Cub Tracks Jumps Ahead

From Comcast SportsNet Chicago:

• "Parks and Recreation" joins in on the prognostication fun, opening their final season on Tuesday night by saying that the Cubs win the World Series... in 2017. If nothing else, it's worth reading the story for the Ron Swanson image.
• You can't flip a switch and become a contender, says Patrick Mooney, but one more big deal might help to accelerate the youth movement.
• Mooney also says that after several seasons that appeared to be more about talk than action, things will be different this season and that the focus this time around should be on the field instead of things like Clark the Cub and artistic renderings of the park.
• Giordano's is ready for the convention this weekend, putting the Cubs logo on specialty pizzas to celebrate the occasion.

From ESPN Chicago:

• Jesse Rogers gives a sneak preview of things you might hear this weekend at the convention. Not included on the list is the phrase "I'm in the best shape of my life."

From the Daily Herald:

• Bruce Miles also weighs in on the convention, saying that optimism figures to be at levels not seen since the 2007 and 2008 playoff seasons.

From CBS Chicago:

• In case you didn't know how the Cubs convention got its start, the credit goes to John McDonough for creating it in 1985 based on the success of the 1984 division-winning team.

From the Chicago Sun-Times:

• In his Nine to Know segment, Bill Chuck looks back at how the 2015 Hall of Fame class of Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, John Smoltz, and Craig Biggio fared against the Cubs in their careers.

From Cubs Den:

• The 2014 season was a rough one for Albert Almora, but John Arguello thinks that those struggles could pay off big this season.
• Following up on his breakout Cub prospects piece, Arguello gives his list of breakout candidates on the major-league roster.
• Turning to the center-field needs, could the Cubs still make a play for Dexter Fowler?

From Chicago Cubs Online:

• One question you can expect to hear a lot at the convention: What will be the role of Edwin Jackson on the 2015 team?

From Chicago Cubs 101:

• Another never-ending question of the offseason: Who will be the Cubs' fifth starter? Tim Duxbury gives his analysis.

From Cubs Insider:

• Kerry Wood spoke recently with Cubs Insider about several topics including his final game, the 20-strikeout game, the Wood Family Foundation, and the call from Jon Lester about wearing number 34.
• After a 2014 campaign for Javier Baez that was historically bad, Drew Brown says that with the right pieces surrounding him the future could be historically good.
• There has been a lot of talk the past few seasons about the Cubs Way. Evan Altman says that the Cubs Way is not simply to build with prospects, but to win and to do so consistently.

Today's food for thought: