A Chicago Cubs Fan Community Since February 9, 2005
Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma posted an article in The Athletic Sunday that began with this intriguing comment: The Chicago Cubs are targeting a higher level of the free-agent market and signaling an openness to spending for certain players, according to team and league sources briefed on the club’s deliberations. Well. I suspect many of […]
Happy Monday, everyone, and happy start of Winter Meetings. There’s certain to be plenty of news (and plenty of outrageous Scott Boras quotes) to keep us occupied this week, but before things get underway, we will check in on what to expect and what storylines to watch. In addition, we’ll take a look at 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. Happy birthday, Reed Johnson*! And other stories. Today in baseball history: Cubs Birthdays: Kid Camp, Reed Johnson*. […]
Here’s another photo from BCB reader Clark Addison. It is, quite clearly, a play at the plate. There are enough letters on the back of the runner’s jersey to identify him: That’s Jason Marquis. Here’s the full photo: Marquis pitched for the Cubs for two seasons, 2007 and 2008. The catcher’s uniform doesn’t show a […]
Major League Baseball’s annual Winter Meetings are taking place this week at the Marriott Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa in Orlando, Florida. Here are some of the events going on this week and what to look for from a Cubs point of view. First, there was a report by Bob Nightengale of USA Today early […]
We cover the coverage like PCA covers center field. We catch everything but we throw a lot back. ‘Insider’ Bob Nightengale’s dispatches aren’t often found here. He’s on the same level as ‘Insider’ Jim Bowden as far as I’m concerned. Zac Gallen is still on the market. *means autoplay on, (directions to remove for Firefox and […]
Here we have three easily recognizable Cubs: Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez and Jacque Jones. It appears to be (and I found that it was) after the fourth player, the only one whose face we can see, has hit a grand slam at Wrigley Field. Here’s the full photo, another one sent to me by BCB […]
We cover the coverage like PCA covers center field. Monday might be a day of infamy or a beggar’s banquet for the Cubs. They’re unlikely to dine at the head table and figure to be offering a goodly percentage of one-year deals, preferring, seemingly, to keep all of their ducats in a row preparatory to […]
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is another repost of the game recap from a walkoff home run, this one from Chicago-area native Mike Tauchman, who grew up a Cubs fan. Once again, there will be an epilogue after the lightly-edited recap repost. This concludes this offseason series about Cubs walkoff heroes. Mike Tauchman grew up in the […]
Last offseason, the Cubs were reportedly “in” on free agent third baseman Alex Bregman. They got outbid by the Red Sox. A couple of weeks ago, I posted this article regarding Bregman’s free agency this offseason after he opted out of his deal in Boston. Now, per Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma in The Athletic, […]
To the surprise of many in baseball, Luis Severino left New York, where he’d pitched for both the Yankees and Mets, and signed a three-year, $67 million deal with the Athletics before the 2025 season. It wasn’t long before Severino complained about the conditions at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento. And it’s no wonder — […]
Good morning.
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 Cliff Floyd* and other former Cubs. Today in baseball history: Cubs Birthdays: […]
The offseason is in full swing and the stove is hot. We’ve already seen a big trade with Brandon Nimmo heading from the Mets to the Rangers for Marcus Semien. We’ve already seen a huge signing with Dylan Cease landing a seven year deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. But the biggest story of this […]
EDITOR’S NOTE: Once again, this is a repost of the game recap from this exciting walkoff homer that Michael Busch hit against the Padres. Busch, of course, had a breakout season in 2025 and hopefully will be a 30-homer man for the Cubs for several more seasons. Busch’s home run was hit just as it […]
So if you didn’t like yesterday’s idea for the Cubs to trade for Sandy Alcanatara, perhaps you’d like his teammate Edward Cabrera better. Like Alcantara, Cabrera was the subject of trade rumors at the deadline last July. And like all the useful starters around then, none was traded because the asking prices were too high. […]
We cover the coverage like PCA covers center field. Scott Kingery is the newest Cub, signed to a minor-league deal. Likely that puts Willi Castro in the rearview as they’re at least superficially the same kind of player. Nicky Lopez is reportedly a Rockie. Anthony Kay is a White Sock. The Winter Meetings are almost […]
We’re so glad to see you here at BCB After Dark: the hippest afterparty for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. Come on in out of the cold. We can check your coat for you. Please tell us if you need anything. The hostess will seat you now. Bring your own […]
EDITOR’S NOTE: With these walkoff homers getting more recent, you likely remember them well. So again, I present to you the BCB recap of Christopher Morel’s exciting walkoff homer against the White Sox. The recap is lightly edited, and there’s an epilogue about Morel that follows. As baseball fans, each and every one of us […]
You all know the story of Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara. He had several good seasons in Miami, including winning the Cy Young Award in 2022 at age 26. It looked like he was headed for a good-to-great career, until Tommy John surgery cost him the entire 2024 season. Returning in 2025, he had a typical […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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. […]
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 […]