Cub Tracks tunes in

The holiday season is just getting started, and there’s nothing under the Cubs’ tree just yet. Not much out on the links either, but you never know when things will turn the corner and I’m prepared to put the prettiest damn ribbon on it that I can scrounge, and a fresh coat of paint if necessary. La la la la life goes on.

In the meantime there’s apple pie and pumpkin pie and such comestibles for breakfast, and some of these here links. It’s cold where I am. I’m thinking about getting back under the covers.

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). {$} means paywall. {$} means limited views. Italics are often used here as sarcasm font.

• Paul Sullivan (Chicago Tribune* {$}): White Sox off to a fast start, but for most of baseball it looks like another slow-moving offseason. “What once was a blip may now be the norm.”
• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation): Cubs coaching and development hires – including their first woman – underscore how serious they are about improvement. “Will the organizational overhaul bear fruit as soon as this season?”
• Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): Trust the process: How the Cubs can land a starter and reshape their rotation. “It depends on moving parts,” Theo Epstein said. Brett Taylor has more on this.
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): Addison Russell only Cub listed among 41 non-tender candidates. “... Russell may be in search of a new team.” Brett Taylor elaborates. Bruce Levine offers his thoughts. Al will have his at 9 a.m. CT.
• Tim Stebbins (NBC Sports Chicago*): Cubs free agent focus: Howie Kendrick. Cole Hamels here.
• Cubs birthdays: Frank Killen, Elmer Koestner, Ed Mayer, Steve Hamilton, Bob Tewksbury, Matt Lawton, Rich Harden, Luis Valbuena, Alec Mills. Also notable: Bo Jackson.

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading.