Cub Tracks’ antitrust fund

Welcome to today’s episode of Cub Tracks news and notes™. Here we have material from current beat writers, bloggers, and the occasional in-house habitué, moonlighting. These pieces center around #Cubs, #MiLB, and #MLB baseball.

It’s beginning to look as though there’s not going to be baseball. I’ve operated on that assumption since the late season, when it became apparent to me that several teams, the Cubs prominent among them, were simply not planning to field useful teams in 2022.

From where I sit, it looks like ownership is trying to break the union once and for all, and make baseball a right-to-work proposition. The inmates are trying to have more control over the facilities. Their struggle mirrors the national economic struggle in many ways.

Al, on the front page, referenced Ronald Blum (the Associated Press sports stringer) and an article he published Sunday afternoon. I saw that, and had already published my article posted below, and saw little to change my mind.

“... each side thinks the other has not made proposals that will lead toward an agreement replacing the five-year contract that expires at 11:59 p.m. EST on Dec. 1.”

And that’s the state of things, current as of press time. We are expecting cake to be served. Indeed the case of the 60-game season has yet to be legislated. It’s lawyers all the way down.

But, until that’s confirmed, let’s act as though there will be baseball, though the timing of these releases of information, so close to the World Series, is ominous as hell, and you know the stuff is leaked on purpose.

We just don’t know yet what the purpose is, and as always, we await developments. I don’t think Bruce Meyer is the new Marvin Miller, and this proceeding is important to labor relations in other endeavors, given the relative strength and position of the MLBPA in public life and the potential for precedent in some of these notions and motions. YMMV.

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• Ronald Blum (AP): Major League Baseball work stoppage almost certain on Dec. 2. “Baseball’s ninth work stoppage and first in 26 years appears almost certain to start Dec. 2, freezing the free-agent market and threatening the start of spring training in February.” Brett Taylor touches on this.
• Dayn Perry (CBS Sports*): MLB CBA negotiations: Seven important questions as baseball work stoppage appears likely this winter. “... the business of baseball is going to be the main character of the coming offseason...” Tim Stebbins has words.
• Duane Pesice (Cubbies Crib*): Chicago Cubs could have their hands tied by CBA negotiations. “Negotiations have proceeded slowly, and both sides appear to be bracing for a lockout that could start either on Dec. 1 or when players are scheduled to report to spring training in February.”
• Bruce Levine (Marquee Sports Network*): As Jason McLeod prepares to leave Cubs, his legacy will carry on in Chicago. “The 48-year-old Hawaiian native has the distinction of being the scouting director and minor league boss for two iconic baseball franchises that won the World Series with him as a top executive.”
• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation*): The Chicago Cubs are hiring for two Front Office positions. “... developing top front office talent internally is just as important.”
• Tim Stebbins (NBC Sports Chicago*): Patrick Wisdom earns Silver Slugger nomination after breakout season. “Wisdom is one of four finalists among National League third basemen for a 2021 Silver Slugger Award.”
• Michael Brakebill (Cubbies Crib*): Chicago Cubs, Ian Happ have come to a fork in the road. “The problem with Happ, is when he is on he is really on and when he is off he shouldn’t even be in the lineup...”
• Gordon Wittenmyer (NBC Sports Chicago*): Core value: Velazquez forcing way into Cubs plans. “Velazquez, 22, sees himself in the middle of a Cubs’ homegrown renaissance in the next two to three years — with enough talent, he said, to do the kinds of things the last homegrown core did.”
• Todd Johnson (Cubs Insider*): 40-Man Roster issues complicate how many Cubs may protect from Rule 5 Draft. “As of this post, the Cubs have 47 players on their 40-man roster.”
• Christopher Klein (History.com*): The crime of passion that led to Babe Ruth’s epic World Series Home Run. “... Cubs shortstop Billy Jurges answered a knock on the door of Room 509...”

Today in Cubs history:

• 2011 — New Chicago Cubs President Theo Epstein announces the appointment of Jed Hoyer, who worked with him with the Boston Red Sox, as the team’s new general manager. The San Diego Padres are expected to name Josh Byrnes as Hoyer’s replacement and will receive a player in compensation from the Cubs.
• 2016 — The Cubs tie up the World Series with a 5-1 win over the Indians in Game 2. Jake Arrieta does not allow a hit until the sixth, while the Cubs score against Trevor Bauer in the top of the first and add runs in the third and fifth. Anthony Rizzo scores twice while Kyle Schwarber drives in a pair.
• Cubs birthdays: Andy Sommers, Harry Chapman, Tommy Griffith, Otto Vogel, Steve Ontiveros.

Food for Thought:

Thanks for reading.