Cub Tracks’ sew and sews

Here at CUB TRACKS NEWS AND NOTES™, we have news for you, four days a week. Today I survived a beheading, er, a lipectomy, a removal of some fatty tissue from my neck and shoulders.

“Lipoma?” she said, laughing. “I didn’t know you graduated.” She always leaves me in stitches. I mean to say that she toasts my ravioli.

Welcome to October, Ichabod. In October 2021, the Cubs commenced the last series of the season, against the stinkin’ playoff-bound Cardinals, in boring old St. Louis, and fielded a lineup that nobody would have imagined in April, fresh off of a meatloafing of the Pittsburgh Pirates, with a battery of Abbott and Castillo, as the Cubs are getting a last look at as many guys as they can with an eye toward patching together the 2022 roster and containing what looks like an in-house COVID spike. I’ll just leave this here:

Synchronicity achieved! The roster looked reasonably en pointe. Cory Abbott didn’t embarrass himself out there with a quality start, and the team played hard and played well defensively. But they trailed by two runs, on solo homers by Tyler O’Neill.

Trayce Thompson said “I got this” and launched a drive into the left-field stands.

Nuts to Nootbaar. Alas, it wasn’t to be. It was pretty entertaining stuff, though

As always, * means autoplay on, or annoying ads, or both (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome). {$} means paywall. {$} means limited views. Italics are often used on this page as sarcasm font. (In the comments section, use @ before and after your remarks @ to produce sarcasm font. In the text body. It doesn’t work in the headlines.)

“It’s a good time to be a good starting pitcher in free agency.” — Marcus Stroman

“I’m sure Nico wants to win and have a position, but I think to maximize the flexibility of the roster and our team, that could be a huge value.” — David Ross, on using Nico Hoerner at multiple spots.

• Paul Sullivan (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Jed Hoyer and the Chicago Cubs have plenty of difficult decisions to make after their horrendous season comes to an end Sunday in St. Louis. “New players, same problems.”
• Tim Stebbins (NBC Sports Chicago*): Justin time: Steele delivers best performance in final start. “He looked great,” manager David Ross said. “It was a nice note for him to finish on. Really strong outing for him.” Jordan Bastian concurs.
• Gordon Wittenmyer (NBC Sports Chicago*): Cubs rebuild doesn’t scare Mets free agent Marcus Stroman. “I think the Cubs will be fine. Even in their rebuild mode, I still think guys will want to go there.”
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): 10 realistic Free Agent targets for transitioning Cubs to pursue this winter. “... we’re probably going to see the front office seeking out value deals that make the team slightly more interesting without creating any long-tail financial obligations.”
• Duane Pesice (Cubbies Crib*): The rotation merry-go-round will continue this offseason. Stroman actually can’t get a QO but I still don’t see it happening. “Intelligent spending” has a different connotation.
• Meghan Montemurro (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Chicago Cubs catcher Austin Romine is the latest to go on the IL without an injury distinction, while Nico Hoerner’s season ends early. “an abundance of caution.” Gordon Wittenmyer can’t escape the inevitable.
• Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): The Cubs’ big shortstop questions start with Hoerner and Javier Báez. “The pivot toward the offseason has already begun...”
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Hoerner open to shortstop, roving role in ‘22. “If that’s something that’s part of what I do here in the future, then definitely [I’m open to it].”
• Brian Johnston (Cubbies Crib*): Chicago Cubs: 3 Jason Heyward trades that might work. “... perhaps there is some hope that they could trade him to another team and get SOMETHING in return, even if it’s another team’s bad contract.”
• Tim Stebbins (NBC Sports Chicago*): Cubs rookies dress up as ‘Despicable Me’ Minions on flight. “A few looks at everybody in costume together”
• Mark Gonzales (Daily Herald* {$}): Cubs could be looking to add homegrown talent in 2022. Here are a few options. “Until executives and agents know the ground rules, the most of the internal attention will surround each team’s prospects.”
• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation*): The Cubs had three of the Top Six prospects in the Arizona Complex League. “... Owen Caissie (3), Kevin Alcantara (4), James Triantos (6).”
• Sam Fels (Deadspin*): The Cubs are the dumbest. “Management getting what it deserves in mess of a season.”

Food for Thought:

Thanks for reading.