Leaving aside the discussion of the benefits pro and con of late-stage capitalism, gentrification, and their effects on the body politic that yesterday’s comments could precipitate, I think we can all agree that the Cubs are in pretty poor shape at present and don’t seem terribly interested in getting much better in the near future.
I don’t imagine players are too keen on locking up big chunks of their playing days to wait for resolution of this fiasco. If I were in that spot, I wouldn’t have the degree of trust necessary to thinking that such resolution and a return to competitiveness will actually occur, and I am resigned to seeing the rest of the ‘core’ drift away like the monster on that ice floe.
Here’s Cub Tracks News and Notes, your every-other-day-except-on-weekends escape from the humdrum. 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. In the text body. It doesn’t work in the headlines.)
"Long after I'm not here, I'll still be here."
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) January 23, 2021
Mr. Cub forever. pic.twitter.com/F4zgcl1TV7
A classic photo of Ernie Banks and Hank Aaron at Wrigley Field. #Cubs pic.twitter.com/WAn3Uig9qe
— CubWin (@CubWin) January 22, 2021
The #Cubs today agreed to terms with catcher Austin Romine on a 2021 major league contract. pic.twitter.com/Jw6gxxXPwR
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) January 23, 2021
21 years old
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) January 20, 2021
80-grade fastball
Has hit 102 mph
The sky's the limit for #Cubs' Brailyn Marquez.
Here's where he ranks on the 2021 list of #MLB's Top 10 LHP prospects: https://t.co/9voCkufmtM pic.twitter.com/oqo22tLfFW
- Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation*): Cubs roster still rockin’ that swiss cheese thing. “... even as the Cubs don’t have a lot of money to offer free agents, they sure can offer clear opportunities for playing time!”
- Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): What are the next moves for the Cubs? “... free agency only emphasized Chicago’s ongoing need for rotation help and depth...”
- Russell Dorsey (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): How Cubs’ scouting and player-development departments are making up for lost time after unpredictable 2020. “... the Cubs’ amateur scouting and player-development departments are adjusting to get the most out of the next wave of prospects.”
- Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): Cubs Farm Boss Matt Dorey explains more aggressive development philosophy, touts several standout prospects. “... the only promise of freedom is a farm system that is going to have to start yielding new stars.”
- Todd Johnson (Cubs Insider*): Cubs International Director Louie Eljaua dishes on newest international free agent class. “It’s crazy how Javy is a silent recruiter for us,” Eljaua said.
- Marquee Sports Network*: Ian Happ on Jon Lester’s impact: ‘He changed this organization’. “He was the most prepared player, the most prepared pitcher I’ve ever seen.” +[VIDEO]
Food for Thought:
"If they survived 41,000 years, I have no idea what the upper limit is." https://t.co/Y4pkAFLHHN
— Futurism (@futurism) January 23, 2021
Why The 'Happy Face Crater' on Mars Is Happier Than Everhttps://t.co/133DGO5R3K
— ScienceAlert (@ScienceAlert) January 23, 2021
Space station observations reveal where a bizarre kind of lightning called a blue jet comes from. https://t.co/SWQsHkLPlv
— Science News (@ScienceNews) January 23, 2021
Thanks for reading.