Money, It's a Hit
A Detailed Look at Wrigley Funding Proposal

Bob Levey/Getty Images

If you had any questions about the Cubs' recent request for state funds, the Chicago Reader's lengthy feature will undoubtedly answer them. (3,259 words? Wow.) But it's crazy thorough — the article looks at everything from ticket prices to the amusement tax to the possibility of PSLs at Wrigley. ("That's not an option right now," says Lissa Druss Christman from the Ricketts family's PR firm. Whew!) The article quotes an economist who doesn't like the idea (he calls it "a colossal miscalculation"), but it also says the Cubs put the team's economic benefit as $379 million per year. Heavy stuff.

Chicago Reader: Why should we?

A Cloudy Future
Levine Not Optimistic About 2011
Bruce Levine. Chat. Rock us like a hurricane. Levine doesn't seem enamored with the potential signing of pitcher Brandon Webb, but says "[Chris] Archer and [Jay] Jackson aren't quite ready so the Cubs are going to have to look at some short-term players." He also doesn't seem to love Carlos Peña, noting "if the Cubs sign him they are going to have to ignore the strikeouts and the .195 average from 2010." Not exactly the brightest of news, but Levine says John Grabow "is a much better pitcher than he showed last year." We'll believe it when we see it.

ESPN Chicago: Chat with Bruce Levine

Armed & Unready
Forget 1st Base, Is Pitching the Problem?
Everyone has been focusing on the Cubs' situation at first base, but Phil Rogers says the bigger issue is the lack of big guns on the hill. "The Cubs aren't nearly as strong at the top of the rotation as a contending team should be... and have nothing but question marks throughout the rest of the rotation," he writes. The top free agents have started signing with other teams, and Cliff Lee ain't gonna happen. One solution: Sean Marshall moves into the rotation, and we've also heard Andrew Cashner could start. Hmmm.

Chicago Breaking Sports: Your morning Phil: Hendry, Uribe, Jeter
View from the Bleachers: Is Carlos Peña a bad fit for the Cubs?

Don't Sleep on Szczur
Prospect Looks Like He's the Goods
We are totally down with the Cubs bypassing pricey free agents and instead improving their minor-league system. However, our sunshine/unicorns/lollipops optimism depends on the kids being, you know, good. Well, one kid definitely looks good, and that's Matt Szczur (pronounced "sure-jure"). As Cubbies Crib notes, he has speed, power, hits for average, and he friggin' donated bone marrow to an ailing child. Seriously. The Cubs started him out at Single-A, and he hit a crazy .397. Is he the "steal of the draft," as the blog calls him? Could be.

Cubbies Crib: Keep an eye on Szczur

Trivial Pursuits
This, That, the Other, and Various Cubs Tidbits
You call yourself a Cubs fan. But can you tell us why Mick Kelleher's career is noteworthy? What did Lee Smith do when he was made a reliever? And who planted the ivy at Wrigley Field? You'll find the answers to these and many more questions in the fascinating trivia collection over at Chicago Cubs Online. Here's another one: Tinkers and Evers may be immortalized as one of baseball's more famous double-play combinations, but they didn't speak to each other for seven years. Why? Find out at the blog.

Chicago Cubs Online: A side of trivia for Thanksgiving

Who knew Ryan Theriot, traded this week to the St. Louis Cardinals, was a backstabbing little weasel? Not us... Word is the Cubs will offer arbitration to all six eligible players, including Carlos Marmol, Geovany Soto, and Koyie Hill (huh?)... Former Cub phenom Mark Prior looks like he'll be back with the Texas Rangers... The ice-skating rink at Wrigley Field is open for business.

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