Cub Tracks trucks crab

Here at CUB TRACKS NEWS AND NOTES™, we have news for you, four days a week. Today’s edition is rather caffeinated. Bear with us... or bean with us... I like my coffee black, over ice.

Boog said “Pittsburgh native, Ian Happ.” This reminds us of a joke.

The season is winding down to its inevitable whimper and there are SO MANY QUESTIONS. What to do with young pitchers, surprise successes, injury-prone personnel. Are the ‘elder rookies’ bona fide or fido? Who starts, who’s on the bench? What does “intelligence” even mean in this context?

Cub Tracks is not mollified by any of this Orwellian doublethink. We are not impressed by the free agent class or the capabilities of the front office, except for maybe Dan Kantrovitz, and frankly at this point we are half-hoping that this train wreck will get a year off due to the CBA.

Okay, we’re half-joking about that. But we do note that the simCubs got to the division playoffs with the young catcher, the Pittsburgh-area native, and Ryan Yarbrough, who we got in trade for Q and Zack Short.

They flat-out might be the best bet for your entertainment dollar. This year’s model has won 94 games so far and will be sitting out the playoffs, as the Brewers and Cardinals both fielded better teams. The Giants deified Pythagoras and were hit by the thagomizer — they’ve won 71 games, close to their preseason projection.

Half-joking because we are honestly interested in seeing potential platoons in play: Frank Schwindel and Alfonso Rivas, Rafael Ortega and Nico Hoerner (may the gods of baseball heal his oblique), outfield configurations involving Ian Happ/Patrick Wisdom/possibly Michael Hermosillo. Hopefully not Jason Heyward. Infield combos featuring Hoerner/Bote/Alcantara (should he return)/Duffy (should he return).

My read between-the-lines is that David Ross and Kyle Hendricks both would really like to see a dependable quality shortstop out there. The good thing is that this is very possible. It’s just become unlikely that it’ll be Hoerner. The Cubs will have to buy one. The slow-tossers need up-the-middle defense. The batting order needs a lefty masher.

It’s going to be a long winter, isn’t it?

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Bleacher Nation companion article: A first look at this year’s robust Free Agent Class and whom the Cubs might target.

• Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): What it means when the Cubs are going to be ‘really active’ in free agency. “Right now, there’s no team identity, no standout position group, no phase of the game at which the Cubs consistently excel.”
• Marc Severson (Cubbies Crib*): Chicago Cubs have options aplenty role for closer’s role in 2022. “... Rowan Wick appears to be manager David Ross’ choice as ‘closer du jour’.”
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Frank Schwindel’s 23rd multihit game: ‘He can hit’. “Better late than never,” Schwindel said.
• Mike McGraw (Daily Herald* {$}): Patrick Wisdom hoping next step with Cubs includes more contact. “... until these guys sign a long-term deal, one bad stretch could bring their run with the Cubs to an end.”
• Gordon Wittenmyer (NBC Sports Chicago*): Cubs put Wisdom on IL without reason in possible COVID move. “He just went on the injured list. With him, it’s the end of his season,” Ross said of Wisdom. “He’s had a really great season.
• Meghan Montemurro (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Chicago Cubs shut down 2 injured players, while Nico Hoerner’s status for the final week is in limbo. How much can they count on him in 2022? “The main thing for me is if you’re going into next season, penciling (Hoerner) in or putting him in for 150 games, that’d be a little naive, right?” Ross said.
• Ryan O’Rourke (Cubbies Crib*): Chicago Cubs: Nico Hoerner’s future is clouded by a year of injuries. “... one of the more infuriating aspects of this season was all the injuries to players who really needed the playing time...”
• Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): Trust the process: Why the Cubs bet on Brennen Davis and how the top prospect put himself on the big-league radar. “When you’re assessing risk, the money becomes less of the issue and the pick becomes more (important),” Matt Dorey said.
• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation*): Cubs second rounder James Triantos tabbed as one of the best prep hitters to come out of the draft. “... the early returns on the Chicago Cubs’ second round pick in 2021 make it look like a home run.”
• John Landecker (WGN*): Meet Pete Pantos, the 92-year-old Cubs usher who played under Ty Cobb [AUDIO}.

Food for Thought:

Thanks for reading.