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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.
IMO the MLBPA will never agree to any sort of cap without the opening of the books. They want a fair share of the profits. As salaries have gone up exponentially, so too has the profit margin. And expenses.
A salary floor is possible. Maybe even doable, ‘in the best interests of the game.’ Maury Brown has some rather prescient comments in this Forbes article* {$}.
“… nothing galvanizes the players more than the topic of a cap system.”
Evan Drellich had some pointed words in his Athletic piece last year{$}.
The most important question in Major League Baseball is not when the league will expand to 32 teams, or if technology should aid umpires in calling balls and strikes. It’s whether commissioner Rob Manfred and the owners are preparing for the largest fight for a salary cap in more than 30 years.
Revenue sharing? Well, then the books have to open, don’t they? Otherwise, how does one go about deducing such a figure? … my $0.02. Al and Sara have explained better, at much greater length.
The second Gilded Age is underway. Let the Good Times Roll.
*means autoplay on, (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome). {$} means paywall. {$} means limited views. Italics are often used on this page as sarcasm font. The powers that be have enabled real sarcasm font in the comments.
- 670 The Score*: Crane Kenney: ‘It’s a very realistic expectation’ for Cubs, Wrigley Field to host the MLB All-Star Game in 2027. “The commissioner has basically made it very obvious – fix your security issue, and I’m going to award you an All-Star Game,” Kenney said.
- Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Cubs pivot ‘pen plan after Scott’s deal with Dodgers. “Other notes: Counsell talks Seiya at DH; Swanson, Hoerner updates.”
- Phil; Rogers (Forbes* {$}): Cubs have internal options to work high-leverage innings. “… they have a chance to create an opportunity for the next Hector Rondon…”
- Tim Stebbins (Marquee Sports Network*): How Cubs’ Ben Brown is attacking offseason after injury cut his 2024 short. “It just took some time, and that’s ultimately what my injury needed,” Brown said.
- Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Horton eyes ‘seat on the plane’ with Cubs. “I’m just wanting to find a seat on the plane and help my team win,” Horton said. More Horton from Tim Stebbins. Michael Cerami has words, too.
- Tim Stebbins (Marquee Sports Network*): Cubs: A curious update on Nico Hoerner’s injury. “… he has not started throwing or hitting this offseason.”
- Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation*): Matt Shaw ranks as one of the best Third Base prospects in baseball. “The Cubs are not alone in that belief.” Sam Dykstra’s Top 10. More Shaw from Jordan Bastian.
- Matt Danielowicz (Marquee Sports Network*): How Wiffle ball helped Kyle Tucker’s approach against left-handed pitching. “We would play Wiffle ball out in the back yard growing up,” Tucker said.
- Brian Kelder (North Side Baseball*): The road map to improvement at bat for Chicago Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong. “We’ve seen (more or less) the full force and value of the Cubs’ young center fielder’s speed and defense already. What has to happen, though, for his bat to round out the profile?”
- Paul Sullivan (Chicago Tribune* {$}): What ‘mistakes’ did Sammy Sosa apologize for? The retired Chicago Cubs slugger says it wasn’t PED use. “The statement is the statement,” he said at the Cubs Convention. More Sosa from Sullivan* {$}.
- Karli Bell (Marquee Sports Network*): Cubs fans are the ‘best medicine’ for Ryne Sandberg. “[Friday night] was awesome. It was something special that I’ll really never forget,” Sandberg said.
Food for Thought:
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