I like to write about the Chicago Cubs. I like to read about the Chicago Cubs. I like to discuss the Chicago Cubs with folks here in the comments, on Twitter, and on Facebook. You know what I don’t like to do? Manage the server for a web site. I have no background in anything “web,” so everything I do behind the scenes here takes me 10 times as long as it would take someone who has, like, studied this stuff. In case you wonder why I didn’t comment, tweet, or post anything after 5pm yesterday, that’s pretty much why. Grumble.
Marlins President David Samson says the Fish are “aggressively negotiating” a contract with Yoenis Cespdes, but Samson doesn’t know if the Marlins will be able to get him to Miami for a visit or will ultimately be the high bidder. Cespedes is still awaiting approval from the US Government to come to the States, but he continues to entertain offers in the interim. Kevin Goldstein recently noted that the Orioles have been more involved on Cespedes than previously thought.
Speaking of the Marlins, that thing you see to the right? That’s a giant, mechanized sculpture at the new ballpark in Miami that will activate when a Marlins player hits a homer. I’ve made fun of all the Marlin changes, but now I’m on board. This is so over-the-top and intentionally kitschy that I can’t do anything but love it. I’m genuinely into what they’re doing. Oh, and there are hugh fishtanks behind home plate. MOAR RIDICULOUSNESS!
Jim Hendry is “refreshed” after his time off from the game, and looks forward to giving his best to the Yankees.
The same article notes that the Cubs have added minor league reliever Esmailin Caridad to their list of non-roster invitees to Spring Training. Caridad, 28, was briefly successful at the end of the 2009 season, and was actually expected to be one of the team’s primary setup men in 2010. A couple disastrous outings and a forearm injury later, and Caridad was derostered and left to toil away in the minors.
The Dodgers signed reliever Todd Coffey to a one-year, $1.3 million deal yesterday. The Cubs had reportedly been interested in the 31-year-old righty, but that’s probably a hair more than they were willing to guarantee to a guy they didn’t really need (and would be signing mostly to try and trade him mid-season – then again, maybe Coffey knew that part, and preferred to go to the Dodgers anyway).
The Red Sox have hired former long-time Cubs scout Gary Hughes, who was a Jim Hendry stalwart. Please don’t make a Theo compensation joke.
A look back at Buck O’Neil’s time with the Cubs as the first black coach in MLB.
An interesting read on the Cubs’ 2011 fifth round pick, pitcher Tayler Scott, who’ll be coming to minor league Spring Training this year … from his native South Africa. Unsurprisingly, the 19-year-old didn’t start playing baseball until recently, so his development will be interesting to watch.
Former Cubs manager Mike Quade offers media advice to first-time manager Robin Ventura, who will be at the helm across town this season. In short: the Chicago media isn’t cutthroat, but is voluminous. Dealing with them is a daily grind, he says. That sounds about right.
Brett Taylor is the Lead Cubs Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @BleacherNation and on LinkedIn here.
Brett is also the founder of Bleacher Nation, which opened up shop in 2008 as an independent blog about the Chicago Cubs. Later growing to incorporate coverage of other Chicago sports, Bleacher Nation is now one of the largest regional sports blogs on the web.
In the top of the seventh inning of today's 8-3 win over the Miami Marlins, Alexander Canario trotted out to left field in place of Ian Happ. At first, we thought (or maybe just hoped) that Craig Counsell was giving...
And just like that the Chicago Cubs are the first team in the NL Central to reach 12 wins! They're not technically in first place yet because the Brewers (11-6) have played fewer games, but we're talking about a matter...
With a lefty Marlins starter on the mound this afternoon, Nico Hoerner lead off today's game for the Chicago Cubs. And he did it in style, ripping a leadoff double to the left-center field wall, before coming into score a...
*The Cubs were rained out yesterday, but today? Today, we've got a Friday 1:20 start at Wrigley Field, and that means all is right in the world. Before you take a look at the Cubs lineup against Miami, check out...
Happy Friday! Well, for everyone except for the pilots who were supposed to be manning the Colorado Rockies flight last week but instead allowed a member of the Rockies coaching staff to hop in the pilot's seat for a fun...
Justin Steele, arguably the single most irreplaceable player on the Chicago Cubs 2024 roster, went down with a hamstring injury just 4.2 innings into his Opening Day start against the Rangers on March 28. In his place, the Cubs sixth...
If you do this job long enough, it's really wild to see the range of topics that can somehow become attached to sports. That is to say, I did not envision myself at some point writing about flight safety, cockpit...
The Iowa Cubs were rained out, but the rest of the farm was in action, and so was Kevin Alcántara, who picked up four hits and now has seven in his last three games as he breaks out of an...
Well, the rain stole one from us yesterday, which is a blessing and a curse. On the bright side, the bullpen gets an extra day of rest (on top of the day Hayden Wesneski bought them). But on the flip...
The Chicago Cubs are against theft. Of bases: https://twitter.com/codifybaseball/status/1781046629103231339 The Chicago Cubs this year have stolen just three bases, the fewest in all of baseball. Dansby Swanson has stolen two bases, Nick Madrigal has stolen one. That's it. I don't...
In the top of the seventh inning of today's 8-3 win over the Miami Marlins, Alexander Canario trotted out to left field in place of Ian Happ. At first, we thought (or maybe just hoped) that Craig Counsell was giving...
The Bulls and Heat go at it for the last spot in the NBA Playoffs. Let's get it. https://twitter.com/chicagobulls/status/1781299357574213738 Game Info Miami Heat at Chicago Bulls – 6:00 p.m. CT on ESPN (TV) and 670 The Score (Radio) Chicago Bulls Coby White...
A familiar last name will be in the Big Ten next season. Scottie Pippen's kid, Justin, has committed to the University of Michigan, according to Krysten Peek of Yahoo Sports. The youngest son of the Chicago Bulls legend, Pippen started...
With a lefty Marlins starter on the mound this afternoon, Nico Hoerner lead off today's game for the Chicago Cubs. And he did it in style, ripping a leadoff double to the left-center field wall, before coming into score a...
And just like that the Chicago Cubs are the first team in the NL Central to reach 12 wins! They're not technically in first place yet because the Brewers (11-6) have played fewer games, but we're talking about a matter...
Following a two-homer game in a loss to the Yankees, Daulton Varsho leads the Toronto Blue Jays (10-9) into action as -112 favorites against the San Diego Padres (11-10). First pitch from PETCO Park at 9:40 PM ET on Friday,...
Jung Hoo Lee will look to extend his 10-game hitting streak when the San Francisco Giants (9-11) take on the Arizona Diamondbacks (9-11). The Diamondbacks are listed as -123 favorites on the moneyline for the contest, which starts at 10:15...
The New York Mets (10-8) will put their four-game win streak to the test when they visit the Los Angeles Dodgers (12-9) Friday at 10:10 PM ET on MLB Network. Bookmakers consider the Dodgers to be -201 favorites, while the...
The New Orleans Pelicans face the Sacramento Kings at 9:30 PM ET on Friday, in the NBA Play-In Tournament, and one of the 3-pointer over/unders available for this matchup requires only one make from Jonas Valančiūnas.Jonas Valančiūnas' Three-Pointer Prop Odds...
Brandon Ingram must make two 3-pointers to beat his prop when the New Orleans Pelicans meet the Sacramento Kings on Friday at 9:30 PM ET, in the NBA Play-In Tournament.Brandon Ingram's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the KingsBrandon Ingram's over/under for...
NEWSLETTER
I like to write about the Chicago Cubs. I like to read about the Chicago Cubs. I like to discuss the Chicago Cubs with folks here in the comments, on Twitter, and on Facebook. You know what I don’t like to do? Manage the server for a web site. I have no background in anything “web,” so everything I do behind the scenes here takes me 10 times as long as it would take someone who has, like, studied this stuff. In case you wonder why I didn’t comment, tweet, or post anything after 5pm yesterday, that’s pretty much why. Grumble.
