A Chicago Cubs Fan Community Since February 9, 2005
Today we look at the Cubs’ young starter, who had a remarkable rookie season. Cade Horton went 11-4, 2.67 in his first season, throwing 118 innings with 90 strikeouts and a 1.08 WHIP. None of that is out of line with his minor-league production, and so the immediate conclusion is that this is who he […]
about 1 month ago | 1 read
As we await the Cubs pitcher and catcher report day this Wednesday, I thought I’d lighten things up by once again presenting anagrams for every player on the Cubs’ 40-man roster. I’ve given away the identity of the Cub in the headline with the photo. See if you can figure out the others. I’ve put […]
about 1 month ago | 1 read
I am not at all unhappy to see Caleb Durbin heading to Boston. The guy is a pain in the ass at the plate. Plus it means that Matt Shaw/Nico Hoerner are even more likely to stay put. The Super Bowl is over. It’s time for baseball. “We’re taking the afternoon off” *means autoplay on, (directions […]
about 1 month ago | 3 reads
It’s Monday night here at BCB After Dark: the hippest spot for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. We’re so glad that you stopped by. Come on in. There’s no cover charge. We can check your coat for you. Hang on to that ticket. The hostess will take you to your […]
about 1 month ago | 6 reads
The starters are presented in alphabetical order, and, as always, are written in a No. 2 pencil. Today we’re looking at Matthew Boyd, who had the best year of his career in 2025, throwing 179.2 innings and going 14-8 with a 3.21 ERA and 1.091 WHIP, though he did in fact look gassed during the […]
about 1 month ago | 4 reads
As I do here every spring, today I present to you a full numerical roster of all the players and coaches in Cubs spring camp. Also included are the Cubs’ retired numbers, so you can see the full numerical progression. There are 58 players in camp, the 40-man roster plus 18 non-roster invitees. A few […]
about 1 month ago | 5 reads
Many Cubs players are already in Mesa, Arizona working out, but the official pitcher and catcher report day is Wednesday, Feb. 11, and the first full-squad workout will be Monday, Feb. 16. Today, the Cubs announced the names of 18 non-roster players who will join the 40-man roster in participating in spring camp at the […]
about 1 month ago | 2 reads
As you will recall, about a year ago MLB and ESPN jointly agreed to void the final three years of their deal. That would have been it between MLB and the “Worldwide Leader,” but later in 2025 the league and the channel put together another agreement that will keep baseball on ESPN this year, though […]
about 1 month ago | 2 reads
Good morning. With the Super Bowl finished, you all know what that means. It’s baseball season!
about 1 month ago | 3 reads
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. The Manfred Man arrives, and other stories. Happy birthday to Todd Pratt* and other former […]
about 1 month ago | 2 reads
Usually, I run just one sleuthing photo a day on the weekends during the offseason but I came across this one recently and it was too good to pass up. So let’s do a bit of baseball sleuthing as we wait for today’s Super Bowl to begin. Here we have brothers Joe and Phil Niekro […]
about 1 month ago | 3 reads
Here are two Cubs from the last decade who you likely remember well, Starlin Castro and Tyler Colvin. This is another photo courtesy BCB reader Clark Addison. They are standing together at Wrigley Field, apparently just waiting. There’s no one else on the field, the umpires appear to be having some sort of meeting, and […]
about 1 month ago | 3 reads
The time for hibernation is ending and soon it will be serious business in Arizona. Some players, notably Nico Hoerner, are already in camp. The fires have been banked, but we are told the flames are ready to be fanned and that we’ll see that post-season-ready buzz in short order. *means autoplay on, (directions to remove […]
about 1 month ago | 3 reads
Terrance Gore was known as one of the fastest men in baseball. He played in 14 games for the Cubs in 2018, mostly as a pinch-runner, and also appeared in the Wild Card Game that year against the Rockies. He was still in MLB as recently as 2022, with the Mets. Today, I have sad […]
about 1 month ago | 6 reads
BCB reader Clark Addison sent me some more photos to sleuth, and said none were easy. Well! I love a sleuthing challenge. Today, we have a photo of actor Joe Mantegna, a big Cubs fan and creator of the play “Bleacher Bums.” He’s with Cubs manager Joe Maddon, which already dates it between 2015 and […]
about 1 month ago | 7 reads
Vince Velasquez is the latest MiLB signing for our Cubs, it has been reported. This is in addition to Owen Miller, who has officially adorned the dotted line. The Cubs are filling up around the edges. I used to love Javy Báez. I still do, but I used to, too. Isiah Kiner-Falefa has filled Boston’s […]
about 1 month ago | 3 reads
Eleventh in the series. Today we look at the Cubs’ veteran right fielder. 31-year-old Seiya Suzuki is a native of Arakawa, Japan, who came to the Cubs in 2022, with a reputation for good OF defense and a lively bat, after a storied career in NPB, where he played for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp. In his four […]
about 1 month ago | 4 reads
Today we’re counting down the top five prospects in the Cubs minor league system. Because of the requests of some of you, I’m going to do today’s in reverse order. I’ll try it this year. If I don’t like it, I’m going back to the other way next year. If you want to look back, […]
about 1 month ago | 2 reads
Let’s switch things up today and talk about a new baseball stadium in the Tampa Bay area that might actually get built. The Tampa Bay Rays have had quite the stadium saga. When they were created, they began play in Tropicana Field, originally built as the Florida Coast Sundome in 1989, when the area was […]
about 1 month ago | 3 reads
Happy Friday, everyone. In arbitration news, two-time Cy Young-winning pitcher Tarik Skubal proved why it’s worth it to know your value. He and the Detroit Tigers did not see eye-to-eye when arbitration came around, with the team offering him only $19 million to the $32 million he estimated he was worth. The Tigers notoriously do […]
about 1 month ago | 5 reads
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, Dale Long*, who held a significant record while he was a Pirate, and […]
about 1 month ago | 2 reads
xx Cubs will leave the Sloan Park complex in early March to take part in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Here are all the North Siders who will participate. Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong heads a three-player Cubs delegation to the USA team for the World Baseball Classic. New Cub Alex Bregman will also play for […]
about 1 month ago | 3 reads
Tenth is the series. Today we look at the Cubs’ young center fielder. Peter Henry Crow-Armstrong, the first-round pick of the New York Mets in 2020, came on like gangbusters in the first half of 2025. His act flagged badly toward the end, but he turned in a marvelous season that raises expectations and anxieties […]
about 1 month ago | 11 reads
It’s our fourth day of counting down the Cubs top prospects and now we’re getting to the really interesting part. 6. Kane Kepley. OF. B:L, T:L. DOB: 2/14/2004. 5’8”, 180. Drafted 2nd round (2025) North Carolina. Kane Kepley had one of the best starts to a professional career of any 2025 draftee. After the Cubs […]
about 1 month ago | 5 reads
This article was prompted by discussion in the various articles I’ve posted recently about position players pitching. Basically, if you have put a position player in to pitch, you have essentially given up playing baseball and are just filling the time until nine innings have been completed. Often, the position player gives up multiple runs […]
about 1 month ago | 1 read