It’s a dicey proposition, but the Cubs got out the checkbooks this weekend. Two pitchers and an outfielder join the squad heading into spring training, whenever that should happen. None are THE GUY that everyone wanted but all three have MLB innings under their belts and that has to count for something. We’re trying to mull over what it all means.
Kohl Stewart and Trevor Williams can at least be penciled into the rotation battle and Joc Pederson has the inside track to the left-field post at press time. It could be worse — in fact, it was, a few days ago.
Cub Tracks isn’t ready to take the lemon pledge yet, but we’ll track to wax a little more positive on these pages, at least until something untoward happens. However, we’re willing to gamble that the good times won’t last. The situation is far from static.
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.)
Source: Former Pirates starter Trevor Williams has agreed to a major league deal with the Cubs, pending physical. Had offers from multiple teams, deal will likely include some deferred money.
— Evan Altman (@DEvanAltman) January 30, 2021
“The Rickettses did not buy the Cubs to get rich. They already were rich.” — Paul Sullivan.
I made a 1973 Topps Javy Baez card. As you can see from the photo at right, that was my baseball card design when I was 4. BTW, please extend him #Cubs pic.twitter.com/ziNybCHUI6
— MBDChicago (@MBDChicago) January 30, 2021
- Paul Sullivan (Chicago Tribune* {$}): What is ‘CubStop’ and how can it be combatted? Explaining the phenomenon to the average Chicago Cubs fan. “... it’s easy for fans to become confused about what exactly is going on.”
- Jon Greenberg (The Athletic {$}): Joc Pederson, Candace Parker bringing a bit of sports positivity. “Tom Ricketts must’ve made some scratch on GameStop.”
- Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation*): Chicago Cubs signing righty Trevor Williams to a one-year deal. “... Williams is a command and control guy who stated giving up just a tick more walks, and a lot more dingers.” Jesse Rogers confirms. As reported on the front page.
- Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): Willson Contreras again connected to Angels, considered ‘Luxury’ at this point. “... keeping Kris Bryant and Contreras — or at least choosing not to give them away — would be a clear sign that the Cubs do indeed want to contend.”
- Russell Dorsey (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Javier Baez and the Cubs are better together than they are apart. “... Baez, 28, has just entered his prime ...”
- Michael Cerami (Bleacher Nation*): Remember that time Joc Pederson trolled Addison Russell? “I like this guy already.”
- Todd Johnson (Cubs Insider*): Chicago Cubs organizational breakdown, pt 10 – Shortstops prepping to play King of the Mountain. “They’ve got a bunch right now, but there can be only one at the top.”
- Locked On MLB Prospects Podcast: Farm system rundown: Chicago Cubs (Part 1).
- Marquee Sports Network*: How lifelong Cubs fan Bill Murray played a part in Rick Sutcliffe’s first career stolen base. “I’m shaking his hand and he looks at me and goes ‘Hey Sut, why don’t you steal a bag for me today?’…you know, whatever,” Sutcliffe said.
- Steve Trout (NWi Times*): What the Cubs Convention means to me. “The weekend of “Cubs Love” has been the most fan-friendly gathering in all of baseball.”
- Lamond Pope (Chicago Tribune* {$}): With or without Curt Schilling, the 2022 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot figures to produce plenty of debate. Dan Haren had it right. It’s going to be ugly.
- Maddie Lee (NBC Sports Chicago*): Women in baseball panel: Porter story ‘bothered me deeply’. “I wondered, was she the only one?” Dionne Miller said. “Did it happen to other women who are afraid to come forward?”
Food for Thought:
We gave these AI music experts an unusual request — and what they delivered will blow your mind. https://t.co/heeT1oNWfx
— Futurism (@futurism) January 30, 2021
Elisabetta Matsumoto is untangling knitting’s math secrets to improve tunable materials.
— Science News (@ScienceNews) January 30, 2021
https://t.co/i8BQucFiGO
The system can guide satellites and direct military operations. https://t.co/Bc9prKq14B
— Futurism (@futurism) January 30, 2021
Thanks for reading!