Cub Tracks comes in for a landing

Don’t know about you, but I’m excited to see Ian Happ attempt to disprove the end of last season, potentially, and also to see young Brennen Davis play a few innings with the big club. I have expectations, like Jason Heyward does. Certainly you do, too.

I’m looking forward to Adbert Alzolay in the rotation and the renascent Jake Arrieta, and I’m doing my damnedest to keep things at that level as long as I can, but we proceed in awareness that Kevin Mather’s views are not unique or even unusual among the people who own and run sports teams.

This means that any compromise is the devil’s bargain, Joni Mitchell. How long can that lead zeppelin stay aloft? Only time will tell. For now, we are golden, earth creature.

Here’s Cub Tracks News and Notes, the only listicle you’ll need. 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.)

“I think that it’s a good thing that the fans can see some of the underbelly of the game and some of the issues that we have, especially leading into the end of this year and into a bargaining cycle. It’s unfortunate that that is how a number of people think on the other side and in and around baseball. I don’t think that that’s an isolated incident, and I think that it’s very important that people understand that. I hope that both sides can work together to improve that because the system allows for it.” — Ian Happ.

“Not everybody got to get the work that that Brennen did last year in South Bend. So, everybody’s in a different place, and it’s nice when you get to come into this type of environment, see MVPs, Gold Glovers, Silver sluggers, All-Stars all around the field and watch how they work and their routines. And you can learn a lot from that.” — David Ross

• Gordon Wittenmyer (NBC Sports Chicago*): Why Adbert Alzolay is Cubs’ X factor in rebuilt rotation. “At this point I know what I can do in this game,” said the 25-year-old right-hander. Jordan Bastian offers Jake Arrieta’s thoughts on Alzolay. Evan Altman adds his.
• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation*): The massively massive Chicago Cubs bullpen competition. “The Cubs will likely open the season with nine or ten relievers on the 26-man roster, depending on how many bench players they aim to keep.”
• Meghan Montemurro (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Anthony Rizzo isn’t dwelling on his looming free agency, instead focusing on a Chicago Cubs offense that needs to ‘prove it’ in 2021. “Rizzo understands if people are skeptical the Cubs will produce like they should after their recent underwhelming track record.” Patrick Mooney has a few words {$}. Sahadev Sharma has Rizzo on his mind as well {$}.
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): A brief case for Nico Hoerner to get more time in minors. “... development is not linear...”
• Russell Dorsey (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Hoerner looking for more offense after becoming a defensive standout in 2020. “Hoerner raked third in the National League with plus-five defensive runs saved in 2020 and is looking to have his offense match his defense.”
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): Weird, Kris Bryant’s not the only one concerned about service time manipulation. “Bryant’s far from the only player who’s been impacted by this particular brand of manipulation...”
• Jake Crouse (MLB.com*): Breaking down NL Central outfields. “Good outfield defense is crucial in an era of heavy fly-ball contact, and the National League Central is home to some great fielders — and great hitters — in its outfield ranks.”
• Michael Cerami (Bleacher Nation*): Ian Happ isn’t going to blame the foul-ball-to-the-eye for his performance down the stretch (but). “... the story matches the data so well.” Elaborating on a Sahadev Sharma article {$}. Tim Stebbins takes a look at the situation, too.
• Meghan Montemurro (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Happ begins spring training in a new situation — locked into the Chicago Cubs starting lineup: ‘From a mental perspective ... it’s definitely different’. “Not everybody gets there, and just to be able to be in the system is quite a privilege.” Russell Dorsey has words too.
• Tim Stebbins (NBC Sports Chicago* ): Heyward on no one picking Cubs to win in 2021: ‘I love that’. “Preseason numbers and picks don’t mean anything.”
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): ‘Take it in’: Cubs prospect Brennen Davis joins camp. “It will be a chance for Davis to gain some big league experience before embarking on his Minor League season.” Maddie Lee also writes about this.

Food for Thought:

Thanks for playing along.