In this explosive edition, Anthony Rizzo speaks up, Bryzzo are still tight, the Cubs still have the same third baseman but the national media don’t care, Joe Maddon takes some shots, and other items will amplify, mystify, and hypnotize. Sooo many lulz and even some news. Don’t pass it by!
Now if we could just get to the point where chatter on the field and in the stands drowns out the trade buzz. — Evan Altman.
All the news, printed to fit — 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.
Pitcher Taijuan Walker and the Seattle Mariners are in agreement on a one-year, $2 million contract, league sources tell ESPN. Walker can earn up to $3 million total based on incentives.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 12, 2020
If the Cubs saw this guy out there, they'd be tripping over themselves to get him into the org and into the Pitch Lab.
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) February 10, 2020
The good news is that he's already here. It's Tyler Chatwood. Dang that stuff is still just so tantalizing. pic.twitter.com/pu5xLvTQUg
“A five-year shelf life in Chicago is almost equivalent to 5 to 10 somewhere else. At the end of the day, man, there’s nothing to lament there. That was the most successful five years that the Cubs have ever had.” — Joe Maddon
Minor League News: Free-agent catcher Jordan Procyshen has announced via Instagram that he has signed a contract with the #Cubs. pic.twitter.com/YG7XgkVJad
— Dodgers-LowDown (@DodgersLowDown) February 12, 2020
- Paul Sullivan (Chicago Tribune* {$}): As a new Cubs era begins, old wounds resurface between Joe Maddon and Theo Epstein. “philosophical differences” Rick Morrissey has his say. ESPN started it. Jordan Bastian offers interpretation. Cam Ellis looks behind the curtain. Gordon Wittenmyer turns the page. Evan Altman dog-ears the page for further reading and reads into things a bit. Sahadev Sharma {$} takes all three sides.
- Gordon Wittenmyer (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Cubs: ‘We definitely have a chip on our shoulder’. They’re humble and lovable. Bruce Levine says they’re ‘out to prove something’.
- Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Rizzo proud of Kris Bryant’s grievance attempt: ‘For someone like Kris to stand up like that is good for everyone’. “In this game, everyone has been manipulated somewhere, some form,” Rizzo said. Theo Epstein says there are no hard feelings, according to the AP. More Gonzales and Rizzo.
- Gordon Wittenmyer (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Cubs’ Rizzo: ‘Luxury tax wasn’t meant to be a salary cap, and teams are treating it like that’. “Are you sacrificing winning a championship to be under the tax threshold? Who knows? We don’t know that.”
- Cam Ellis (NBC Sports Chicago*): Healthy ankle and all, Rizzo’s ready – and excited – to embrace the ‘Rossy’ Era. “It’s good – it’s exciting. I hear him talk, hear how passionate he is,” he said.
- Dan Santaromita (NBC Sports Chicago*): With spring training starting, Ben Zobrist has no plans to play. “... it sounds like Zobrist is calling it a career.” Ripped from the front page!
- Chris Bogossian (Chicago Tribune* {$}): 5 things to know about Cubs target Jason Kipnis, including his ‘Dirtbag’ nickname and why he sings Adele songs to himself during games. “Manny Acta, the Indians manager for Kipnis’ first two seasons, used it affectionately and was responsible for making the longtime nickname public.” Jared Wyllys adds on.
- Mike Axisa (CBS Sports*): MLB rumors: Cubs still exploring Kris Bryant market; Rockies GM ducks Nolan Arenado questions. I don’t even want this train to stop any more. It runs over everything in its path. Such mileage! Chris Halicki from SI has more. Patrick Mooney {$} has more and more. Morosi’s original.
- Cubs birthdays: Bill Bradley, Gilly Campbell, Donnie Moore, Matt Mieske.
Food for thought:
Like a hard drive in a computer, devices called quantum memories store quantum information. https://t.co/YnGfnEhgBG
— Science News (@ScienceNews) February 12, 2020
A Rare Human Disease Found Hidden in an Ancient Dinosaur Tail Still Plagues Us Today https://t.co/EjrgH5toyu
— ScienceAlert (@ScienceAlert) February 12, 2020
By the time the universe was 2 billion years old, this galaxy had already bulked up to 300 billion solar masses. But then it mysteriously stopped forming stars. https://t.co/l8JOFsea3y
— Science News (@ScienceNews) February 12, 2020
Thanks for reading.