Today’s Reflections
While watching the Yankees’ four-error performance Monday night …..
It made me GREATLY appreciate the Cubs defense we enjoyed this season.
I appreciate your reading.
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Cubs’ Pitching Questions/No Answers:
- Doug Schwamb (Chicago Cubs On SI): Who is a Lock for the Chicago Cubs’ 2027 Starting Rotation? “The Chicago Cubs have a lot of work to do this offseason to fill out their 2027 starting rotation.”
- Zach Cioffi (Just Baseball): Chicago Cubs Arbitration Projections and Tender Decisions. “A deep dive into the Chicago Cubs roster outlook, with projected arbitration salaries and tender decisions to be made this offseason.”
- Alexander Rosquez (LastWordOnSports): Cubs’ Kevin Gausman Trade Raises Bigger Questions About Chicago’s Pitching Plan. “The move now represents a larger offseason question about how the organization plans to build its pitching staff.”
- Elias Schuster (Chicago Cubs On SI): Cubs’ Kevin Gausman Trade Looks Rough, as Blue Jays Could Make Quick Reunion. “The Chicago Cubs could be on the verge of seeing several of their players suiting up in Toronto.”
- Jordan Campbell (Cubbies Crib): Cubs still appear open to Clay Holmes reunion after his season ended on an awkward note. “It was a weird end to the season, but Clay Holmes still is a fit for what the Cubs do best.”
- Steve Silverman (ClutchPoints): 2 radical changes Cubs must make this offseason after brutal playoff loss. “The Cubs were not consistent enough this year in the regular season or the playoffs and major changes must be executed.”
- Zoey Grossman (Chicago Cubs On SI): The Cubs Must Evolve in One Major Area This Offseason to Take the Next Step. ”The Cubs have a systemic issue that needs to be addressed this offseason.“
Cubs’ Hitting Questions/No Answers:
- Jordan Bastian (MLB.com): 5 questions facing Cubs this offseason. “The Cubs are now left to evaluate where things went wrong and how to best correct things for 2027 and beyond, starting with this offseason.“
- Jordan Sullivan (Cubbies Crib): Cubs should be watching Steven Kwan closely as Guardians move closer to offseason crossroads. “It’s an option, if nothing else.”
- Matt Sullivan (Sporting News): Cubs linked to trade idea with Guardians for Gold Glove OF that would be a mistake. “This trade idea for the Cubs would not be a good move for Chicago.”
Cubs Off-Season Possible FA/Acquisitions:
- Evan Altman (Cubs Insider): Cubs Probably Fall Short on Tarik Skubal, Still Need to Get ‘Dude’. “Between the truncated initial free agency period, the unknowns of the next CBA, and their general reluctance to play at the top of the market for premium pitching, adding one of the best arms on the planet seems anything but likely.”
PCA-Mania:
- Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation): Pete Crow-Armstrong is (Obviously) a Finalist for the 2026 Hank Aaron Award. “It’s how you wind up with a 10+ WAR season, but it still blows my mind that defensive superstar Pete Crow-Armstrong also happened to be among the best of the best bats in baseball this year.”
- Matt Eddy (Baseball America): Pete Crow-Armstrong: Baseball America’s 2026 MLB Player Of The Year. “Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong joins historic company with a season for the ages.”
- Paolo Mariano (ClutchPoints): Pete Crow-Armstrong rocking Caleb Williams jersey at Solder Field is pure aura farming. “Chicago Cubs star Pete Crow-Armstrong has formed a tight bond with Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams.”
Cubs’ Minors Stories:
- Sam Caulder (North Side Baseball): Assessing the Cubs’ Pitching Pipeline Heading Into the Offseason. “Pitching depth (or, rather, the lack thereof) became a major storyline for the Cubs in 2026, and their young arms could play a big role in preventing similar issues down the road. Here’s a look at some of the most intriguing pitchers in Chicago’s pipeline.”
- Jonathan Mayo (MLB.com): Road less traveled takes Cubs’ pitcher-turned-outfielder Kade Snell to Fall League. “If someone told Cubs prospect Kade Snell he’d be playing professional baseball when he first embarked on his college career at Auburn, he’d have believed it.”
- Andrew Wright (North Side Baseball): Chicago Cubs Minor League Pitchers Of The Year. “With the season in the books, let’s take a look at what Chicago Cubs minor-league pitchers shined this season.”
Assorted Stories:
- Matt Musico (MLBDailyDingers): 4 Pinch-Hitters Have Slugged a Postseason Grand Slam. Here’s Who Did It. “There’s just something about postseason baseball that makes me always want more of it.”
- Adam Harrington (CBSNews): Anthony Rizzo hosts kids’ sports clinic, prepares to run Chicago Marathon for first time. “Rizzo is embarking on a new challenge as he runs in this weekend’s Bank of America Chicago Marathon.”
Food For Thought:
Eddie Shaw (March 20, 1937 – January 29, 2018) was an American Chicago blues tenor saxophonist, arranger and bandleader. He led Howlin’ Wolf’s band, the Wolf Gang, from 1972, both before Wolf’s death in 1976 and subsequently.
Shaw was born in Stringtown, Mississippi. In his teenage years, Shaw played tenor saxophone with local blues musicians, such as Little Milton and Willie Love. At the age of 14, he played in a jam session in Greenville, Mississippi, with Ike Turner’s band. At a gig in Itta Bena, Mississippi, when the then 20-year-old Shaw performed, Muddy Waters invited him to join his Chicago-based band.
In Waters’s band, Shaw divided the tenor saxophone position with A.C. Reed. In 1972 he joined Howlin’ Wolf, leading his band, the Wolf Gang, and writing half the songs on The Back Door Wolf (1973). After the singer’s death in 1976 he took over the band and its residency at the 1815 Club, renamed Eddie’s Place. Shaw led the band on Living Chicago Blues Vol. 1 and Have Blues – Will Travel (1980) and recorded albums with different backing for Isabel Records, Rooster Blues, and Wolf Records.
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