Cub Tracks’ wide world of ports

#Cubs, #MLB, and #MiLB news, notes, and commentary, four days a week, rain or shine. Buoy oh buoy do we harbor doubts. 2025 starts in about a week.

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.

(we like the live stuff when possible)

The trade winds will be blowing soon enough and free agents will be looking for fresh ports of call. The Cubs will be calling upon some of them, hopefully not shopping on the value shelf, and from time to time such events will be considered in this space.

Mind you, there is no scrying in baseball, so such prognostication is likely foredoomed, but we’ll bet our bippies on those slim chances and, as always, await developments. We do not yet know who the fickle finger of fate will appoint.

Photo by Imeh Akpanudosen/WireImage

We just know that it will probably be weird. You know what to do.

*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.

• Jake Misener (Cubbies Crib*): Wild John Lackey numbers from 2016 spell out what the Cubs need this offseason. “The game has dramatically changed in the last eight years – and these statistics demonstrate that.”
• Aldo Soto (Spots Mockery*): A Free Agent prediction the Cubs should be all over. “… right-handed reliever Clay Holmes…”
• Jake Misener (Cubbies Crib*): 1 forgotten Cubs injury that completely changed the 2024 season. “The mishandled Dansby Swanson injury proved costly during Chicago’s offensive tailspin.”
• Brian Kelder (North Side Baseball*): The problems posed by Nico Hoerner’s arm surgery, and a few possible solutions. “… it seems very possible this is related to when Nico Hoerner was hit by a pitch on the right hand on Jun. 7…”
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): Cody Bellinger’s future leads 4 bold-ish predictions for Cubs offseason. “… the odds are good for Bellinger to test the waters…”
• Marci Rubin (Fansided*): Anthony Rizzo using Cubs experience to fuel Yankees World Series run. “… Rizzo is taking nothing for granted in his second trip to the World Series.”
• Alonzo Small (WGN9*): Cubs, Sox fans among most emotional in sports, study finds. “Among the ‘Most Tearful’ franchises, the Cubs ranked eighth overall across all sports.”

Food for Thought:

Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series. Thanks for reading!