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.@jonmorosi believes other teams will have to win the Yu Darvish bidding by a "clear margin" to keep him from going to the #Cubs pic.twitter.com/Egk1fyNeCd
— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) January 29, 2018
Song of the day:
not-‘Dickie Goodman’ here:
Cub Tracks is still thinking of Yu. No one else but Yu. Well, Jake Arrieta, Alex Cobb, them, too. But mostly Yu. I’d be willing to deal with five years of Yu at about 25 million per annum. It’s not my money anyhow, so I’d be happy to give it to Yu.
Per @CarrieMuskat @ChrisGimenez5 on Yu Darvish @faridyu :”The whole Darvish thing is getting completely blown out of proportion.I have nothing to do with wherever he decides to go.I’ve been in contact with him quite a bit.I told him: You need to go to the best place for you #Cubs
— Chicago Cubs Reports ✭ (@TheCubsReporter) January 29, 2018
I think I love Yu. Honestly. I’m never gonna give Yu up.
Congratulations! You’ve been Rick-Rolled.
We have a nice mix of articles, tweets, quotes, and videos today. Former BCB writer Rob Huff penned a couple of minor-league-oriented things for the Athletic, various others have featured pieces, and we wind it all up with current weird science.
It's a Boy pic.twitter.com/9aIbFfQQ4j
— Mrs.Báez ⚾ (@Mariie_4) January 29, 2018
As always * means autoplay on™ (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome).
Today in baseball history:
- 1926 - The possible elimination of the intentional walk is discussed by the Commission on Rules of the Major Leagues, but no action is taken by the group.
- 1958 - Commissioner Ford Frick announces the fans will no longer have a vote in the selection of participants for the All-Star game, with teams now to be chosen by major league players and coaches.
- 1987 - The Cubs trade veteran third baseman Ron Cey for the A’s infielder Luis Quinones. The ‘Penguin’ lasted 45 games before being released and retiring.
- 2006 - The Cubs and Jerry Hairston Jr. (.261, 4, 30) avoid salary arbitration when the second baseman/outfielder agrees to a one-year, $2.3 million deal.
- Happy birthday: Doc Watson, Vin Campbell, Matt Alexander
Cubs news and notes:
Breaking down the updated @MLBPipeline Top 100 Prospects by team. pic.twitter.com/w7QwzZKNlU
— Daren Willman (@darenw) January 28, 2018
“It seems inevitable Maddon will again consider Schwarber, because of his ability to take a walk. But he’ll have to hit a little more to make that happen, and early on in the season, Maddon might prefer to protect Schwarber from the pressure of the leadoff spot and give him a chance for some sustained early success.” — Buster Olney {$}
folks are now expecting darvish deal may go down this week. they've also seen cubs as the favorite. but other teams have been involved. https://t.co/W1AJ71pXRT
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 28, 2018
Daily Cat:
Was told this morning progress is being made between SP Yu Darvish and the #Cubs. A guaranteed 6 year deal is not out of the question at this point which is what Darvish's side is pushing for. #YuWatch
— Charles the Cat™ (@CharlsMeow) January 29, 2018
Navarro played ball at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
— Cooper (@RushingBaseball) January 29, 2018
Bryce Harper went to Las Vegas High School.
University of Las Vegas is a 21 minute drive to Las Vegas High School.
Yu Darvish's most recent jersey number? 21.
As you can see, Cubs are getting both Yu and Harper.
Per @McCulloughTimes and @latimessports on FA Yu Darvish @faridyu decision: “Yu Darvish has made clear he would like to return to the #Dodgers, and part of the delay in his free agency is related to waiting to see if the team can move some of the money” #Cubs #MLB
— Chicago Cubs Reports ✭ (@TheCubsReporter) January 29, 2018
Evan Altman elaborates.
“Hey, here’s a thought: Maybe Darvish’s camp is feeding people from uninvolved teams the same info in an effort to spur the Cubs, Twins, or Brewers. Wouldn’t that be something?”
- Jed Hoyer talks to Spiegel and Parkins [AUDIO]. “I’m really happy here,” Hoyer said.
- David Adler (MLB.com*): 1998 Yankees top list of 25 greatest teams: MLB Network ranks best of the best in expansion era. “6. 2016 Chicago Cubs”
- Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic {$}): How good (or bad) are the Cubs at drafting and developing pitching? “...even the weakest area isn’t one that sinks an organization on its own.”
- Jesse Rogers (ESPN): Think the Cubs haven’t made a big addition this offseason? Chili Davis will prove you wrong. “Don’t be a hero, the hero role will present itself.”
- Tim Huwe (The Zygote 50): Cubs sign minor league 1B, infuriate people. “...a violent infraction of epic proportions.”
- Rob Huff (The Athletic {$}): Cubs minor league climbers and fallers: Which pitchers took steps forward, backward in 2017? “...this section will be a reminder there are some positives.”
- Rob Huff (The Athletic {$}): David Bote’s arrival, Dillon Maples’ emergence and Trevor Clifton’s downward spiral. Prospects are not all crackerjack.
- Tom U. (Cubs Den): Winter League wrap-up. “...only 26 players that belonged to the Cubs system at one time or another in the 2017-18 offseason would play winter ball.”
- Tyler Smith (Cubs Insider): Cubs Insider Q & A with Wrigley Field Historian Brian Bernardoni. “It’s not just a job, it’s a passion. Getting to go to Wrigley and seeing it in a behind-the-curtains way is a really cool thing.”
- Daniel Grzina (Eater Chicago): Big Star Wrigleyville to unleash two floors of tacos across from Wrigley Field in April. “...more and more visitors and residents are interested in higher-quality food and drink options beyond the glut of sports bars the neighborhood had long been known for.”
Food for thought:
Black hole jets "are one of the most promising candidate sources of ultrahigh energy cosmic rays." https://t.co/olMYkbw1rB
— Science News (@ScienceNews) January 29, 2018
Thanks for reading/listening/watching.