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NFL Insiders Confirm a Rift Between John Fox and Ryan Pace

By
Erik Lambert
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john fox

The rumors have persisted for the last year and a half. Maybe longer. Certain local Chicago Bears insiders believe John Fox and Ryan Pace are at odds. Of course people wouldn’t know it from how the two men act in public. Both have strenuously insisted that they remain on the same page. No problems between the two exist, no matter how much people may want it to.

At the same time these rumors not only persist, but has steadily grown in strength and density. Conflict between a head coach and GM is nothing new. It happens more often than people care to admit in the NFL. Just look at the Kansas City Chiefs. Everything seemed picture perfect between Andy Reid and John Dorsey after three playoff trips in four years. Then boom, Dorsey gets fired.

So it would be hard not to accept the thought that Pace and Fox are frustrated with each other after going 9-23 in their first two seasons together. Losing can often bring out the worst in people. Now it seems like things are rushing towards a climax, with 2017 being the final battleground.

John Fox and Ryan Pace issues revolve around roster

A number of prominent NFL insiders made interesting comments recently in various media forums regarding the Fox/Pace relationship. Both alluded to the same thing: they aren’t getting along. Louis Riddick of ESPN was the first to do so during a Future Power Rankings article. In it he explains why predicting the Bears next three years is impossible because of that mercurial partnership.

“Like most of the teams at the bottom of this list, Chicago needs to figure out what it has at QB, but that’s not what worries me most about this team. The relationship (or lack thereof) between GM Ryan Pace and head coach John Fox is concerning, and conflict between key decision-makers can become an insurmountable obstacle for a rebuilding team. Before anything can really be accomplished, this situation needs to be resolved one way or another.”

So what exactly is the primary issue that continues to drive them apart? What it always is when it involves a coach and a GM:  roster composition. Both have their own ideas about the types of players they’d like. Smart money says those visions are not the same. Especially given the age gap between the two men. Fox is 62 and Pace is set to turn 40. Their ideas of top football talent can’t be identical. Benjamin Allbright of CBS Sports offered his expectations for the Bears in 2017 and dropped a big hint as to why.

Which one gets the boot?

Go back through history and it will be easy to find many coaches and GMs who parted ways because of this same issue. Sometimes the coaches were fired or resigned. Sometimes the GMs were ousted and the coaches given the authority to craft the roster. One thing is clear. Unless the Bears find success in 2017, which is a long shot, the odds are either Fox or Pace will be gone by next year.

Perhaps both could go if the season is bad enough, but that’s unlikely. So who will it be? All the rumors have hinted if push came to shove that Fox is the odd man out. His age no doubt plays a factor in that, but also Pace has enjoyed some recent successes. Leonard Floyd, Akiem Hicks, Cody Whitehair and Jordan Howard are all recent additions made by him who have performed very well.

Smart money says he gets another chance to find a head coach that fits the types of players and system he’s trying to build.

Kyle Long Has a Beef With Mitch Trubisky He Plans To Settle

By
Erik Lambert
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kyle long

The Kyle Long Mitch Trubisky relationship is going to be so important moving forward. Not unlike that blazing new girlfriend the three-time Pro Bowl guard just debuted on Instagram. In order for things to blossom, they must get off to a proper starter. It turns out though that Long is a bit annoyed by the rookie already. This before the two even stepped onto a field together.

Long is still recovering from the gruesome ankle injury he suffered last season. He’s been undergoing hellacious rehab work trying to recover from his surgery in time to be ready for training camp. The great news is he’s out of his walking boot and remains on schedule with his healing. Signs indicate he should be good to go barring a setback.

That might not be a good thing for Trubisky. He may have to avoid the scary offensive lineman in the hallways due in large part to a comment he made a couple weeks ago.

Kyle Long Mitch Trubisky beef centers on the playoff prediction

During a charity event for Blessings in a Backpack which feeds starving children around the country, Long spoke with WGN. Among the questions included his own personal thoughts on Trubisky predicting the Bears would make the playoffs in 2017. Long replied with a degree of understanding, but also warning.

“It’s a rookie mistake. But, if you count yourself out of the fight before it happens, you’re probably going to lose. I like where his head’s at. Definitely have to give him a noogie, though, when I see him.”

Of course this was meant in good fun. Long and Trubisky have already spent time together, once being photographed watching the NBA Finals at his house. Still, a noogie from a 320 lbs Pro Bowl guard can’t exactly be a comfortable thing to endure. Maybe that will count as the hazing ritual Trubisky must go through to confirm his entry into the Bears family.

Once that’s over though, the dynamic will change. Long understands what Trubisky represents. If all goes according to plan, this kid is the future of Bears football in Chicago. Their window to extended, long-term success. That means opponents will have to go over Long’s dead body if they want to get their hands on him.

It will be fun watching them try.

Bruce Arians Thinks Bears QB Moves Will Pay Off Big

By
Erik Lambert
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bears qb moves

Bruce Arians has been around the NFL for a long time. He first broke in way back in 1989 as running backs coach for the Kansas City Chiefs. His true calling though wouldn’t show up four another nine years. That was in 1998 when he became quarterbacks coach for the Indianapolis Colts. With his help a young Peyton Manning almost seemlessly went from college to the pros and reached his first two Pro Bowls. If anybody is qualified to discuss the Bears QB moves of this past offseason, it’s Arians.

The 64-year old has coached some of the best and brightest in the game. After leaving Indy the first time, he developed a young man named Ben Roethlisberger in Pittsburgh. A few years and two Super Bowl rings later, he was heading back to Indianapolis. There he transformed #1 overall pick Andrew Luck into an instant star.

That run of success finally got Arians his dream job of head coaching his own team in the Arizona Cardinals. Under his direction, veteran Carson Palmer revived his career. At age 36 he made his third Pro Bowl in 2015. This nine years after making his second. It’s for reasons like this that Arians is putting out a book titled “The Quarterback Whisperer.”

Arians believes Bears QB moves of 2017 were the right ones

The veteran coach went on the “Mully & Hanley” show on 670 The Score to discuss the book and his own impressions of the Bears and their state. Arians is always known for being a straight shooter, so it was fascinating to hear his opinion. The conversation of course started with four years ago.

Everyone remembers that Arians came incredibly close to replacing Lovie Smith as head coach of the Bears after he’d been fired in 2013. Apparently the interview went great and he had a good connection with Jay Cutler, whom he was impressed by. He’d expected to get the job, but former GM Phil Emery got cold feet for whatever reason.

His most interesting comment though came when he offered his thoughts on the Bears’ new additions Mike Glennon and Mitch Trubisky. He was thoughtful and more than a little complimentary of their decisions.

“You just coach them both and play the best one,” Arians said. “Coach them both and whichever one takes the lead, let them take the lead until the young one overtakes him — or if (Trubisky) overtakes (Glennon) overall.

“You got to do what’s best for your football team. I have high regards for Mike Glennon and Mitchell. I think they’re really good players. They can fix their room for sure.

“You got a guy who’s capable of leading teams, and (if) the other guy is the superstar you hope he is, it’ll take a little time because of the system change. And you got a chance to win.”

Hearing a man who knows quarterbacks and has the hardware to prove it has to give Bears fans a degree of excitement about the future. Many people still profess they can’t understand why the team added both Glennon and Trubisky. Arians saw the logic behind it right away. Proof if nothing else that Pace might be one or two steps ahead of some people in the media. Either way it’s a surefire sign they’ve got a chance to fix this problem that has bedeviled the franchise for decades.

The Cubs Have Shown Interest In Marlins Second Baseman Dee Gordon

By
Sean Sears
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The Cubs are 43-45 and feature a pedestrian offense that hinges on either Kris Bryant or Anthony Rizzo getting on base and praying that someone behind them can push the two across the plate.  While the pitching may be the bigger issue, the Cubs currently rank a surprising 9th in ERA at 4.10 on the season, the lack of offensive input on the North-Side is also to blame for the bad 1st half of baseball.

The Cubs lack consistent on-base players on their roster, outside of Bryant Rizzo, none of the Cubs with get on base better than league average. Jon Jay has been great recently, with a 3.86 OBP, but he has less than half the amount of plate appearances of Rizzo and Bryant.

According to Baseball Savant, the Cubs are also the 2nd worst hitting team in baseball with runners on base, batting .236 in those moments. And they are even worse when those runners are in scoring position, dropping to a .230 average. Simply, outside of Rizzo and Bryant, nobody on the Cubs is consistently getting on base or driving in runners. If the Cubs could add a consistent lead-off hitter, like they had the past two seasons in Dexter Fowler, the offense could possibly get the kick-start it has needed all season.

This is where a guy like 2nd baseman Dee Gordon makes sense.

According to a source, the Cubs have a serious interest in adding the speedy infielder and inserting him at the top of Joe Maddon’s lineup. The 29-year-old Gordon is sporting an excellent .342 OBP with 53 runs scored in 2017, and would be welcome addition to the Cubs roster.

However, a move like this would also require the Cubs to move one of their middle infielders – position they do not lack depth for. Talking with a former scout, it sounds like the Cubs are seriously considering moving one of Javier Baez or Addison Russell.

The Cubs have also shown interest in Marlins center fielder Christian Yelich, who is also reportedly available for the right price this July, but would require a jaw-dropper of an offer to even start negotiations.

To me, this deal only makes sense if the Cubs are parting with either Russell or Baez, and with Russell’s domestic violence allegations still on-going and Baez trending up recently, this seems like a far-fetched deal. Gordon’s offensive skill-set, while exactly what the Cubs are missing from their lineup, the 2nd baseman does not add much in the power or run-driving department (146 career RBI’s over his seven season).

If Gordon were to falter while with the Cubs his value dissipates almost instantly, and at almost 30-years-old with $37 million still owed on his deal, Gordon’s contract could get ugly. But if the Cubs believe Gordon can be the table-setter they are searching for, trading Russell to the Miami for Gordon and possibly a pitcher isn’t a terrible deal.

If I had to guess, I would say Gordon doesn’t end up on the Cubs, but a source did say that the Cubs asked the Marlins to call them before making a move. Buckle up, everyone.

Cubs Asked The Tigers About Michael Fulmer And Daniel Norris In Recent Trade Talks

By
Aldo Soto
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We’re exactly three weeks away from the MLB trade deadline and the Chicago Cubs are smack-dab in the middle of trade rumors. It’s very unlikely that Theo Epstein is going to go out there and trade for a hitter, but if the Cubs do anything it’ll be for a cost-effective starting pitcher.

Just like I said last week after the Cubs interest of Marcus Stroman was reported, this front office is obviously calling every team that has a young pitcher under contract control for several years. So, this report from Peter Gammons shouldn’t come as a surprise at all. No, it’s not about Justin Verlander, but the Cubs supposedly asked the Detroit Tigers about a couple of their young starters.

Via Peter Gammons:

The Astros, Yankees and Cubs have the farm systems to get a starting pitcher, but there is no Sale or David Price out there. The Cubs have called almost every team to see who might be available; they asked the Tigers about Michael Fullmer and/or Daniel Norris, but made it clear they had no interest in Justin Verlander, and as one Cub official said, “no one is going to pay $70M for him, even though he may still be a very good pitcher.”

Again, the price for Michael Fulmer, just like for Stroman, is going to be high for the Cubs. One of the top prospects would have to go in a trade for Fulmer. Why? Well, not only is the 24-year-old pretty damn good, he’s also under team control until 2023 and doesn’t become arbitration eligible until 2019.

Some background on Fulmer in case you’re not familiar with the right-hander. He was a first-round pick of the New York Mets in 2011, and in 2015, he was traded to the Tigers as the centerpiece in the Yoenis Cespedes deal. Fulmer made his MLB debut in 2016, with the Tigers and was a stud, going 11-7, with a 3.06 ERA and 1.12 WHIP. So far in 2017, he’s kept it up, with a 3.19 ERA and an identical 1.12 WHIP.

Fulmer won American League Rookie of the Year in 2016.

Don’t get it twisted, Fulmer the Tigers’ ace and if a deal ever does happen it’s going to be a blockbuster. Big. Bigger than you think. How big? You might even see a player on the MLB roster shipped off to Detroit.

The Cubs were on Fox Saturday baseball against the Pittsburgh Pirates and MLB insider Ken Rosenthal had this jaw-dropping tidbit about what the Cubs front office is thinking about doing. (skip to 49 seconds)

They’re not trading Willson Contreras because then they wouldn’t have a starting catcher. Kyle Schwarber’s value has dropped too much since the start of the season. However, Addison Russell, despite his limitations at the plate, is still only 23-years-old and an elite defender at shortstop. Javier Baez is a magician on the field and has improved offensively. And then there’s Ian Happ. Imagine where the Cubs would be without Happ this year and we’re talking about a below .500 team.

Could the Cubs really be willing to trade one of Russell, Baez and Happ? Well, if they’re serious about a deal for Fulmer, that’s what it will take if Eloy Jimenez isn’t involved.

As far as Daniel Norris, he’d be the much cheaper option. He’s also 24-years-old and just like Fulmer he doesn’t become arbitration eligible until 2019 and a free agent until 2022. Norris was the main player traded to the Tigers in the David Price deal back in 2015. The lefty made his MLB debut with the Blue Jays in 2014, and was the 17th ranked prospect in 2015.

Since he was traded to the Tigers, Norris has made 37 starts, pitching 191 innings, with a 4.29 ERA. He’s been on the disabled list several times with different issues since 2015. He missed time because of an oblique strain in 2015, started 2016 on the DL with a lower back issue and then went back to the DL in 2016 because of another oblique injury.

This season, Norris has been roughed up, recording a 5.29 ERA and 1.67 WHIP. On July 6, he was placed on the disabled list once again for a groin strain. Who knows, maybe the Tigers sell low on Norris, but there’s still a lot of potential there. Last year, Norris had a 3.38 ERA in 13 starts and 14 appearances overall.

The Cubs are 5.5 games back of the Milwaukee Brewers and of course it’ll depend how the team responds after the All-Star break. The front office won’t go crazy, but you know they’re trying to land a controllable pitcher. That’s just as important not only to improve the starting rotation this year, but next year and beyond too.

At the break, the Cubs rotation is ranked 17th in MLB with a 4.66 ERA.

Anyway, if there’s one thing from the Gammons’ report that I want to believe in 100 percent is that the Cubs don’t have any interest in Justin Verlander. The Cubs reportedly also asked about the former Cy Young winner last week. Hard pass. I don’t care if it’ll only take some mid-level prospect, I don’t want Verlander anywhere near the Cubs.

Go all in for Michael Fulmer? That’s at least interesting.

Kyle Long Has A Girlfriend, Shannon Ford

By
Aldo Soto
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Chicago Bears star offensive lineman Kyle Long got tired of eating alone, so now he has a girlfriend.

On Sunday, Long posted a picture on Instagram with Shannon Ford and it sure does appear that he’s no longer single.

Got tired of eating by myself

A post shared by Kyle (@kylelong75) on

Ford has done some modeling and is featured on The Block Agency website, which is labeled as, “The Premiere Modeling Agency in Nashville, representing the region’s best models, actors and hosts.”

U wanted me to say Ginger white and blue didn’t you

A post shared by Shannon Ford (@probablyshannonford) on

Canadian tuxedos ’cause hockey #Preds4TheCup

A post shared by Shannon Ford (@probablyshannonford) on

Say basic 3 times fast

A post shared by Shannon Ford (@probablyshannonford) on

Armpit rolls are v hot right now. People forget that

A post shared by Shannon Ford (@probablyshannonford) on

Sunny & 75 in FL shooting for @marleylilly ☀️🌴 #SoManyMonograms #NotOneOfThemMine

A post shared by Shannon Ford (@probablyshannonford) on

Warm and sunny thoughts in cold and rainy Nashville

A post shared by Shannon Ford (@probablyshannonford) on

Tubs that are of the hot variety #NightSwims #TechnicallySits #UnlessWeCountMyAttemptAtAHottubHandStand #WhichWeAre

A post shared by Shannon Ford (@probablyshannonford) on

A photo of me and all the people I’m cool sharing my food with

A post shared by Shannon Ford (@probablyshannonford) on

Wrapping a day early in Panama City maka me happay

A post shared by Shannon Ford (@probablyshannonford) on

Wine for breakfast

A post shared by Shannon Ford (@probablyshannonford) on

2 products in this photo portray False Advertisement about cup sizes. #TBT #AmericaRunsOnDunkin #GurlsRunOnPushUpBras

A post shared by Shannon Ford (@probablyshannonford) on

Good for you, Kyle.

New Stat Explains a Recurring Plague on The Bears Offense

By
Erik Lambert
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bears offense

The Chicago Bears offense was a jumbled mess in 2016. They fielded the second-best running back in the NFL and collectively threw for over 4,000 yards. By rights it should’ve been a great year. Instead they finished 28th in the league, averaging a pitiful 17.43 points scored per game. That is definitely not how a team is going to win football games.

So where do the problems lay? What happened last year that curbed their apparent success in the yardage department? Well an interesting new stat courtesy of Sportingcharts.com sheds some light on what has been a recurring nightmare for the Bears over the past few seasons. Something that involves bad timing and bad discipline all at the same time.

Bears offense among NFL-worst in passing yards lost to penalty

Picture the moments. A Bears quarterback strikes down the field on third down. Big catch and run to set the team up in opposing territory on first down. Only no. Out comes the red flag. Holding call on the offensive line. The big play is negated and all the momentum from it completely erased. Sound familiar? It should because Chicago has seen way too many of such moments lately.

“If a quarterback successfully completes a 50 yard pass, but holding is called on one of the lineman, the play will more than likely be called back (the non-penalized team has the option of going to the next down at the spot of the foul, or repeating the down; coaches always choose the latter).  In this example, passing yards lost to penalties would be 50 yards.  It is easy to see why having a low number of passing yards lost to penalties is essential to the success of every football team.”

Now the stats prove it. Between Jay Cutler, Brian Hoyer and Matt Barkley the Bears offense lost 277 yards to penalties in 2016. That ranks the team second in the NFL behind only the Indianapolis Colts who had 310. This isn’t even counting the same issues on running plays as well, of which there were plenty. Keep in mind the Bears ranked 9th overall in 2016 with 65 offensive penalties. Just offense. That’s an average of 4.1 per game. It’s almost impossible to generate effective scoring like that. It also lends momentum to opponents.

Is it any coincident that the Bears won more games in 2015 because they had 165 passing yards lost to penalties. Success in the NFL can often be by the slimmest of margins. If John Fox wants to keep his job beyond 2017, this is a problem he has to snuff out.

The Real Problem With the Bears Defense Is One People Keep Ignoring

By
Erik Lambert
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bears defense
CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 02: Theo Riddick #25 of the Detroit Lions is stopped short of the goal on third down by Jerrell Freeman #50 of the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on October 2, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

If the Bears defense just gets another top corner, they’ll be good. No, they need a playmaker who can create turnovers at safety. Stop it. All of this has to do with the pass rush. It just needs more consistent. Get one more guy for that and they’ll be good to argue. There is some truth to these arguments but at the same time it’s not seeing the actual picture. That boring part of playing defense nobody wants to talk about these days.

Why can’t the Bears win football games? One reason nobody wants to talk about is they can’t stop the run. Seriously, in this era of pass-first offense it’s a subject that gets ignored way too often. John Fox may be an old coach but he knows this game better than most armchair GMs out there. He wasn’t lying when he said stopping the run is the vital key to great defense.

Apparently it’s also a key to winning in the NFL. Don’t believe it? Here are some numbers to chew on.

Bears defense must learn how to stop the run

For starters, look back at the 2016 season. Identify the teams who finished with a top 10 run defense and many of them have the same thing in common. They were playoff participants.

  1. Dallas Cowboys*
  2. Tennessee Titans
  3. New England Patriots*
  4. New York Giants*
  5. Baltimore Ravens
  6. Carolina Panthers
  7. Seattle Seahawks*
  8. Green Bay Packers*
  9. Arizona Cardinals
  10. San Diego Chargers

Those teams that didn’t have a top run defense who still made the playoffs? They have a common thread as well. Most of them had the benefit of a franchise quarterback.

  • Ben Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh)
  • Matt Ryan (Atlanta)
  • Matthew Stafford (Detroit)
  • Derek Carr (Oakland)
  • Alex Smith (Kansas City)

Only Houston and Miami came in with relatively averaged QBs and they were benefited by extenuating circumstances such as a weak division or easy schedule. The truth is history favors this stance that the Bears win when they can stop the run on defense. Just look at their records during years they fielded a top 10 unit since 2000.

  • 2001:  2nd (13-3)
  • 2006:  6th (13-3)
  • 2008:  5th (9-7)
  • 2010:  2nd (11-5)
  • 2011:  5th (8-8)
  • 2012:  8th (10-6)

The proof is hard to deny. Every year the Bears had a top run D, they never finished below .500. Meanwhile all those other seasons where they finished outside the top 10 didn’t go well at all, save for 2005. That year they finished 11th. Since their last good year in 2012 they have failed to finish higher than 17th.

Importance of interior defense can’t be understated

People will continue to talk the same stuff. Leonard Floyd needs to be the great pass rusher. Prince Amukamara and the other corners have to cover. Quintin Demps and those safeties need to get their hands on some football. All true, but first things first. The middle of that Bears defense has to make sure the opponents can’t run. That means Eddie Goldman at nose tackle and inside linebackers Danny Trevathan and Jerrell Freeman.

It’s not a coincidence that two of the three wins Chicago had in 2016 came when they allowed 66 and 57 yards respectively on the ground. The other win came in that blizzard game against San Francisco when all the 49ers did was run. The Bears allowed under 100 yards in five games last season. They were 2-3 in those games and two of those losses they suffered were by seven points total.

Perhaps NFL iron man James Harrison said it best:

“…If we let them run the ball up and down the field against us, that leaves other things open in the passing game. If you can’t stop the run, you definitely won’t be able to stop the pass. They’ll just play-action pass you over your head.”

It really is that simple. Boring, maybe. Extremely important nonetheless. Until the Bears solve this problem, all the fancy pass rush and coverage discussions won’t matter.

Clubhouse Music Following Embarrassing Loss Perfectly Sums Up The 2017 Cubs

By
Gus
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Before today’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, I had every intention of writing an article about finding the positives from a very disappointing first half of the season. I wanted to write about the emergence of Ian Happ, Jon Jay’s bat, and a bullpen that has been pretty damn good through the first 88 games of the season.

Then the game happened and all my positivity went directly out the window.

The Cubs got absolutely embarrassed by the Pirates today at Wrigley Field which was highlighted by Jon Lester’s historically bad performance.

The funny thing is that when I woke up today, my three-year-old daughter asked if I could take her to get a new dress so in my mind I thought, “Why not? Lester is pitching against a team that he usually dominates and the Cubs surely would win this game to go into the All-Star break on a positive note. I’m sure I won’t miss anything major.”

And of course, I was wrong.

I’m walking around the mall watching the Cubs score get updated on my phone: 1-0, 3-0, 5-0, 9-0, 10-0 which probably explained the look the store employee gave me every time I looked at my phone and mumbled, “What the fuck is going on?”

The reigning World Champs now sit at 43-45 at the All-Star break, which ties the most games they’ve been below .500 all season. Despite the team’s significant underachievement in the first half of the season, the Cubs front office will still maintain the notion that everything will be alright in the second half of the season.

Maybe the front office is trying some “musical therapy” to get through to the team after getting destroyed by Pittsburgh today by pumping some appropriate tunes into the clubhouse.

The song is actually called, “Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley but the message of the song, as the tweet suggests, is that everything will be alright which ties in perfectly with both Joe Maddon and Theo Epstein’s season-long message.

While Cubs fans everywhere have been screaming for the front office to start wheeling and dealing to try to find the right piece to fit into the puzzle, Maddon and Epstein have stood firm with their message — the current Cubs are the solution to the problem.

While I’m not against making a trade, the entire puzzle right now is broken so what’s the purpose of giving up young talent to bring a player into a system that has to fix itself?

As much as I love Sonny Gray or Justin Verlander, I don’t think they’re the answer. The problem in the clubhouse is bigger than bringing in another pitcher to try and fix an atrocious rotation.

Will bringing in a new pitcher help the rest of your rotation stop giving up first inning runs?

Will bringing in a new pitcher help the rest of the rotation not suck? I mean, when Eddie Butler leads your rotation in ERA for the first half, that’s a bit alarming.

Will bringing in a new pitcher help your offense get a hit with a runner in scoring position?

No, it won’t.

It’s funny how quickly fans forget last season and how much praise was being thrown at everyone and rightly so — the team was winning. I’ve been around sports my entire life as a player, coach, and now a writer,  and no matter what role I’ve played, the same message holds true — everything is better when you win.

I understand Cubs fans frustration because I’m right there with them. However, I try to always find a silver lining to every bad situation. For the fans who are ready to throw 2017 down the drain, keep this in mind.

So let’s do our best to enjoy the next four days without Cubs baseball and let the team (and ourselves) mentally regroup. Be thankful the Cubs are only 5.5 games out of the dumpster fire NL Central and they aren’t in the NL West (where they’d be 17 games out of first).

I don’t know what rock bottom feels like but today had to be pretty close. Even though today was a piss poor game and the entire first half was trash, remember — there’s still an entire second half of baseball to be played.

 

 

 

White Sox Relievers Should Be Hot Trade Targets

By
Emmet McClain
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Jose Quintana is obviously getting the bulk of the attention when it comes to trade chatter, due in large part to the prospects he can bring back to the White Sox farm. However, bullpen arms usually fly off the shelves as well, mainly to contenders looking to add a final piece to their respective team. The White Sox have their own version of a Big 3 in their bullpen in David Robertson, Anthony Swarzak, and Tommy Kahnle. While dealing all 3 would bring in a haul of prospects, I think the White Sox will only deal Robertson and Swarzak, giving Kahnle closer duty for the rest of the season.

Tommy Kahnle is still just 27 years old and has 2 1/2 years of control left on his deal. While that sounds like the recipe for a prospect haul, this is really the first full year he has put it all together. While he did post a 2.63 ERA in 29 games last year, his K/9 was a measly 8.23 and posted a 0.0 WAR. This year, Kahnle has gotten even better. His ERA currently sits at 2.45, his K/9 is an absurd 15.27, and already has posted a 1.2 WAR. Talk about your typical All-Star snub. While these numbers are astounding for Kahnle, I think GM’s around baseball are skeptical that this production can keep up, and are therefore afraid to spend big on his services. Which is why I think Chicago will hold onto him until at least the offseason in hopes he can continue to put up stellar numbers. If that is the case, they should be able to get a legitimate return for his services either this winter or next summer at the deadline. Now, onto the trade chips the trade chips the White Sox could/should/probably will sell off.

David Robertson

David Robertson is far and away the most talked about bullpen arm on the market this season. He has come back from two so-so seasons on the South Side to the tune of a 3.00 ERA and a 13.2 K/9 ratio. There will be numerous contenders in need of bullpen help asking for his services.

1) Washington Nationals

This is the obvious choice for Robertson, as the Nationals have blown more saves than any other team in the N.L. While they are essentially a lock for the division title playing in the dreadful N.L. East, things can change quickly in the playoffs. It is shocking that they have not already made a move to boost their closer position, but eventually they will be forced to pull the trigger. Back in Spring Training, the White Sox and Nationals came close to a Robertson deal that would have seen Chicago obtain Washington’s no. 10 and 12 prospects Jesus Luzario, and Drew Ward, with Chicago eating roughly half of Robertson’s salary. The deal eventually got hung up on the money side of things, and that has ended up working out perfectly for the White Sox. With the National’s bullpen problems bigger than expected and Robertson enjoying a very solid year, the price has definitely gone up for his services. While it is probably unlikely the White Sox obtain any of Washington’s top 3 prospects, a deal for their no. 4 Carter Kieboom seems much more doable. Kieboom plays short stop and has a prolific bat which will define his career in the Majors. While his defense is questionable, he still possesses elite instincts and a body that profiles better at third base. Washington gets the closer they so desperately need, and Chicago takes on a 19-year-old that can be their potential future third baseman.

2) New York Yankees

Currently, the Yankees possess a Wild Card spot with Kansas City. However, the Yankees have also blown 16 saves out of 33 opportunities. And that is with Aroldis Champan back in the fold. In what was supposed to be a rebuilding year for New York, they have the option to fix a weakness and go for the A.L. East Division crown. A realistic trade scenario I can see the Yankees and White Sox doing for Robertson would be David Robertson for third base prospect Miguel Andujar. Andujar is the no. 7 3B prospect in baseball, but he does not fall inside the top 100. Combined in Double-A and Triple-A, Andujar has batted .306 and even went 3-4 against the White Sox in his Major League Debut. Andujar’s bat is solid and will come with raw pop, but his biggest tool is his absolute rocket of an arm, which will profile perfectly at the hot corner. Many speculated that the Yankees brought up Andujar so they could showcase him against the White Sox for a potential trade. We’ll see if that’s really the case soon enough. If the Yankees are reluctant to give up Andujar, the White Sox could look to throw in Todd Frazier to sweeten the deal. Third base is another current question mark for New York, and adding a power bat like Frazier’s could get the Yankees to say yes to a deal.

Anthony Swarzak

Anthony Swarzak is seeing a rebirth of his own this season, as he has pitched to the tune of a 2.52 ERA and a 1.4 WAR. After looking over potential destinations for the setup man, I see one place that truly makes perfect sense.

The Minnesota Twins

Before the season began, every expert had the Cleveland Indians winning the A.L. Central in a landslide. The Royals were starting to show their age after a few successful seasons, the Tigers were in limbo, the White Sox were starting their own rebuild, and the Twins just sucked. So much for that. The Minnesota Twins have been right at the front of the Central since the season began, and are currently in perfect position to snag a Wild Card spot with either the surging Royals or surprising Tampa Bay Rays. When the season ends, the A.L. Central could feature 3 playoff teams. While the Twins have blown only 9 saves all year, they are going up against teams with two of the better bullpens in baseball in Cleveland and Kansas City. It definitely cannot hurt to add a legitimate setup man to make a push for a playoff spot. Depending on how desperate Minnesota gets, they can offer no. 78 overall prospect Stephen Gonsalves, a LHP. Gonsalves definitely does not have the electric stuff that the current White Sox pitching prospects boast. His fastball sits in the low 90’s, but pairs it with a devastating changeup that features nasty sink. He can also throw a decent curve, and he is working on developing an average slider as well. For comparisons sake, his stuff is similar to that of Mark Buehrle’s, and his body resembles Gavin Floyd’s. And while his stuff isn’t electric by any means, he has produced a 2.67 ERA across double-A so far this season. While trading within the division would be an interesting play for both sides, it is a win-win scenario, and could help vault the Twins into the playoffs. If that happens, I’m sure there will be no regrets.

While it is impossible to say where players go at the deadline, I feel like all three of these scenarios are realistic options. If that is the case, the White Sox could add two more prospects in the top 100 from their current closer and setup man. Safe to say that fans and the White Sox front office won’t be upset about that.

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