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Whither TV Money?

In Other Topics by Rice Cube72 Comments

There’s been a growing discontent over the fact that about half the teams in MLB may be affected by their regional sports networks crapping out financially. Even the Sonny Gray deal by the Cardinals, who should be a financially well-off historic franchise, is heavily backloaded, while the Padres are not-so-discretely signaling that they’re going to dump salary, among the other …

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Game 69 and Beyond

In Other Topics by Rice Cube103 Comments

I think I’m still not necessarily keen on Cody Bellinger playing first base (at least until he’s back to full strength) but given the alternatives, I’ll live for now, especially if the Cubs keep doing what they’re doing after a sweep of the division-leading Pirates. Of course, the Orioles come to town and they’re legitimately a good team (if not …

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World Baseball Classic 2023

In Major League Baseball, Other Topics by Rice Cube24 Comments

As spring training arrives next week, there will be a few star (and honestly a bunch of non-star) players reporting a bit earlier than usual (including the Cubs’ Seiya Suzuki, who is already in Arizona) because they’re participating in the World Baseball Classic. Marcus Stroman will also play again, this time representing Team Puerto Rico after having pitched the USA …

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The Calm Before the Storm

In Other Topics by Rice Cube15 Comments

I haven’t written anything since last year (technically true), but there hasn’t been much going on regarding the Cubs anyway aside from a few anticipated DFAs to allow the reported signings to become official. In the meanwhile, like many of us who are bored out of their minds, I’ve been reading the slow drips of news that have come out …

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The Cubs Night Before Christmas 2022

In aside, Other Topics by Rice Cube12 Comments

‘Twas the night before Christmas, including Chicago Barely anyone stirring because it’s so cold The Cubs had signed Dansby and young Bellinger With hopes for a new ring for the baby bears The plan was to load up on pitchers and D To ensure the opponents scored fewer than three As many batters put on other teams’ caps What’s to …

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About Spending…

In Major League Baseball, Other Topics, Transactions by Rice Cube26 Comments

I know AC (and others) are very antsy for the Cubs, and anyone in MLB for that matter, to stop their faux collusion and start spending already, but the calendar is the calendar and both the agents/players and the owners/front offices are in a staring contest at the moment before the Winter Meetings in a couple weeks. I was going …

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Bending the Rules

In Major League Baseball, Other Topics by Rice Cube77 Comments

Towards the end of the previous post, in between waiting for the Cubs (and really all of MLB) to show signs of life on the transactional front, AC and I started pondering how batters might mess with pitchers with the new pitch clock rule coming in 2023. As a reminder, in addition to the defensive shift restrictions and the larger …