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Hope you like to read about pitching...
From Comcast SportsNet
- Theo Epstein will keep an open mind about who might be the closer next year.
- After watching the Pirates clinch a playoff spot, Jeff Samardzija is looking to the future with the Cubs.
- Jamie Moyer thinks the Cubs have a bright future.
- The team is sorting through 2014 rotation options.
- Dale Sveum doesn't think the Cubs are far from being a contender.
- Of course, the media is now on "Sveum Watch" and there is some anxiety about whether the manager will return for the third year of his contract.
From Cubs Den
- The prospect countdown (count-up?) continues with 11-20. Then the continuing continues with 21-30.
- Some more interesting notes. The Cubs Den rumor mill thinks a five-year extension may be coming for Travis Wood, more money will be there for a bid on the latest Japanese import, why staying in the top four of the draft is a good idea, a fairly highly thought of prospect is making a position switch, and Dale Sveum may well be staying. That enough for ya?
- Would the Cubs be better off shifting Starlin Castro to second base and letting Javier Baez take over shortstop?
From Cubs.com
- Dale Sveum thinks the Cubs aren't far off from being a winning team.
- The manager is also looking for some struggling players to finish strong.
- Nate Schierholtz is getting high praise for a strong overall year.
From ESPNChicago.com
- Anthony Rizzo talks about his season.
- Dale Sveum's future is tied to more than Rizzo and Starlin Castro.
- The Cubs have a long way to go in a tough division. I agree, but with a caveat: lots of weird stuff happens in baseball. Players get hurt, others slump, others still shine. Point being, you can't, or shouldn't, just pencil the Cardinals, Reds, and Pirates in for 90+ wins for the next few years automatically.
- It looks like four spots in next year's pitching rotation are locked up.
- One of those players is Jeff Samardzija. He has a long way to go.
- The Cubs lost 50 games at home. That stinks. But seriously, what did you expect?
From the Chicago Tribune
- (Video) Dale Sveum talks about Chris Rusin and the 2014 starting rotation.
- (Video) Then the manager turns to the bullpen, where he's impressed by Hector Rondon's power arm.
- Daniel Bard is working hard to be part of that bullpen next season.
- (Video) Jake Arrieta talks about his solid final start.
- (Video) Anthony Rizzo talks about supporting Dale Sveum.
From the Chicago Sun-Times
- The Cubs' bullpen has shown a lot of improvement.
- The team's rebuilding project is taking on as much fiction as fact.
- Dale Sveum points to the Nationals and Pirates for signs of hope.
From the Daily Herald
- Hector Rondon is finishing strong.
- The winner of the Andrew Cashner for Anthony Rizzo trade is looking more in doubt. Caution: this is a Mike Imren article. He's a columnist and, in my opinion, not a very good one. But I thought the topic was interesting enough to pass along.
Today's food for thought
- A diver found something that looks like Cookie Monster in the sea.
- A Doberman gets spooked by a tiny version of itself.