions can bring to the field. But they also have helped strengthen the Cubs' charitable arm as well.
Today's food for thought:
- How does MIT welcome its incoming freshmen? By having them build a wooden roller coaster that they ride after they build it. Heck, all I remember from my first day at the University of Illinois was my parents taking a picture of me in front of the Alma Mater statue.
- From the "Life Before the Internet" files: The New York Library has a recipe box filled with some of the weirdest questions they've ever been asked.
- And if you want to know what kind of work is going on at the International Space Station... there's an app for that.