Cub Tracks fills in

Other than wondering about what’s gonna happen at the Cubs Convention, I don’t have many thoughts currently. Well, Cub thoughts anyway. I have plenty of unrelated thoughts, but that’s another matter entirely. The pic is because I’m hoping that a way can be found for Daniel Descalso to find his way to another community. Just in case you wanted to know the madness behind the method.

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.

• The Heckler: 2016 Cubs officially the only team not to cheat to win a World Series this decade.
• Tony Andracki (NBC Sports Chicago*): How Cubs try to keep the opposition from stealing their signs. “The Cubs have gotten into the habit of constantly changing their signals...”
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): There’s no such thing as too much information for the analytically minded coaches on David Ross’ Cubs staff. “I want as much as experience as I possibly can because I’m going to need help in a lot of areas,” Ross said last month at the winter meetings in San Diego.
• Tim Jackson (Pitcher List): Analyzing Chicago Cubs hitters For 2020. “The core hitters on the Cubs helped the team register as the 11th-best offense in the major leagues last year...”
• Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic {$}): Small transactions, behind-the-scenes moves tell story of Cubs’ 2020 vision. “... the overall long-term health of the organization is their priority.”
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): Are Cubs at risk if search for practitioners of ‘Electronic Dark Arts’ expands? “Probably not.”
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Yu Darvish jokingly awaits Dodgers’ 2017 World Series parade in the wake of Astros sign-stealing penalties. “... if that is the in the works, can someone make a Yu Garbage Jersey for me?”
• Mark Sheldon (MLB.com*): These are NL Central’s top middle-infield duos. “Any discussion about the middle infield for the Cubs starts with Javier Báez.”
• Bryan Smith (Bleacher Nation): New Cubs Prospect Alfonso Rivas offers a very interesting profile. “He is a “real” prospect, top 30 in the A’s organization.”
• Larry Hawley (WGN-9): Cubs and White Sox projected win totals released by Caesars Sports Book. Cubs have the slight edge.
• Tony Andracki (NBC Sports Chicago*): Sammy Sosa restates his Hall of Fame case in fascinating conversation. “Sosa said if he ever came back to Chicago, it would be for the fans because he feels like he owes them.” Discusses Marc Carig article {$}.
• Cubs birthdays: Jim Murray, Dizzy Dean (HoF), Bob Ramazzotti, Moe Morhardt. Also notable: Jimmy Collins (HoF).

Today in baseball history:

• 1960 - Alvin Dark is traded to the Phillies for Richie Ashburn.
• 2017 - Barack Obama welcomes the Cubs to the White House.

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading.