Cub Tracks shoots the breeze

Previously, Cub Tracks shouldered the blame for whatever it is there is blame for. This time around, we’re icing the shoulder down and keeping the stove warm just in case something happens, as the trade winds are blowing cold so far.

In lieu of actual content, feel free to breeze in and regale us with your worst puns. We might as well amuse ourselves, at least until we can get outside the Cubs’ boxcar again tomorrow.

The Hawk will be back in the or-gan-i-za-tion in 2018, Bob Pulford, after blowing between the buildings downtown all winter. This is some of the best news ever.

As always * means autoplay on™ (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome).

Today in baseball history:

• 1949 - Bill Veeck sells the Indians for $2.2 million to a local syndicate headed by Ellis Ryan. Hank Greenberg will be general manager.
• Happy birthday, Stan Musial, Ken Griffey, Jr.

Cubs news and notes:

• Dan Szymborski (ESPN*): Finding the best spot for Giancarlo Stanton. “The Cubs have shown a willingness to deal top talent when necessary to fill needs, but pitching is more on the team's mind following 2017's rotation letdown.”
• Vinnie Duber (NBC Sports Chicago*): What if Jake Arrieta stays in the NL Central and repeatedly haunts the Cubs? The Brewers are reportedly in the mix.
• Patrick Karraker (MLB Daily Dish): MLB free agency: Cubs, Yankees in the lead for Alex Cobb. And the Yankees have less need.
• Karl Rasmussen (12 Up): VIDEO: Cubs stars show out for Kyle Hendricks' wedding.
• Nate Greabe (Wrigleyville-Baseball Prospectus): 2017 player profile: Ben Zobrist. “Even greats such as Chase Utley and Ryne Sandberg fell off around the time of their age-36 seasons...”
• Manny Randhawa (MLB.com): Bob Borkowski, former Cubs OF, dies at 91. “Ohio native also played for Dodgers, Reds in six-year career.”
• Robert Herguth (Chicago Sun-Times*): Sheriff’s official suspended 10 days over Cubs World Series sneak-in. “Mike Anton...was suspended for 10 days for giving security IDs to two people so they could get in to a 2016 Cubs World Series game...”

Food for thought:

• Tania Lombrozo (NPR) Can science explain the human mind? “People don't seem to regard the complexity of a natural phenomenon as a critical barrier to scientific progress.”

• David Grimm (Science): These may be the world’s first images of dogs—and they’re wearing leashes. “The engravings likely date back more than 8000 years...”

Thanks for reading.