Cub Tracks boldly goes

Here at CUB TRACKS NEWS AND NOTES™, we have #Cubs, #MiLB, and #MLB news for you, optimized for SEO and ready to go. Well, impending news, anyway. The Cubs are reported to be about to select a General Manager from the four-name pool that was bandied about not long ago. It isn’t the guy everyone wanted, though.

For, about, a, minute, we, didn’t, have, to, settle. But it ain’t like that, any more. I don’t think the Cubs are planning to play in 2022. It sure doesn’t look like it. James Blish would have written it better. Harlan would have flipped it the bird.

Yeah, I have trust issues with a group of people who have already proven incompetence in several important areas, and also fired a bunch of their scouts in 2020. Their model is the old-school ‘efficiency expert’ so favored by certain societal classes, and I see them pretty much as Ferengi, except, perhaps, not as pretty.

“Let others keep their reputation. You keep their money,” they say. Also, “never cheat a Klingon... unless you’re sure you can get away with it.”

We have voyaged far, Cubs fans. The Prime Directive has gotten little and furry and its meanings have multiplied like tribbles since we entered the Cub Tracks Continuum. We, are, still, involved, in, the, Long, Khan! And, as always, we wait for next year, on the edge of forever.

It’s hard to see the future. Nonetheless, on we go. Warp speed. Phasors on stun. No static at all.

Wouldn’t you like to be a trekker too?

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.)Here at CUB TRACKS NEWS AND NOTES™, we have #Cubs, #MiLB, and #MLB news for you, optimized for SEO and ready to go.

While he focused on relaxing and resting in preparation for Tuesday’s Game 4 of the American League Division Series against the Chicago White Sox, Correa made sure his day included eating deep-dish pizza.

“Every time I come to Chicago, I’ve got to have one,” Correa explained. — Meghan Montemurro.

• The Athletic {$}: Cubs targeting Cleveland’s Carter Hawkins as new general manager: Sources. Not Carlos Rodriguez. Well, he specializes in player development. Brett Taylor reaction. Jordan Bastian is re-sourceful.
• Tim Stebbins (NBC Sports Chicago*): New ex-Cubs factor? Check out who’s headlining October. Baker’s dozen?
• Michael Brakebill (Cubbies Crib*): 3 areas the front office must improve this winter. “... there are several key areas in which this financial flexibility could be spent ‘intelligently.’”
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider): Among potential big-ticket Cubs targets, Carlos Correa makes more sense than Marcus Stroman. “... the possibility exists that they could add significantly to what is currently a very low payroll if the right opportunity comes along.”
• Gordon Wittenmyer (NBC Sports Chicago*): How Correa sees possible fit with Cubs this winter. “I was, like, these fans are great. So yeah.”
• Meghan Montemurro (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Correa loves Chicago — and deep-dish pizza — so would the Cubs target the Houston Astros shortstop in free agency? It doesn’t appear likely. “The Cubs, however, do not appear inclined to commit the type of money and contract years needed to sign a top-tier player this offseason.”

• Bill Quinn (Cubbies Crib*): 5 guys on postseason teams who are a perfect fit. “... while it might be a necessary evil to push the button on a bit of a restart, it doesn’t have to last.”
• Tony Andracki (Marquee Sports Network*): Projecting the 2022 Cubs roster. “Entering a pivotal offseason for the future of this franchise, very few players are locked into spots...”
• Todd Johnson (Cubs Insider*): Outfield leads way as position group rankings show changing depth in Cubs system. “... a little insight into the depth, or lack thereof, the Cubs have in the farm system.”
• Lee Bosch (Marquee Sports Network*): Cubs 2021 Arizona Fall League preview. “The Arizona Fall League makes its return Wednesday...”
• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation*): Minor League Park Factors for 2021 are out – How did the Cubs’ ballparks skew this year? “... one of those slices of context...”

Food for Thought:

Live long and prosper.