Cub Tracks’ the spin is in

I want to tell you, she said she said — tomorrow never knows but right now the hot stove is once again taking its time to warm up. Eventually we’ll all be in the same groove but for now we’re here, there, and everywhere looking for no one. Or for music posts hint hint.

Two for Tuesday, nineteen for me.

Here at Cub Tracks News and Notes, we are closing in on our eighth anniversary. 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.)

For all the talk about the Cubs’ pending breakup, the team might emerge as the NL Central favorite by default if its payroll cuts are less dramatic than anticipated — Ken Rosenthal.

Your favorite pitcher is probably cheating. — Eno Sarris {$}.

• Ken Rosenthal (The Athletic {$}): Francisco Lindor, Nolan Arenado, GM openings and more offseason storylines. “Variables exist within variables.” Brett Taylor responds.
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): Emergence of Coronavirus Vaccine could boost Cubs’ offseason spending. “... you may be seeing the same issue with this logic as I did ...”
• Mike McGraw (Daily Herald* {$}): Cubs don’t figure to be buyers in free-agency. “... the Cubs have a lot of players who can go to arbitration this winter ...”
• Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): David Ross showed the Cubs didn’t hire a puppet manager. “Ross has emerged as one of the most influential figures in the organization.”
• Bryan Smith (Bleacher Nation*): The fantastic story of Jerrick Suiter, the Minor League Veteran the Cubs have converted and unlocked. “I’m thinking to myself, it’s my second year in Double-A, I’m hitting .230, I’m 26 years old,” Suiter said. “Why not? Let’s see what I’ve got.”
• Dustin Riese (Cubs HQ*): Cesar Hernandez could be interesting fit for Cubs. “The switch-hitting second baseman would give the Cubs another ... option ...”
• Alex Shapiro (NBC Sports Chicago*): LOOK: Cubs fan shares photos of Frank Sinatra’s Cubs gear. “Sinatra is one of the most famous singers to ever name check the North Siders, as he specifically calls out the “Cubbies” in some recordings of “My Kind of Town.””
• Cubs birthdays: Fred Roat, Willie McGill, Jim Cook, Carmen Mauro, Chick King, Mike Vail, Micah Bowie.

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading!