Cub Tracks sits down on the job

Change is in the air. Ima pick out my seat for next year. Here at Cub Tracks News and Notes, we are celebrating the end of my fifth year (and closing in on the eighth anniversary overall) and also it’s almost my birthday. We’re not planning any big celebrations but there you go. 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 on this page as sarcasm font. (In the comments section, use @ before and after your remarks @ to produce sarcasm font.)

“Anyone who quotes profits of a baseball club is missing the point,” Paul Beeston, a former Toronto Blue Jays executive and former president of MLB once said. “Under generally accepted accounting principles, I can turn a $4 million profit into a $2 million loss, and I can get every national accounting firm to agree with me.”

• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): Changes coming as MLB claims $3.1B in losses, Cubs among those shifting scouting model. Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation*): Chicago Cubs reportedly moving even further toward video-based pro scouting. “... it’s not just about watching video remotely, but also increasing reliance on technology.” Reactions to Evan Drellich article {$}.
• Tim Stebbins (NBC Sports Chicago*): Rob Manfred on limiting shifts: ‘It remains a really hot topic’. “I think there is a widespread consensus in the game that we’ve become too dependent on walks, strikeouts and home runs,” Manfred said.
• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation*): How much does a pitcher’s own defense contribute to beating his FIP? (This is a Nerdy Post About Kyle Hendricks and Alec Mills). “... their 3 Defensive Runs Saved each were the highest in baseball.”
• Andy Martinez (Marquee Sports Network*): State of the Cubs: Left field. “League-wide, I think the pressure of making the adjustment, getting out of the slump, knowing that there’s only 60 games to play with wore heavy on a lot of guys and on our guys, too,” Theo Epstein said at the end of the season.
• Gordon Wittenmyer (NBC Sports Chicago*): Anthony Iapoce ‘absolutely’ likes Cubs chances if hitting core back. “I know moving forward guys will be a little more comfortable going into the year, whatever MLB decides for 2021,” said Iapoce.
• Jon Greenberg (The Athletic {$}): What’s on NBC Sports Chicago and where isn’t Stan Bowman?: Dollars and sense. “NBC Sports Chicago saw positive results from its White Sox coverage in its first year without the Cubs.”
• Paul Casella (MLB.com*): Players with options, opt-outs for ‘21 season. “The Cubs are unlikely to pick up the $25 million option on Lester, but they might try to work out a deal to keep him in Chicago ...”
• Cubs birthdays: Egyptian Healy, Chick Pedroes, Shad Barry, Del Rice, Ralph Kiner HOF, Mike Lum.

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading.