Last time around, Cub Tracks deified Fodder Time, looked at possible awards for Chicago Cubs players and front office, and bemoaned the likely departure of center fielder Dexter Fowler. That edition also featured a tweet from Jeff Passan about the course of baseball labor negotiations and a few items from the lukewarm stove.
This time, we have Anchorman, Bartman, and Underdog. Unfortunately, the Cubs didn’t win as many of the major awards as I thought they should (all of them, because Cubs). But they did win the World Series. And I bet Max Scherzer and Dave Roberts would trade their awards for that.
Cubs Convention tickets go on sale Friday. I‘d love to be there, but it’s not gonna happen. That convention the weekend before last put me on the list of BCB writers with pneumonia. I have to minimize that kind of contact in the future. Hermitage has its pros and cons.
At least I get codeine cough syrup. I take it after I compile Cub Tracks, not before. I have the ether for before. Wait, what? That way lies bat country. Let’s not go there, Raoul Duke.
Here’s a selection of germ-free items for you infotainment needs. As always * means autoplay on (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome).
The 'Anchorman' news team watches the @Cubs win the World Series. pic.twitter.com/16QbyCVEZA
— Funny Or Die (@funnyordie) November 16, 2016
- Evan Davis (The Hardball Times): An elegy for David Ross, the greatest backup catcher of his generation. People try to put him d-d-d-down. Just because he got around....
- Andy Grimm (Chicago Sun-Times): Family: ‘Go Cubs Go’ success a fitting memorial to Steve Goodman. Very cool. I agree. I took guitar lessons from Steve for a little bit. Unfortunately, as the Chicago Tribune reports, they sold the rights.
- Eli Kaberon (Chicago Magazine): I finally sold beer for a World Champion Team. Eli is a 13-year vendor with an unique perspective.
- Sports Illustrated: Tom Ricketts: Cubs plan to reach out to Steve Bartman in 2017. Good that they telegraphed it. Run away, Steve.
- Carrie Muskat (MLB.com): Cubs might reach out to Bartman for closure. "I'm sure we'll reach out to him at the right time," Ricketts told USA Today.
- Sports Illustrated: Tom Verducci to release new book on 2016 Chicago Cubs. “THE CUBS WAY: The Zen of Building the Best Team in Baseball and Breaking the Curse” is the title. Due 2017.
- Evan Altman (Cubs Insider): SI’s Tom Verducci to pen book on 2016 Cubs. March 28, he says it’s due.
- Paul Sullivan (Chicago Tribune): Kris Bryant can make 'M-V-P' chants become reality. The winner will be announced tonight.
- Carrie Muskat (MLB.com): Bryant looking to join elite company as NL MVP. Trying to be 4th player to win ROY, MVP in consecutive seasons.
- Bob Nightengale (USA Today): Cubs owner Ricketts revels in World Series: 'Put lovable loser crap to bed'. Bed, hell. Deep-six it.
- Jeff Sullivan (ESPN-Insider {$}): Why we have already seen the best of Kyle Hendricks. Sullivan doesn’t think Hendricks’ success is sustainable.
- Howard Bryant (ESPN*): It's time the Cubs embrace their true identity: baseball superpower. No longer humble and lovable, Sweet Polly Purebred.
- Jesse Rogers (ESPN*): Did a rainout cost Cubs' Maddon NL Manager of the Year Award? A case for the April 30 rainout costing the Cubs games due to exhaustion, as that game made for 24 games in 24 days, with 23 of 33 on the road.
- Rick Morrissey (Chicago Sun-Times): Cubs’ World Series a present to many; now a chance to give back. For the kids. Kinda crass, but heart’s in the right place.
- George A King III (NY Post): Yankees sniffing around Cubs’ 15-game winner. Jason Hammel to the Bronx?
- Reid Nakamura (The Wrap): MSNBC’s Chris Hayes admits trading Trump and Cubs wins in devil pact. Hilarity ensued. Or not.
- Ariel Cheung (DNAinfo): Offseason renovations underway at Wrigley Field: See what Cubs have planned. The “1060 Project”.
- Gemma Kaneyko (Cut Four): In a rare tribute, Tuesday's New York Times crossword puzzle was all about the Cubs. “There are 11 Cubs-specific clues...”
- Jesse Rogers (ESPN*): Did Cy Young voters show enough appreciation for Lester and Hendricks? Maybe not. But Max Scherzer was certainly deserving of the award.
- Michael Cerami (Bleacher Nation): Mike Montgomery has “Foot in the Door” for Cubs rotation. Maddon says he’s first in line.
- Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation): Lukewarm Stove: Chris Sale and controllable pitchers, hulking sluggers, Dexter Fowler, Jason Hammel, more. Activity likely to pick up after December 1.
- Patrick Mooney (CSN Chicago*): Joe Maddon may not be Manager of the Year — or a Game 7 hero — but Cubs still see a future Hall of Famer. “But Joe is a world-champion manager for the first time — and he’s going to be in the Hall of Fame someday,” said Jed Hoyer.
- Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune): David Ross raising money, awareness for concussion research. Ross is looking for a thousand people to join him to fund concussion research at the University of Pittsburgh.
- Jared Wyllys (Wrigleyville-Baseball Prospectus): It’s time to move on from Dexter Fowler. Albert Almora Jr has some skills that might help mitigate the loss of Fowler.
food for thought
- Meghan Rosen (Science News): Dinosaurs may have used color as camouflage. “Fossilized pigment pouches tell story of ancient animal’s habitat.”
- Virginia Morrell (Science): Pessimist pigs are positive if they have nice digs. Four legs good.
- Sarah Kaplan (Washington Post): This 6,000-year-old amulet is the oldest example of a technology still used by NASA. Lost-wax casting, the technique is called.
I’m pulling for KB. See you Sunday — thanks for reading.