Cub Tracks Wishes It Were Playing October Baseball

From Comcast Sports Net Chicago:

• Patrick Mooney: Cubs face a big decision about Starlin Castro. Consistency is the key for Castro, wherever he goes. Has he convinced the front office that he's a keeper at second? How about the rest of baseball?
• Moar pitching, megadeal edition: Will the Cubs look to double down on expensive free agent pitching? You make the call.
• Dan Hayes: Richard optimistic: A healthy Clayton Richard is positive about next year. He wouldn't mind spending it in Cubbie Blue.

From the Chicago Sun-Times:

• Year's end reflections: Players look back at the season just past. It wasn't supposed to end this way. But there is definitely room for optimism. Happy tweets.
• David Ross is coming back: More evidence to support the case that the bearded guru of the clubhouse will return for another season. He is signed, after all.
• Beard etiquette: Very likely unwritten rules of baseball beardery.

From Cubs.com:

• Jeimer Candelario roots for his neighbor: Johnny Cueto lives near the Cubs' prospect. They play softball together in the Dominican Republic, in the offseason.
• Cubs surpass expectations: Truth, and seemingly the narrative for the offseason. The Cubs played impressively, and will improve.

Miscellaneous:

• John Arguello writes about potential impact rookies in 2016. Willson Contreras is high on the list.
• He has more to say about Contreras in another article. The kid just needed more time.
• Hall of Famer Billy Williams pooh-poohs curses and Billy Goats. He doesn't believe in curses.
• Why I'm Rooting For the Cubs. Interesting article from the Wall Street Journal.

Food for thought:

• Tractor beams are becoming a reality. I'm holding out for a transporter.
• How would you like to lie down and work? Would you be at all productive?
• Baseball "bats" in Fallout 4, just in time for the World Series!