Cub Tracks’ if at first

Ye Gods! Paul Goldschmidt? Holy Schmidt! The Devil Birds always do that. Frickin’ Jim Edmonds, Mark McGwire, Edgar Renteria. And worse, the Bob Tewksburys of the world succeed in Redbird uniforms.

That promises to be fun. 19 games a year against a Cub mauler. Are we winning yet? Someday the Cardinals’ bill has to come due. So much devil magic does me a concern.

Leave baseball alone, Rob Manfred. Go count your money somewhere quiet.

Here’s today’s Cubs News and Notes. As always * means autoplay on, or annoying ads, or both (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome).

• John Byrne (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Alderman says Chicago Cubs ownership looking to take him out of the (political) ballgame. “Ricketts family spokesman Dennis Culloton acknowledges the family is thinking about backing a challenger.” The latest salvo in this ongoing contretemps.
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): The Cubs have needs to address with winter meetings approaching — and the time is ripe to make roster moves. “To this point, the Cubs’ moves have been dictated by deadlines...”
• Matt Snyder (CBS Sports*): MLB winter meetings 2018: What you need to know about the Cubs, Cardinals and the rest of the NL Central. “The Cardinals figure to be the busiest, but are the Cubs playing possum?”
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider): Eliminating shift might benefit the Cubs more than other teams. More elaboration on Jayson Stark’s article for The Athletic {$}.
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Inbox: Do Cubs need a primary leadoff bat? “...although having a true leadoff man is an ideal scenario, it’s not always a necessary one.”
• David Schoenfield (ESPN*): Where things stand with Bryce Harper sweepstakes. “Harper sweepstakes could heat up at winter meetings.”
• Michael Cerami (Bleacher Nation): Contract extensions, anybody? Willson Contreras and the Cubs core present some tricky challenges. “...the three that make the most realistic sense are Contreras, Javier Baez, and Kyle Schwarber. The Cubs will keep on trying.”
• Brendan Miller (Cubs Insider): Ian Happ’s improved patience signals possible breakout season. “Only nine other hitters under the age of 26 swung at fewer pitches outside the strike zone than Happ and his 24.7 percent O-Swing. Think about that for a second.”
• Phil Rosenthal (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Rick Sutcliffe gets contract extension from ESPN: ‘A terrific analyst who is as dialed into the game as anyone’. Sure. Should be on the Sunday Night telecast. I love the Red Baron as an analyst.

Food for thought: