clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Cub Tracks makes it blue

An almost-daily digest of #Cubs, #MiLB, and #MLB news.

If you buy something from an SB Nation link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

SPORTS-BBN-CUBS-RICKETTS-TB John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

Here at CUB TRACKS NEWS AND NOTES™, we have news for you.

The tidal wave, the final wave of the promised waves after waves when those waves failed to reach the promised land after the initial foray, has been in, and is now gone, bearing with it the remnants of hope for the immediate future. I will always remember those players, though they didn’t turn out to be who we’d hoped they’d become, and their supporting cast and direction were clearly not up to the task of making it all happen. Perhaps nobody was.

It is a watershed day for a franchise and a fandom, one that brings a faint aroma of promise but tastes of failure and broken trust and smells like something long-dead. The core imploded and was summarily dispersed to contendahs. The seconds remain, and though they know their lines, there is bound to be some dropoff. All the world might be a stage, but not everybody gets Oscars. Most don’t even get a hearty handshake and a laurel.

Intellectually, I understand. Business is the business of business. Sell the sizzle no matter what the Rock is cookin’.

Emotionally, I am tore up. I wonder how Willson Contreras feels. This is Willy’s team now. Everyone knew something like the Friday massacre would have to happen when the Cubs steadily refused to deal underperforming core vets but the actuality of it is astounding.

And now, the news, at ebb tide, as we drift away... like the beast from 20,000 fathoms.

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.)

“It was the longest, most-drawn-out sudden departure in recorded history.” — Rick Morrissey.

“I want to personally thank Anthony Rizzo, Javy Báez and Kris Bryant,” Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts said in a statement. “Together they played critical roles for one of the most successful runs in Chicago Cubs history. They each secured a place in the hearts of Cubs fans everywhere. While their days taking the field together as Cubs have come to an end, they gave us memories we will hold forever.”

Not serving any food for thought today. Thanks for reading.