A good time was had by all. Another game takes place this afternoon, an

where is the future we were promised? and other bullets"So http://www.metsfanproshop.com/authentic-tim-tebow-jersey , for the first time since 1965, the Cubs faced the Red Sox in Arizona. d then Opening Day is Thursday. I’m ready for the real games to begin, and will be at the ballpark in spirit.Rick Porcello just about lost his head. Talk about traveling light! Good thing his coconut isn’t hollow. Didn’t hurt his arm any, though. I wonder what the air speed of that ball was? I was half-expecting it to go over the fence.Would that be a ground-rule double or a homer? Inquiring minds wanna know.Here’s today’s Cubs News and Notes. As always * means autoplay on, or annoying ads, or both (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome).Jesse Rogers (ESPN*): How Theo Epstein has changed from Boston to Chicago. “ ... he knows himself better. He knows how to be a leader, and he knows what he’s looking for in people around him,” said Jed Hoyer.Bruce Miles (Daily Herald {$}): Cubs: Dynamic of Cubs coaching staff has changed. “For his part, Joe Maddon seems to be embracing the latest changes.”Gordon Wittenmyer (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): With no last-minute acquisitions anticipated Neil Walker Jersey , Cubs’ opening roster all but set. “It’s still possible the Cubs will add a player from a waiver claim or trade to fill an opening on the roster, but (president Theo) Epstein said the likelihood is ‘‘pretty high’’ those who will make up the final mix are already in-house.”(Chicago Tribune* {$}): ‘October really starts in March’: Epstein reinforces Cubs’ sense of urgency with latest moves. “ ... every game really counts, and we like the way it feels when we go out and show what we can do and play good baseball.”Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic {$}): Attention will be paid: Inside the Cubs’ detail-laden plan to get their edge back. “It’s hard to define playing with “an edge” and a “sense of urgency,” but you know it when you see it.”Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Cubs take old-school approach with rotation. “Chicago is heading into the 2019 campaign with, arguably, the most traditional rotation in baseball.”Steve Greenberg (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Cubs 2019 preview: Why Kyle Hendricks can’t stop talking to himself. “If being boringly excellent is wrong, the Cubs don’t want Hendricks ever to be right.”Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Cubs leader Jon Lester on Ian Happ’s demotion: ‘I feel this will do him a lot of good’. “ ... right now he’s in compete mode like, ‘Hey, you just hit me in the mouth.’”Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Addison Russell’s work in Arizona is far from over as Cubs teammates wrap up spring training. “Theo Epstein has not guaranteed that Russell will return, merely re-emphasizing the steps Russell must complete to show he has become a better citizen.”Brendan Miller (Cubs Insider): More vocal Kris Bryant feels like ‘he can say things’.“I like to sit back and listen Adrian Gonzalez Jersey , but when I have something to say, I’m going to say it.”Rick Morrissey (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Here’s hoping Albert Almora Jr. grabs Cubs’ center-field job and doesn’t let go. “They’re at their best defensively when he’s in center field.”Gordon Wittenmyer (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Mark Zagunis on breaking camp with Cubs: ‘I get chills just thinking about it’. ‘‘I worked really hard and just hope I make the Opening Day roster,’’ he said. Mark Gonzales has more.Phil Thompson (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Wrigley Field expands food, beer options: beer-can chicken, Impossible burger, disco fries and more. As reported on the front page, and then some. Eater Chicago piles it on.Cubs birthdays: Jack McCarthy, Jimmy Lavender, Jose Vizcaino, Jason Maxwell Jose Bautista Jersey , Jason Dubois, Rob Zastryzny.Food for thought:Thanks for reading. Start your morning with some of the best Astros links around"WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Houston Astros NewsGame ThreadsHouston Astros Minor LeaguesAstros Game DayPodcastsAstros Crawfish BoilAstros Crawfish Boil: February 21st, 2019New,17commentsStart your morning with some of the best Astros links aroundCSTShareTweetShareShareAstros Crawfish Boil: February 21st, 2019Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY SportsAstros NewsBrady Rodgers kicks it all off this year as he’s named the opener for the first exhibition game (Houston Chronicle)Which is this Saturday at 5:35, and you can review the full schedule of games here (Astros.com)And you’ll be able top catch 10 of those games at AT&T Sports Southwest (Houston Chronicle)Crane is willing to explore an extension for either JV or Cole, and I’m willing to let him (Astros.com)He’s also not opposed to the possibility of a reunion with Marwin or Keuchel (Texas Sports Nation)It’s good to see the players getting back into the spirit as Bregman and Marisnick crashed Yuli’s photoshoot (ABC 13)Introducing the Astros’ under-the-radar French-Canadian-Venezuelan prospect Abraham Toro (The Athletic, $$$)Garrett Stubbs has the ambition and the diet to be the Astros’ next MLB level catcher (Houston Chronicle)Meet the baseball lifer who discovered both Carlos Correa and Kike Hernandez (La Vida Baseball)Speaking of Correa, it will be interesting to see how he performs against the breaking ball this season (Climbing Tal’s Hill)The Astros are holding a lottery for fans who want the first crack at tickets in 2019 (ABC 13)Around the LeagueThe first exhibition game of Spring gets underway this afternoon as the A’s and Mariners will meet in Mesa, AZ (MLB.com)Boston was able to win it all in 2018 thanks to a perfect storm of talent http://www.metsfanproshop.com/authentic-tim-tebow-jersey , but can they do the same in 2019? (538 Sports)The Free Agency market is running just as smooth as it should be, if not a little slow (Forbes)As Machado’s deal proves, but there are doubts that Harper could get the same (FanGraphs)Speaking of Machado, it seems that his signing may have caught some Padres’ people off guard (Sports Illustrated)And maybe some were a little too excited (USA Today)But it certainly doesn’t solve all the Padres’ problems (Fancred Sports)In small potatoes news, Josh Harrison has signed with the Tigers on a one-year deal (MLB Trade Rumors)Old friend Jed Lowrie will undergo an MRI on his knee to start Spring Training, which is never good (Yahoo Sports)Japanese officials are debating he possibility of capping pitch limits for high school players (ESPN)This college player is the embodiment of the phrase “Sacrifice the body” (CUT4)