I ate so many Do-Rite donuts yesterday that I might not be able to eat more than an additional three today. Shameful stuff.
Oh yeah, also, CUBS CONVENTION! It starts today, and I will be there wandering around with a smile on my face. Actually pretty excited for CubsCon this year, even as there is still that pervasive sense that they need to do more for the 2025 roster. Sammy returning is a big part of it, and the Tucker addition helps. Maybe it’s just that I’m ready to do something stupid and fun and be completely distracted in a happy, healthy way.
If you see me this weekend, say hey! Also, if you are heading out for a drink after the Opening Ceremonies tonight, stop by Lizzie McNeill’s around the corner. That’s where I plan to be!
- Speaking of the Convention, here’s the full list of Cubs players – past, present, and future – who’ll be there (and you can try to do some theorizing on whom they might announce for the next Cubs Hall of Fame class (I think there’s one pretty obvious guess)):
See you this week, friends! 🤗
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) January 15, 2025
🔗: https://t.co/sty4G5J1H6 pic.twitter.com/PrtYwghziR
Hall set up for the start of Cubscon tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/5OoVAZLSD3
— Sam Bernero (@sambernero) January 17, 2025
- The Cubs made a load of IFA signings official yesterday, though we’re still waiting on a couple to become official (and I wonder if that’s just a matter of finalizing the numbers to stay under their pool limit, because they’re getting close):
- If you haven’t seen the new Cubs alternate uniforms yet, make sure you check them out (and they are now for sale here at the Cubs shop). Do you know how hard it is to unveil a new uniform set and not have 50% of the fanbase absolutely DUMPING all over it immediately? The Cubs hit an absolute home run with this one, and it seems like 99% of people are loving it.
Still can't get over how excellent these are. #Cubs
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) January 17, 2025
Some new looks here: pic.twitter.com/5zOvip1rL4
Some more looks at the #Cubs excellent new baby blue alternates. pic.twitter.com/tjJHVm0rHU
— Michael Cerami (@Michael_Cerami) January 17, 2025
It’s all in the details. pic.twitter.com/tudIrrzwXK
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) January 17, 2025
- I love the wink at the very old Chicago ‘C’ logos, but with the star and the script-like ‘ubs.’ The whole look is good, but that logo is freaking awesome. Also, I tend to think powder blues are overdone by non-Phillies teams, but this one just works. Well done, Cubs. (Also also: these are NOT new City Connects. Although it is our understanding that the Cubs are retiring the ‘Wrigleyville’ City Connects, these are not the replacement. These are just new alternates.)
- I can’t decide which fan base is catching the strays here. From Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick, via USA Today:
“Our fans in this community support winning teams,” Kendrick said. “They don’t necessarily operate like maybe the Chicago Cubs’ fans — no disrespect. They support their team no matter what. In Arizona, they have a history of having winners. We’re going to continue to try to build revenue and reinvest that in the quality that we put on the field.”
- I’m pretty sure he’s saying Diamondbacks fans don’t get too excited unless the team is winning, unlike Cubs fans, who love the team regardless. You could argue that’s a shot at Diamondbacks fans as being fair-weather-y, though I’m sure he doesn’t intend to rip his own fanbase. You could also argue it’s kind of a shot at Cubs fans, acting like we don’t care about whether the Cubs win or lose. I know that’s the stereotype (or at least it was pre-2016), but let’s just say that hasn’t been my experience.
- Either way, it’s not like I’m going to hate on an owner, who just shelled out over $200 million to sign Corbin Burnes, saying that his fans expect him to help put a winning team on the field every year.
- The drama in Tampa continues, and there is no perfect path outside perhaps of a sale of the team and a recommitment to the area:
With Rays’ stadium deal in jeopardy, owner Stuart Sternberg’s tenure appears headed for a crossroads. Column: https://t.co/dpBi4Z4kre
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 17, 2025
- I don’t have a HUGE problem with this list, at least as far as Nico Hoerner’s placement goes (he could probably be a click higher, but this is not necessarily horribly insulting), but I do have a couple comments:
- Brendan Donovan will probably play a good bit of second base this year, but we have very little idea how he’d do there defensively over a full season, since he started a whopping 49 games there last year, while starting 91(!) in left field. His bat is also far from elite, so he kinda sticks out to me as the outlier here on this list. Don’t quite get why he’s so high. Heck, given the straight up choice as a pure second baseman, I might bet on a bounce-back from Ozzie Albies over Donovan, and Albies didn’t even make the list.
- Similarly, Jazz Chisholm Jr. has been great at times, but he hasn’t really been a second baseman since 2022, and he’s actually only been about 6% better than league average at the plate over the last two seasons. He projects well for 2025, so I understand it, but not sure he should be so high either.
- Cubs players hanging with Sammy Sosa:
Cubs players with Sammy Sosa 🐻 pic.twitter.com/Jgxjri77Fr
— Cubs Zone (@CubsZone) January 17, 2025
- I will always watch this:
Stop what you're doing and watch Sammy Sosa put on an absolute show at the 2002 HR Derby 😳 pic.twitter.com/LJEQPc3EoO— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) January 15, 2025
- As many 105+ MPH batted balls as whiffs is ridiculous in any league: