A Chicago Cubs Fan Community Since February 9, 2005
When the Cubs announced that they were starting their own regional sports network, to take over broadcasts beginning after 2019, the idea was to bring “wheelbarrows of cash” (as Cubs President of Business Operations Crane Kenney once put it) to the baseball ops team and let them spend it on top players. Well. Marquee Sports […]
2 months ago | 2 reads
Happy Wednesday, everyone! Hard to believe we’re already into December (which means we’re that much closer to February, when pitchers and catchers report). This week is off to a slow start for free agent signings and blockbuster trades, but perhaps the executives around MLB are just finalizing their wish lists to send to Santa. In […]
2 months ago | 1 read
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 in baseball history: Cubs Birthdays: Bennie Tate, Mike Martin, Damon Berryhill, Manny Corpas, Mike […]
2 months ago | 2 reads
Welcome to another evening here at BCB After Dark: the hot place for hepcats, night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. Come on in out of the cold. Our fireplace is warm. We’re just getting started here. There’s no cover charge. We still have a few tables available. Bring your own beverage. […]
2 months ago | 1 read
EDITOR’S NOTE: Once again, I am doing a repost here, largely because this walkoff home run by Willson Contreras came very, very close to me in the left-field bleachers on what was a very, very cold, rainy and long afternoon (four hours, 56 minutes of game time in a 15-inning contest). Lightly edited, here is […]
2 months ago | 3 reads
Here is another Twins right-hander (in addition to Joe Ryan, who I profiled in this series last week) who could help the Cubs. It seems clear that the Twins are in rebuild mode and would likely be happy to trade Pablo López. There are caveats with López. He missed quite a bit of time in […]
2 months ago | 4 reads
We cover the coverage like PCA covers center field. *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 enabled real sarcasm font in the comments. Food For Thought: Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of […]
2 months ago | 1 read
It’s Monday night here at BCB After Dark: the grooviest spot for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. We are so glad you decided to stop by. Come on in out of the cold. There’s no cover charge. We can check your coat for you. We still have a few tables […]
2 months ago | 1 read
EDITOR’S NOTE: This might be the most memorable walkoff home run in Cubs history, at least in modern times. Thus you probably don’t need to be told too much more about it. Lightly edited, here’s the article I wrote about it in 2023 on its fifth anniversary. David Bote’s ultimate grand slam on Aug. 12, […]
2 months ago | 2 reads
News item: Dylan Cease signs with the Blue Jays for a deal that includes deferred money: The Blue Jays are making a major splash at the top of the rotation. Toronto is in agreement with Dylan Cease on a seven-year contract, pending a physical. It’s reportedly a $210MM guarantee for the Boras Corporation client, though it includes […]
2 months ago | 2 reads
Good morning.
2 months ago | 1 read
Mr. Cub becomes Coach Cub, and other stories. RIP Dave McNally, Tommy Heinrich. 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 in […]
2 months ago | 3 reads
This is a photo of Burt Hooton pitching for the Cubs. Well, you’re thinking, that’s obvious. But you’re probably also thinking, “How is Al going to figure this one out? There really aren’t many clues.” Ah, but that’s where you are incorrect, dear reader. There are actually plenty of clues here. Here’s the full photo […]
2 months ago | 2 reads
We cover the coverage like PCA covers center field. Slow news weekend, as usual at this time of year. December is our slowest month despite the Winter Meetings, commencing on the Day of Infamy this year, though next year is liable to be more infamous. 1994 is calling. 2032 is listening. *means autoplay on, (directions to […]
2 months ago | 3 reads
Here we have a photo of Ron Santo and Rusty Staub, two players who were significant contributors to their teams for many years. Santo’s in the Hall of Fame, as you all know. Staub played 23 MLB seasons and is definitely a Hall of Very Good player, with 2,716 career hits, 292 home runs and […]
2 months ago | 2 reads
We cover the coverage like PCA covers center field. MLB ‘insiders’ are everywhere, fighting the clickbait for space in the attention economy. It seems like that term refers to anyone who ever watched a major league game from a pressbox. And these yutzes refer to each other for confirmation and the A. I. articles quote […]
2 months ago | 1 read
Here is a more recent Cubs photo, sent to me by BCB reader Clark Addison. What do we know about this photo? It’s 2015, because the “14” patch honoring Ernie Banks was worn only in that season. You’ll recognize, of course, Joe Maddon, Javier Báez and Anthony Rizzo. But who are the catcher and the […]
3 months ago | 1 read
Happy Friday, everyone! We hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and are recovering from your food coma. Now, before you get into your Black Friday shopping, we have a little bit of a news post to start your day. There’s a little bit of everything, but of course, the biggest news is one of the […]
3 months ago | 1 read
Taylor Davis has his EYE on you, and other stories. Happy birthday, Taylor! 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 in […]
3 months ago | 1 read
Thanksgiving greetings to everyone, and I hope this holiday finds you healthy and happy and spending the day with friends and family. For your entertainment today, Marquee Sports Network has you covered (all times Central): schedule I am thankful for all of you and the great community you have made here at Bleed Cubbie Blue. […]
3 months ago | 2 reads
We cover the coverage like PCA covers center field. Ryan Helsley? Edwin Diaz? These are two of the names floating out there in the aether as the Cubs cast their net for next year’s relief corps with an eye toward qualifying for the postseason and garnering some of that sweet postseason lucre. This is supposing […]
3 months ago | 1 read
It’s the night before Thanksgiving here at BCB After Dark: the coolest club for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. Come on in and have a pre-holiday beverage with us. It’s cold out there, but it’s warm in here. We still have a couple of tables available and none of them […]
3 months ago | 1 read
When Jon Lester came to the Cubs, he was a terrible hitter. No, seriously. He had gone 0-for-36 in his American League career, and that carried over to his first year with the Cubs in 2015. Lester went 0-for-30 in his first 16 Cubs starts, finally breaking that 0-fer with a single off his friend […]
3 months ago | 1 read
George Altman, one of several Black players signed to the Cubs by famed scout/coach Buck O’Neil, has died, aged 92. Altman had two outstanding years for the Cubs, in 1961 and 1962. In 1961, he batted .303/.353/.560 with 27 home runs and played in both All-Star Games that year (for four years from 1959-62, MLB […]
3 months ago | 1 read
MacKenzie Gore was one of the starting pitchers most mentioned in trade rumors last July. In the end, just as was the case for every big-name starting pitcher, he wasn’t traded, largely because it was perceived that the Nationals were asking for more in return than teams were willing to give. Gore had good numbers […]
3 months ago | 2 reads