With Starlin Castro sidelined, the calls for "MORE BAEZ" are getting even louder. He and the other prospects are trying to be patient while showing good attitudes. Meanwhile, Dale Sveum has no regrets, Mike Olt wants a shot, and we remember Harry.
I dislike the Oscars and other big award shows. Why? Because sports writers think they are witty when they do show tie-ins.
From Comcast SportsNet
- The Royals say they know Dale Sveum can develop young players.
- The team's former manager has no regrets with the Cubs or Starlin Castro.
- Speaking of the Cub's shortstop, his injury puts Javier Baez in the spotlight. Like he wasn't before?
- Mike Olt wants a shot to win the starting job at third base. Don't we all?
- Would Rick Renteria let one of the Cubs attend the Oscars like Adam Dunn?
- Jeff Samardzija thinks the team has the right building blocks in Javier Baez and Kris Bryant. So, then, Jeff... about that extension...
- Jason Hammel knows how the Cubs operate at the trade deadline. Rent, Jason.
From Cubs Den
- A "new" pitcher may be entering the conversation near the top of the 2014 draft board. The problem I see is an extra letter in that first name.
- The Cubs struggled seemingly forever to find a third baseman. Now the future of the position looks good.
- One of the best traits the Cubs' big prospects are showing is patience.
From Cubs.com
- Javier Baez is showing much better patience this spring.
- You can see his first spring homer here. The kid dazzled a bit with the glove, too.
- Junior Lake is getting plenty of practice in his full-time switch to the outfield.
- The club is happy with the progress and attitudes of the big prospects.
- Wesley Wright is shrugging off his first Cactus League outing.
- Harry Caray was remembered on Saturday on what would have been the broadcasting legend's 100th birthday.
From ESPNChicago.com
- Javier Baez answered questions in a mailbag. Perhaps of most interest was a question about a possible position switch. Baez responded that he likes second base best, after shortstop (of course).
- The injury to Starlin Castro doesn't change the Cubs' spring plans for Baez.
- (Audio) Jesse Rogers got Kris Bryant to sit down for a podcast.
- In a contractual formality, the Cubs signed 19 players.
From the Chicago Tribune
- (Video) Chris Bosio talks about the rehab of reliever Kyuji Fujikawa.
- (Video) In a follow-up to Sunday's edition of Cub Tracks, Aaron Cunningham talks about selling socks.
- Rick Renteria is a student of all phases of the game.
- The manager also gave some words of encouragement to James McDonald after his rough first outing.
- Could Theo Epstein top a Casablanca script?
- (Video) Jason Hammel talked about knocking off the rust.
- (Video) Darwin Barney talks about moving back over to play some shortstop.
From the Chicago Sun-Times
- Edwin Jackson wants to put his 18 loss season behind him.
- Darwin Barney is sticking with his day job and giving up acting, for now.
- George Kottaras' dog has become the team's unofficial spring mascot.
- Starlin Castro's injury has increased the clamor for more Baez.
From the Daily Herald
- The team's starting rotation should be good from the start of the season, but how long can that last?
Miscellaneous
- A little ways down in this Fangraphs notes column, Jason McLeod talks about "missing" on Javier Baez when he was with the Padres.
- Apparently, at least according to a Kansas City TV station, the Cubs didn't lose to the Royals on Sunday after all.
- Note from Al: SB Nation support says this should hopefully clear up the issues people are having about not staying logged in on phones: "Go into preferences and reset your cookies and cache and make sure "do not track" is not on as we require some cookies for the login. Restart your phone and see if it works." Please let me and SBN know if this works.
Today's food for thought
- This is what it looks like when Saturn's rings disappear from view.
- This infographic tracks all of the deaths in Shakespeare's works.