Yo, Adrian!
Will Cubs Trade for San Diego's Gonzalez?

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The Cubs need a first baseman. And San Diego has good one, Adrian Gonzalez. His contract is up after next year, so the Padres might want to trade him. Which all fits together nicely, as Bruce Levine says. However, we just have one question: Didn't the Cubs say they're going to pursue a youth movement? And doesn't trading top-notch talent fly in the face of that idea? We're not saying we don't want Gonzalez. But he's eventually going to be expensive, and do we really want to give up Brett Jackson or Chris Archer for him?

ESPN Chicago: With flat payroll, Cubs eye Gonzalez via trade
Cubbies Crib: Cubs hoping for a Gonzalez trade
Fangraphs: When should San Diego trade Adrian Gonzalez?

Prospect Heights
Meet the Cubs' Top 25 Minor Leaguers
Speaking of Cubs prospects, we know we shouldn't get too excited about the team's farm system. After all, we'd be playing baccarat with George Clooney if we had a dime for every failed "sure-thing" prospect who didn't deliver (Brooks Kieschnick, Corey Patterson, Hee Seop Choi, etc.). But 312 Sports says the future's awfully bright and writes about some prospects who seem pretty damn promising. Some you've heard of (Jackson and Archer), while others are a little under the radar but still sound decent (Junior Lake and D.J. LeMahieu). Cross your fingers.

312 Sports: Bedo's top 25 Cubs prospects of 2011

Sandberg's Next Step?
Ryno Could End up with Phillies
Looks like Ryne Sandberg might end up as manager for the Philadelphia Phillies' Triple-A team, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (yes, it's one word). This is significant for a few reasons: First of all, die-hard fans know Sandberg came over from the Phillies in the Larry Bowa for Ivan DeJesus trade. Secondly, the Phillies underachieved (by Philly standards) this year, losing in six games in the NLCS. So if the team struggles, manager Charlie Manuel might feel his seat get a little hotter — and Sandberg would be right there for the opening.

ESPN Chicago: Report: Ryne Sandberg up for Phils' job
Muskat Ramblings: Sandberg to Phillies?

The Big Question
Why the Cubs Just Can't Win
Being a Cubs fan means you're constantly asking one simple question: Why not us? Agony & Ivy put together a remarkably thorough examination of the top 10 conceivable excuses theories, from "they play too many day games" to "the facilities are brutal" to "the minor-league system has been awful for ages." The blog also throws out several fascinating facts, including this tidbit: Over the last 70 years, the Cubs have won 50 or more home games three times. Meanwhile, the St. Louis Cardinals have done it six times since 2000. Head explodes.

Agony & Ivy: 102 years and counting... why not us?

My James Is True
Expert Predicts Cubs' Individual Stats
So baseball savant Bill James not only predicted the Cubs' final record (81-81), but he also went so far as to predict each individual players' stats for 2011. (Wow.) The Cubs who are in for big years, James says, are: Starlin Castro, who is predicted to hit .310 with 39 doubles; Geovany Soto, with a predicted .276 and 20 homers; and Carlos Marmol, with 42 saves. James also foresees .275 and 24 homers for Aramis Ramirez. As for the $18 million man, Alfonso Soriano....

Bleed Cubbie Blue: 2011 Bill James Cubs predictions

A Fan's Notes
Looking at the Different Types of Cubs Fans
Wrigley Field gets all sorts of fans: the drunks, the bimbos, the know-it-all malcontents, and more. A League of Her Own published the definitive guide to all the types of fans, with awesome write-ups to go along with the pictures. Take the rage-fueled fan: He's described as hating the "current Cubs regime with the white-hot rage of 10,000 suns," and "May have been sentenced to multiple turns in anger management classes as the result of road rage incidents following Cubs losses." Good stuff.

A League of Her Own: What kind of Cubs fan are you?

Phil Rogers tweeted that the Cubs are looking into a Kosuke Fukudome for Daisuke Matsuzaka trade, but that's been widely disputed... The Cubs waived outfielder Brad Snyder... The price of Ted Lilly's Wrigleyville mansion has dropped from $2.4 million to $2.1 million... An old-school brawl? Shawon Dunston? Shirtless fans inexplicably on the field? We are so there... Cubs Fan Report wants to offer thanks to our veterans. We support dav.org, an organization focused on building better lives for disabled veterans.

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