There’s gonna be baseball this month. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. The jury is still out, the situation is still flexible, events are liquid, and I’m fresh out of axioms that apply, so rather than court censure, I’ll bend the rules just a little and enjoy an Old Style while I pen this perfidy. Feel free to join me. First one to find the frog wins.
I dunno about you, but I’ve been watching the Caribbean League to get my fix. And brushing up on my Spanish while doing so. Good brand of ball.
The writers address several pressing issues (there’s still not much news today, as in a good chunk of the offseason). Zack Short tries to iron out his swing, we consider what it would be like to have Nolan Arenado on board, and we may not be done making moves. Farewell, Pedro.
Pedro Strop thanks Chicago and #Cubs fans: pic.twitter.com/2Lko64VWyc
— Cubs Zone ™️ (@CubsZone) January 30, 2020
Seeya, Nick — I would have liked to see you play in the good laundry this year, at the one ST game I plan to attend. Enjoy.
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.
Submitted by Arizona Phil on Fri, 01/31/2020 - 1:01pm.
Also, Craig Kimbrel will be switching from #24 (the number he wore with the Cubs in 2019) to his long-time #46 (which was worn by Pedro Strop for the previous seven seasons), so discussions about retiring Lee Smith’s #46 will likely be tabled until after Kimbrel finishes his time with the Cubs.
it beggars belief that whatever problems Bryant had in 2014 between Double-A and Triple-A were solved in seven games in 2015... — Sheryl Ring.
- Jesse Rogers (ESPN*): Jed Hoyer Q&A: Where the Cubs stand with Kris Bryant and more. “We’re not necessarily finished making moves going into spring training.”
- Aldo Soto (Sports Mockery): Latest roster move opens up spot for incoming Cubs reliever. Minus Travis Lakins, plus Jeremy Jeffress.
- Nicholas D. Blazek (Fansided*): Chicago Cubs come in with unproven arms, and that’s fantastic. Tommy Hottovy thinks so. Remember the Sahadev Sharma {$} article a couple days ago? Yeah. ‘Bullpens are notoriously fickle’ is the new reality. Caveat emptor.
- Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation): Rockies beat writer could see Cubs as trade partner on Arenado, but not for Bryant. Or not just for Bryant, and not now anyway.
- Tim Ryder (Metsmerized*): Mets should be all-in on Bryant. “Bryant is the type of player Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen must meet any demands to acquire.”
- Sheryl Ring, Esq (Beyond the Box Score): The Bryant ruling shows MLB’s “impartial” arbitration is a farce. “The MLBPA should fire arbitrator Mark Irvings for refusing to require MLB teams to act in good faith.”
- Ryan Thomure (Cubs Insider): Only egos at greater risk as Cubs extend safety netting. “Seriously, there are grown-ass men out there claiming that they go to games largely in order to snag fouls.” Google ‘Kent Sterling’ for a nitwit counterpoint. Hoo boy.
- Evan Altman (Cubs Insider): Short improving approach by reducing emphasis on longball. “You foul off a pitch you’re supposed to hit and you’re like, ‘Damn, I’m in a 1-2 count already and I had two good pitches to hit.’”
- Cubs birthdays: Orval Overall, Sheldon Jones, Ted Tappe, Warren Brusstar, Pat Tabler, Paul Kilgus, Ronny Cedeno, Scott Maine, Also notable: Charlie Frisbee, George Halas, Red Schoendienst (HoF).
Food for thought:
Three Years On, This Is The Spot ESA's Schiaparelli Crashed Into Mars https://t.co/3FQV9tG5yo
— ScienceAlert (@ScienceAlert) February 1, 2020
What will it take for humans to trust self-driving cars? https://t.co/WWOnbKjNgd pic.twitter.com/mpRP5RPadH
— Popular Science (@PopSci) February 1, 2020
This Hardcore Planet Is So Extremely Hot, It's Ripping Apart Its Own Atmosphere https://t.co/RfFC15V7Lv
— ScienceAlert (@ScienceAlert) February 1, 2020
Thanks for reading.