Cub Tracks Surfs The Web

Pre-Twitter tweets:
"You'll never hear surf music again." -- Jimi Hendrix.

"That's a big lie." -- Dick Dale. "Jimi, I'm still here. Wish you were."

On Board:

• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider): An early look at Jake Arrieta's fantasy rankings. Jake is 3rd. Greinke dropped.
• Barry Svrluga (Washington Post): Why the Cubs will win the NL Central in 2016. "A pre-spring training look at the division, which might have three playoff contenders again."
• Nicholas D. Blazek (Cubbies Crib): Are the Cardinals getting jealous of the Cubs? Will they pursue Dexter Fowler to get even? "Fowler would be a smart signing in that he immediately would stabilize their leadoff spot." Yeah. It makes sense. I'd hate it, though.

Catch the wave:

• Michael Cerami (Bleacher Nation): Will there be a back of the rotation competition between Adam Warren and Kyle Hendricks? Speculation based on Sahadev Sharma article.
• Carrie Muskat (MLB.com): Javier Baez looking to rebound in 2016. Baez is so versatile that he can sweep the glass, too. "Don't let him near the ice," Anthony Rizzo didn't say. Baez is trying to find a fit on the 25-man roster. Any way he can.
• Zack Moser (Wrigleyville-Baseball Prospectus): From Altman to Murton: A short history of the Cubs in NPB. How many Cubs have left the team to go play in Japan? And how have those players fared in Nippon Professional Baseball?
• John Arguello (Cubs Den): Say Hey! Look who's in Center Field today! Pics of and words about Jason Heyward, an early reporter to spring training.

In the Pipeline:

• Patrick Mooney (CSN Chicago): Cubs believe their pipeline will keep producing big-time talent. "...the Cubs still haven’t really given up a significant long-term asset while constructing a playoff contender." [VIDEO?]
  
• CBS Chicago: Cubs get burned by Yankees on Twitter, but let's hope the shade slinging lasts forever. More about that humorish twitterwar.
• David Miniel (Cubbies Crib): Stop worrying about the past and focus on the future. It's kind of about the Twitter "war".
• Keith Law (ESPN Insider-$): Cubs have dropped from #1 farm system. How far did they fall? 2016 rankings of all 30 farm systems.
• David Schoenfield (ESPN): The best players on really terrible teams. Who carried the 100-loss Cubs in 2012?
• Jesse Rogers (ESPN): John Lackey, Adam Warren fill Cubs' need for starting depth. Jed Hoyer said: "We have a lot of guys that can start in the big leagues and I’m sure a lot of those guys will make starts for the Cubs next year." Positively Orwellian.

The Next Wave:

• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune): Pierce Johnson ranked ahead of Carl Edwards, Jr., on Baseball America's top 30 prospects list. 30 Cub prospects, that is.
• John Arguello (Cubs Den): Jason McLeod speaks, Law bullish on Cubs system, Lazarito to decide soon, and other notes. Many thoughts about many things. Lots of players discussed.
• Chicago Cubs Online: Jason McLeod talks prospects on MLB radio. Transcript of interview referred to in the Arguello McLeod article.
• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation): Whoa. Keith Law ranks Cubs farm system 4th best in baseball. Law rules that Cubs should get some love.
• Chicago Cubs Online: Cubs' development of international prospects recognized in Baseball America's prospect list.

The wave after that:

• Kyle Thele (Chicago Sun-Times): "The Bachelor" is coming to Wrigley Field. No truth to the rumor that Rizzo is being cast. Long-running show shooting in Chicago.
• Kyle Thele (Chicago Sun-Times): David Ross wants to eventually become a manager. "He’s been called a "manager on the field" and is thought of as an extension of Joe Maddon."
• Chicago Cubs Online: Cubs among nine teams showing strong interest in Lazaro (Lazarito) Armenteros. Jesse Sanchez confirmed this Tuesday.
• Carrie Muskat (MLB.com): Jaron Madison encourages kids to play baseball. "...back in the day, it was always baseball that the family circled around..." Not basketball, not football, not hockey. Baseball.

Wave rider:

• Mesa bound!! ✈️☀️ See u real soon @SloanParkMesa!!! @Cubs #SpringTraining #LetsGo #HellYes! #TimeToGoToWork pic.twitter.com/R0KANT4uC0

  — Jason Hammel (@HammelTime39) February 10, 2016

Food for thought:

• Christopher Crockett (Science News): Support grows for a return to ice giants Uranus and Neptune. Two of the Solar System's distant worlds may be ready to give up their secrets.
• Philosophy News Network. Existential comics. I think, therefore I am funny. Cogitos-intolerant.
• A scientist walks into a bar: Brewing better beer through genetics. The heck with IPA. I want DNA.
  

Wave Goodbye:

• Ebb and neap are tied. I can't think of a saltier joke to tell you.