Cub Tracks bites back

Haha, well, the real Cubs (backbiters!) unwittingly trolled me by making a move right after I hit the ‘send’ button. Still that was a good Sabbath tune and I regret nothing. Today we have a nice piece by new Cub Joc Pederson and various other comestibles for your consideration.

Max Schrock, fare thee well. I will miss the Nosferatu jokes I would have made but wish you luck nonetheless.

Svengoolie will be SO disappointed. Go Chiefs.

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.)

• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Cubs finalize deals with Joc Pederson, Trevor Williams, Andrew Chafin. “... the Cubs designated infielder Schrock for assignment.” Williams deets. Chafin deets.
• Brendan Miller (Cubs Insider*): Predicting Williams’ Whiff Rate via machine learning offers clues to his improvement. “It’s important to remember that this predictive method only considers the variability in Williams’ repertoire.”
• Tony Andracki (Marquee Sports Network*): Where Cubs pitching staff stands after recent signings. “... expect the Cubs to cycle a ton of arms through their bullpen this year.”
• Russell Dorsey (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Cubs ready to push pitchers with open competition in spring training. “Ace Kyle Hendricks and the newly acquired Zach Davies are the only shoo-ins for spots in the rotation. Competition will have to take care of the rest.”
• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation*): Turns out Cubs really did speak “At Length” with Rockies about a Nolan Arenado trade last year. “... there was little reason for the Cardinals to acquire Arenado that the Cubs, themselves, didn’t also have.”
• Joc Pederson (The Players’ Tribune*): 10 years, 2 kids, 1 ring and a whole lot of memories. “At the end of the day, though, the one thing I keep coming back to is: dream big.”
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): Pederson says David Ross, Cubs have promised him full-time LF role. “... the Cubs presented the best opportunity for him both professionally and personally.”
• Tony Andracki (Marquee Sports Network*): What Pederson signing means for Cubs. “His arrival fills a hole in the outfield and also affords manager David Ross another name to throw in the hat for the leadoff spot.”
• Lamond Pope (Chicago Tribune*): Nolan Arenado to the Cardinals to Nelson Cruz’s return to the Twins: Tracking the latest offseason moves in the AL and NL Central. “A combined seven teams from the American and National League Central made the postseason in 2020. None won a wild-card series.”
• MiLB.com: 2019 I-Cubs: where are they now? “Jim Adduci hung up his cleats on his playing career, but will join the Chicago Cubs staff in a new role as the Run Production Coordinator.”
• MiLB.com: Former I-Cub joins PCL coaching ranks. “The Seattle Mariners announced the hiring of Kristopher Negrón to manage the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers.”
• MiLB.com: Lalli to manage Reno Aces. “Blake Lalli, 37, spent seven seasons in the Cubs’ organization as a player, including one with the Iowa Cubs.”

Food for Thought:

That’s where the fun is. Thanks for reading.