Some programming notes around CarlsBlogs.com – we’re going to change the schedule today to 8am-9:15am-10:30am etc. until we get to 6pm. That takes us down to 9 scheduled blogs a day but opens up the calendar to give me 25% more time per blog. I think that’s a fair trade off provided I pepper in at least one night time blog to keep the totals consistent. Last thing I want to do is take a step back in our 2nd week here.
Same thing goes for Craig Counsell in his 2nd season with the Cubs. We can’t take another step back coming off a disgusting 2024 season that I may never forgive.
In that spirit, I want to use this opportunity to stress the word URGENCY around the 2025 Cubs. Its a concept that was long lost last season and hasn’t been around since maybe the 2nd half of 2017 when the sub-.500 Cubs roared back to make the NLCS. 8 years later and I’m still looking for that kinda urgency.
That applies to the entire organization. We, as fans, have no problem applying it to the front office with trade and free agency speculation throughout the offseason. The group chats hum and buzz with the same level of (you guessed it) urgency like it’s mid June and we blew a big lead the night before. We’re constantly talking to our Cubs friends about rumors and sources and Jed’s next move and everything in-between.
But then the season starts and we lose that urgency because It’s Baseball And Crazy Things Happen.
Most of last year was an educational experience for why baseball is a hard sport. The Cubs asked us to ignore glaring holes in the bullpen and no superstar power in the lineup. Years removed from Kris Bryant and still no 3rd baseman but the most expensive manager in the league. On and on it goes, all while the Brewers at out lunch throughout the season.
So as I sit here with pitchers and catchers reporting. As I think about what’s in store for the 2025 Cubs and how the club can improve from last year and all the bullshit. There’s really just one thing that I want to see different and that’s the urgency on the field and in the communications and across the club in all respects. I want guys playing and acting like this season will determine the rest of their careers. I want it to feel like they give a shit and that starts right now in Spring Training and applies to every single one of us. From hot dog vendors to season ticket holders to Tom Ricketts children. Everyone needs to level up on their own terms.
With all of that said, we still have no Alex Bregman from last week’s reports. That’s annoying because it sounded like he would make a decision before the Super Bowl.
Personally I’m surprised he doesn’t have a hotter market or a decision made by now. But it’s also a good reminder that I don’t know shit about free agency because I’d give Bregman a blank check. Alas I don’t cut the checks but that would be my strategy.
On the subject of which, Jed was asked specifically and he looked SO UNCOMFORTABLE
“I can’t talk about free agency” uh yes you can? Thats surprising and worth interpreting a bunch of different ways.
He also said in the same press conference that Shaw would play a lot of 3rd base.
So let’s leave our speculation at this: Jed is signaling to Bregman camp that they’re moving on from negotiations. Or they at least hit some kind of snag, my guess around the years. The Cubs would give 3/4 years to Bregman but he wants 6/7 and now we’re in a big Mexican standoff. Jed thinks it can be done shortly so he’s throwing Shaw smoke in the air while avoiding anything that could even remotely get back to Bregman’s camp about their own negotiations. All of this is a leverage play and it makes a lot of sense.
That said I think Jed is still uncomfortable in this moment. To me that says he really wants Bregman but and I can understand why.
Stay tuned as this is probably going to be our biggest internal story until Bregman makes a decision. Hopefully that’s much sooner than later.
Finally – I want to bring back Cubs News & Notes. As I’m writing this blog, I realize there’s a bunch of different sub-topics that I want to address specifically. I used to write these long blogs but then stopped when Red Line Radio got picked up full time. I think they’re worth circling back on the condition we agree that it’s okay to be a weirdo nerd when talking about your baseball team. As long as we agree on that then I am fine bringing them back.