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Cub Tracks strikes back

Cubs and MLB news -- The Cubs are coming, The Cubs are coming, and other stories

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Ron Luciano
Lucky, he wasn’t.

Well, a bunch of new players were signed today. I suspect the next time we’ll read their names is when they’re DFA’d but hey! this is the offseason that is, and the Cubs Convention has commenced, for what that’s worth. Some of the front-page people are attending.

I’m only there in spirit. Maybe as a poltergeist — I’m just trying to get to the other side of things. Anyway we’ll be covering the coverage, from a safe distance of 3,000 or so miles. Boo!

Here’s today’s episode of Cubs News and Notes, the only links column that really matters. 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.

Today in baseball history:

  • 1922 - The Chicago Cubs obtain outfielder Jigger Statz and pitcher Vic Aldridge from the Los Angeles Angels of the Pacific Coast League for eight players and cash considerations.
  • 1995 - Former major league umpire Ron Luciano dies at the age of 57, victim of an apparent suicide. An American League umpire for 11 seasons, Luciano gained fame as one of the most colorful and flamboyant arbiters in the game’s history, and as the author of four best-selling books of anecdotes about the game.
  • 2002 - Pitcher Kerry Wood, who had a 12-6 mark with a 3.36 ERA and struck out 217 batters in 174.1 innings, avoids arbitration, agreeing a one-year deal with the Chicago Cubs believed to be worth between $3.5 and 4 million.
  • 2009 - The Chicago Cubs send former top prospect Félix Pie to the Baltimore Orioles for Garrett Olson and Henry Williamson.
  • 2018 - Ignoring resistance from the Players Association, Commissioner Rob Manfred unilaterally announces two measures to speed up the pace of play: the introduction of a 20-second pitch clock with no runners on base, and a change to the definition of mound visits to include those made by the catcher or by an infielder. Previously, only visits by a manager or coach would count, with the second resulting in the automatic replacement of the pitcher by a reliever. The players’ reluctance is seen as a reaction to the slow free agent market this off-season that has resulted in a number of top-notch players still being unsigned a month before the opening of spring training. On February 19th, the Commissioner will come to an agreement with the MLBPA not to introduce the clock, but to go ahead with other measures to speed up the pace of play.

all items from BBRef.

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading.