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Saturday is my day to pinch-hit for the ill Duane. As is the case with many pinch-hitting situations, I’m really not up to Duane’s standards. If I was, I’d be starting instead of on the bench. So please bear with me.
Also, please get well soon, Duane. We miss you around here.
- Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma look at what’s at stake for the Cubs in the current collective bargaining talks. (The Athletic sub. req.) This article focuses on how certain CBA areas of disagreement get settled will impact on what the Cubs do this upcoming season and in the years ahead.
- I don’t normally link to podcasts, but Geoff Pontes and Kyle Glaser use the Baseball America podcast to take a look at the Cubs’ farm system and BA’s Top 10 Cubs prospects. I believe anyone can listen to this.
- As a bonus, they tweeted out some video of Cristian Hernandez taking batting practice.
️: Cristian Hernandez established himself as arguably the top player in the 2020-21 international signing class.
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) January 28, 2022
Set to make his U.S. debut this year, how much can he help the @Cubs organization?https://t.co/1l13mYEPWs pic.twitter.com/5ONeti1mRD
- Assuming the Cubs don’t sign Carlos Correa (which is likely), Brett Taylor suggests the Cubs take a look at shortstops Jonathan Villar and Jose Iglesias.
- The Cubs have promoted Matt Dorey to vice president of player personnel.
- The Cubs announced some other front office moves, as Jared Banner moves into Dorey’s old position as VP for player development. There are several other moves reported in that article, including former Cub Danny Hultzen being promoted to Major League Pitching Strategist.
Excited to share that I’ve accepted the opportunity to serve as the Minor League Infield Coordinator for the Chicago @Cubs. I’m very proud to be joining such a great organization, and excited to work collaboratively within player development to build baseball’s best infielders! pic.twitter.com/0g5Y8dp5xS
— Ryan Serena (@Ryan_Serena4) January 28, 2022
Former Cubs assistant amateur scouting director, Lukas McKnight, has joined the Cleveland Guardians front office as Senior Scout of Player Acquisitions. McKnight was out of baseball in 2021 after spending the previous 21 seasons in the Cubs org as a player, scout and executive.
— Sahadev Sharma (@sahadevsharma) January 28, 2022
- Tim Stebbins examines how Sammy Sosa could still get into the Hall of Fame.
- Andy Martinez looks back at the career of Cubs shortstop Don Kessinger.
- The Cubs have signed submarine reliever Eric Yardley to a minor-league contract. Yardley pitched for the Brewers last season.
- The Cubs have also signed left-hander Matt Dermody to a minor league deal. Dermody pitched one game for the Cubs in 2020 before spending the 2021 season with the Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball.
- This isn’t Cubs news, but it’s useful anyway. Lindsey Adler and Eno Sarris answer some questions that people (maybe you) have about analytics. (The Athletic sub. req.) So if you’re having trouble understanding the difference between FIP and SIERA, this is the article for you.
Four @MiLB pitchers have each received a 60-game suspension without pay following their violations of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. pic.twitter.com/smaAD4VgiC
— MLB Communications (@MLB_PR) January 28, 2022
Carlos Garcia, a left-hander from Cuba, pitched for the Cubs in the Dominican Summer League in 2021.
- Some nice pictures of minor leaguers.
So exciting to see all the talented position players in the Cubs system (and this barely scratches the surface of how many there are!) @jgnwogu42 @ehowardIV Cristian Hernandez @ReginaldPrecia4 and Kevin Made #Cubs #CubsProspects #baseball #GoCubsGo pic.twitter.com/aNJyKX4HH4
— Rich Biesterfeld (@biest22) January 27, 2022
Food for thought:
- Dionne Warwick is having a “moment” right now, thanks in part to her funny and sunny persona on social media. But it’s also a sign that more people are discovering (or re-discovering) her music. This video demonstrates why the Burt Bacharach and Hal David song “Promises, Promises” may be the most-difficult pop song ever written. And of course, it shows how Dionne Warwick absolutely nails it. As my wife said, “Duh. She’s Dionne Warwick. Of course she did.”
- Derek Thompson looks at pre-Industrial European sleeping habits and whether they might have some lessons for us today. (Answer: it’s complicated, but not really. But they’re still interesting.)