#Cubs, #MLB, and #MiLB news, notes, and commentary, four days a week, rain or shine. The bad contract blues and other stories. Plus BOC before Bloom and nourishing food for thought.
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.
Some people have confidence, however scanty, in Jed Hoyer’s ability to put together a decent baseball team for the 2025 season. I think they’re rebuilding the rebuild and trying to cut salary so as to maximize profit no matter what the record.
If the Cubs are not doing that, then the optics are wrong. I don’t think they are. It’s pure profiteering. There’s no desire to win except by accident. The deal is to have a chance, and that’s apparently enough.
Let’s skip the Ferengi pictures this time. Y’all know where I am on this, and have been since before the selloff.
What fans want is for the owners to COMMIT TO WINNING. That doesn’t mean throwing all the money at everyone. But it does mean that the team needs to get the best players it can. And they don’t, and they won’t.
Bob Nightengale drives today’s news like he’s late for a flight. I’m not sure I’d hire that hack but you get your taxi rides where you want.
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Ex-Cub Robinson Chirinos has a new job.
“Come on,” one GM said, “who’s going to touch that contract? The risk is just too great for the production.”
- Michael Cerami (Bleacher Nation*): The Cubs reportedly sound weirdly eager to move out salary. “… my confidence for any sort of confidence-inspiring offseason is waning.”
- Jared Wyllys (Fortune* {$}): Chicago Cubs cutting payroll is moving the wrong direction. “… per Bob Nightengale of USA Today, more cuts could be on the way…” Evan Altman has more.
- Meghan Montemurro (Chicago Tribune* {$}): How Chicago Cubs lefty Shōta Imanaga found success as a rookie — and how he’s looking to build off it. “Imanaga’s ability to make a smooth transition from Japan to the majors went beyond his execution on the mound.”
- Matthew Trueblood (North Side Baseball*): How the Cubs will fix Matt Thaiss’s pitch framing to shore up 2025 catching corps. “… the player they’ve already acquired has unexplored upside—and they might prefer to create value through great coaching, rather than paying for raw talent.”
- Jim Margalus (SoxMachine*): White Sox could second-guess drafting Nick Madrigal, but not trading him. “If there’s anything to figure out, it’s how Madrigal was so highly valued in the first place.”
- Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation*): Matt Shaw named to the Premier12 All-World Team, and gets big praise from his manager. “On the tourney, Shaw hit a ridiculous .412/.500/.706, led the tournament with 14 RBI, and had as many extra-base hits as strikeouts.”
- Andy Martinez (Marquee Sports Network*): State of the Cubs: DH has question marks, despite seemingly obvious choice. “Not every player can adjust to the challenges of manning that role, but Suzuki’s ability to do that helps the Cubs.”
Food for Thought:
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