Cub Tracks drops the ball

“It’s not about how much you spend,” Tom Ricketts said on The Score’s Mully & Haugh Show (10/30/2019). “It’s about how much you win. And the correlation between spending and winning is not nearly as strong as we’d like it to be...” — Patrick Mooney {$}.

This defines the offseason so far.

The Cubs did not hit the luxury tax in 2018, so this was only a 20 percent tax on the overages. If they eclipse the threshold again in 2020, they will be looking at a 30 percent luxury tax and would see their top draft pick drop 10 spots if they go over by $40 million. - Tony Andracki.

There’s your cost.

Oh, I can hear it now:

Theo, to Marc Pollack (Rizzo’s agent): “Hi Marc. How ya doin’? Look, I have been thinking hard about Anthony and his family’s needs going forward, and I’d like to talk to you about Bobby Bonilla.”

Pollack: <click>

Theo redials. “Hi Marc. I think we accidentally got cut off.”

Pollack: “No, we didn’t. I hung up on you. Bobby Bonilla? I don’t think so. We’re interested in a couple less years than that, and a couple more zeros. This is the face of the Chicago Cubs, a special human and terrific player.

“Make me a real offer.”

Theo: <sigh> “You know I have my limits...”

Pollack: “Call me when you can. I have press to do.” <click>

“The Cubs have informed us that they will not be offering Anthony an extension at this time. Anthony has let his desire to be a Cub for life known to the organization. Although we do not know what the future holds, a deal to make that happen will not be addressed now.”— Marc Pollack.

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.

Que? This doesn’t look to be on Javy’s Instagram account. What is it anyway? Weird.

mmkay then.

• Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic {$}): Sahadev Swings: Behind the scenes with Cubs director of hitting Justin Stone. “In my opinion, the majority of swing errors aren’t mechanical flaws, they’re physiological,” Stone said.
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): Let’s spend a few moments on idea that Cubs could sign Nicholas Castellanos sans trades. “... it’s possible the real money the Cubs are looking to free up lies elsewhere.”
• Ryan Davis (Forbes*): The 10 worst Chicago Cubs of the last 10 years. Daniel Descalso is sixth. Also, an All-Decade team.
• Paul Sullivan (Chicago Tribune* {$}): 5 things to know about the Baseball Hall of Fame voting, including only 1 sure thing — and Sammy Sosa barely staying eligible. “Procrastinating baseball writers who seemingly can’t work without being on deadline have one more job on tap this year.”
• The Athletic’s Hall of Fame voters reveal their 2020 ballots {$}. One voter says: “I will not vote for players who were caught using PEDs after the league cracked down, but I’m OK voting for those who used when the game let them.” That alone might be worth a word or two. Included for the Sammy love but there’s a lot more here.
• 670 The Score: Joe Maddon a willing sounding board for Cubs players. “... when you spend five years together and you grow like we did and you win a World Series like we did and you almost win two others like we did, you tend to get really close.”
• Cubs birthdays: King Kelly (HoF), Fred Beebe, Loyd Christopher, Jim Tracy, Steve Engel, Rick Aguilera.

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading.