Cub Tracks’ what a great little asteroid

Welcome to today’s edition of Cub Tracks news and notes™, a greatest-hits collection of Chicago-style beat writers and bloggers, ground from #Cubs, #MiLB, and #MLB baseball, overheated, steeped in writers’ tears, and then cold-brewed overnight for maximum flavor.

Thanks are in order for the fine accounting work by Al and Dep on the payroll update. That is a good read. Skip the text below if you’re here for the links.

I still don’t like the way the team operates but Jed Hoyer’s direction becomes clearer with more information. I’d still like a different GM but I’m pretty sure that his issues come from above, so I’ll lay off Jed for now. Tom, though... grr. Like someone said, the way the brass talks to the paying customers is indicative of their regard. Call it Cubbie bluenose, if you will.

That said, my Magic 8-Ball says the team is going to be better than expected. Almost dramatically better in the power department, reads the scrying crystal. The penciled-in prospective starting nine-ish (see below — slightly altered from my original, and could easily change again (these are the people that are likely to get 300+ at-bats)) clearly have the potential for 200-250 home runs (given that the conservative side of the result below is 160), and I fully expect them to reach that plateau (Matt Mervis occupying first wouldn’t change that for the worse, as that would move Hosmer to DH, where he’d hit a couple more long balls than McKinstry would, in this scenario). It wouldn’t surprise me to see two or three players clobber 30+ homers. Your mileage may vary. We’ll see what happens at the end of the year — I’ll update this as we continue through the season. @ me then. Each player is linked to their bbref page, and I’ve included what Zips projections I could glean.

1. Hoerner (10-15) (Zips-11)
2. Swanson (20-25) (Zips-22)
3. Happ (20-25) (Zips-22)
4. Wisdom (30-40) (Zips-16)
5. Bellinger (25-30) (Zips-19)
6. Suzuki (20-25) (Zips-25)
7. Hosmer/Mancini (15-20) (Zips-12/?)
8. Gomes/Barnhart (10-15) (Zips-9/?)
9. Mancini/McKinstry (10-15) (Zips-?/10)

The lineup picture is a bit clearer than the pitching right now. Likely it will be through the spring as there are a lot of arms with potential due in camp. Here’s the 40, if you want it.

Less than three weeks until players report.. I’m ready for baseball. How about you?

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• Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): The Cubs bought a bit of credibility with an offseason that signaled some urgency. “The “heavy lifting” is already done this offseason...”
• James Neveau (NBC Sports Chicago*): Projecting the Opening Day lineup for the Chicago Cubs.
• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation*): Justin Steele’s magical fastball. “... a fastball where the batter just seems off.”
• Andy Martinez (Marquee Sports Network*): How the Cubs plan to build their bullpen for 2023 and beyond. “Young guys with options that are less expensive,” Hoyer said. “That’s certainly what we want to develop.”
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): Matt Barnes could be answer as Cubs look to improve high-leverage bullpen depth on budget. “... everyone can agree that Jed Hoyer’s squad could still use a little help at the back end of the bullpen.”
• Kayla Skinner (Fan Nation*): Chicago Cubs interested in remaining left-handed relievers. “According to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal.” {$}.
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): Manny Rodríguez, Anthony Kay outrighted to Iowa after clearing waivers. “Neither can reject the assignment, so the Cubs have effectively added (or maintained) solid bullpen depth.”
• Kayla Skinner (Fan Nation*): Chicago Cubs Sign Veteran Catcher to Minor League Deal. “The Cubs have reportedly inked veteran catcher Luis Torrens to a minor league deal.”
• Jake Misener (Cubbies Crib*): 3 Chicago Cubs players who’ll be better in 2023 and 2 who won’t. See what you think.
• Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic {$}): How Trey Mancini can impact the Cubs with versatility, veteran presence in 2023. “I thought the team would be a great fit,” Mancini said. “With the moves that we’ve made this offseason, it’s a really exciting team to play for moving forward.”
• Jim Callis (MLB.com*): Here are the Top 10 OF prospects for 2023. PCA gets some good love for his good glove. James Neveau writes it up.
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Diving into Cubs’ international prospect signings. “... the Cubs have also added impact prospects via the international market.”
• Marquee Sports Network*: Cubs Weekly Podcast: Kyle Farnsworth.

Food for Thought:

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