{"id":20115,"date":"2024-12-22T13:47:34","date_gmt":"2024-12-22T13:47:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=20115"},"modified":"2024-12-22T13:47:34","modified_gmt":"2024-12-22T13:47:34","slug":"cub-tracks-a-really-big-shoe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=20115","title":{"rendered":"Cub Tracks\u2019 a really big shoe"},"content":{"rendered":"

WELCOME<\/strong> to today\u2019s episode of Cub Tracks news and notes\u2122, a greatest-hits collection of Chicago-style<\/strong> beat writers and bloggers, ground from #Cubs, #MiLB, and #MLB baseball, overheated, steeped in writers\u2019 tears, and then cold-brewed overnight for maximum flavor. No artificial intelligences were deployed, employed, entranced, or embalmed in the commission of this missive (apparently I might be training some though). Cub Tracks<\/strong> eagerly awaits the advent of robotic umpires and has already amended the three laws. The going is weird. Cub Tracks<\/strong> turned pro a long time ago.<\/p>\n

Cub Tracks<\/strong>. Where the great ones run away.<\/em><\/p>\n

Okay, I admit it, I held back on you. <\/em><\/p>\n

On purpose. There was already a ton of <\/em>good stuff\u2122 in <\/em>yesterday\u2019s edition, so I capped that early and slated some of the good stuff\u2122 for today. Check out the Justin Steele interview. You do know that Steele has his own podcast already, yes? We\u2019ve had an episode or two linked to here.<\/p>\n

If the Cubs have success, Steele will be in the middle of it. He has the demeanor and the desire to be the horse, and seems like he\u2019d like to fill No. 34\u2019s shoes. The team will have to help \u2014 Lester\u2019s rep was made in the postseason. But I\u2019d give him a shot at it.<\/p>\n

*means autoplay on<\/em>, (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome). {$}<\/strong> means paywall. {$} means limited views. Italics <\/em>are often used on this page as sarcasm font. <\/em>The powers that be have enabled real sarcasm font<\/strong> in the comments.<\/p>\n

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Organizations that insist upon apologies from the Steroid Era players in return for entrance into team events should be required to issue their own apologies, for looking the other way while cashing checks. The sanctimony is ridiculous.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) December 19, 2024<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

    \n
  • Karli Bell (Marquee Sports Network*): \u2018Sammy played hard\u2019: Former Cubs manager Jim Riggleman reflects on Sosa\u2019s impact in Chicago. \u201cIt\u2019s nothing but positive. I know it\u2019s going to be very exciting for Sammy, and I know most fans are going to be very welcoming to it.\u201d<\/li>\n
  • Andy Martinez (Marquee Sports Network*): Cubs Mailbag: On Kyle Tucker\u2019s future, pitching plans and the hot corner. \u201c… some of your questions regarding the team.\u201d Cubs Weekly Podcast.<\/li>\n
  • Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation*): The Cubs should call the Twins about Pablo Lopez. \u201cHow much would you give up to get Lopez on a three-year, $65.25 million deal?\u201d<\/li>\n
  • Matthew Trueblood (North Side Baseball*): Should Cubs engage Rays on Shane McClanahan, or Shane Baz? I bet Alan Ladd would want both. \u201cIn the Cubs\u2019 relentless search for a rotation upgrade, the final frontier might be Tampa Bay.\u201d<\/li>\n
  • Chuck Murr (Forbes* {$}): Chicago Cubs believe rookie Matt Shaw is ready For third base. \u201c… he has to earn that job. I\u2019m not going to gift him that job on a conference call in the middle of December. But, certainly, with what he\u2019s done in the minor leagues since we\u2019ve had him, he\u2019s played really well.\u201d<\/li>\n
  • Larry Lambert (Cubbies Crib*): This Cubs Hall of Famer was – and is – vastly underrated for what he did on the field. \u201cRon Santo was the best third baseman in MLB during the 1960s – and deserves some appreciation.\u201d<\/li>\n
  • David Adler (MLB.com*): Measuring PCA\u2019s excellence on bases, in field. \u201c… PCA was the most valuable speed-and-defense player in the Major Leagues in 2024.\u201d<\/li>\n
  • EKU Baseball*: Former Colonel All-American joins Chicago Cubs Major League staff. \u201c… A.J. Lewis has joined the Chicago Cubs major league staff as a staff assistant for the 2025 season.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Food for Thought:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series. We are 100% in favor of human sportswriting and will not wittingly publish A. I. driven articles or content. Thanks for reading!<\/p>\n

    RIP, Rickey.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    #Cubs, #MLB, and #MiLB news, notes, and commentary, four days a week, rain or shine. Steely J \u2014 The Jon Lester of his time? Plus trade talk and more in this primo episode.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":20116,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20115","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\nCub Tracks\u2019 a really big shoe - NEWS USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=20115\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Cub Tracks\u2019 a really big shoe - NEWS USA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"#Cubs, #MLB, and #MiLB news, notes, and commentary, four days a week, rain or shine. 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