Cub Tracks pales by comparison

Man, I dunno. Everything MLB does is so coated in layers and layers of grime that I find it hard to swallow. On the one hand, the Negro Leagues being recognized as Major Leagues is great, long overdue. On the other hand, it is also ground cover for the bull they’re pulling on the minor-league level and deep cover for the bull that’s gonna go down next year when they renegotiate the CBA. But it’s still great.

Color me naturally suspicious, but use a white brush, because I’m seeing an attempt at Tom-Sawyering in the offing. It won’t be long before there never were Negro Leagues, segregated. The rug is already being woven.

I would very much like to be wrong. But there’s a history of such behavior. I also see 42 regular-season games and 120 playoff games being possible, depending on the betting line.

My lawn — you’re standing on it. Please keep your social distance.

Here’s Cub Tracks 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 on this page as sarcasm font. (In the comments section, use @ before and after your remarks @ to produce sarcasm font.)

Nationals GM Mike Rizzo took the unusual step of talking about another team’s player when he told reporters the Nats aren’t interested in trading for Kris Bryant: “We haven’t had a serious conversation about Kris Bryant in probably two years. He was not a big guy on our radar last year or this year. He’s a great player but at this point and time of where we’re at, and what we have in our farm system, and where we’re going, we think we can allocate our dollars and prospect capital in another way” — Jesse Rogers.

• David K. Li (NBC News*): ‘Long overdue’: Negro Leagues now part of Major League Baseball, stats counted in MLB records. Anthony Castrovince has a few words.
• Paul Sullivan (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Even the very rich have had a tough 2020. Look no further than the owners of Chicago’s pro sports teams. “The better their teams fare, the easier it will be for the rest of us to get through another year.”
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): David Ross discusses managerial shortcomings, plans to bat Ian Happ leadoff next season. “As he told 670 The Score’s Laurence Holmes, trying to balance his leadership style with the unique timing was less than ideal.” [AUDIO].
• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation*): Cubs officially announce 2021 Coaching Staff. “Mostly it should look familiar to you ...”
• Todd Johnson (Cubs Insider*): Chicago Cubs Organizational Breakdown, Pt 3: First Base finally trending after years of neglect. “With Anthony Rizzo firmly implanted at first base since 2012, the Cubs really haven’t had a need to go out and develop a replacement.”
• Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic {$}): How the Cubs view their bullpen puzzle going into the 2021 season. “Fans don’t care that the Cubs have made changes to player development.”
• Ann Rogers (MLB.com*): Cubs still ‘have great plans’ for Kris Bryant. “With the way the market is shaping up, there’s nothing imminent or certain about Bryant being traded this winter.” Patrick Mooney {$} weighs in. Boras talks [AUDIO].
• Andy Martinez (Marquee Sports Network*): Jason Heyward mentoring Cubs prospect Ed Howard on and off the field. “He leads the way,” Howard said of Heyward. “I can learn from him and being around him is great for me.”
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Howard impresses Chicago Cubs scouts during Instructional League play this fall despite a long layoff: ‘He’s a sponge who wants it all’. “He made a huge impression,” said Matt Dorey, Cubs senior director of player development.
• NBC Sports Chicago: Tom Ricketts talks about the Raine Group [VIDEO].

Food for Thought:

Thanks for reading!