Cub Tracks’ déclassé dismissed

Welcome to today’s episode 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.

Paul Sullivan actually wrote about Bartman Friday. Ugh. It’s a sensitive portrait, mind you, but it’s freaking Bartman. A quarter of a lifetime ago, and best forgotten. But nooo. The Tribune is all over it. So is the Sporting News, and the incident was the lead in the AP’s This Date in Baseball feature.

Repugnant. I think inarguably inappropriate. And to think that it was the Sun-Times that initially outed the man’s name. They have abstained from this déclassé clickbaiting so far, as their article only mentions the heartbreak of the game. The name is hidden in the url.

Sigh.

James Triantos, El Jaguar Kevin Alcántara, and their cohorts are mostly doing well in the Arizona Fall League. I imagine others might play in the Winter Leagues... so much promise. But so far away.

Life without playoffs isn’t as much fun, is it? How did we ever get through all those years on the bad side of mediocre?

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• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation*): The coming changes on the Cubs Coaching Staff are more philosophical than performance-based. Sahadev Sharma has visions {$}.
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): Phillies are what Cubs were supposed to be, maybe what they still can be. “What it comes down to is that Philly has been willing to spend big on big-time free agents... in order to create a team that can compete on an annual basis.”
• Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): Is Justin Steele an anomaly for the Cubs or the beginning of a larger pitching trend? “... this is still a business that revolves around people and razor-thin margins.”
• Michael Brakebill (Cubbies Crib*): Crowded pitching picture could impact how the Cubs build a bullpen. “ ...the Cubs need to add arms this winter.”
• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation*): The Cubs may try to rest Dansby Swanson a little more next season. “Patrick Mooney seems to think so...”
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): PCA: Cubs prospects can’t wait to reach Majors. “There are a lot of guys waiting to get up here,” he said.
• Ryan Taylor (NBC Sports Chicago*): Rolling Stones, MLB partner up for limited edition White Sox-Cubs vinyl records for new album. “The rare collector’s item will be available exclusively on The Rolling Stones’ website.”
• Bullseye with Jesse Thorn (NPR): Joe Maddon, World Series winning baseball manager [AUDIO].

Food for Thought:

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