Spring Training Miscellany: Picture Day, Doggy Day, Lester Versus Bryzzo, Hype Aplenty, More
Guys got all fancy today for Picture Day.
REPORT: Cubs Will Raise Minor League Salaries By At Least 50% This Year
The Cubs are squeezing in a competitive advantage while also doing the right thing
Kris Bryant Feels Like He’ll Be with the Cubs for a While Yet, and He’s Ready to “Strap It On”
I am digging this, and I’m ready to focus on this team as constructed.
Jon Lester on the Commissioner’s Trophy: “It’s a Very, Very Special Thing That He Brought Down Quite Significantly”
It’s more than a dang “piece of metal.”
Kris Bryant Started to Get Eaten Up at the Top of the Zone, So It Looks Like He Tweaked His Stance
The game of adjustments. Bryant is always working to improve.
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MLBits: Cardinals Pitching Concerns, Markakis Goes Off, Happ’s Breakout, Fantasy Rankings, More
Markakis thinks the Astros got off way too easy and says they “need a beating.”
Just Noting It: Angels Still Looking to Pick Up a Starting Pitcher and Have Financial Flexibility
If the Cubs were to shop a guy like Jose Quintana or Tyler Chatwood, the Angels could be an option after the scuttled Ross Stripling trade.
Souza Loving on Cubs Fans, Kipnis and Hoerner, Manfred Caught Off Guard, and Other Cubs Bullets
It remains to be seen what role Souza will have with the Cubs, but he’s got a good attitude.
Brewers Adding Utility Man Brock Holt, Which is Another Nice Addition for Them
It’s been a winter of cheap-but-useful additions for the Brewers.
Spring Training Miscellany: Ross Addresses the Troops, Big Boy BP, Kipnis Fitting in, More
The full squad is assembled, with workouts underway.
Cubs Players Seem to Be on Board with the Idea That David Ross Was the Change the Team Needed
It’s not a direct shot at Joe Maddon to say that elements of the clubhouse were no longer working, and that David Ross is now a better fit.
Tom Ricketts Speaks: Keeping Core Together, Luxury Tax as Salary Cap, Theo, Marquee, Spending, More
The Cubs’ owner gets into the financial weeds just enough to keep it interesting.
Javy Báez Extension Talks: Still Existent, But Have Been “Up and Down”
There’s no reason to freak just yet that there isn’t a deal, but it’s also not a lock that it happens before the season.
Commissioner Speaks: No Player Punishment, Red Sox Investigation, Rays Tampa-Montreal Plan, MiLB Raises, More
The commissioner wants the Astros scandal behind him as quickly as possible.
Castellanos on the Cubs’ Math Test, Big Love for Cubs Prospects, Darvish is King, and Other Cubs Bullets
Dang it’s gonna suck seeing this guy on the Reds. Also, Yu Darvish is the best.
Nolan Arenado Reported to Rockies Camp, Which Changes the Dynamics Again
This won’t entirely put rumors to bed, but it is definitely a line of demarcation.
Cubs Have Their First Major Streaming Deal for Marquee Sports Network: Hulu+ Live TV
This is not only great news on its own, but it’s also a huge domino.
Spring Training Miscellany: Cubs Bring Umps for Live BP, Baez Accountability, Catching Drills, Morrow, More
The intensity is already a little different in Mesa this year for the Cubs.
Javy Baez Talks About Player Preparedness and Togetherness the Last Two Years – It Doesn’t Sound Great
We keep getting more and more of a window into how things had turned in the clubhouse.
Spring Training Miscellany: Kipnis Arrives, Ross Without Ego, Lester Physique, More
Little bits from around Cubs camp today.
When Even Kris Bryant is Lighting You Up for Cheating and Believes Buzzer Claims? It’s Over
Carlos Correa tried to defend Jose Altuve by talking about his “terrible tattoo,” but man, this just isn’t going anywhere.
Supporting Almora, ARod Owning Mets, Mikolas Arm Concerns, Phillies Phinances, and Other Cubs Bullets
Almora was not in a good place last year, and you wonder if he was getting the support he needed.
Kris Bryant Speaks: No Hard Feelings, Trade Rumors, Denies Turning Down Huge Extension, More
Bryant was emphatic that he never turned down a huge extension from the Cubs.
Kris Bryant Reports to Cubs Camp, Which Could Finally Reduce the Trade Chatter
We’ll hear from Bryant in a bit, I’d imagine, but I think the chances of a trade before the season are now approaching zero.
Nolan Arenado Speaks: He Just Wants to Be on a Winner
Can things be reconciled with the Rockies, though?
It’s a Start: MLB to Increase Minor League Pay Next Year
I am very happy to see this as a show of good faith.
Cubs Add Catcher Jordan Procyshen on a Minor League Deal, Which Spurs Some Thoughts
Bringing in catchers from certain organizations – I wonder if there’s a pitcher development angle.
Rumor: “Cubs Might Be Creating Media Noise” About Arenado in Order to Up Price Tag on Bryant
It is certainly interesting how public, and undenied, the Arenado-Bryant rumors have become.
Hendricks and Health, Training Staff, Bellinger Blasts Astros, and Other Cubs Bullets
Hendricks is always good, but you can also strive for even better health – because you never know how much impact that could have on performance.
Spring Training Miscellany: Almora in a Better Place, Lester and Ross, Darvish Throws, More
It would be nice to see Almora succeed this year, but it’s an uphill climb.
With Craig Kimbrel, a Normal Spring Training is a Good First Step, But We’ll See When We See
All Kimbrel can do is what he normally does. What happens in the regular season remains to be seen.
Anthony Rizzo Speaks Up on the Luxury Tax, Team Spending Restraint, the CBA, and More
The Captain is voicing his concerns, and it’s more than fair that he does so.
Cubs Still Have Talent, Early Lineup Thoughts, Dodgers Hilariously Stacked, Nico Ripped, and Other Bullets
This isn’t supposed to be about comparing the Cubs and Dodgers, though I guess there’s a chart that makes it humorous to do so.
Strip the Title: Astros “Apology” Press Conference Was an Utter Joke
Villain status: cemented.
Cubs Reportedly Are “Absolutely Motivated” to Try to Acquire Nolan Arenado
“These discussions are real.” Things are so bad between Colorado and Arenado right now, the Cubs might still be trying to pounce.