A Chicago Cubs Fan Community Since February 9, 2005
Matt Shaw was the Cubs’ No. 1 pick in 2023 out of Maryland and raced through the system, making his MLB debut this past March in Tokyo. Unfortunately, Shaw didn’t hit well early in the season. He was batting .172/.294/.241 (10-for-58) in 18 games through April 14 when he was optioned to Triple-A Iowa for […]
about 1 month ago | 1 read
We cover the coverage like PCA covers center field. Now in our eleventh season. Greetings. It’s true, this is the first episode of my eleventh season at the helm of this questionable enterprise, Cub Tracks that is. We generally steer clear of the mainstream but occasionally muddy the waters with our polluted stream of consciousness, […]
about 1 month ago | 1 read
It’s World Series week here at BCB After Dark: the coolest club for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. Come on in out of the cold. We’ve got the fireplace going here. There’s no cover charge. We can check your coat for you. There’s no cover charge. The hostess will seat […]
about 1 month ago | 1 read
Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s complete game was the talk of Game 2. The Japanese right-hander now has two CG’s this postseason. No Dodgers pitcher had done that since Orel Hershiser in 1988. Pretty good company, I’d say. Now the scene shifts to Dodger Stadium, and Max Scherzer? Well, we’ll see how the 41-year-old does. He has pitched […]
about 2 months ago | 0 reads
We are three weeks into the Arizona Fall League and since it’s a Monday off-day, it’s a good time to check in on the Mesa Solar Sox. The Solar Sox played six games this past week and won two of them and lost four of them. That gives them an overall record of 6-10 and […]
about 2 months ago | 1 read
It might be too early to consider a long-term contract for Cubs closer Daniel Palencia — and yes, I’m calling him “closer” because I have no doubt he’ll be back in that role in 2026. Palencia had a shoulder issue during the 2025 season, and might have come back sooner than most would have wanted. […]
about 2 months ago | 1 read
Happy Monday, everyone! We are officially in the final week of baseball for the 2025 season. The World Series continues tonight with Game 3, and presently the series is tied 1-1 between the Blue Jays and Dodgers, and by the end of the weekend, we will see which team is supreme, and we can turn […]
about 2 months ago | 1 read
Rabbit Maranville arrives in Chicago, and other stories. Happy birthday to Ralph Kiner* and other former Cubs. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, Bleed Cubbie Blue is pleased to present a light-hearted, 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 […]
about 2 months ago | 1 read
Welcome back to your late week, late night, indie pop-up shop where we’re chatting about the World Series until the wee hours of the morning. Whether your beverage of choice is caffeinated or designed to generate a different type of buzz, we’ve got you covered. Try one of our festbeers before the season is over […]
about 2 months ago | 0 reads
Here’s a photo of the popular Cubs first baseman Bill Buckner trying to break up a play in Pittsburgh: Getty Images’ caption says: PITTSBURGH, PA – CIRCA 1977: Phil Garner #3 of the Pittsburgh Pirates gets the put out at second base on Bill Buckner #22 of the Chicago Cubs during an Major League Baseball […]
about 2 months ago | 2 reads
We cover the coverage like PCA covers center field. That first WS game was fun. The Dodgers getting beat down did my heart good. Spotrac has scary Kyle Tucker figures. *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
The Blue Jays broke open a close Game 1 with a nine-run sixth inning that featured a grand slam by Addison Barger and blew out the Dodgers 11-4 to take the early lead in the World Series. Here’s all the info you’ll need for tonight’s World Series Game 2. Dodgers at Blue Jays, 7 p.m. […]
about 2 months ago | 0 reads
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Cubs fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys. I’m in the middle of a five-part series regarding potential contract extensions for young Cubs players. Earlier this […]
about 2 months ago | 2 reads
From time to time, Cubs broadcaster Harry Caray would head to the bleachers to broadcast a game. Here’s one of those games. There’s more to the photo than you can see at the top of this post and therein lie the clues: Since we have a lot of the scoreboard visible, it’s possible to narrow […]
about 2 months ago | 2 reads
We cover the coverage like PCA covers center field. Good times to be a fan of the Cubs’ laundry, eh? What with the World Series going on, and not being part of it and all? Yeah. They’re playing our song. The Cubs aren’t going to win any jewelry but they’ll get more postseason awards. The […]
about 2 months ago | 2 reads
The Blue Jays blasted themselves into the World Series on the strength of George Springer’s three-run homer on Monday. Now we have a World Series between a team looking to be the first to win back-to-back Fall Classics (Dodgers) and a team looking to win their first in 32 years. Something’s gotta give. This map […]
about 2 months ago | 1 read
It’s finally here. The Fall Classic will kick off in Canada tonight featuring two teams full of titans in a best-of-seven series to determine this year’s World Series Champion. We’ve already seen epic performances this October from superstar two-way player Shohei Ohtani and legacy bat Vladimir Guerrero Jr. What else can we expect as the […]
about 2 months ago | 2 reads
A reminder that since the Cubs aren’t likely going to go beyond 2026 for these sorts of things, this is probably just a thought exercise. But let’s give it a shot anyway! Cade Horton was the Cubs’ No. 1 pick in 2022 out of the University of Oklahoma. Then various injuries prevented him from pitching […]
about 2 months ago | 1 read
Today is the big day! The World Series kicks off this weekend between the predicted juggernauts the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the surprise AL win-leaders the Toronto Blue Jays. While Cubs fans would much rather they were still in the mix, and Mariners fans are still mourning their best postseason run yet, there will be […]
about 2 months ago | 0 reads
Take Me Out to the Ball Game, Jackie Robinson! On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, Bleed Cubbie Blue is pleased to present a light-hearted, 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: There’s […]
about 2 months ago | 2 reads
We know that the Cubs have superior defensive players at many positions, and could win several Gold Gloves when those awards are announced next month. Today, Sports Info Solutions gave the entire team a Fielding Bible award (Bluesky link): As noted in the Bluesky post, this is the first-ever such award, given to an entire […]
about 2 months ago | 2 reads
Free agency will begin shortly after the World Series ends, so clearly, we are getting close to that, and with that adjustments in many teams’ 40-man rosters. I thought it would be interesting to look at the Cubs’ 40-man roster and how it will shape up after free agents are deleted. Here is the 40-man […]
about 2 months ago | 2 reads
Before the 2025 season began, the Cubs reportedly approached Pete Crow-Armstrong with a contract extension offer: It’s unclear how many years and option years would have been included in such a contract, but nothing was done beyond that. And all of that happened either early in the 2025 season or perhaps before it even began. […]
about 2 months ago | 2 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 […]
about 2 months ago | 2 reads
It’s Wednesday night here at BCB After Dark: the hippest hangout for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. We’re so glad you stopped by. Come in out of the chill. Let us check your coat for you. There’s no cover charge and the dress code is casual. The hostess will seat […]
about 2 months ago | 1 read