BCB After Dark invites you to join us again this week, the ultimate hangout for night owls, early risers, new parents, and Cubs fans everywhere. Step inside to escape the cold; we offer free coat checks and still have a few tables open—no cover charge and feel free to bring your own drinks.
BCB After Dark is your platform to discuss baseball, music, movies, or anything else on your mind, as long as it adheres to our site rules. Night owls are encouraged to kick off the festivities, but everyone is welcome to join in as morning turns into afternoon.
Last week’s discussion revolved around whether you’d prefer the Cubs to sign Michael King or Tatsuya Imai. The poll was close, with 55% opting for Imai and 45% for King. Personally, I lean towards King, as he might come at a lower cost and for fewer years.
BCB Winter Science Fiction Classic is nearing the end of the first round, but feel free to skip it if you wish; I won’t be offended. Since we have a Jeff Goldblum movie featured tonight, let’s enjoy some Christmas music performed by Goldblum and Veronica Swift with the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra playing “Let it Snow” from last year.
In our latest voting round, many thought the matchup between Alien and The Thing posed a tough choice, and they were right. But Alien has now advanced to the next round. This week, we’re pitting another Veronica Cartwright film, along with a Leonard Nimoy feature, against a major cinematic game-changer: 1977’s Star Wars directed by George Lucas.
Star Wars represents a significant pivot in filmmaking, stepping away from the darker dystopian tones of its predecessors. While the galaxy is controlled by an evil empire, the film maintains an uplifting spirit; it highlights clear protagonists and antagonists with a hopeful narrative that suggests the heroes will triumph. In contrast, many other films of its time focused on darker themes borne from the fallout of societal issues.
As we look ahead, discussions around Nico Hoerner, who becomes a free agent at the end of the 2026 season, are heating up. He has excelled as one of the top second basemen in the league, notable for his defense. His offensive stats—while not explosive—show a high batting average, backed by solid on-base performance and impressive base-stealing ability. The question remains: should the Cubs secure an extension for Hoerner before he hits the open market? An estimated contract of five years at $100 million seems fair, but would both the Cubs and Hoerner be on board with that? Thank you for joining us tonight—make sure to recycle your bottles and join us again tomorrow for more BCB After Dark.
