Cub Tracks opens up

Welcome to your Thursday, and today’s episode of Cub Tracks news and notes™, featuring material from current beat writers, bloggers, and the occasional in-house habitué, moonlighting. These pieces center around #Cubs, #MiLB, and #MLB baseball. Scroll down for the links or linger for the potentially inappropriate commentary and the inevitable tweetstorm.

Last episode, we discussed briefly the idea of a blue home plate special, Thursday at the Friendly Confines. Today is Thursday, Opening Day to those in the know.

Since I missed the roundtable discussion mostly because I’m dumb, I’ll make my remarks here.

I too think that the Cubs might sneak into a wild-card spot. They have a lot of similar players — high floor, mayyybe ceiling. They’re probably not going to be 100-loss bad but they’re almost definitely not going to be 100 wins good either. The starting pitching just leaves too many questions. Even with a healthy Wade Miley there are questions. Kyle Hendricks is a lot of them. The others follow Marcus Stroman.

(listens for sounds of oddsmakers salivating)

My main questions are in the outfield. Center field is an enigma wrapped in a fortune cookie, and left field makes Patrick McMurphy look for the beef. I need to see a lot of Clint Frazier before I hop on board. I need me some switch power and good eyes from Ian Happ. Or I need Rafael Ortega to play out of his mind. On the other tentacle, I like Michael Hermosillo a lot. Seiya Suzuki I have few worries about. I think he’s a 25-homer, 75K guy who’s gonna love hitting third or cleanup, especially against lefties. I want Rivas an an alternate in left also. I want that man to get some at-bats.

I don’t have as many questions as most in the infield. My main issue is health. Patrick Wisdom is what he is. I hope for 30-35% K rate. The rest of his game is just fine. Frank Schwindel isn’t going to tank. Al’s slash line looks good to me. A healthy Nico Hoerner and Nick Madrigal are going to be on base a LOT and this team will score some runs, with a smaller percentage than usual being due to the long ball. I don’t think you have to be the second Whitey Herzog to do that. Just play the numbers with the high BA, high OBP guys you have. These Cubs are not powerless but they could use some lefty thump. We all know that. Someone is going to have to defy handedness.

Anyway, BOLD predictions:

85-77, wild card, gets into second round. No fire sale at the deadline, but no significant acquisitions, either. Win a division series but lose the NLCS, is my vote.

Hendricks wins 15. Stroman matches him. Two other starters win double digits. David Robertson is the real deal and saves 30.

Wisdom leads team in homers with 38. Nico Hoerner gets Gold Glove mentions at short. Willson Contreras stays put — Gomes is traded for a younger model.

Jason Heyward reverts to form and suffers a mysterious injury. Alfonso Rivas does his Thad Bosley impression.

There you go. Please to remonstrate below.

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• Rick Morrissey (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): The beauty of Opening Day and the differing measures of hope for the White Sox and Cubs. “Let there be no talk about the labor strife that had its hands around baseball’s neck during the offseason. That can wait until Day 2.”
• Tony Andracki (Marquee Sports Network*): New Cubs explain why it truly is so ‘different’ at Wrigley Field. “It’s different here.”
• Chip Brewster (WGN-TV*): Wrigley Field Cubs games most expensive experience in MLB: report. “You might want to set aside some extra cash...”
• Jake Wittich (Black Club Chicago*): Cubs Opening Day is Thursday. Here’s where you can eat, drink and shop locally before and after the game. “Local businesses in Wrigleyville, the Southport Corridor and elsewhere in Lakeview are ready to celebrate the Cubs’ home opener Thursday with deals, live music and more.”
• NBC Chicago*: From Rainbow Cones to Twisted Taters: new ballpark food for Chicago White Sox, Cubs fans. “Move over, peanuts and Cracker Jack.”
• Kory Rumore (Chicago Tribune* {$}): What’s the weather for the Chicago Cubs’ home opener — and how has it impacted debuts at Wrigley Field since 1989? “As is often the case with early-season baseball games, the forecast for Thursday doesn’t look particularly picnic-worthy,” Brett Borchardt wrote.
• Meghan Montemurro (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Kyle Hendricks remains the link between where the Chicago Cubs were — and where they’re trying to get back to. “I just want to be a part of that, so I’m just trying to be a part of this group and this team and just win,” Hendricks said.
• Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic {$}): Daniel Norris and the Yankees sweeper, Patrick Wisdom working on high heat and introducing Coach Miley. “Over the last few years, the Cubs have had some success bringing in relievers and helping them find their best selves.”
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): ‘This is life-changing’: Watch prospect’s dream come true. “I said, ‘Dad, that’s going to say, “Home of Ethan Roberts,” one day,’” the rookie pitcher said. “I’ve been thinking about this for a long time.” Maddie Lee had words about this.
• Tim Stebbins (NBC Sports Chicago*): Clint Frazier, Nick Madrigal among 2022 breakout candidates. “... the Cubs were active this offseason, bringing in a flurry of new faces as they look to remain competitive during this transition period.”
• Michael Cerami (Bleacher Nation*): Cubs reportedly made a “huge offer” to Carlos Correa. Stephen Nelson told Lawrence Holmes, and they told two friends...
• Andy Martinez (Marquee Sports Network*): Essence of a leader: Jason Heyward’s profound impact inside the Cubs clubhouse. “He’s been in charge of making sure the team is united,” Ildemaro Vargas said. “That’s a leader.”
• Richard Johnson (Cubbies Crib*): How will Seiya Suzuki compare to top Japanese MLB hitters? “He absolutely raked in Nippon Professional Baseball, and the Cubs are paying him to do that here in the States – will he?”
• Logan Whaley (Cubbies Crib*): This year, it’ll be more important than ever to follow the Iowa Cubs. “Manuel Rodriguez is one name that many fans will know or have come around to learning of late.”
• WNDU: South Bend Cubs enter first season under new manager Lance Rymel. “It will be the 34th year of minor league baseball in South Bend...”

Food for Thought:

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