Trying to take a little vacation with family this week in California -- have a sort-of anti-Katie the Prefect story that I probably won't share -- and so a little behind on the linkage.

Also, should mention: Royals story coming next week along with a whole new turn for the PosCast and some baseball preview stuff. Might talk to a baseball old-timer about the kids today -- with some surprising results. And Nos. 31 and 30, I think, on the Baseball 100.

-- THIS IS THE YEAR: Cubs. Cubs. Cubs.

-- I WANNA GO FAST: I was lucky enough to be a part of Jonathan Hock's new documentary "Fastball," about, well, the fastball. Being a part of it reminded me that much of baseball's magic comes from, yes, the magic of the fastball.

-- FUN AND GAMES: Not sure if I already linked this story I did on the ageless Jaromir Jagr, but it was a lot of fun to do.