Cub Tracks’ Sunday briefing

Feb 5, 2023 - 1:00 PM

Welcome to today’s edition of Cub Tracks news and notes™, a greatest-hits collection of Chicago-style beat writers and bloggers, ground from #Cubs, #MiLB, and #MLB baseball, overheated, steeped in writers’ tears, and then cold-brewed overnight for maximum flavor.

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• Gordon Wittenmyer (Chicago Sun-Times*): In battle with North Siders, St. Louis holds all the Cards. “Culture, continuity have led to sustained success, something that has eluded the Cubs.”
• Sean Holland (Cubs Insider*): Balanced MLB schedule good for Cubs fans, maybe not great for Cubs. “Of course, the presumed difficulty or ease of the schedule means nothing until games start to be played...”
• Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): Jason Heyward Q&A: What’s next in Chicago and with the Dodgers. “Heyward is only 33, but he’s been around so long and has seen so much that he seems a lot older.”
• Maddie Lee (Chicago Sun-Times*}: Ex-Cub Jason Heyward grows his Chicago legacy through baseball academy at new North Austin Center. “The North Austin Center hosted a ribbon-cutting this week.”
• Kiley McDaniel (ESPN+): 2023 MLB farm system rankings: Kiley McDaniel on all 30 teams. “The Cubs seem to have turned the corner in their rebuild and are now left with the hard part: “
• Aldo Soto (Sports Mockery*): Cubs sign another relief pitcher. “The latest signing is right-hander Curtis Taylor.”
• Aldo Soto (Sports Mockery*): Great update on Cubs prospect Ed Howard. “Not only is the shortstop healthy, but according to Patrick Mooney of The Athletic, Howard is on track to begin the 2023 season playing in the minors right after spring training ends and the minor league season kicks off in April.”

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