A Chicago Cubs Fan Community Since February 9, 2005
“I want you to know that I am going to remain a loyal Cubs fan,” said Archbishop-elect Ronald Hicks, who will head the Archdiocese of New York after leading the Diocese of Joliet. “However, I am going to start rooting for the New York sports teams. And I already love your pizza. I love it […]
about 2 months ago | 2 reads
Here’s yet another one from BCB reader Clark Addison, and I cropped the photo at the top of the post to take away one significant clue. Can you figure out which game this is from just the Cubs waiting to greet the walk-off home run hitter at the plate? (It’s obvious it’s a walk-off home […]
about 2 months ago | 2 reads
Michael King is off the board, having signed a multiple-out deal to return to the Padres. Munetaka Murikami has to sign by Monday or go back to NPB. Tatsuya Imai’s posting window expires January 2. So there’s hope for some developments soon. *means autoplay on, (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome). {$} means paywall. {$} means limited […]
about 2 months ago | 2 reads
The Cubs bullpen was a strength for the Cubs in 2025 but with Andrew Kittredge returning to the Baltimore Orioles, Drew Pomeranz signing with the Los Angeles Angels and Brad Keller inking a two-year deal with the Phillies, the late innings of Cubs games will look a lot different in 2026. The Cubs have been […]
about 2 months ago | 7 reads
Last month, I wrote about Chris Denorfia’s walk-off home run, a blast that still stands as the only one in MLB history to win a scoreless game in extra innings. Before he did that, though, the versatile Denorfia became another Cubs position player to take the mound. It happened Aug. 19, 2015 at Wrigley Field […]
about 2 months ago | 6 reads
Pirates right-hander Mitch Keller was one of the names most mentioned in trade rumors around last summer’s deadline. Along with basically every top starting pitcher rumored to be dealt last July, Keller stayed right where he was, in the Pirates rotation. Keller has been, if nothing else, a durable starter. He has made at least […]
about 2 months ago | 2 reads
Good morning.
about 2 months ago | 3 reads
On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, Bleed Cubbie Blue is pleased to present a Cubs-centric look at baseball’s colorful past. Here’s a handy Cubs timeline, to help you follow the various narrative paths. “Maybe I called it wrong, but it’s official.” — Tom Connolly, HoF Umpire. Today we feature financial skullduggery and other such fare, just the thing for a holiday […]
about 2 months ago | 5 reads
This was not an expected signing by the Chicago Cubs baseball team: Hmm, I said. This is not a player I’m familiar with, and probably, neither are you. Tyler Austin was the Yankees’ 13th round pick out of high school in Georgia in 2013. He made his MLB debut in 2016 and played parts of […]
about 2 months ago | 2 reads
Tokyo travelogue: Street scenes in Shinjuku Tokyo travelogue: Sunday at the Imperial Palace grounds, Ueno Park and Akihabara Japan travelogue: A day trip to Kyoto Japan travelogue: Hakone and Mt. Fuji Tokyo travelogue: Tea ceremony and Tokyo Tower A Tokyo travelogue, and Tuesday at the Tokyo Dome A few thoughts about traveling to Japan to see the Cubs play
about 2 months ago | 3 reads
Before he was Cubs manager for four years, before he was a World Series hero, before he was “Grandpa Rossy,” David Ross was just another Cubs backup catcher. Well, not “just” another one. He had been signed at the recommendation of Jon Lester, who the Cubs signed to a long-term deal before 2015, as Lester […]
about 2 months ago | 2 reads
Thanks again to BCB reader JayWent for this article suggestion. Kris Bubic has talent — he was a No. 1 pick (40th overall) in 2018 out of Stanford. If that date and school sounds familiar, it should, because Nico Hoerner was the Cubs’ No. 1 pick out of Stanford that year, thus Bubic and Hoerner […]
about 2 months ago | 3 reads
Brad Keller and Luke Weaver signed identical-money deals, with the Phillies and Mets, respectively, sources indicate. Pedro Strop is selling his former home, Bowden is bullish on Bregman to Chicago. *means autoplay on, (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome). {$} means paywall. {$} means limited views. Italics are often used on this page as sarcasm font. The powers that be have […]
about 2 months ago | 1 read
It’s Wednesday evening here at BCB After Dark: the coolest club for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. We’re so glad you decided to stop by. Come on in out of the cold. We can check your hat and coat for you. There are still a couple tables available. They’re all […]
about 2 months ago | 4 reads
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is going to look very familiar, as it just ran last month as part of my “walkoff heroes” series. I’m running it again because, well, John Baker was one of the Cubs position player pitchers in the divisional play era, and he does have a singular distinction: In that era, of […]
about 2 months ago | 3 reads
Also by suggestion from the article I posted here Monday, let’s take a look at former Rays closer Pete Fairbanks, now a free agent. Fairbanks, originally a ninth-round pick of the Rangers in 2015 from the University of Missouri, was traded to the Rays in 2019. He’s been the Tampa Bay closer for the last […]
about 2 months ago | 3 reads
Happy Wednesday, BCB readers! We’ve got lots of good little news bites to keep you entertained today, including some roundups of trade rumors, looks at some free agent signings that teams are hoping will be the thing they need to compete next year. Some highlights we’ll touch on today are the wild totals being accumulated […]
about 2 months ago | 4 reads
On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, Bleed Cubbie Blue is pleased to present a Cubs-centric look at baseball’s colorful past. Here’s a handy Cubs timeline, to help you follow the various narrative paths. “Maybe I called it wrong, but it’s official.” — Tom Connolly, HoF Umpire. Happy Birthday to Marvell Wynne* and other former Cubs. The spitball is grandfathered in, and […]
about 2 months ago | 3 reads
It’s Tuesday night here at BCB After Dark: the grooviest get-together for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. Come on in out of the cold. It’s so good to see you this evening. We can check your coat for you. We still have a few tables available. There’s no cover charge. […]
about 2 months ago | 3 reads
It’s the most wonderful time of the year as the holidays approach. If your calendar is anything like mine the time from Thanksgiving through New Years is filled with opportunities to catch up with loved ones, holiday parties with old friends, and more. This Saturday, Dec. 20, the Bleacher Bunch podcast including some of your […]
about 2 months ago | 4 reads
Caleb Thielbar was one of Jed Hoyer’s better reclamation projects in 2025. After posting a 5.32 ERA in 59 relief appearances for the Twins in 2024 at age 37, Thielbar appeared done. But Hoyer and his team saw something they liked, so they signed Thielbar to a one-year, $2.75 million deal. And Thielbar had possibly […]
about 2 months ago | 5 reads
The 2012 Cubs were, by design, a bad team. New President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein had torn down the previous structure to rebuild, and what was left was not very good. After an unexpectedly good 15-10 July, the Cubs began August winning just six of their first 24 games, never winning more than one […]
about 2 months ago | 4 reads
Thanks to BCB reader JayWent, who suggested I write an article about Japanese third baseman Munetaka Murakami and the chances the Cubs might be interested in him. Murakami is listed at 6-2, 213, which makes him a pretty large man for a Japanese player. By comparison, Seiya Suzuki is 6-0 and 182. Murakami bats left-handed […]
about 2 months ago | 4 reads
Luke Weaver is the latest name floating around in the blogosphere. Michael King is said to have reduced his potential landing spots to three AL East cities. The sources are credible but nothing is definite yet. *means autoplay on, (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome). {$} means paywall. {$} means limited views. Italics are often used on this page […]
about 2 months ago | 4 reads
It’s the start of a new week here at BCB After Dark: the hippest spot for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. Come on in out of the cold. We’ve got a fire going in here. We can take your coat. We still have a few tables available. Bring your own […]
about 2 months ago | 2 reads