I shot an arrow into the air. And then I entered the Cub Tracks zone.
From Comcast Sportsnet Chicago:
- Patrick Mooney: Joe Maddon knows Cubs have nowhere to hide: "We are the target." Respect 360. And three-sixty. And... Joe doesn't beat around the bush. "Seriously, embrace the target." Embraceable you? Includes {VIDEO].
- Tony Andracki: Theo Epstein believes Cubs are selling themselves now. Jason Heyward agrees. "As far as recruiting goes, they didn't have to do too much," Heyward said. "They let the product on the field speak for itself."
- Andracki: Big surprise: Cubs the favorite to win World Series. Biiiiig surprise. Yeah sure. That's the new reality, remember? It was just the other day. Vegas oddsmakers strike again.
From CBS Chicago:
- Watch: 2015 Cubs' Christmas parody video: You saw it here first. I told you this kid was due for big things :)
- Jason Heyward on power potential: There's more left. "I feel like also having a better hitter’s ballpark in Wrigley Field for 81 will be conducive to the power numbers going up as well," he says. Hard to dislike that remark. Includes [AUDIO].
- NIck Shepkowski: Jake Arrieta is the 2015 Chicago Sportsperson of the Year. He disagrees with SI's selection and offers a rationale.
- Theo Epstein: Jason Heyward enhances our identity. Yes. He also has that cool Andre Braugher voice. He'll make great commercials.
From ESPN Chicago:
- Jesse Rogers: Cubs might have to wait for pitching trade market to develop. "Sometimes you don't start the year as a finished product," Epstein said. What does this all mean for Jorge Soler, Danny Salazar, Carlos Carrasco, or Ender Inciarte?
- David Schoenfield: Jason Heyward: Cubs' youth, potential trumped money in free agency. High hopes for no-longer-kiddie-corps, now battle-tested veterans. Heyward added: "What jumped out at me the most is the way Joe ran a young team."
From Cubs.com:
- Cash Kruth: Jason Heyward likely to,play center field for the Cubs. He's fine playing center or right, whatever's right for the Cubs. As of Tuesday, Heyward is the starting center fielder. But he's aware that could change.
From the Chicago Tribune:
- Cubs/Cardinals rivalry switches to higher gear with Jason Heyward signing. It has been nearly five years since former Cubs infielder Ryan Theriot joined the Cardinals and proclaimed he was "finally on the right side of the rivalry." Theriot's innocuous comment to a St. Louis radio station soon found its way to the Internet, turning him into a public enemy.
- Cubs roster, contract status for each player [SLIDESHOW].
From the Chicago Sun-Times:
- Addison Russell gives Heyward his number. His jersey number, that is. The Cubs' shortstop will wear No. 27, in honor of Eddie George.
From The Daily Herald:
- Barry Rozner: Theo Epstein: Time for Cubs to go from good to great. Yes. That's the Plan.
- Rozner: Chicago Cubs ready to embrace the pressure. Barry clearly subscribes to the narrative. NO word on whether he gets a discount.
From Cubs Den:
- John Arguello: Cubs announce Jason Heyward signing, contract details, reasons for signing, and willingness to play cf. Further exploration of the main theme.
From Bleacher Nation:
- Brett Taylor: A look back at the 2015 Cubs Season via Starcast highlights. Statcast was put to good use in its debut season in 2015.
- Taylor: Cubs GM Jed Hoyer says there is no urgency to make another deal. Anything else they would do from here on out is gravy. Gravy is good, though.
From Cubs Insider:
- Evan Altman: Cubs still low-balling free agents, because they can. Champagne wishes, caviar dreams, and frugality. "The Cubs have been able to remain frugal because the value props they’ve established over the last several years have given them an appeal money alone cannot."
Miscellaneous:
- Bob Nightengale: Jason Heyward gives the Cubs the next great dynasty. All by his ownself. He wants to be part of
glorious the future(really, Bob?) the glorious future. "I haven’t started daydreaming yet," Heyward said.
- SB Nation: Viva El Birdos: If it was not already, it's time to fear the Cubs. "The only thing a team can do is put together the most talented roster they can and hope for the best. The Cubs are doing just that."
- Theo Epstein is getting everything he wants. "Playing for the Cubs has never been a more attractive proposition than it is right now, and Theo Epstein isn’t letting that edge go to waste"
- The Cubs as the best team in baseball. Fangraphs' Jeff Sullivan explains. He makes a good case, I think, but I may be biased.
- Former Braves coach compares Jason Heyward to two-time World Series champion. "The kid’s got a lot of strong points." That would be the undersell.
Food for thought:
- Ancient Mars weather report: Continued cold and dry. Visions of the ancient Red Planet as a warm, wet paradise are misplaced, new research suggests.
- Nerf sports edition. Football, soccer & baseball collide. Dude, perfect.
- Not Chris, but archer nonetheless. And no, he didn't play for the Red Sox and Cubs.