Cub Tracks bets on it

I’m in. But I’m going to Cub over here, by myself, if you don’t mind. I have some baseballs to work on... the corruption at the top has more layers than a piece of baklava. Holy gamethread word, Batman!

And you know it’s gonna get worse. That’s as safe a bet as having Pat Tabler up with three ducks on the pond. Maybe safer. Maybe Morley Safer, may his eyebrows forever rise.

Don’t look at me in that tone of voice. I’ll let myself out.

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.)

• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation*): Ryan Braun might be done. “I’m continuing to work out and stay in shape, but I’m not currently interested in playing.” Oh noessssss!
• Gordon Wittenmyer (NBC Sports Chicago*): Collusion victim Dawson: Despite ‘squeeze,’ system today ‘fair’. “Dawson ... doesn’t defend what owners today any more than he did 34 years ago.” Hawk talks [VIDEO].
• Larry Hawley (WGN*): What are the PECOTA projections for the Cubs & White Sox in 2021? “Player Empirical Comparison and Optimization Test Algorithm”.
• Tony Andracki (Marquee Sports Network*): A Cubs fan guide to the 2021 MLB season. “It’s been an interesting winter in the baseball world, filled with many scenarios and questions to be answered.”
• Zachary Silver (MLB.com*): Storylines galore at NL Central infield corners. There may not be a more entertaining on/off-field duo than the Cubs’ “Bryzzo.”
• Andy Martinez (Marquee Sports Network*): Hoyer hopeful someone will take Cubs second base job and run with it. “I think we all want someone to kinda grab hold of it and kinda force their name in the lineup every day.”
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): Javier Báez primed for rebound as access to in-game video being restored under new MLB Safety Protocols. “... he was perhaps the most vocal and honest player when it came to discussing the loss of in-game video access.”
• Andrew Golden (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Who is Joc Pederson? 5 things to know about new Chicago Cubs outfielder, including his grilling prowess and how he followed his father’s major-league footsteps. Pederson’s dad was nicknamed “Beef.”
• Maddie Lee (NBC Sports Chicago*): Why Jed Hoyer is excited about Pederson ‘betting on himself’. “I was excited about it,” Hoyer said in a Zoom press conference this week, “because I liked the fact that he was taking control of the situation.” Jordan Bastian doubles down. Patrick Mooney {$} probably started the wheel spinning.
• The Athletic {$}: MLB 2021 farm system rankings: Keith Law grades all 30 teams on prospects. “... with a brief explanation of why they’re in this order.”
• Lindsay Adler (The Athletic {$}): MLB updates harassment, discrimination policies in wake of alleged misconduct. “The flier also provides information about the newly established anonymous hotline...”
• Daryl van Schouwen (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): MLB announces health and safety protocols for 2021. “Failing to follow strict coronavirus protocols could result in fines, suspensions.”
• David Syrek (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Chicago Cubs celebrate Black History Month with a limited-edition collection of shirts and hoodies honoring Ernie Banks, Buck O’Neil. Good-looking gear but pricy. Should sell a bunch of them though.

Food for Thought:

Please close the door behind you and will the last one out turn off the lights? Thanks.