A Streaming Overhaul Draws Closer, Cubs Single Game Tickets, Nico Snubbed, and Other Cubs Bullets

Any time there is a streaming update, I think I’m going to try to hit it quickly in just a few bullets, and it always becomes more unwieldy than that. It’s just such a complicated, complex situation. I try to boil it down as much as I can, I swear.

That, and some other Cubs bullets …

  • A streaming reckoning is another step closer, as Diamond Sports (which is a Sinclair subsidiary, and owns the Bally RSNs, which hold the rights for about half of MLB’s teams) is reportedly signaling a bankruptcy:
  • To be sure, there could be a restructuring of the company’s debt before a bankruptcy actually arrives, but it’s clear MLB ain’t gonna help that happen – they want a chance to get their local streaming rights back from Sinclair/Diamond so that they can create their own national distribution platform. It sounds to me like Sinclair/Diamond was hoping their direct-to-consumer product would be a hail mary to save them, but MLB wasn’t about to make it easy for them to lock up those local streaming rights long-term (for fear they’d get stuck in a bankruptcy). And without local streaming rights for ALL the teams under the Bally umbrella, the direct-to-consumer product was kinda DOA. Thus, Diamond is reportedly planning to stop making interest payments on its debt, which means bankruptcy is highly likely.
  • What happens when bankruptcy arrives is still unknown. Sinclair/Diamond owes annual rights fees to the MLB teams under its umbrella, but when they go into bankruptcy, they no longer have the sole authority to make those payments. So you’d have MLB and half its teams fighting to get their RSN fees paid, while other creditors are fighting to get their loans paid. It would be a mess, and again, I suspect MLB is hoping that it provides a vehicle for them to buy back the local streaming rights. From there, they could create their own national, blackout-free streaming product, possibly together with the NBA and NHL.
  • As for the Cubs, specifically, they own Marquee jointly with Sinclair, and it’s never been entirely clear how a Diamond Sports bankruptcy would impact their situation, other than perhaps providing an opportunity for the Cubs to buy back the other half of Marquee at a reduced price (or for MLB to buy that half, which I am trying not to dream on, because that could mean the Cubs would then be included in a national, blackout-free streaming product – and I tend to think the Cubs are going to want to control that on their own, rather than be lumped in with every other team). The Cubs are expecting to launch a direct-to-consumer option for Marquee this year, so no matter what happens, it’s highly likely that you, the fan, will always have an option for streaming Cubs games – in the Cubs’ market, you can get Marquee; out of the Cubs’ market, you can get MLB dot tv.
  • Cubs single game tickets go on sale February 24:
  • This kind of thing doesn’t actually MATTER, but it’s pretty hard for me to review and not think that Nico Hoerner wasn’t just a snug, but he could’ve been as high as six on this list:
  • Whatever. Use it, Nico. Put it on your bulletin board. They think you stink. Show ’em what’s what.
  • Mentioned this briefly in yesterday’s Cody Bellinger post in relation to hoping for continued bouncing back from him, but I also want to comment on some of the substance of what he said:
  • All true, and I’m obviously happy about the shift restrictions, but I’ll note: with the currently-articulated shift restrictions, those line drives up the middle still might be caught by a shifted shortstop. As long as he’s left of second, he’s fine to be there. And for some guys, that’s definitely where the shortstop is going to be parked. That’s why I was such an advocate for the pie slice rule, which keeps defenders from setting up behind second base, and I hope they take that next step next year.
  • The Rays converted a previously relatively obscure reliever into a starting pitcher for his age 29 season, and he was so good in 2022 that he merited a four-year extension thereafter:
  • What an incredible story. I’d only barely even heard of this guy when I saw the news of his extension. That’s just what the Rays do. This, by the way, is why you keep trying to reclamation projects. Sure, Springs was a REALLY EXTREME example, but it can pay off. Heck, look at how good Adrian Sampson was last year for the Cubs.
  • Given the Cubs’ extreme turnover at the position, this rings true:
  • Wild factoid from the piece: “Next season, only six teams — the Braves, Rays, Astros, Dodgers, Giants and Blue Jays — will have a primary hitting coach who has been in the same role for more than two seasons.” The Cubs, of course, made the change to Dustin Kelly from Greg Brown, who himself was in the job only one year.
  • Cubs player favorite baseball movies:
  • ‘Major League’ is obviously the correct answer, though I will give partial credit to ‘The Sandlot.’ That said, it’s the Cubs … how is NO ONE gonna say ‘Rookie of the Year’?!
  • The de-juicing effect:
  • written by

    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

    Still Thinking About That Incredible Christopher Morel Play

    I don't want to overreact to a relatively brief stretch of success, and I certainly don't want to jinx anything. But Christopher Morel has looked pretty darn solid at third base the last couple weeks, hasn't he? Maybe some of...

    Enhanced Box Score: Cubs 5, Diamondbacks 3 – April 17, 2024

    UNCLENCH. They did it. There was 9th inning drama, because of course there was, but Drew Smyly was able to get the job done, pitching for the third consecutive day. Cubs win the game, Cubs win the series. Cubs win...

    Cody Bellinger’s Third Homer of the Year Breaks the Tie in Arizona!

    Thank god. I was starting to think Brandon Pfaadt was Cy Young in disguise or something. I can't stand (or understand, for that matter) how this guy carves up the Cubs while getting destroyed by almost everybody else. But at...

    Watch Owen Caissie Launch His First Triple-A Home Run (Off a Lefty, Too!)

    Owen Caissie is just one of several Cubs top prospects at Triple-A Iowa this season, but after a monster Spring Training performance (following an equally impressive Double-A debut last season), he's got a lot of eyes on him this summer....

    Cubs Call Up a Couple of Fresh Arms from Iowa

    In discussing the potential for a Cubs move today for a fresh arm, I wondered if they'd go down and grab someone already on the 40-man roster or if they'd shift Julian Merryweather over to the 60-day IL to make...

    Pre-Gamin’: Cubs vs Diamondbacks – Lineups, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

    CUBS LINEUP — How many rubber matches can one team have? After two wild games to start the series, the Cubs are looking to win their second-consecutive series this afternoon in Arizona. Jordan Wicks is on the mound for Chicago....

    MLBits: Orioles Can’t Stop Hitting Home Runs, Learn Jac Caglianone’s Name, More

    If you have an MLB.TV subscription: I suggest you try to catch a Baltimore Orioles game soon. The Orioles lineup is chock-full of young talent, and they're absolutely mashing the baseball right now. They're fun to watch if you can...

    Cubs Farm Report | April 17, 2024: PCA Goes Yard, Cade Horton Dominates, More

    Pete Crow-Armstrong showed some life on Tuesday with a solo home run for the Iowa Cubs, but it was Luis Vázquez who played hero for Iowa in the end. Plus, Cade Horton dominated for the Smokies once again. That and...

    Baseball America Has Added Another Chicago Cubs Prospect to Their Top-100 List

    If you have been paying attention at all, I think it's going to be very easy for you to fill in these blanks: https://twitter.com/BaseballAmerica/status/1780601113198383137 Yes, that'd be Jefferson Rojas, the still-18-year-old shortstop for the High-A South Bend Cubs, currently hitting...

    Cade Horton Dominated Once Again at Double-A, So What’s the Plan There?

    As he's done nine times before, Cade Horton dominated in his latest outing for the Tennessee Smokies. It took him just 47 pitches to cruise through 4.0 innings of work and carve up the Rays' Double-A squad. https://twitter.com/MLBPipeline/status/1780387010039210247 Horton has...

    Latest News

    Red Sox vs. Guardians Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Thursday, April 18, 2024

    The Boston Red Sox (10-9), led by the red-hot Connor Wong and his two-game homer streak, are -125 favorites to pick up a win over the Cleveland Guardians (12-6) Thursday at 1:35 PM ET, live from Fenway Park and broadcast...

    Best MLB Prop Bets Today, April 18, 2024

    The Cleveland Guardians versus the Boston Red Sox is one of five strong options on today's MLB slate.One of the best ways to wager on baseball is via MLB player prop bets. There are props for each of today's matchups,...

    Tigers vs. Rangers Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Thursday, April 18, 2024

    The Detroit Tigers (10-8) are favored on the moneyline (-110) in Thursday's contest versus the Texas Rangers (10-9). First pitch is at 1:10 PM ET on MLB Network. The Rangers, with +150 odds, are favored against the spread (1.5).Detroit's Kenta...

    Rays vs. Angels Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Thursday, April 18, 2024

    The Tampa Bay Rays (10-9) are favorites (-159) on the moneyline when they take on the Los Angeles Angels (9-9) Thursday at 1:10 PM ET, live on BSSUN.Ryan Pepiot will get the ball for Tampa Bay while Los Angeles will...

    Red Sox vs. Guardians Probable Starting Pitchers – April 18

    The Cleveland Guardians (12-6) go on the road at Fenway Park against the Boston Red Sox (10-9) at 1:35 PM ET on Thursday.The Red Sox will give the nod to Brennan Bernardino (0-1, 1.69 ERA), who is eyeing win No....

    Tigers vs. Rangers Probable Starting Pitchers – April 18

    The Detroit Tigers (10-8) host the Texas Rangers (10-9) at Comerica Park on Thursday, starting at 1:10 PM ET.The Tigers will look to Kenta Maeda (0-1) versus the Rangers and Jack Leiter.Tigers vs. Rangers Pitcher Matchup and Game InfoWhen: Thursday,...

    Rays vs. Angels Probable Starting Pitchers – April 18

    The Los Angeles Angels (9-9) visit the Tampa Bay Rays (10-9) for a road game in St. Petersburg on Thursday. The contest starts at 1:10 PM ET.The Rays will look to Ryan Pepiot (1-2) versus the Angels and Griffin Canning...

    Nuggets vs. Lakers Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats and Best Bets for NBA Playoffs Game 1 – Saturday, April 20, 2024

    The Denver Nuggets and the Los Angeles Lakers square off to start the first round of the NBA Playoffs. The Nuggets are favored by 7 points in the contest, which airs on ABC at 8:30 PM ET. The matchup has...

    Red Sox vs. Guardians: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

    On Thursday, Tyler O'Neill and the Boston Red Sox (10-9) take on Josh Naylor and the Cleveland Guardians (12-6), with first pitch scheduled for 1:35 PM ET at Fenway Park.Keep reading to find out all the details on how to...

    UGH: Alex Caruso’s Availability Already in Doubt for Next Play-In Game

    The Chicago Bulls can't seem to swat the injury bug. Despite Andre Drummond and Ayo Dosunmu returning from their multi-game absences on Wednesday, the Bulls have likely lost their defense ace. Alex Caruso suffered a foot injury in the first...

    more cubs news