Cub Tracks on parade

I may not have a leg to stand on but I will pursue my goals nonetheless. 2016 was so much more fun than 2019. Yeah, the holes were there. We saw them. But we had faith that they would be attended.

That faith was not rewarded.

But you knew that. Don’t forget to start collecting your cross-genre cover tunes, hydrate generously, imbibe moderately, celebrate the holiday of your choosing, and of course, indulge in rampant trade speculation during this, the onset of the one-year tank, or the return of interminable Cub fumbling, whichever shall be manifest, praise be the gods of baseball.

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.

• Brendan Miller (Cubs Insider*): Rowan Wick’s elite active spin rate provides blueprint for Cubs’ new pitching development strategy. “... the Cubs are counting on it to improve the organization at a lower cost than big-ticket free agents.”
• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation): Is the LOOGY actually dying? I’m not sure the new three-batter rule will actually have a huge impact. “I just don’t really get the problem as a general matter.”
• Dan Santaromita (NBC Sports Chicago*): A Kris Bryant to the Braves trade rumor provides a view into his potential value. “Any three of these four... Ian Anderson, Austin Riley, Drew Waters and Kyle Wright”. Everyone has their version by now.
• Todd Johnson (Cubs Insider*): Cubs organizational breakdown, Pt. 5 – Chris Morel headlines thin group of 3B hopefuls. “... between trade talks and impending free agency, the Cubs are going to need a third base prospect in relatively short order.”
• Ryan Davis (Forbes*): If the Cubs trade Bryant, they may as well just rebuild. “... the Cubs continue to sit in a self-created purgatory.”
• Dan Santaromita (NBC Sports Chicago*): Reds viewed as leaders for Cubs target Shogo Akiyama. “The Reds have already added Mike Moustakas and Wade Miley this offseason so they appear to be going for it this season.”
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Bryan LaHair’s path from non-prospect to Cubs All-Star. “A lot of things had to fall into place...”
• Jon Greenberg (The Athletic {$}): Dollars and sense year in review: With new management, are big changes coming at ESPN 1000 in 2020? “The Score is the radio home of the Cubs...”
• Cubs birthdays: nope. Also notable: Count Sensenderfer, Ted Lyons (HoF), Bill Lee.

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading. Happy holidays.