Cub Tracks is en pointe

Yay we have more Joe Giglio for you! This time Kris Bryant is going to the dreaded red birds. Oh, I needed that laugh. Here’s the 2020 ZIPS projections. They’re better than Pecota, who hate the Cubs.

Welcome to your weekend. I’m cooking French peasant food today (Cassoulet). Dinner’s about six. Bring an appetite and a little vin rouge.

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.

Hahahaha.

• Barry Rozner (Daily Herald* {$}): Cubs’ Epstein not surprised he’s gone from hero to target of fans’ wrath. “The key is you don’t listen when they’re saying nice things about you, and then you don’t have to listen when they’re not,” Cubs president Theo Epstein said recently.
• Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): ‘He’s kind of edgy again’: How will new manager David Ross put his stamp on an unchanged Cubs team? “... the 2020 season doesn’t have to be a countdown to the July 31 trade deadline, or a math homework assignment on how to get below the $208 million luxury tax threshold.”
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Ross’ first spring leading Cubs to set tone for ‘20. “I want to work. I want to do things the right way,” Ross said recently.
• Jason Smith (WTTW): Baseball Season Preview: Jason Benetti, Len Kasper on White Sox, Cubs in 2020.
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): Feels like Cubs are hoping to win in spite of themselves. “... I really don’t know what the Cubs are doing this offseason.”
• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation): PECOTA’s initial 2020 Cubs Projections are out, and they sure don’t like too many Cubs. “PECOTA really hammers the Cubs for a lack of positional depth...”
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Adbert Alzolay wants to be the Cubs’ 5th starter: ‘I think my pitch is going to be the changeup’. “Sometimes I will lose the feeling of my changeup,” Alzolay said. “Now I’m more consistent throwing down in the zone, down and away.”
• Tim Stebbins (NBC Sports Chicago*): Cubs questions entering camp: Can Craig Kimbrel bounce back in 2020? “Rather than fortify the bullpen, Kimbrel had his worst season as a big leaguer.”
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Breaking down the Cubs’ options at second base. “... you could see a combination of players fill that role for us, including the possibility of someone that’s not currently on the roster,” said Epstein.
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Bryant declines to discuss his service-time grievance with the Cubs amid trade speculation: ‘You’ve got to tune out stuff that doesn’t benefit your day-to-day life’. “I’m playing baseball for a living. I can’t complain about anything.” More Bryant from Evan Altman. Jesse Rogers opines.
• Phil Rosenthal (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Meet Marquee Sports Network reporter Taylor McGregor, who’s joining Cubs TV from the Rockies: ‘The whole crowd went, “Don’t take Arenado with you!”’ “McGregor is the only new regular joining Len and J.D. on game telecasts.”
• Cubs birthdays: Steve Dillard, Felix Pie.

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading.