More Than You Want To Know About the Cubs

The Chicago Cubs’ season begins today in the Windy City on a gusty day. For me, it is New Year’s Day.

It is a day of prayer for me. A day I did not think I would reach, after a heart attack with a 9.5 out of 10 lethality rate, prostate cancer, seven retina detachments, and a litany of maladies. But I’m here.

The Cubs have been a lifelong passion for me. When I was a kid my Mom would let me stay home from school to watch the Opening Day. They would usually lose, but it was fun to root for them with her. It was a great pleasure we shared. My Dad was into work, my Mom was into her children and the Cubs.

I saw Jackie Robinson play for the Brooklyn Dodgers with her on Ladies Day at Wrigley Field. It was 25 cents for a seat.

I wish she was here to watch it with me, but Risa and I are with my three granddaughters, daughter Sarah, and son-in-law Scott, all big fans living in Silicon Valley.

The Cubs do not stink anymore. They could win 95 games and make the playoffs with their 2026 team.

Let me tell you about today’s lineup.

Michael Busch may lead off. The old idea of a little speedy guy batting first is now passe.

The computers tell us to put the batter with the best “on base plus slugging average OPS” first. This is why the Phillies bat Kyle Schwarber leadoff even though he is a slow runner and hit only .240 last season. His on base percentage was .325 and slugging percentage was .563. He had an OPS of .928, with 56 home runs, and 132 RBI.

The Cubs stole Busch from the Dodgers because LA had signed Freddie Freeman to a long term contract and saw no room for an old rookie, even though he was the MVP of the Pacific Coast League.

Busch, now in his third year with the Cubs, has become a star and may surpass an injury prone Freeman as the best first baseman in the League.

Nico Hoerner is the Cubs’ second baseman. He is a superb fielder, 2-time Gold Glover, and a near .300 hitter. He has a flat swing and does not go for homers. But he steals bases, and he’s a leader. He graduated from Stanford in American Studies after reaching the Majors in 2020 with the Cubs.

Dansby Swanson plays shortstop. He is a marvelous fielder, but his hitting has been disappointing since signing a 7-year contract in 2022. Probably not the best athlete in the family either. His wife, Mallory, is considered one of the best American women soccer players. She scored the winning goal in the Olympic final for the US team in 2024.

Pete Crow-Armstrong is the best fielding center fielder in the game at 23 years old. This week he signed a 6-year, $115 million extension with the Cubs.

PCA’s parents are actors who do minor TV roles and commercials. His mother played the Mom in the 1994 baseball film, Little Big League, before Pete was born. PCA got into Harvard-Westlake High School in the LA area, probably the most elite school in Southern California, because of his baseball talent. Many Major League all-star players including Max Fried, Lucas Giolito, and Jack Flaherty played for the school. Actors such as Jake Gyllenhaal and Jamie Lee Curtis also went there.

The Cubs got Armstrong in a trade with the Mets. He had been their top draft pick in 2021 but suffered a shoulder injury. The Cubs were offering to trade Javier Baez in 2021, but wanted a different Mets prospect because of PCA’s injury which required surgery. New York had several top prospects, but the only one they would part with for Baez was the recovering Pete Crow-Armstrong. The Cubs took PCA for his defense, yet last season he hit 31 homers, stole 30 bases and became a charismatic fan favorite.

The Cubs recently signed Alex Bregman to a 5-year $175 million contract to play third base. Bregman is a very good player at 32 years old. His numbers are better than any other third baseman in the League. But the reason the Cubs wanted him desperately, as did Boston, was his leadership and “winning qualities.” Bregman has spent 10 years in the Majors. His teams have made the playoffs every season and won two World Series. He is known as a leader and mentor and the Cubs hope he will make PCA a superstar and other players better and tougher. Bregman’s teams do not lose.

Alex Bregman is also one of the few Jewish players in the Majors, and he doesn’t hide it. He is Bar Mitzvahed. In 2023, after the October 7th massacre in Israel, he painted a Jewish Star on his team hat. His Dad, Sam, is running for Governor in this year’s election in New Mexico.

Ian Happ is the Cubs’ left fielder. He wins the Gold Glove every year as the best fielding outfielder in a position usually relegated to outfield backers. Every year Happ seems to get better, making more great catches and throwing out more runners. With an outstanding infield and PCA and Happ in the outfield, the Cubs have probably the best fielding team in the National League.

Along with the acquisition of Bregman, the Cubs also have a potential Gold Glove infielder, Matt Shaw, backing up every infield position plus right field.

Seiya Suzuki, who hit 32 homers and drove in over 100 runs for the Cubs last season, had a minor knee injury during the World Baseball Classic playing for Japan. Shaw will start for the Cubs in right field, where he practiced in Spring Training for moments like this.

The Cubs’ pitching, like the pitching for every team, is an unknown because of the likelihood of injury. Cade Horton is their best starter and could be one of the best in the League. He has a big fastball, and is not afraid to throw strikes. He also has a quarterback’s aggressiveness, a position he could have played for the Oklahoma Sooners. He throws a football around before every Cubs start.

Matthew Boyd, because of his experience, will get the opening day start. He had a 15-4 record last year after fighting injuries for several seasons. Unlike Horton who overpowers batters, Boyd confuses them with change of speeds and location. Boyd, again contrasting with Horton, the Oklahoma cowboy, is a deeply religious and emotional Catholic. It is not unusual to see him cry after a big win or team achievement.

If you have completed this inside baseball piece you know I really love the game and my Chicago Cubs.

What a blessing to celebrate OPENING DAY 2026.

Take me out to the ballgame!

Question: Who do you think will be in the 2026 World Series?