A Chicago Cubs Fan Community Since February 9, 2005
The first thing I thought of — and maybe you did, too — on seeing the name “HESTER” was Devin Hester, the Hall of Fame Bears kick returner/defensive back. Obviously, this isn’t Devin Hester. I had no recollection of this Diamondbacks player when BCB reader Clark Addison sent me the photo, so off I went […]
Hey now. The players are in camp, except for a couple, who (as far as I know) are still having visa trouble. They’ll actually play a competitive game this week. I don’t know about you, but I’m studio-tanned, restless, and ready-to-wear. I’m in the best shape of my life (round) except for my hand, which […]
This is Cubs infielder Ronny Cedeńo, pretty clearly having been called out on strikes against the Pirates at Wrigley Field. It’s another photo from BCB reader Clark Addison. The Cubs wore blue jerseys at home on occasion pre-Ricketts ownership, and we are looking at an afternoon game. I was given a clue here by the […]
Earlier this week MLB announced details of the ABS challenge system that will go into effect this season. If you missed it, here’s my article describing all those details. There’s going to be another change you’ll notice on TV broadcasts of MLB games this year, and Jeff Agrest of the Sun-Times notes that change: The […]
The above turned out to be controversial as trolls descended upon Taillon’s X-feed, prompting him to sign off for the season, as he put it. Lots of spring training interviews via Marquee, making up for lost time, I suppose, since they went almost two weeks without any new material. Here’s the playlist. I don’t see […]
The Cubs have reportedly agreed to a two-year deal with veteran right-handed reliever Shelby Miller. Fansided’s Robert Murray was reportedly first with the news. Miller, 35, pitched quite effectively last year with the Diamondbacks, posting a 1.98 ERA and ten saves in 37 games before he was traded to the Brewers at the trade deadline, […]
As you know, the Cubs have added quite a bit of advertising to Wrigley Field since the recently-completed renovation. This includes ads on the pads on the left- and right-field lines, on the doors on the outfield walls and behind the plate. There are also two advertising signs on buildings on Waveland and Sheffield, as […]
Today we look at the Cubs’ newest rotation member, a flamethrowing righty acquired by trade from the Miami Marlins with tremendous upside. Edward Cabrera is 6’5”, 217 lbs. That’s a tall skinny drink of water with a buggy whip for an arm. He throws as hard as anyone when he’s on the mound. But he […]
SCOTTSDALE, Arizona — As you know, at long last MLB players will get the chance to challenge ball-and-strike calls during games beginning this year. Officially called the ABS challenge system, this has been tested in Triple-A games for a couple of years and had a test in some Spring Training games in 2025. Thursday, the […]
Good morning. A lot of news today.
The sad end of Ken Hubbs and other stories. Today in Baseball History: The Ken Hubbs story from SABR. Cubs birthdays: Bill Bradley, Gilly Campbell, Donnie Moore, Matt Mieske. Today in history: Common sources: *pictured. Some of these items spread from site to site without being fact-checked, and that is why we ask for verifiable sources, in order to […]
Today we look at the Cubs’ veteran right-handed starter. Jameson Lee Taillon was born in Lakeland, Florida, 34 years ago. He was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2010 June Amateur Draft, going to the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he toiled for four years, recorded 29 wins against 24 losses, and looked every bit of […]
The 2026 World Baseball Classic begins in less than three weeks — Wednesday, March 4, to be exact. That’s actually Thursday, March 5 in Japan, where the first games of pool play will take place. The three other pools — in San Juan, Houston and Miami — will begin play Friday, March 6. All the […]
It appears, to me at least, that Cubs President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer has put together a pretty strong 40-man roster. This Cubs team should be a World Series contender and, at the very least, be the NL Central champion. That’s obviously the goal, and the team as constructed should be able to do […]
Jed Hoyer held a press conference yesterday. I didn’t see all of it, as I don’t live in Chicagoland but those who do and did view it assured me that Jed didn’t say anything that amounted to anything. Some of the players were out and about — I’ll include clips from that activity through the […]
Welcome back to BCB After Dark: the coolest club for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. Come on in. We’re so glad you decided to join us. There’s no cover charge. We still have a few tables available. Bring your own beverage. BCB After Dark is the place for you to talk […]
In this edition, we look at the Cubs’ Japanese southpaw. Shōta Imanaga, the ‘throwing philosopher’, has been with the Cubs for two interesting seasons now. It’s impossible to say whether Shōta, the crafty lefty with fool-me stuff is going to start a given game, or if his alter ego ‘Mike’ will take the ball for […]
Cubs President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer and General Manager Carter Hawkins met with media in Mesa, Arizona Wednesday, which was also the day that Cubs pitchers and catchers officially reported for Spring Training at the Sloan Park complex, though many players have been in camp already for a couple of weeks. There wasn’t any […]
Marquee Sports Network dropped its 2026 Cubs Spring Training schedule this morning. Without further ado, here it is: For those keeping score, that’s 11 of the 34 spring games. Seven of them will be games at Sloan Park and four will be away games. There will be some broadcasts of Cubs spring games by the […]
I’ll have a more detailed look into the other four teams in the NL Central coming up soon. But today, I simply want you to give your gut feelings about the Brewers, Reds, Pirates and Cardinals. How will the division wind up this year? We can get an idea of how these teams line up […]
Happy Wednesday, everyone! Tigers fans got an unexpected surprise yesterday when the team announced a one-year deal with Justin Verlander. Verlander, who began his career in Detroit, was a beloved former ace for the club, and the reunion—that might be more of a farewell tour—feels like an appropriate next chapter for both Verlander and the […]
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. So long, Bill*, hello, Bobby, and other stories. Today in baseball history: Cubs Birthdays: Jimmy […]
Welcome back to BCB After Dark: the hippest hangout for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. We’re so glad you decided to stop in tonight. Let us hold the door for you. There’s no cover charge. Let us take your coat for you. There are still a few tables available. Bring […]
The Cubs are adding some starting pitching depth: Kyle Wright was the Braves’ first-round pick (seventh overall) in 2017 out of Vanderbilt and was a Top 100 prospect three years in a row (2018, 2019, 2020). He made his MLB debut with the Braves in 2019 and joined their rotation full-time in 2022, when he […]
Major League Baseball and ESPN jointly announced the official procedure for fans to subscribe to MLB.TV for the 2026 season today. Pay close attention because this is complicated! The ESPN release noted that the “free trial” will renew after one month at $29.99 per month. So if you don’t already have ESPN Unlimited, either through […]