Cub Tracks has another thing coming

CHICAGO CUBS NEWS

Here at CUB TRACKS NEWS AND NOTES™, we have #Cubs, #MiLB, and #MLB news for you, optimized for SEO and ready to go. Another day, yes? Carter Hawkins and Jed Hoyer said a few words Monday, as was covered on the front page, and Hawkins had some big words:

It just happens less often these days. Let’s hope he’s right. I have reservations, but I’m here to stay. Also, I’ve started outlining a novel, which concerns baseball and gambling, among other things, and which I’ll do during November. Yes, it has robot umps. It’ll be my nineteenth.

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• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Experience key for new Cubs GM Hawkins. “We’re just inching along, just barely going anywhere,” Hawkins said.
• Tim Stebbins (NBC Sports Chicago*): Highest complement: Why Hoyer chose Hawkins as GM. “With his expertise on making players better, whether it’s through player development or high performance, that seemed like a really natural fit,” Hoyer said.
• Gordon Wittenmyer (NBC Sports Chicago*): Cubs’ next move: Hiring a new hitting coach. “Strategist Mike Borzello, whose areas of responsibility included catching and pitching infrastructure during his decade on the coaching staff, also will be replaced...”
• Michael Cerami (MLB.com*): An offseason budgetary reminder: The Cubs saved a whole lotta money in their trades this year. “... back-of-the-napkin math (including the early arb-estimates, a full 40-man roster, and all player benefits/insurance) has the Cubs’ 2022 payroll right around $75 million as presently constructed.”
• Tim Stebbins (NBC Sports Chicago*): What new Cubs GM Hawkins thought of ‘smart’ 2021 selloff. “To move franchise icons like that is difficult,” Hawkins said. “But I think it shows the dedication that the team had to bringing winning baseball here quickly.”
• Mark Powell (Fansided*): Cubs hire Carter Hawkins: What does new GM mean for free agent plans? “As a small-market team, Cleveland relied heavily on player development and scouting, and did so very well for a number of years.”
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Cubs’ offseason plan? ‘Thoughtful decisions’. Hoyer said the Cubs may “reimagine some things” when it comes to the Major League pitching infrastructure.
• Michael Brakebill (Cubbies Crib*): 3 free agents who are a perfect fit at Wrigley. “...there are also free agents on the position player side of things that are key to success moving forward.”
• Bill Quinn (Cubbies Crib*): Where should Nico Hoerner and Nick Madrigal play? “Madrigal is somewhat of a unicorn in today’s game...”
• Keith Law (The Athletic {$}): Arizona Fall League experiments gone awry, plus notes on Spencer Torkelson, Brett Baty and more. “... plans to test out various ideas for speeding up games in the Arizona Fall League this year have been, through a week of games, a complete flop.”
• Food for Thought: