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NFL Expert Declares Bears Made Sneaky Best Coaching Hire of 2018

By
Erik Lambert
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bears coaching staff

The Chicago Bears coaching staff is looking a lot different in 2018. Most people will judge its success this year and looking ahead to the main man in charge. That’s Matt Nagy. This isn’t a surprise. Such expectations come with the job. However, this also has a bad tendency to downplay the importance of assistant coaches in the success of an organization.

No this isn’t talking about coordinators either. This is about true positional coaches who are focused in on one group of men. It seems hard to accept that one man so far down the totem pole can have such a far-reaching impact. Then again we often accept the theory behind the butterfly effect. One might consider this the football version.

If one position group is able to dominate at a high level, it tends to trickle down towards helping others have success. Few can have a greater impact in that regard than the offensive line. They keep the quarterbacks on their feet, open lanes for the running backs and buy time for the wide receivers to get open. Finding somebody who can elevate this group tends to bring success for everybody.

Now Albert Breer of the MMQB thinks the Bears made the steal of the off-season for that job.

Harry Hiestand add to Bears coaching staff declare best in NFL

It didn’t take long for word to get around that the Bears may have gotten a good one in Harry Hiestand. His track record in Chicago should be well-known considering he was the offensive line coach for their 2006 Super Bowl team. Since then he’s enjoyed tons of success in college. Breer thinks his arrival could be a game-changer for the team. Not only that, but it makes Nagy look all the more impressive for getting him since the two had never met before.

“We don’t talk much about position coaches here. But I’m going to give you one that I believe has a chance to be a big-time difference-maker for his first-time head coach: new Bears line coach Harry Hiestand. Matt Nagy did incredibly well to poach Hiestand, who’d been a target for a number of guys interviewing for jobs in January, from Notre Dame…

…We’ve seen the importance of line coaches the last few years, of course. Jeff Stoutland’s work last year in Philly—remember the Eagles lost Jason Peters for the year—helped the Eagles win it all and earned the ex-Alabama assistant a promotion to run-game coordinator. The difference Dante Scarnecchia makes in New England is well-documented, and Tony Sparano was huge in helping the Vikings meld new piece to fix their front last fall. Likewise, it looks like the Bears got a good one.”

People may still not be grasping the sort of impact Hiestand can have. So here’s a small reminder. Back in 2008, the Bears offensive line gave up 29 sacks. They also helped rookie running back Matt Forte rush for a then-record 1,238 yards. This was a front that featured a left side composed of John St. Claire at left tackle and Josh Beekman at left guard. The fact that most of you drew a blank at those two names just now should be proof of how good this coach is.

Luis Robert Can Be Compared To One Of Baseball’s Best Prospects

By
Emmet McClain
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If you’re a big White Sox fan, then you already know who Luis Robert is and how important he is to the team’s future. Robert has played a decent amount of time this spring, but he got his first start in center field yesterday, and he didn’t disappoint. Although he only finished the day 1-4 with a walk, he also added a stolen base and his lone hit was an absolute no-doubt, go-ahead grand slam in the eighth inning.

The White Sox would hang on in the ninth and get the W all thanks to the Cuban sensation that is Luis Robert.

Fans haven’t shut up yet on Twitter about Robert’s late inning heroics yesterday, and it got me thinking who he could be comparable to. One specific name that comes to mind is Atlanta Braves top prospect (no. 2 overall according to MLB.com) Ronald Acuna.

How They Stack Up

The most obvious similarity between Robert and Acuna is that they are both Cuban outfielders with very high ceilings. In 2017, Acuna went from being not ranked in the top 100 all the way to 6. Last year MLB.com had his tools graded out as follows (end of the year) Hit-55 Power-50 Run-60 Arm-55 Field-60 Overall-60. To open 2018, Acuna’s grades are off the charts. Hit-60 Power-65 Run-70 Arm-60 Field-60 Overall-70. When every tool grades out as at least ++, you know the kid is going to be special.

This season is Robert’s first in the states. Because of this, no one has really seen him play in person, but there are enough videos out there to see that Robert can be a legit star when he arrives to the MLB. MLB.com sees Robert as a 5-tool player, similar to Acuna, with his grades as follows: Hit-50 Power-55 Run-65 Arm-55 Field-55 Overall-55. For someone who has never played in the states, these grades show that the scouts are respecting Robert’s talent.

Physical Stature

Acuna stands at 6’0 180lbs, while Robert is a little bigger at 6’3 185lbs. Luis Robert is a physical specimen and looks more like a lab experiment than anything else. If you need evidence, just look at his workouts he posts on Instagram.

He’s quite the follow on Instagram and is clearly a big believer in going shirtless whenever he can. At just 20 years old, look for him to get even stronger in the upcoming years. His grand slam today made it over the left field wall with ease. The fence in left measured at 380 feet, so it probably went anywhere from 400-410. Pretty scary coming from a guy that is currently known for his speed more than anything else.

Career Paths

Last year Ronald Acuna absolutely demolished the minor leagues. He began the year in High A but ended up in triple-A and had a combined slash line of .325/.374/.522. Absolutely incredible.

The White Sox have openly said that they will be patient with every prospect, that there is no rush, but the great ones can force the issue themselves to really earn a promotion. Michael Kopech and Eloy Jimenez have done that so far. The way Robert has gone about attacking MLB players in spring training, he could be on a similar path. With future Hall of Famer and Spanish speaker Omar Vizquel managing high-A Winston-Salem, don’t be surprised to see Robert skip low-A all-together. Having a Spanish speaking manager should really help Robert adjust to the states. The more comfortable he is, the better he will play. It would not surprise me to see Robert end the year in Double-A Birmingham.

Recap

Robert and Acuna are both incredibly toolsy Cuban outfielders. They just seem to have too much pure talent to not wind up a stud. If Robert had to be compared to another current prospect, Acuna fits the bill in almost every way. And that should be music to White Sox fans’ ears.

Cubs vs. White Sox World Series? Odds Say It’s Possible

By
Sports Mockery
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As the 2018 baseball season begins, Chicago fans are excited. The Cubs fans are prepared for another championship run with newly signed ace Yu Darvish and a skinnier, more athletic version, of Kyle Schwarber.

Meanwhile, White Sox fans are buzzing with optimism as their squad appears set to start turning the rebuild around with an influx of young talent. Hawk Harrelson is also retiring, thank baby Jesus.

What are the odds of a Chicago vs. Chicago World Series? Well, a recent article in the Chicago Sun-Times mathematically calculated that exact possibility.

The result? 450/1. This is primarily because the White Sox only have a 150/1 chance to reach the World Series, while the Cubs sit at 12/1.

NOTE: The odds of being struck by lightning in your lifetime are 3,000 to 1. 

As you can see from the chart, the most likely World Series doesn’t include either Chicago team with a 17/1 chance of LA vs. Houston. Screw that.

An all-Chicago World Series is a dream for most local baseball fans, if the White Sox get their shit together it could become a reality. (insert Cubs jab here)

Opening Day can’t come soon enough.

Chicago Bears Have Dinner With One of Their Top Draft Targets

By
Erik Lambert
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chicago bears calvin ridley

The Chicago Bears Calvin Ridley storyline is nothing new. They’ve been connected to the Alabama wide receiver in one way or another since the regular season ended back in January. It wasn’t hard to do for experts. Ridley was and remains the projected best receiver in the 2018 draft class. Chicago finished the year as the worst passing offense in the NFL. It’s a basically putting two and two together.

Adding in the fact that Ridley is a self-proclaimed Bears fan? It’s too easy. That said, the Bears remain tight-lipped regarding what their exact plans for the draft are. It’s no surprise. GM Ryan Pace is notorious for keeping absolute secrecy in regards to the player he may have in mind for his first pick. That’s why recent news coming out should be taken with a grain of salt.

A private meeting is always a part of college pro days, but a private dinner meeting? That would at least suggest the Bears have a significant interest in Ridley. Again, this is no surprise. At the same time, does the fact, Gil Brandt, learning this information actually decrease the credibility of Chicago actually drafting him?

Chicago Bears Calvin Ridley buzz is a perfect cover story for Ryan Pace

This is likely a homework move by the Bears. They’ll be meeting with several players privately over the next couple weeks. The fact that it’s Ridley just makes it easier to assume. He is more talented than any receiver the team has on the roster at present. He’s athletic, quick, fast and boasts a strong pair of hands. He also showcased an ability to produce despite being heavily game planned against.

So why can’t he be taken seriously as a true target for the Bears at #8 overall? Mostly because none of this fits the “Pace Profile.” One thing about the Bears GM is he tends to target physical specimens in the first round. He likes to take calculated risks on high physical traits. Ridley may be quick and fast but he’s not special in either category and is also a pedestrian 6’1″. There’s also the fact that he’ll be 24-years old in December.

Then there’s the simple fact that Brandt caught wind of the meeting. If the Bears were serious about Ridley, that sort of information would never have gotten out. After all, they went to insane lengths to keep their meetings with Mitch Trubisky secret last year. It feels like this revelation is a carefully planted leak by the Bears to keep other teams off the scent of who they’re really targeting.

Victor Ejdsell Is Much More Than A “Throw-In” In Hartman Trade

By
Nicole Capone
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Along with the other night’s overtime win against the Avalanche, more positive news comes for the Blackhawks as they are welcoming newly acquired prospect, Victor Ejdsell.

The Blackawks obtained Ejdsell as part of the trade that sent Hartman and the Blackhawks’ 2018 fifth-round pick to Nashville in exchange for Ejdsell and the Predators’ 2018 first- and fourth-round picks.

Last May, 22 year-old Ejdsell, who is 6’5″ and 213 pounds, originally decided to sign with the Predators over the Blackhawks and Red Wings as an unrestricted free agent.

During his current season with Sweeden team BIK Karlskoga, Ejdsell has played 48 games; he has had 32 points, 18 goals and 14 assists.

According to Ejdsell, he now has more confidence with the puck and has improved at handling it a lot this season, which means that he could hopefully provide some offensive help to the Blackhawks (in the future) who have 190 goals for this season.

When Petrik Bexell of SB Nation questioned Ejdsell by stating, “You have played almost a whole season since we spoke last time. How do you think you have developed during this season?”

Ejdsell’s response showed an improved sense of confidence:

“I have more confidence with the puck, and I’m stronger at the puck. That was the main key for me in the beginning, I think, to get stronger to… feel confident with the puck and using my body and my reach and everything to give my teammates better opportunities and scoring chances. I think I’ve improved at that quite a lot later on this season.”

Only fifteen games are left in this dreadful season and then the much-awaited offseason will begin, a time when the team will rebuild and refresh just in time for October.

Cubs Get Unexpected Bulletin Board Material

By
Aldo Soto
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I bet there were plenty of Chicago Cubs fans rooting for the Houston Astros in the 2017 World Series, but we can cut that shit out right now. Houston pitcher Dallas Keuchel was asked about a possible World Series hangover, like the Cubs had last year and he had some fighting words, at least that’s how I’m taking them.

Via the Washington Post.

Just ask the Cubs — who won the World Series in 2016 with a young core, brought back essentially the same team in 2017, but won 11 fewer games and bowed out of the playoffs in the National League Championship Series.

“We’re not the Cubs,” Keuchel fired back when presented with that example. “I firmly believe we have better players.”

Let’s fucking go! Give me the Houston Astros right damn now.

I was in the camp that didn’t believe in a World Series hangover and yes that’s just being too arrogant as a fan, but it’s pretty obvious now that it happened with the Cubs in 2017, and basically every team since the late 90s Yankees. And I get it, Keuchel can’t just go out there and say to the media, “yeah, we’re going to suck in the first half,” so it’s fine that he feels confident in his team. But thanks for providing some bulletin board material for the Cubs.

The 2016 World Series team was almost the same to the 2017 team that was below .500 at the all-star break. From last year, the biggest changes have been two new starters, Yu Darvish and Tyler Chatwood, and two new relievers, Brandon Morrow and Steve Cishek. The rest of the roster is almost identical, with Ian Happ really the only new position player from the 2016 team.

Considering no team has gone back to the World Series after winning it since the Philadelphia Phillies in 2009, these words are most likely going to bite Keuchel on the ass. It simply does not matter how good of a team you have, or how much better it gets. The World Series hangover is real and the Astros are about to find out.

By the way, there’s no surprise this shot was taken at the Cubs, as the Astros traded for Gerrit Cole in the offseason. Cole, as you remember, lost his soul in the 2015 Wild Card Game, when Kyle Schwarber ripped it from his body and dumped it in the Allegheny River. Anyway, in 2016, when the Cubs were destroying teams left and right, Cole said the following.

Via NBC Sports.

When a reporter posed the question that Cole just shut down the best team in baseball, the Pirates pitcher politely corrected the statement:

“It’s just an opportunity to salvage the series,” Cole said. “I don’t really think they’re the best team in baseball.”

Must be feeding the bitterness toward the Cubs to the rest of the Astros.

I Went To My First Cubs Spring Training Game Of 2018 And Witnessed A Murder

By
Aldo Soto
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I haven’t been to many spring training ballparks in Arizona and of course Sloan Park is beautiful, but my few times at Goodyear Ballpark have been awesome. Two years in a row Kyle Schwarber has hit a home run at the spring training home of the Reds and Indians, but on Wednesday night I witnessed a murder.

First of all, lesson learned, don’t try to get to a game that starts at 6:05 p.m. by leaving at 5 p.m. when it’ll take 45 minutes to get to Goodyear and then another 30 minutes to get to a goddamn parking spot that’s 15 minutes away from the ballpark. Hand up, that’s on me. Anyway, the first thing I saw Wednesday night was Yan Gomes hit a grand slam. Indians fans celebrated like it was a walk-off in Game 7 of the World Series. Sorry, maybe you’ll get it the job done eventually and not lose in heartbreaking fashion. 

It didn’t matter though. I was enjoying my frosty cold XX (they didn’t have Pacifico, you should really drink Pacifico if you never have before) and while ordering a burger, surprisingly good, Albert Almora Jr. absolutely murdered a baseball, as I was standing on the concourse 100 feet behind him. I’m bad with distances, so I’ll estimate that the home run went no less than 600 feet into the desert air.

Yeah, I know you saw it WGN, but seeing it and listening to the sound of the bat was exhilarating. That poor ball was killed instantly.

Ugh, that sound!

I didn’t think that ball was ever going to land.

It’s been an interesting start to spring training for the Cubs. Not many roster questions if any, but Almora and Ian Happ are making fans take a deeper look at the outfield situation. Yeah, we know Jason Heyward is a gold glove right fielder, but if he continues to struggle offensively, and Almora and Happ prosper at the plate, Joe Maddon has to go with his best starting nine, right?

Maybe it won’t matter because the Cubs are deep and it’s not like they need Heyward to become an all-star hitter. However, if, like the first half of 2017, the offense is inconsistent and Heyward is part of the problem, then more of Almora and Happ might be seen.

Oh, and if you’re wondering about Kyle Schwarber, he’s doing just fine.

Will Pecking Order Be Necessary With Bulls Young Studs?

By
Patrick Mooney
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zach lavine

During last night’s Bulls victory over the league-worst Memphis Grizzlies, NBC Sports Chicago’s Vincent Goodwill joined Stacey King in the booth during the second half. Their main topic of conversation piqued my interest, and it just might pique yours too.

Goodwill published a piece on Tuesday suggesting that as this Bulls team enters the competitive ranks of the NBA, that a pecking order of importance needs to be established between Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn and Lauri Markkanen. Before you go and write off the piece as nothing but a mid-season lull article meant to ruffle feathers, Goodwill pulled some quotes from LaVine Monday night about the subject.

“It’s gonna be a tug of war, a tug and pull between somebody,” LaVine said to NBCSportsChicago.com Monday night. “That’s for us to figure out. It’s either with somebody’s play or mentality-wise; we have to be better with that.”

Huh. So this is something that’s already on his mind?

LaVine wants to take the reins.

“Can’t be friends with everybody,” LaVine said. “That’s just the way it is sometimes.”He says he’s ready.”If you put anybody in that right mindset they can turn into that dude,” LaVine said.

“Can’t be friends with everybody”.

I linked to the article earlier so that the quotes I pulled wouldn’t be pulled out of context, but the gist I get from LaVine’s quote is that the establishment of roles, specifically who will be the #1 guy, is already on his and his teammate’s minds.

After last night’s win against Memphis, a win in which all three players scored 21 or 22 points, Kris Dunn had this to say:

Markkanen hasn’t spoken up yet on what he perceives his future role to be, but both King and Goodwill said that they believe he will be the #1 guy of this group, and I have a hard time disagreeing.

There has been no problem finding shots for the three of them this season, all of them average between a 12.8 and 15 FGA a game. LaVine’s usage rate is nearly 8% higher than Markkanen’s, though, that will likely change in the future.

In the next couple of seasons, when the Bulls become more competitive and winning takes precedence over player development, will a 1-2-3 be necessary for this Bulls core? History tells us, yes, and the present tells us that they already know that.

Matt Davidson Thanks Fans For #MattyDDay

By
Matt Zawaski
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As the self-proclaimed President and CEO of the Matt Davidson fan club this has me pretty fired up. Hell all of #MattyDDay had me ready to run through a freakin wall.

This White Sox team is shaping up to be something special and I… cannot …. wait!!! Opening Day is so close I can already smell the stale Miller Lites and burnt BBQ.

Bulls Young Guns Put On A First Half Clinic

By
Patrick Mooney
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For the second time in three games, the Bulls are hosting a tanking western conference foe. For the second time in three games, it appears as if the Bulls will be walking away victorious.

The Memphis Grizzlies entered tonight’s game on a 14 game losing streak and a record of 18-45, the worst in the league. The fans might want a loss, but this young bunch has pride and they’re making some pretty plays.

First we had a Kris Dunn behind the back pass to Lauri Markkanen for a dunk.

Then they connected again.

And again.

Markkanen doesn’t need Dunn to feed him dunks, he can Finnish on his own. Get it? Yeah you get it.

Dunn can score a bit, too.

And Zach LaVine was sure to get in on the fun as well.

The best wins during the season of #tank are wins that feature a heavy dose of Dunn-Markkanen-LaVine. The trio has combined for 29 of the Bulls 64 point half on 11-20 shooting, while adding seven assists to just three turnovers. If the Bulls hold on to this lead, hopefully the trio can add to tonight’s highlight reel

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