Cub Tracks Will Be Pretty Freaking Good

And finally, the day is here. The countdown clock is at zero (well, the first countdown clock, at least) and things are getting ready to go again. I always love this time of year. Even if it is zero degrees outside and I'm in St. Louis.

Here's the latest from around the web:

From Comcast SportsNet Chicago:

• What does Jon Lester think of pressure? Regardless of the amount put on him by others, it won't change him.
• [VIDEO] In case you wondered what Jason Hammel thinks of this year's rotation, he thinks it's going to be pretty freaking good.
• As for Joe Maddon and his thoughts on the upcoming season, he summed it up quite nicely: Bring on the expectations.
• In a poll done by Jayson Stark of 35 MLB executives, the Cubs were voted the second-most improved team in the National League behind only the San Diego Padres.

From Cubs.com:

• Kris Bryant is already in Mesa and is still fielding questions about possibly not making the big-league squad on Opening Day. His answer hasn't changed: He doesn't make that decision, and he still plans on making it a tough call for the front office.
• As part of her continuing Spring Training preview, Carrie Muskat has her own three questions to be answered during the next six weeks.
• She also takes a shot at predicting the Cubs' batting order and starting rotation for the start of the season. Proponents of mixing lefties and righties in lineups will probably have an objection or two.
• Phil Rogers writes that with the organization where it is now, nobody should be surprised if Tom Ricketts rewards the front office with contract extensions sometime in 2015.

From ESPN Chicago:

• As this year's camp prepares to start Jesse Rogers pulls a quote from Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer, proclaiming that it's time to flip the script.
• Rogers also presents his Spring Training Watch List with his six things to watch at Cubs camp.
• Continuing his look at the Spring Training roster, Rogers looks at the Cubs' pitching.
• [VIDEO] Rogers' biggest spring storyline: Who will play second base? (Jesse's been busy these past couple of days!)
• In the continuing story of the remains of Ernie Banks, the Cook County Clerk's office is reporting that Banks was buried at Graceland Cemetery, located just northwest of Wrigley Field at Clark Street and Irving Park Road. The cemetery declined to confirm whether he is buried there.

From CBS Chicago:

• After four hours in court on Wednesday, the Cubs and rooftop owners are expecting to get a ruling on the temporary restraining order later this morning.
• Oh, and in case you hadn't heard, pitchers and catchers report this week. And welcome to 2015; it's nice to see you again.

From the Chicago Tribune via RedEye Chicago:

• [VIDEO] Kris Bryant talks about what's different in his second Spring Training.
• After missing the beginning of the 2014 season with injuries, Jake Arrieta feels that he's already ahead of schedule this season.
• Carrie Muskat had three questions; Jesse Rogers had six things to watch... Mark Gonzales ups the ante with nine questions of his own heading into Spring Training. So who's got the list of 12?
• Hard to believe that it's been 17 years since Harry Caray passed away. Fred Mitchell recalls the first time that Ernie Banks met Harry in 1953.

From the Daily Herald:

• For those that need a refresher about the Cubs' coaching staff for the upcoming season, Bruce Miles summarizes who's on the staff and what they'll be doing.

From Cubs Den:

• When it comes to the Spring Training regimen for Javier Baez, John Arguello writes that starting slowly may be in his best long-term interest.
• Aside from Yoan Moncada, the Cubs don't seem to be in the mix on any of the up-and-coming Cuban free agents. One reason for that is their depth of in-house cost-controlled talent.

From Bleacher Nation:

• Another prospect list is out, this time from Kiley McDaniel at FanGraphs who ranked the top 200 prospects in the game. The Cubs placed 11 players on that list including Addison Russell at number three and Kris Bryant at number one.
• More projections piggybacked off of the McDaniel Top 200 list including a projection from Chris Mitchell of each of the top 142 prospects' projected WAR through their age 28 season. I won't spoil the WAR projections for Bryant and Russell, but you might want a napkin handy for the drool that might occur.
• The injury bug is never good, but if it were to strike the outfield early this season, Brett Taylor feels that the Cubs could be in some serious trouble.
• Here's a compilation of some early visuals from Mesa. I include it primarily because of the Vine of Neil Ramirez who is doing something that requires its own caption.

From Chicago Cubs Online:

• For all of the fans of Tim Saunders (hey, there may be one or two that are reading this), he will be reporting to Spring Training this year with the hope of resuming his career. He spent the last two years in various stints in A-ball and both years were cut short by injuries.

From Cubs Insider:

• A comment you've probably seen me make on somewhat regular occasion is the fear of someone suffering from regression from one season to the next. Mark Jablonowski looks at the players that he feels could be helped and hurt by it in 2015.

Today's food for thought: