#Cubs, #MLB, and #MiLB news, notes, and commentary, four days a week, rain or shine. The process of cooking the roster down begins in the spring. Tons of video.
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. No artificial intelligences were deployed, employed, entranced, or embalmed in the commission of this missive (apparently I might be training some though). Cub Tracks eagerly awaits the advent of robotic umpires and has already amended the three laws. The going is weird. Cub Tracks turned pro a long time ago.
Cub Tracks. Where the great ones run away.
The Vogelbach has retired and joined the Pirates; front office. Mike Trout is unavailable for comment. I don’t think Nolan Arenado is going to don Cubbie Blue. Do you?
More of the Denise Vasquez story, from 12News.
Suzuki and Happ on 2025 expectations, Cubs roster [VIDEO].
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- Jesse Rogers (ESPN*): Spring training 2025: Why it’s a crucial season for Cubs. “I think we’re in a competitive window,” president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said.
- Michael Cerami (Bleacher Nation*): The Cubs are one piece short and I think they kind of know it. “… the MLB playoff landscape is very different than it was before the last CBA.”
- Mitch Widmeyer (North Side Baseball*): Will Ben Brown be the Swiss Army knife of the 2025 Cubs pitching staff? “Now fully recovered after his 2024 campaign was cut short due to a neck strain in June, Brown is a major X-factor for this Cubs roster…”
- Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Veteran Pressly, ‘electric’ Hodge form dynamic duo for Cubs. “I see a lot of similarities of a young Ryan Pressly in a young Porter Hodge,” Hottovy said. Patrick Mooney has reaction and more {$}.
- Matt Danielowicz (Marquee Sports Network*): Inside swing adjustments from Pete Crow-Armstrong and Miguel Amaya with Cubs hitting coach Dustin Kelly. “The incredible part about Pete and ‘Miggy’ is we come to them with these ideas, they have to do it.”
- Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Are Swanson, Hoerner sound after injuries? “Dansby’s healthy. He’s out here doing everything,” Counsell said.
- Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): ‘We made the best offer we could’: Cubs, Hoyer react to missing on Bregman. “Obviously, disappointed. He’s a great player — was a great fit,” Hoyer said.
- Andy Martinez (Marquee Sports Network*): How Cubs plan to develop Matt Shaw in the wake of Alex Bregman news. “Despite his minor league success, Shaw isn’t guaranteed to light the world on fire when he reaches the majors.” Tony Andracki on his injury. Evan Altman has KB vibes. No safety net, says North Side Baseball.
- Andy Martinez (Marquee Sports Network*): Cubs spring training notebook: Pete Crow-Armstrong’s new hairdo shines at camp. “Expected. Expected,” manager Craig Counsell said. “I like it better than last year’s look.”
- Jay Cohen (AP*): Suzuki and Counsell are working on their communication in spring training with the Cubs. “I feel like last year, we could have had better communication,” Suzuki said through a translator. “So going into this year, I feel like we’re improving upon that, and then making it better during the season.”
- Steve Greenberg (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Confident Kyle Hendricks — a ‘lock’ for Angels rotation, GM says — eager to prove himself again. “I feel more prepared now than I’ve been in other years,” the ex-Cubs said at Angels camp.
Food for Thought:
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