header-emailNEWSLETTER header-email
BNF-hed-desk
BN downarrow Chicago Cubs downarrow Mark Grace is Going to....

Mark Grace is Going to Jail and Other Bullets

Brett Taylor Brett Taylor
Feb 01, 2013
Feb 01, 2013
Chicago Cubs

mark grace cubsTwo housekeeping bits: the Facebook page, you should “like” it. The podcast, you should listen to it. That is all.

  • At Cubs Convention time, at least in the last few years, a couple of big names from the Cubs’ past tend to come up when people ask why certain players aren’t there: Sammy Sosa and Ryne Sandberg. Each is relatively explainable – Sosa has had a strained relationship with the organization and the fans for years now, and Sandberg left the organization in frustration after being passed over for a managerial job a couple years ago – but it does make the story of the Convention feel a little incomplete. One name you don’t hear as much about, but which is almost as clearly associated with the Chicago Cubs’ recent history, is Mark Grace. The long-time Cubs first baseman hasn’t really been back in the fold since he was allowed to leave the organization in his later playing days (when the Cubs opened up a spot for Hee-Seop Choi) for the Diamondbacks. Well, he probably won’t be back in the fold for a little while yet, now having been sentenced to four months in jail (with work release) for his second DUI in 15 months. I don’t have much sympathy for him, but I do hope he never does it again. As for his future with the Cubs, who knows. It’ll be a while, though.
  • Marc Normandin looks at the Cubs’ deal with Scott Hairston, and compares him to a similar outfielder who received a much healthier deal this offseason: Cody Ross. Hairston compares quite favorably, despite getting just two years and $5 million (plus $1 million in incentives), while Ross got three years and $26 million. While I can think of reasons you’d prefer Ross to Hairston, given their contracts, it’s pretty easy to say the Cubs got the better deal. By a mile.
  • Jason Martinez at Baseball Prospectus writes about the prospects who could have an impact at the big league level in the NL Central this year, and the four names that come up for the Cubs are Brett Jackson, Junior Lake, Tony Zych, and Arodys Vizcaino. Each is considered a second half possibility, depending on how the Cubs’ season is going – and depending on what trades they’ve made. I’ll share Martinez’s specific bit on Lake: “It wouldn’t be a surprise if Lake never puts it all together and never earns a regular starting job in the majors, but his set of tools is too intriguing to at least not find out. The 22 year-old, who has played primarily shortstop in the minors along with some time at second and third base, even played some left field in the Dominican Winter League. His ultimate role could be as a super-utilityman who offers some right-handed power and speed off the bench.” If Lake were able to pull off the super utility thing, the Cubs would absolutely make room for him long-term. He needs to get some consistency with the bat, to go along with his presumed serviceability at several positions.
  • CSN Chicago has a piece on the Cubs’ new affiliation with Kane County, and the excitement building there for the relationship (there’s a “Meet the Cubs” event there tonight, featuring Jason McLeod, Brandon Hyde, and others).
  • One of the rooftop businesses (not an advertiser here) appears to be having some financial trouble, according to a Tribune report. If that’s blood in the water, you can bet the Cubs will be the sharks doing the circling. However their plans with respect to the other rooftop owners work out, you can still bet that they’ll be heavy bidders on any distressed rooftop properties that come on the market.
  • The Cubs have signed undrafted free agent infielder Bobby Buckner – the son of Boise Hawks hitting coach Bill Buckner. He didn’t play much his senior year at Texas A&M Corpus Christi (put up good numbers when he did), so I don’t know if it was an injury thing or an effectiveness thing. There may be some value here, but when teams sign the kids of guys in the organization, it’s often a courtesy.
  • Carrie Muskat answers questions.
  • BN’er Nate passed along a story yesterday – he met Padres outfielder Cameron Maybin, who said (1) he would have loved to play at Wrigley, after Nate told him he wished Cameron had somehow landed with the Cubs; and (2) he considers Edwin Jackson a friend, and says Cubs fans will be thrilled to have him. Excellent.

    • Read More

    written by

    Brett Taylor

    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.

    more cubs news

    Chicago Cubs

    Cam Smith’s Kinda Outrageous First Year and His Visit to Wrigley Field

    Although more established Chicago Cubs prospects are going to get the bulk of the after-season attention for the big years they had, I still think about how incredible Cam Smith's pro debut was. The 21-year-old Florida State third baseman, who...

    Brett Taylor Brett Taylor
    Oct 02, 2024
    Chicago Cubs

    Blue Jays President Won’t Call Vlad Guerrero Jr. a “Generational Player,” and I Declare That Vladito Must Demand a Trade

    I do not care about details or nuance. I am choosing to believe this means Vlad Guerrero Jr. is on the trade block and DESPERATELY wants to get out of Toronto. TAKE OFFENSE: https://twitter.com/CBSSportsMLB/status/1841529053834105164 https://twitter.com/bnicholsonsmith/status/1841497396989120963 HOW DARE YOU?! Vladito, you...

    Brett Taylor Brett Taylor
    Oct 02, 2024
    Chicago Cubs

    The Initial 2025 Cubs Arbitration Projections Are Out

    Although the MLB offseason doesn't officially begin until five days after the World Series comes to an end, we did hit a couple of key offseason landmarks this week. Yesterday, Jed Hoyer delivered the annual end-of-season press conference. And today,...

    Michael Cerami Michael Cerami
    Oct 02, 2024
    Chicago Cubs

    Cody Bellinger and Jed Hoyer on the Opt-Out Decision

    One of the more consequential moments in the coming offseason for the Chicago Cubs is more or less going to be entirely out of their control. Shortly after the end of the World Series, Cody Bellinger can walk back into...

    Brett Taylor Brett Taylor
    Oct 02, 2024
    Chicago Cubs

    Quiet on Injuries, Brown’s Timeline, Heyward, Posey, Brewers Set Mark, and Other Cubs Bullets

    The nice thing about the playoffs is just having meaningful baseball games perpetually on in the background in the family room. We can kinda look in, look out, watch when free, focus on other things when not. I don't have...

    Brett Taylor Brett Taylor
    Oct 02, 2024
    Chicago Cubs

    MLB Playoffs Highlights: Mets, Tigers, Royals, and Padres Open With Wins

    The 2024 MLB playoffs opened up yesterday with four Wild Card series games, the outcomes of which were generally pleasing to me ... Tigers 3, Astros 1 - Detroit Leads Series 1-0 American League Triple Crown-winning pitcher (that's a thing,...

    Brett Taylor Brett Taylor
    Oct 02, 2024
    Chicago Cubs

    Two Cubs Prospects Land on the All-MiLB Prospects Second Team

    Some post-season plaudits for a couple top Chicago Cubs prospects, as third baseman Matt Shaw and catcher/DH Moises Ballesteros made the All-MiLB Prospects Second Team. https://twitter.com/smokiesbaseball/status/1841195310804070504 From the MLB Pipeline write-up on each: "3B: Matt Shaw, Cubs (No. 1/MLB No....

    Brett Taylor Brett Taylor
    Oct 01, 2024
    MLB Prospects Cade Horton
    Chicago Cubs

    Updating Cade Horton’s Shoulder Injury and Expectations Going Forward

    The 2024 season opened with hopes that then-top Chicago Cubs prospect Cade Horton could force his way onto big league roster by midseason. The 2024 season has ended with hopes that Horton can have a normal offseason, be healthy for...

    Brett Taylor Brett Taylor
    Oct 01, 2024
    Chicago Cubs

    Wow – Diamondbacks Owner Absolutely DUMPS All Over His Team’s Jordan Montgomery Signing

    Did Arizona Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick not realize that lefty Jordan Montgomery is very likely under contract for next season, too? That's about the only explanation I can come up with for this tweet from Bob Nightengale: "The finger pointing...

    Brett Taylor Brett Taylor
    Oct 01, 2024
    Jed Hoyer
    Chicago Cubs

    LIVE: Jed Hoyer’s End-of-Season Press Conference (UPDATES)

    With the 2024 Chicago Cubs season officially in the rearview, it's time to wrap things up in the form of the annual season-ending press conference from the man in charge. Cubs President Jed Hoyer will meet with the media today...

    Brett Taylor Brett Taylor
    Oct 01, 2024
    More Posts

    Latest News

    Picks

    Best MLB Prop Bets Today, October 3, 2024

    In a Thursday MLB Playoff slate that features nine compelling contests, the New York Mets versus the Milwaukee Brewers is a game to see.There are usually lots of MLB player prop bets offered for each and every matchup. Scroll down...

    Data Skrive Data Skrive
    Oct 03, 2024
    Fantasy Football

    Jacoby Brissett Fantasy Week 5: Projections vs. Dolphins, Points and Stats, Start or Sit

    Jacoby Brissett and the New England Patriots will face the Miami Dolphins and their fifth-ranked pass defense (162.5 yards allowed per game) in Week 5, on Sunday at 1:00 PM ET.When setting your fantasy football lineup this week, is Brissett...

    Data Skrive Data Skrive
    Oct 02, 2024
    Fantasy Football

    Mark Andrews Fantasy Week 5: Projections vs. Bengals, Points and Stats, Start or Sit

    Tight end Mark Andrews has a matchup against the 11th-ranked pass defense in the league (181.3 yards conceded per game) in Week 5, when his Baltimore Ravens play the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday at 1:00 PM ET.With his upcoming game versus...

    Data Skrive Data Skrive
    Oct 02, 2024
    Fantasy Football

    Lamar Jackson Fantasy Week 5: Projections vs. Bengals, Points and Stats, Start or Sit

    Quarterback Lamar Jackson faces a matchup versus the 11th-ranked passing defense in the NFL (181.3 yards allowed per game) in Week 5, when his Baltimore Ravens take on the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday at 1:00 PM ET.Should Jackson be someone that...

    Data Skrive Data Skrive
    Oct 02, 2024
    Fantasy Football

    Joe Mixon Fantasy Week 5: Projections vs. Bills, Points and Stats, Start or Sit

    Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon will match up with the 30th-ranked rushing defense of the Buffalo Bills (156.5 yards allowed per game) in Week 5, at 1:00 PM ET on Sunday.With his upcoming tilt against the Bills this week,...

    Data Skrive Data Skrive
    Oct 02, 2024
    Fantasy Football

    Mike Gesicki Fantasy Week 5: Projections vs. Ravens, Points and Stats, Start or Sit

    Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki will take on the 29th-ranked passing defense of the Baltimore Ravens (257.5 yards allowed per game) in Week 5, at 1:00 PM ET on Sunday.When setting your fantasy football lineup this week, is Gesicki...

    Data Skrive Data Skrive
    Oct 02, 2024
    Fantasy Football

    Dare Ogunbowale Fantasy Week 5: Projections vs. Bills, Points and Stats, Start or Sit

    Running back Dare Ogunbowale has a matchup versus the 30th-ranked run defense in the NFL (156.5 yards allowed per game) in Week 5, when his Houston Texans play the Buffalo Bills, Sunday at 1:00 PM ET.Is Ogunbowale worth starting in...

    Data Skrive Data Skrive
    Oct 02, 2024
    Fantasy Football

    Andy Dalton Fantasy Week 5: Projections vs. Bears, Points and Stats, Start or Sit

    Carolina Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton will take on the eighth-ranked pass defense of the Chicago Bears (174.5 yards conceded per game) in Week 5, at 1:00 PM ET on Sunday.With his upcoming game against the Bears this week, should Dalton...

    Data Skrive Data Skrive
    Oct 02, 2024
    Fantasy Football

    Nelson Agholor Fantasy Week 5: Projections vs. Bengals, Points and Stats, Start or Sit

    Nelson Agholor and the Baltimore Ravens will meet the Cincinnati Bengals and their 11th-ranked pass defense (181.3 yards allowed per game) in Week 5, on Sunday at 1:00 PM ET.With his upcoming matchup versus the Bengals this week, should Agholor...

    Data Skrive Data Skrive
    Oct 02, 2024
    Fantasy Football

    Mike Evans Fantasy Week 5: Projections vs. Falcons, Points and Stats, Start or Sit

    In Week 5 (Thursday at 8:15 PM ET), WR Mike Evans and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will meet the Atlanta Falcons, who have the 13th-ranked pass defense in the league (191 yards allowed per game).Should Evans be someone that you...

    Data Skrive Data Skrive
    Oct 02, 2024
    More Posts

    more cubs news

    Cam Smith’s Kinda Outrageous First Year and His Visit to Wrigley Field

    Blue Jays President Won’t Call Vlad Guerrero Jr. a “Generational Player,” and I Declare That Vladito Must Demand a Trade

    The Initial 2025 Cubs Arbitration Projections Are Out

    Cody Bellinger and Jed Hoyer on the Opt-Out Decision

    Quiet on Injuries, Brown’s Timeline, Heyward, Posey, Brewers Set Mark, and Other Cubs Bullets

    MLB Playoffs Highlights: Mets, Tigers, Royals, and Padres Open With Wins

    Two Cubs Prospects Land on the All-MiLB Prospects Second Team

    MLB Prospects Cade Horton

    Updating Cade Horton’s Shoulder Injury and Expectations Going Forward

    Wow – Diamondbacks Owner Absolutely DUMPS All Over His Team’s Jordan Montgomery Signing

    Jed Hoyer

    LIVE: Jed Hoyer’s End-of-Season Press Conference (UPDATES)

    More Posts

    Most Popular

    Most Popular

    Fantasy Football Defense Rankings Week 5: Best Starts at D/ST

    Fantasy Football TE Rankings Week 5: Best Starts at Tight End

    Fantasy Football WR Rankings Week 5: Best Starts at Wide Receiver

    Fantasy Football QB Rankings Week 5: Best Starts at Quarterback

    Fantasy Football RB Rankings Week 5: Best Starts at Running Back

    Fantasy Football Kicker Rankings Week 5: Who to Start at K to Crush Your Week

    Cody Bellinger and Jed Hoyer on the Opt-Out Decision

    The Blackhawks Have Two Unfortunately Familiar Problems

    Latest News

    Best MLB Prop Bets Today, October 3, 2024

    Jacoby Brissett Fantasy Week 5: Projections vs. Dolphins, Points and Stats, Start or Sit

    Mark Andrews Fantasy Week 5: Projections vs. Bengals, Points and Stats, Start or Sit

    Lamar Jackson Fantasy Week 5: Projections vs. Bengals, Points and Stats, Start or Sit

    Joe Mixon Fantasy Week 5: Projections vs. Bills, Points and Stats, Start or Sit

    Mike Gesicki Fantasy Week 5: Projections vs. Ravens, Points and Stats, Start or Sit

    Dare Ogunbowale Fantasy Week 5: Projections vs. Bills, Points and Stats, Start or Sit

    Andy Dalton Fantasy Week 5: Projections vs. Bears, Points and Stats, Start or Sit

    Nelson Agholor Fantasy Week 5: Projections vs. Bengals, Points and Stats, Start or Sit

    Mike Evans Fantasy Week 5: Projections vs. Falcons, Points and Stats, Start or Sit

    Chris Godwin Fantasy Week 5: Projections vs. Falcons, Points and Stats, Start or Sit

    Justin Watson Fantasy Week 5: Projections vs. Saints, Points and Stats, Start or Sit

    James Conner Fantasy Week 5: Projections vs. 49ers, Points and Stats, Start or Sit

    Johnny Mundt Fantasy Week 5: Projections vs. Jets, Points and Stats, Start or Sit

    Josh Allen Fantasy Week 5: Projections vs. Texans, Points and Stats, Start or Sit

    More Posts
    21 Play Responsibly
    Gamble Aware West Virginia
    Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.