NEWSLETTER
The shine of Spring Training – OMG BASEBALL IS BACK – lasts for a little while, and then you slip into the grind right around now, with more than three weeks yet to go before the season opens up. Players (pitchers, mostly) need this time to get themselves back up to game speed, but for fans, the excitement is predicated on what kinds of story line threads you have available to follow. Without a number of significant offseason additions – as is the case for the Cubs this year – that can be challenging.
But for the Cubs, it is instead about all of the bounce back opportunities on the roster. It’s a little overwhelming when you think about all the guys who could succeed this year out of the gate, and you could credibly say, “Ooh, he’s bouncing back!” Think about it: Yu Darvish, Tyler Chatwood, Brandon Kintzler, Brian Duensing, Carl Edwards Jr., Kris Bryant, Willson Contreras, Ian Happ, Albert Almora, (evergreen?) Jason Heyward, and on and on. At least it’s a thread to follow this Spring.
And, given the lack of transaction activity, it’s also the thread the Cubs, themselves, are following heading into this season – it’s kinda the backbone upon which they are projecting success in 2019.
Cubs’ Carl Edwards Jr. and success with pause in delivery: ‘Beginner’s luck’ pic.twitter.com/VFyfE0Kx1F
— Mark Gonzales (@MDGonzales) March 2, 2019
Bryce Harper wants to bring a title WHERE? pic.twitter.com/C4V3toiFfE
— Dean Schleicher (@DeanSchleicher) March 2, 2019
Scott Boras talking about #Phillies owner John Middleton’s drive to sign Harper:
“The maestro wanted to build a championship symphony and he wanted his harp … The Philadelphia Phil-Harp-monic symphony is built."
— David Lennon (@DPLennon) March 2, 2019
Last call: Fanatics ended its big clearance event yesterday, but the Cubs Shop extends through today – big clearance, free shipping, get on it before the day ends: https://t.co/Qsf8Pnxwh5 pic.twitter.com/cnm2Ps6rIw
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) March 3, 2019
#Cubs nonroster invitees bring local and worldly perspectives, writes @BruceMiles2112 https://t.co/deusSWAKgw
— Daily Herald (@dailyherald) March 3, 2019
It's 3 a.m. pic.twitter.com/PBHuEFQmA2
— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) March 3, 2019
https://twitter.com/PitchingNinja/status/1101976422917201921
