Cubs BCB After Dark: Who will lead the Cubs in home runs? — and more

It’s another night here at BCB After Dark: the grooviest nightspot for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. You know you’re always welcome here. Come on in and spend some time with us. There’s no cover charge. The hostess can seat you now. Bring your own beverage.

BCB After Dark is the place for you to talk baseball, music, movies, or anything else you need to get off your chest, as long as it is within the rules of the site. The late-nighters are encouraged to get the party started, but everyone else is invited to join in as you wake up the next morning and into the afternoon.

Last night I asked for your opinion about the World Baseball Classic. Most of you were reasonably positive about it as 38 percent of you said you “Like it” and 26 percent of you said that you “Love it.” Only six percent of you want to see it discontinued.

On Tuesday night/Wednesday morning, I don’t normally do any movie stuff. But I always have time for jazz, so you’re free to skip that now.

Tonight we have pianist Jacky Terrasson playing the Michel Legrand music from maybe my favorite movie musical of all time, “Les parapluies de Cherbourg” (The Umbrellas of Cherbourg). This is a much more upbeat version of the music than the more melancholic take that’s in the film.

Joining Terrasson is Kenny Davis on bass and Alvester Garnett on drums. This performance is from 2024.

Welcome back to everyone who skips all that jazz.

Tonight’s question is simple. Where are the Cubs going to get their power? Who is the biggest home run threat on the team?

So who is going to lead the team in home runs? Every year I ask this question and I don’t think we’ve ever predicted right. Since 2020, the Cubs’ team home run leader has been a surprise more often than not:

2020: Ian Happ—12

2021: Patrick Wisdom—28

2022: Patrick Wisdom—25

2023: Cody Bellinger and Christopher Morel—26

2024: Ian Happ—25

2025: Michael Busch—34

I don’t think any of those winners were expected at the start of the season. Wisdom came out of nowhere twice. I suppose Busch was a reasonable pick this time last year, but was he really favored over Kyle Tucker or Seiya Suzuki? Bellinger doesn’t look unreasonable in retrospect, but he was coming off getting non-tendered by the Dodgers. On top of that, he only tied with Christopher Morel, who was also a shock winner of the Cubs HR title.

So with the understanding that we’re all likely to be wrong, who will hit the most home runs for the Cubs in 2026?

I hope I don’t have to explain who any of these people are.

Thank you for stopping by tonight. We were glad to host you. Please get home safely. Tell us if you need us to get a ride for you. Recycle any cans and bottles. Tip your waitstaff. And join us again tomorrow for more BCB After Dark.

Police have made an arrest in relation to the long-running missing persons case of the fraudster brother of a former St Kilda footballer.

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Khamari McGriff scored 18 points and Nate Johnson scored 16 points and Kansas State delivered another blow to West Virginia's NCAA Tournament hopes holding off the Mountaineers 65-63 on Tuesday night.

Reserve Chance Moore scored 18 points, Brenen Lorient scored 14 points, reserve DJ Thomas 12 and Honor Huff 11 for West Virginia.

It was the first win of the season for the Wildcats in which they didn't score 81-or-more points.

PJ Haggerty, the nation’s third-leading scorer, was unexpectedly scratched from the Wildcats' lineup posted an hour-and-a-half before the 7 p.m. CT tip-off. Haggerty wasn't listed on the team’s initial availability report released Monday.

Kansas State said in a release that Haggerty sustained an injury in practice in recent days. He’s listed day-to-day ahead of Saturday’s matchup at Kansas. Haggerty, the Wildcats’ starting point guard, entered Tuesday night second in the Big 12 in scoring, averaging 23.3 points per game.

Despite his absence Kansas State (12-18, 3-14) used a 21-0 run to take a 48-31 lead with 10:53 remaining, its longest scoring run of the season.

But the Wildcats proceeded to leave the door open failing to score a field goal in the final 3:48. McGriff made two free throws for a 57-39 lead with a 7:29 left.

West Virginia (17-13, 8-9) then outscored the Wildcats 19-1 down the stretch and got to with 61-58 with 48 seconds left before McGriff and Johnson each made foul shots to secure the win.

Up next

West Virginia: Wraps up the regular season on Friday against UCF.

Kansas State: Ends the regular season on the road against 14th-ranked state rival Kansas on Saturday.

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The Illini honored seniors Kylan Boswell, Ben Humrichous, and AJ Redd in their final home game. Junior Andrej Stojakovic led the way with 21 points and 12 rebounds, while freshmen Keaton Wagler and David Mirkovic added 11 and 19 points respectively. Illinois went on a decisive 38-12 run in the first half's final 15 minutes, taking control of the game.

The victory moves Illinois closer to securing a top-four finish in the Big Ten standings and a triple-bye in next week's conference tournament. The win comes after the team suffered back-to-back losses twice in February.