Thursday, April 2, 2026
✶ Untold Chicago Stories ✶ Amazon Music
Home Blog Page 2876

White Sox Skipper Shares A Few Thoughts On His Team And Opening Day In His Own Words

By
Matt Enuco
-
White Sox manager Rick Renteria (Getty Images North America via Zimbio)

Opening Day is special for a variety of reasons, none of which are lost on White Sox manager Rick Renteria. The 2018 season will serve as the White Sox second phase of rebuilding the franchise into a winning contender and a for several players, Mar. 29, 2018 will be an unforgettable day.

Six of the South Siders’ 13 pitchers will witness their first Opening Day in the major leagues on Thursday while three other position players are set to absorb the wonder of day-one of the Major League Baseball Season – even the White Sox training staff has a rookie in their midst.

White Sox second-year manager Rick Renteria offered an in-his-own-words account that captures what the young players will experience and what made his first Opening Day so special.

“It’s one of those things,” Renteria said, “where from day one of Spring Training, everyone tries to get themselves ready for the season, to be able to put your best foot forward every day. You’re hoping you can do everything necessary to become a true family as a baseball team.”

If Spring Training is the unofficial start to spring, complete with warm sunshine beaming through screens across the country hoping to melt winter away, then Opening Day is the official declaration of a new season. For the next six months, there will be a baseball game on every night and the White Sox’s young roster is set for a treat.

“We have nine players who will be experiencing Opening Day for the first time Thursday,” Renteria explained. “It is going to be a special day for them.”

The skipper ruefully remembered his first Opening Day in 1987 as a “blur,” but explained how special his second Day-1 was with the Marlins.

“I had to wait until 1993 for my second Opening Day in the big leagues. I had been bouncing around for a few years when I finally got back with the Florida Marlins. I was more elated because you’re older and you realize that being up here for Opening Day doesn’t happen every day. You appreciate it more. It’s always surreal. Major League Baseball is a surreal life.”

The players sure get a kick out of the experience, but coaches are never too old to experience this special moment as well. “It isn’t just the players. Last year, two of our coaches, Nick Capra and Curt Hasler, got to experience Opening Day for the first time. … It takes a lot of good coaching to develop these players. It’s somewhat of a thankless job for the coaches. I wanted to acknowledge all the hard work Nick and Curt put in. They’ve been through all the battles for a long time. Being part of Opening Day for the first time was just as exciting for them as it was for the players.”

Indeed, this season has a different feel for many around the White Sox organization. Tim Anderson has broken out of his shell taking the reigns as Commander and Chief of White Sox social media. His morning rituals with Yolmer Sanchez have added a playful flavor and anticipation to each new morning. Even though this is Anderson’s third season in the big leagues, he finds himself in a unique position of veteran leader on roster replete with green players.

Nicky Delmonico and others have piled on for the social-media excitement and it appears the White Sox have endorsed the constant digital presence; an intelligent marketing move to showcase the playful youth regenerating the Guaranteed-Rate crowd.

🔥🔥🔥 | 📸: @nickydelmonico ・・・ WE READY!! #SOXMAFIA

A post shared by Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) on

The 2018 season will endure a narrative arc of its own, something we will all watch with bated breath – at least for the first month or so. But there is no denying the close-knit feeling one gets from the barrage of Instagram stories and tweets fired out from the locker room, and Renteria is right in the middle of the fun.

“As a manager, it always is a thrill to line up with my team for the introductions. I look at my players just like I look at my kids. We’re living through our players. The game is about them. We have pride in them, we have joy with them, we suffer with them, and everything in between.”

Jon Lester’s Story About David Ross Is Another Reminder The New Mound Visit Rule Is Stupid

By
Aldo Soto
-

The geniuses over at MLB thought one way to fix the pace of play issue in baseball was to start limiting mound visits to six times per game. That new rule will be implemented this season and it was universally trashed when it was announced. Well, after listening to this Jon Lester story about David Ross, it once again reminds me how stupid the rule is.

I don’t actually know how many times a catcher averages going to the mound per game, but that doesn’t matter. It’s about the principle. Catchers don’t just go out and waste time on the mound. There’s a reason for it every time. There could be a crucial moment late in a game and if a catcher notices something different he has to go out there and communicate it with the pitcher.

Or maybe you’re David Ross and you’re making cheesy jokes in a big situation.

Even that, as silly as it was, it served its purpose. Sometimes you just need to alleviate the pressure in a tense moment.

Wonder if Ross ever tried that with John Lackey?

The Boldest 2018 Chicago Cubs Prediction Yet

By
Aldo Soto
-

A catcher has won the MVP Award in the National League only once since 1972, but in Bleacher Report’s bold predictions for the 2018 MLB season, another catcher will be added to the short list in what is the boldest Chicago Cubs prediction yet.

Bleacher Report’s lead MLB writer, Zachary Rymer, listed 15 bold predictions, varying from team performances to individual player feats. The prediction that will make Cubs fans feel even more giddy about the upcoming season is No. 8 on the list.

Willson Contreras Will Win the NL MVP Award

Here’s Rymer’s explanation.

The .851 OPS and 33 homers he has in 193 career games qualify him as an excellent hitter by catcher standards. He was better than ever at last check, as he finished 2017 with a 1.000 OPS over his final 60 games.

The 25-year-old is also graced with a howitzer of a throwing arm. And according to Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune, one of his primary goals for 2018 is improving his pitch framing.

If he does that while also continuing to do everything else, Contreras will emerge as an elite catcher for a team that’s ready, willing and able to win its second World Series in three years. MVP voters will be forced to take note.

Despite missing a month because of a hamstring injury, Contreras took the next step in his career in 2017, and most assuredly cemented himself as one of the best catchers in baseball entering 2018. He was on a mission in the second half of last year, posting a .993 OPS with 10 home runs in 128 at-bats. Overall, Contreras ended the year with a 3.2 fWAR in 117 games.

But is it really plausible for Contreras to enter MVP discussion in 2018? Actually, it’s not too crazy of an idea.

Yes, Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo would certainly gain attention if they have their usual great seasons in 2018, which should once again be another awesome season for the Cubs. But that could help Contreras in his case for MVP. Let’s just say Bryant and Rizzo put up their numbers, but Contreras goes off and plays an entire year. He’d get every bit as much attention from the media as Bryzzo would. Plus, you have to factor in the defense too for Contreras.

However, history shows it’s far from easy to win MVP as a catcher in the National League.

Buster Posey is the last catcher to win NL MVP, receiving the honor in 2012. The modern MVP has been awarded since 1931, with a total of only five catchers winning it in the National League.

NL catchers to win MVP

  • Gabby Hartnett (1935, Cubs*)
  • Ernie Lombardi (1938, Reds)
  • Roy Campanella (1951, 1953*, 1955*, Dodgers)
  • Johnny Bench (1970*, 1972*, Reds)
  • Buster Posey (2012*, Giants)

So, 9 percent of the NL MVP winners during the last 87 years have been catchers and only one in the last 45 years. So yeah, Contreras could be in contention with a monster year, but even then it’ll be tough to actually win it. Guess that’s why it’s a bold prediction.

But hey, if you’re feeling a little lucky, maybe drop $10 on it to happen. Bovada currently has Contreras at +5000 to win MVP.

One last thing. This is only a coincidence because votes are sent before the playoffs, but check this out. A catcher has won NL MVP eight times since 1931 and out of those eight times the catcher’s team reached the World Series six times.

The last four times a catcher won MVP in the NL, his team ended the season as World Series champions.

Here’s to Willson Contreras keeping that streak going in 2018.

Want More Bears Mid-Round Draft Gems? Watch These Guys

By
Erik Lambert
-
chicago bears 2018 draft

The Chicago Bears 2018 draft plan does not begin and end with the #8 overall pick. This is something that most enthusiasts sometimes forget. To truly “win” a draft, a GM and his coaching staff have to secure multiple good players. That often requires getting one or two hits in the later rounds. This was a constant problem for the Bears towards the end of the Jerry Angelo era and throughout the Phil Emery run.

Thankfully that appears to have changed. GM Ryan Pace has proven himself to be quite the treasure hunter when it comes to finding talent after the big rounds are over. His sweet spot this point has been the middle area between the fourth and fifth rounds. In this zone to date he’s acquired the following names:

  • Adrian Amos (5th, 2015)
  • Nick Kwiatkoski (4th, 2016)
  • Jordan Howard (5th, 2016)
  • Eddie Jackson (4th, 2017)
  • Tarik Cohen (4th, 2017)

That’s a Pro Bowler, two solid starters, a versatile offensive weapon and a decent backup for literal pennies in draft terms. It should make Bears fans excited about what may be to come this April. Chicago has three picks in those two rounds and may end up with more depending on if they make any trades.

Were that to happen, here are some names worth watching that could end up being available when that zone comes up.

Keke Coutee (WR, Texas Tech)

Matt Nagy proved in Kansas City he’s a big fan of the new NFL movement that prioritizes speed and quickness over size and strength at wide receiver. Tyreek Hill was the shining example for that. The Bears already signed Taylor Gabriel in free agency to fill that role, but this doesn’t mean they won’t try for more. Keke Coutee is the epitome of that style of receiver.

There is no shortage of ways to get him the football. Texas Tech used him on bubble screens, quick slants, short crossers, ran him on end arounds or just threw the bomb to him down the field. He’s a constant danger when the ball is in his hands but is also a presence that makes defenses nervous even when he doesn’t.

Skyler Phillips (OG, Idaho State)

Having Harry Hiestand as offensive line coach is a blessing for the Bears. Suddenly players taken later in the draft have a greater chance of panning out because Hiestand is one of the best in the business at developing them. One of the sayings in the NFL is if you’re big and strong, you can play in this league. Skyler Phillips certainly checks those boxes.

The Idaho State guard is a man. Quite literally. He’s 6’3″, 324 lbs and packing a metric ton of power into his frame. When he gets his hands on a defender, it’s over. That and his light feet are a big reason why he’s already a solid pass protector. What he hasn’t learned yet is how to utilize his gifts to open running lanes. Hiestand would solve that problem.

Breeland Speaks (DE, Mississippi)

Defensive coaches love a guy who can play with some attitude. It’s kind of a necessity these days with the offensive-slanted rules in the NFL. It won’t be hard for teams to love Breeland Speaks. He’s a big dude with long arms, strength and plays with some serious energy on the field. Some might say he’s too emotional at times, but that’s part of his game.

Though he hasn’t nailed down how to stop the run yet he’s surprisingly good at getting after the quarterback for a big man. His awareness and ability to shed blocks makes him a great fit as a 3-4 end, drawing comparisons to Ricky Jean-Francois. If he solves his technical problems, he may have an even better career.

Trevon Young (EDGE, Louisville)

The Bears need more help at the edge rusher position. The problem is this draft class is light on proven commodities. This means Pace may have to hope he gets lucky on a mid-round flier. One name that should be on his radar is Trevon Young. Take careful note here. Under normal circumstances, Young would be a first round pick. Easily.

So why will he fall? Namely, he’s had to battle back from a devastating hip injury he suffered in 2015. It forced him to miss all of 2016 and it was clear he wasn’t 100% at the start of 2017. However, he began to turn it up big time late in the year. In his final six games, he had three sacks and six tackles for loss. His explosion and bend were there.

Quenton Meeks (CB, Stanford)

The Bears tend to value players of intelligence and high character. So a Stanford prospect is likely to be high on their board by default, but Quenton Meeks is a good player beyond that. He’s already a master of film study who understands how to make adjustments during a game in order to counter what receivers might be trying to do.

He’s also a fluid athlete who understands how to use quickness and technique to his advantage. To this point, the biggest gripe about him has been a lack of true deep speed but Meeks eased those fears with a 4.49 in the 40-yard dash at his pro day. The Bears would be getting a pro-ready player if they got him on Day 3.

Someone Could Be Losing A Lot Of Playing Time Because Of Ian Happ

By
Aldo Soto
-

Theo Epstein believes Ian Happ will make the next big leap for the Chicago Cubs and after the switch hitter won the leadoff spot battle in spring training someone else might be on the verge of losing a lot of playing time in 2018.

As Cubs fans, we’ve seen plenty of amazing performances from young players during spring training and now you can add Happ to that list. He didn’t just win the leadoff spot down in Arizona, he was the best Cubs hitter in Cactus League play. Happ posted a 1.211 OPS in 19 games, cranking out seven home runs in 53 at-bats.

While Kyle Schwarber grabbed all the headlines this offseason with his body transformation, Epstein noted Happ’s work since the end of 2017 to get into his best athletic shape.

Happ was selected ninth overall in the 2015 MLB draft and had a surprisingly great rookie season in 2017. The switch hitter made his big-league debut last May and went on to hit 24 home runs, while posting an .842 OPS, which was fourth best in the Cubs’ lineup behind, Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and Willson Contreras. Not bad for a rookie, who wasn’t even expected to come up until the end of the year.

Despite the quick success, Epstein expects much better things from the 23-year-old converted shortstop.

Early in March, Epstein was on The Spiegel and Parkins Show on 670 The Score, (RIP to that show) and when asked who he felt would be the next player to take a big leap in 2018, he answered immediately. Ian Happ.

The answer isn’t a surprise, but the reason is. It’s all about the work Happ’s done with his body in the offseason. (You can listen to the entire interview here.)

“Happ is a good candidate for that honor at this point, based on what he’s done this winter to reshape his body a little bit. I had a conversation with him at the end of last season when we were done playing. He’d had a terrific rookie year — 24 homers in a partial season, showing he can play in the middle of the field a little bit, which hadn’t been expected of him. But he didn’t get in the lineup toward the end of the year, ended on a bit of a down note. We just had a conversation about learning from the year that he had. I asked him to focus on getting into his most athletic shape possible. He can go a lot of different directions with his body. He’s strong. He can get big and strong and be in a position to hit a ton of homers or he can lean down. He’s one of the fastest guys on the team and probably in the top 10 percent of fastest guys in the league when he gets going. I asked him to slim down.”

Happ was by no means out of shape, but it’s clear Epstein saw something in the young player, who if he gets into the best athletic shape possible can become more than a home run hitter.

The work put in by Happ during the offseason will make him a better overall player, especially on defense, Epstein explained.

“He had a great offseason reshaping his body, dropped a few pounds, got really twitchy and is moving around great in center field. Between that and the fundamental work that he’s been doing in the outfield all winter and into this spring training camp, it puts him in a position to be considered as a legit center fielder, which honestly we never thought was the case when we drafted him.”

Although Happ had a great rookie season, he did struggle when hitting right-handed. He had a .276/.313/.476 slash line against lefties in 2017, that included only drawing five walks in 105 at bats.

That leaves Albert Almora Jr. with the chance to get in the lineup against lefties. However, Cubs manager Joe Maddon did say Happ will get a shot to be the every-day leadoff man.

Via the Chicago Sun-Times.

Manager Joe Maddon reiterated Sunday that Happ – the No. 9 overall draft pick in 2015 – will start the opener in center field and get a chance to run with the leadoff job as long as he looks like he can handle it.

As of now, it seems pretty set that Kyle Schwarber will get most of the starts in left and Jason Heyward will get most of the starts in right, so that’s why I’m singling out Almora. Yet, that could obviously change throughout the season if let’s say Schwarber or Heyward struggle.

It’s pretty obvious now that although Happ has the ability to play at second base, the Cubs want him out in the outfield, which is going to cost someone playing time if he can continue his success from spring training.

The following quote from Epstein was again from early March, way before Happ locked up the leadoff spot.

“If you would’ve seen him play in college, he was pretty defensively challenged. Now he’s someone who might see a lot of playing time in center field for a contending team. He deserves a ton of credit for that.”

(Theo Epstein)

A lot of playing time for Ian Happ means a lot less playing time for someone else.

The Forgotten Inside Linebacker Ready To Breakout In 2018

By
Kyle Yates
-
nick kwiatkoski

From now, until the end of April, we’ll be hearing conversation after conversation about who the Bears could be taking in this year’s NFL Draft. Opinions vary from source to source and most of the conversations center around what positions the team actually needs.

Unanimous opinions on who the Bears need are offensive linemen and pass-rushers. They need someone to man that interior of the line with Josh Sitton being released and someone to attack the quarterback opposite of Leonard Floyd. However, some opinions out there remain that inside linebacker might be a need that the Bears address early on in the draft.

It’s understandable. Danny Trevathan and Jerrell Freeman manned those posts extremely well when they were both on the field, but Trevathan has been injured off and on and Freeman has been injured and suspended. Freeman is almost a certain cut candidate once he can clear his physical and the Bears lost talented depth piece Christian Jones, who was just coming into his own in Fangio’s scheme, to the Detroit Lions.

That leaves Trevathan, John Timu and Nick Kwiatkoski on the roster at inside linebacker.

Kwiatkoski is the lynch-pin for this whole debate centering around whether or not the Bears need to address ILB early on in the draft. Is he good enough to become a full-time starter and help lead this defense?

The answer may surprise you, but Kwiatkoski is a damn good football player.

Drafted out of West Virginia in the 4th round, Kwiatkoski came in and contributed on special teams early on and was a depth piece at linebacker. However, due to the injuries to Trevathan and Freeman mentioned above, he saw significant playing time his rookie year and again in his sophomore campaign. All he did in those games…was get better and impress the coaching staff.

When Freeman went down with the torn pectoral muscle early on in 2017, Fangio talked about how he was confident in Nick to step into his role.

“He came along last year as he played more and more. He’s had a good camp for us this year and I have confidence in him to go in there and do a good job and nothing will change.”

That perception could have only grown this season as Kwiatkoski started 6 games and registered 34 tackles and 2 sacks on the season. He’s instinctive, quick to the ball and just an overall solid football player. Is he going to be anything spectacular? Most likely not. But he’s dependable, isn’t going to give up the big play and is a leader on the field. That’s exactly what the Bears need at the ILB position opposite Trevathan.

He’s also shown that he gets better the more and more playing time he receives. He could take a big step forward in 2018 if the Bears give him that job.

Do the Bears still need to address the linebacker position in the draft? Absolutely. Having only Timu behind Trevathan and Kwiatkoski makes that an obvious answer. But they may not address it as early as some Bears fans may think.

Will the Chicago Bears remain a Top-10 defense in 2018? It largely rests on the shoulders of #44.

The Chicago Bears Orange Jerseys Have Brought Good Luck Before

By
Erik Lambert
-
chicago bears orange jerseys

The Chicago Bears orange jerseys haven’t been seen in seven years. The last fleeting glimpse fans have of them was on a windswept day in 2011 at Soldier Field when cornerback D.J. Moore was trying to piledrive Matthew Stafford into the turf. Since then the team has exclusively made the 1940s navy blue uniforms their primary alternates of choice. Not anymore. Ownership has decided it’s time for a change.

Why? Well, sometimes change can be a good thing. The Bears haven’t had a winning season in six years. Sometimes these sort of decisions can shake an organization out of their complacency. The Denver Broncos did the reverse in 1997, dropping their classic orange uniforms for a new style. They promptly won back-to-back Super Bowls.

That’s not to say the same will happen for the Bears. Their change is far less drastic. Still, is there reason to think some good might come of going back to the Jack o’jerseys? Yes, and history proves it.

Chicago Bears orange jerseys have led to lots of positive things

Football by its very nature is superstitious. Players and fans tend to think doing, or in this case, wearing certain things can often decide the difference between winning and losing on Sundays. Looking at the Bears’ history involving their orange alternates, one might start to think they made a huge mistake discontinuing them.

  • 2005 vs. 49ers (W 17-9)
  • 2006 vs. 49ers (W 41-10)
  • 2007 vs. Lions (L 16-7)
  • 2008 vs. Vikings (W 48-41)
  • 2009 vs. Browns (W 30-6)
  • 2011 vs. Packers (L 27-17)
  • 2011 vs. Lions (W 37-13)

The numbers don’t lie. Since the alternates replaced their home uniforms in 2005, the Bears are 5-2 against their various opponents. Not only that but they also have scored at least 30 points in four of those five victories. They certainly seem to bring out a little extra juice from the players, and that might not be an accident. George McCaskey is a student of Bears history and sees the same potential considering what happened back during the Depression Era.

“I don’t want to say throwback, but it is reminiscent of our uniform in the 1930’s when we had the then-record for more consecutive regular-season wins, largely wearing orange jerseys.”

The Bears played in four NFL championships in the 1930s, won two of them and finished with at least eight wins in seven seasons. Keep in mind this was when teams played 12 games per year. There is a lot of good luck stowed away in the color orange for this franchise. McCaskey is eager to see if that magic still exists. Eight years out of the playoffs and 33 without a Super Bowl can have that effect.

2018 Cubs Opening Day 25-Man Roster Is Set

By
Aldo Soto
-

After Sahadev Sharma’s latest report, the Opening Day 25-man roster for the Chicago Cubs is all but official. The team doesn’t have to announce it until Thursday, but the final questions have been answered.

According to Sharma, Pedro Strop will not need a stint on the disabled list after getting a late start in spring training and the last bullpen spot is going to Eddie Butler.

On Saturday, we found out that Victor Caratini won the backup catcher position over Chris Gimenez. So, with Strop and Butler getting the last two bullpen spots, the 25-man roster is set.

Here’s your 2018 hype video by the Cubs.

Dez Bryant’s Path To Chicago Is Now Clear, If Ryan Pace Wants Him

By
Chris Burhans
-

The Dallas Cowboys are going to cut Dez Bryant following the NFL Draft according to multiple reports. The 29 year-old is a huge $16.5 million cap hit for the Cowboys next season making the decision quite easy for Jerry Jones and co. Reports say “talks will still happen” indicating a possibility that Bryant returns, but that seems unlikely.

The Cowboys recently added Allen Hurns and are apparently open to taking a receiver early in next month’s draft. Bryant carries a huge cap number, and Dallas can clear $12.5 million by making him a post-June 1 cut. The three-time Pro Bowler will now hit free agency and presumably makes a lot of sense in Chicago. Here’s why.

Cameron Meredith Uncertainty

There is no guarantee that Cameron Meredith is going to return to the Bears. He’s recently visited three teams and expects to field an offer sheet from at least one of them, most think it will be the Saints. This is a player with 10 career starts and only four career touchdowns, how much money is Ryan Pace willing to pay for that? Moreover, is he willing to match what another team will offer? Time will tell.

Assuming Meredith bails, the Chicago receiving core will need some additional help. With Allen Robinson, Kevin White and Kendall Wright left to pick up the slack, the Bears will need to either draft another receiver or pick up someone in free agency. Even if Meredith stays, the Bears still need bodies. Considering the age, and experience, of the current receiving core adding a veteran like Bryant could pay big dividends for the development of White, Meredith and Robinson.

Offense Lacks Veteran Leadership

It’s been a while since the Bears looked to the offensive side of the ball for leadership. Nobody considered Jay Cutler a leader and Walter Payton has been retired for a few decades. The current team has the likes of Mitch Trubisky, Cody Whitehair and Kyle Long but there’s not one game of playoff experience in that bunch. Enter Bryant.

Bryant could immediately become a mentor for Trubisky, Robinson and White while catching around 50 balls for the squad. At just 29 years old, Bryant should have some gas left in the tank considering he doesn’t turn 30 until November. However, already playing eight seasons in the NFL, Bryant’s age doesn’t accurately reflect his mileage meter. Likely to be the last significant contract he signs, a three-year deal with the Bears would provide financial security for Bryant and give him an immediate opportunity to become a veteran leader for the team.  If properly used, Trubisky, Robinson and White could benefit immensely from this.

Still Very Productive

Most NFL fans remember Bryant as one of the best receivers of his generation, so catching 69 balls with 838 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns for 2017 is considered a down year. Take that production and add it to the Bears? He would have been the leading receiver for the team last season.

Did I mention he played all 16 games?

These Deals Are Tricky

The first thing Bryant will likely say is he “wants to go somewhere to win,” the common war cry for veteran free agents without a ring. That way of thinking almost immediately eliminates the Bears because they’ve finished last in their division four years in a row. However, Chicago is a gigantic market and fans would adore Bryant if signed. One of those love/hate relationships, Bryant has the opportunity to be an important face here while mentoring into the future if that’s the path he’s on. He knows he only has one real contract left and he knows he isn’t going to be the #1 wide receiver for anyone. That leaves two scenarios…

  1. Sign for peanuts on a winning team and hope to get a ring.
  2. Sign for market value on a team with an immediate need for him on and off the field.

Chicago is #2 on that list. The Patriots, Packers and Vikings would be examples of #1.

It Will Depend On What Bryant Wants

Will Bryant bleed another team into negotiations to ensure he gets paid as much as possible on his last significant contract? Or will he realize where he’s at in his career and truly look for a destination where he’s welcome? Again, time will tell.

The first thing Chicago needs to do is figure out what’s going to happen with Meredith and gauge the market price for a player like Bryant. With big needs left at OL, DE and ILB, bringing in Bryant would be a calculated risk depending on the terms of the deal.

RELATED: The Trade Price For Odell Beckham Jr. Has Been Revealed

[poll id=”67″]

Lauri Markkanen Narrowly Avoids Injury

By
Patrick Mooney
-

The most important objective that remains for the 2018 Bulls is ending the season with a healthy Lauri Markkanen, Kris Dunn, and Zach LaVine. We already know that LaVine and Dunn could be shut down for the season with their current ailments but Markkanen, despite a lingering back issue, is expected to finish out the season on the court.

Judging by how he started last night’s game against the NBA’s best regular season team, Markkanen’s back appears to be just fine.

It wasn’t his back that was his concern, it was his right arm after this collision with Nene.

Thankfully, it turned out to be nothing more than some funnybone pain and he would return to the game and play regular second-half minutes, finishing with 22 points.

The Bulls blowout loss last night marked their sixth straight L, and has them just one game ahead of the Magic in the loss column for the 4th worst record in the league. Maybe letting Markkanen sit the final eight games to avoid scares like last night would be in the Bulls best interest?

1...2,8752,8762,877...3,194Page 2,876 of 3,194

Subscribe to our Newsletter

✶ An Unfiltered Voice For Chicago Sports Fans ✶

Chicago Sports News

About Us

© Sports Mockery, Inc. 2026