Looking Back
A Few Final Memories of Santo

Cubs Fan Report

We'll move on from the Santo stuff eventually, but the poignant tributes just keep coming. The Tribune put together a piece of his top 10 moments, along with a great video accompaniment, and Steve Rosenbloom recalls the time Santo sang at his son's bar mitzvah. WGN's Dave Kaplan posted an awesome audio compilation of Santo's greatest hits, and Rick Telander tells us something we probably already knew: Santo was deeply wounded by the snubs he received from the Hall of Fame. Jerks.

Chicago Tribune: 10 defining Ron Santo moments [+ video]
Kap's Corner: A tribute to Ron Santo: Audio edition, part I   part II
Chicago Tribune: Ron Santo, a mensch among boys
Chicago Sun-Times: Hall of Fame snub wounded Santo deeply
Chicago Tribune: Santo might have best chance at Hall of Fame after death
The Heckler: Cubs to honor Santo by playing Brant Brown clip after bad plays...

No, Seriously: Who the *$#& Is on First?
Gonzalez, Berkman Deals Leave Cubs with Few Options
We're down with the Cubs' youth movement, but we still loved the idea of getting San Diego lefty first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. Unfortunately, Boston got there first and will finalize the deal today. (They might not sign him to an extension, but the point is, he's playing at Fenway next year.) Between this and Lance Berkman's signing with the Cardinals, the Cubs' options are pretty thin at first base and might be forced into signing Carlos Peña. The Tribune says he should come with a warning label: "This player hit .196 in 2010 for $10 million."

Chicago Tribune: Cubs running out of options at first base
Rooftop View: Damn Red Sox
Bleacher Nation: Lukewarm stove: Cubs offered Lance Berkman $8 million

Endless Bummer?
Blog: Fans Feeling Pessimistic About Team
Hopes were high when the Ricketts family took over the Cubs last year, but SB Nation says things have turned for the worse lately. The blog believes the team is building for the future, but that the Ricketts family needs to "say something, anything, about a direction they want to take the Cubs," the blog says. The Cubs have improved the minor-league system dramatically, and if that's the hope for the future, "Just say so, and how much you're spending where it counts," the blog advises. "Enough fans would understand."

SB Nation: Cubs winter meetings preview: Fans disillusioned...

Funding Fun
Cubs' Request for State Funds Dies (For Now)
So that hullabaloo over the Cubs' request for state funding — funny how you don't hear anything about it anymore, isn't it? The reason for that is simple: The assembly adjourned for its break without picking up the Cubs' bill, and that was that. However, it might start again later in a different guise. Some options include creating a TIF district around Wrigley Field or trying to broaden a tax on downtown restaurants used for McCormick Place.

Chicago Sun-Times: Wrigley finance proposal has struck out
Chicago Breaking Business: Cubs whiff on pitch to renovate Wrigley Field

Under Pressure
Sun-Times: Cubs Need to Make a Move
It's safe to say the Sun-Times' Gordon Wittenmeyer is a "glass half-empty" type. Citing the White Sox signing Adam Dunn, the bad press from the stadium financing effort, and the shrinking payroll, Wittenmeyer says the Cubs are becoming "an afterthought in the city." (Pretty strong, no?) To get some buzz back, he says Hendry needs to make a splash. And what would get the team back to "high relevance"? Perhaps a trade — or signing Cliff Lee. Yeah... we're not holding our breath on that last one.

Chicago Sun-Times: No doubt about it: The pressure's on for Cubs
Daily Herald: Hendry says trades could be aplenty
ESPN Chicago: Cubs looking for rotation help

Here's the Pitch
Blog: Cubs Don't Need Pitchers (or Belly-Itchers)
When it comes to off-season needs, we've heard many say the team needs a starting pitcher. But Cubbie Doctor's Examiner argues that the team is actually set at this position. Noting the Cubs have been connected via rumor to all sorts of names (Brandon Webb getting the most play), the blog says, "The Cubs had the most quality starts in the National League last year yet they only won 75 games. That tells me that they didn't score enough runs and didn't play well defensively." Interesting....

Cubbie Doctor's Examiner: Who told the Cubs they need a starting pitcher?

Baseball Winter meetings begin today in Orlando. Let's see if the Cubs can pull off any big moves... Whoa: Ed Sherman seems to be seriously considering demolishing Wrigley Field... Backstabbing little weasel Former Cub Ryan Theriot appeared on ESPN 1000's Waddle & Silvy show to make amends for slamming the team... The North Siders signed infielder Jeff Baker to a one-year, $1.175 million contract on Thursday... Listen to Andrew, Founder of Cubs Fan Report with Bedo and Bernfield on the B-Squared Show discussing Ron Santo and Cubs Fan Report.

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