Cub Tracks gets static

Well, the Cubs have added to the infielder pool with a claim of Sergio Alcantara and still haven’t officially announced the last three free-agent signings. Let’s hope there are no real issues as we head into Super Bowl weekend, a certain harbinger of the coming Spring.

Not a heck of a lot going on in the Cubosphere but a few interesting reads nonetheless.

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.)

• Alex Chamberlain (Fangraphs*) The superlative Kyle Hendricks. “You know it’s almost time for baseball season when all of the major projection systems forecast Hendricks‘ ERA one run per nine innings too high.”
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): After recovering from ‘weird injury,’ Rowan Wick plans to execute simple plan for success. “What really set Wick apart early on was the spike-curve that came in almost 20 mph slower than his mid-90’s heater ...”
• Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic {$}): Cubs roster projection 1.0: The transition year is underway. “It’s not a new way of doing business as much as a different set of circumstances...”
• Maddie Lee (NBC Sports Chicago*): Cubs’ biggest roster holes with two weeks until Spring Training. Let’s recap how we got here.
• Dayn Perry (CBS Sports*): Why the Cubs might need a big rebound from their ‘core four’ to keep them in contention in 2021. “... it’s tempting and maybe a little justifiable to dismiss the Cubs’ chances to repeat in 2021.”
• Evan Petzold (Detroit Free Press*): Another prospect traded to Detroit Tigers for J.D. Martinez gone from organization. “... infielder Sergio Alcantara was claimed off waivers by the Chicago Cubs.” Jordan Bastian addresses this.
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Prospect Brennen Davis a ‘ball of clay’ in tough 2020. “The Site B thing was kind of like a bummer for a lot of guys,” Davis said. “But for me, it was probably the best situation developmentally that I could be in.” Brett Taylor addresses this.
• Lance Brozdowski (Marquee Sports Network*): Top 20 Cubs prospects: 2021 preseason. “Prospect rankings are a living, breathing organism.”
• Marquee Sports Network*: Cubs teaming up with Chicago artist Nikko Washington for Black History Month collection. “The proceeds from his work will benefit The Bloc Chicago, a nonprofit that uses boxing to provide resources and opportunities to the city’s youth.” More on this from Clinton Yates at the Undefeated.

Food for Thought:

Thanks for reading.