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Welcome to today’s episode of Cub Tracks news and notes™. Here we have material from current beat writers, bloggers, and the occasional in-house habitué, moonlighting. These pieces center around #Cubs, #MiLB, and #MLB baseball.

We’re going to have a lockout. Oh yay. But it’s no surprise that the owners are applying their leverage. After all that’s why this fracas was scheduled for the offseason, so that the players didn’t have the option to strike.

Clearly changes are needed. But this action makes it less likely that any kind of wholesale change will be forthcoming. That, too, is by design, I expect. This whole scenario has been thoroughly manipulated by the owners and orchestrated by the commissioner’s office, and they still have cards left to play, I’d wager.

“I think when you look at other sports, the pattern has become to control the timing of the labor dispute and try to minimize the prospect of actual disruption of the season. That’s what it’s about: It’s avoiding doing damage to the season.” — Rob Manfred.

I hope there’s a 2022 season.

On the other hand, the plan for minor-league housing looks good on the face of it. So perhaps there’s hope.

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• Mark Feinsand (MLB.com*): Deal by Dec. 1 Commissioner’s No. 1 priority. “I don’t think me talking about substance — what I think can and can’t happen — is helpful to the process right now,” Rob Manfred said. Brett Taylor has thoughts. Tim Stebbins has lockout on his mind. Evan Drellich breaks it down {$}.
• Paul Sullivan (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Waiting on the Major League Baseball lockout could become more tedious than a 4-hour game. “It’s the last thing baseball needs but perhaps what baseball deserves.”
• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation*): This November already feels more active than recent years – is that accurate? And if so, what’s up? “... it’s been a really long time since we saw much movement in November.”
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): Assistant Pitching Coach Daniel Moskos plans to work on stuff. “... Moskos was hired specifically to work on stuff, or pitch design...” Erik Mauro has thoughts.
• Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic {$}): Cubs mailbag, Part 2: Corey Seager, Carlos Correa and the big questions about the rebuild. “Can you remember the last time the Cubs generated less attention through social media and Chicago’s radio stations and newspapers?”
• Tim Stebbins (NBC Sports Chicago*): Cubs Twitter trolls Brewers’ Wisconsin-Only ticket presale. “The Brewers have tried to limit the number of Cubs fans at American Family Field in recent years...”
• Marquee Sports Network*: Cubs Weekly Podcast: Catching up with Frank Schwindel.
• Thomas Erbe (Cubbies Crib*): Ian Happ says it’s time for the Chicago Cubs to shake up their uniforms. “Even if it’s just a small change, maybe it is time to switch it up a little bit...”
• Lee Bosch (Marquee Sports Network*): Fall League Fridays: Cubs prospects ending Arizona season on high note. “... all this culminated in the Mesa Solar Sox clinching a spot in the AFL championship which will be played Saturday...”
• William Boor (MLB.com*): Nelson Velazquez closing in on AFL MVP. “Just be ready for the fastball, be on time for the fastball and on time with the breaking ball as well,” Velazquez said.

Food for Thought:

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