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That One Bold Trade Opportunity The Bears Can’t Just Ignore

By
Erik Lambert
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chicago bears draft and free agency mailbag

The Chicago Bears trade for Josh Gordon. A year ago that would’ve sounded insane. Gordon, age 25, was in a drug rehabilitation facility. He was trying to get clean after repeated NFL violations for marijuana use. Already enduring a number of suspensions, it was clear to him and those close to him that he had to make sure he was clean. Otherwise another violation could get him banned from the league.

Now? Sometimes priorities change in this league. The Bears are breaking in an entirely new quarterback depth chart, headlined by Mike Glennon. A man who hasn’t started a game since 2014. Ironically the last year Gordon saw playing time. Meanwhile the team watched their best wide receiver, Alshon Jeffery, depart to take a one-year deal in Philadelphia. Thus leaving their passing offense in question.

GM Ryan Pace has tried to cover the loss with additions like Markus Wheaton and Kendall Wright. Still, it feels like the void is still very much there. Only a proven talent could fill it. Would the Bears dare consider a play for Gordon? It seems the opportunity is almost at hand.

A Bears trade for Josh Gordon is not crazy

Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com indicated that even if Gordon is reinstated this year, the odds are long that he’ll remain with the team.

“Josh Gordon is hoping for a decision on his reinstatement by late April or early May, according to a report, but he’s still not in the Browns’ plans for 2017.

Even if he is reinstated, it’s doubtful the Browns will give him another chance. A source said they’ll likely try to trade him or possibly even release him. They have his rights for two more years after he’s reinstated.”

It may sound crazy. How in the world could the Browns trade a player who hasn’t logged a significant snap in three years? Well when one is as talented as Gordon, exceptions are made. He’ll only be 26-years old this season. He has no injury history and was one of the five best wide receivers in football prior to his last suspension. When he got a chance to play in the 2016 preseason, that old magic was still there.

Gordon had 1,646 yards in 2013 for the Browns, most in the league that year. Given the quarterbacks throwing to him, that was an unreal accomplishment. His ability to dominate the game was impossible to ignore. If anything he would be an upgrade over what the Bears just lost in Jeffery. Of course there is the off-the-field concerns, so it’s a risk. Then again there is no success in this league without taking risks.

The cost?

Back in 2007, the Oakland Raiders traded a disgruntled Randy Moss to New England. Moss was 30-years old at the time. It ended up costing a fourth round pick. Keep in mind Chicago has two of them this year. Then again, it probably wouldn’t cost that much with Gordon. Even though he’s younger, he also has a good deal more baggage. One more violation could see him kicked out of the league. So Cleveland would never be able to drive the price too high.

Odds are it would take no more than a sixth rounder, and more likely a seventh. That’s pennies for what they could get in return. Gordon is owed no guaranteed money and would cost barely over $1 million in base salary. He’ll be a free agent after the 2017 season. So if it doesn’t work out, they lose no cap space and are out a throwaway draft pick.

On the other hand if they can put him in a locker room with good leadership, which they’ve built over the past couple years, this may be just the type of low-risk-high-reward move that gets the offense geared up for long-term success.

Cubs Coach Tim Buss And Madonna Make Too Much Sense Together

By
Sean Sears
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Tim Buss loves to have a good time, hence why he works for the Cubs who are the Major-League kings of fun. And while Joe Maddon gets a lot of credit for the loose, entertaining environment that is the Chicago Cubs Spring Training, Tim Buss deserves a healthy chunk of the credit. Seriously, the dude his hysterical.

I mean, the dude drove a Ferrari on the field earlier this spring training.

Buss has by far been one of the only exciting parts of a rather mundane Cubs spring training, as the team gears up for another potential World Series run in 2017, however Maddon and the Cubs feel Buss’s skill-set isn’t being utilized to it’s full potential.

So, Maddon has gone ahead and nominated the zany coach to be Madonna’s dance trainer, which makes almost too much sense for Buss.

Maddon said in an interview with Mark Gonzalez of the Chicago Tribune show how far he and the Cubs are willing to go to get Buss paired with the pop superstar.

“We’re hoping Madonna has an opportunity to check that out,” Maddon said. “We’re going to send even more information, whatever she possibly needs to see that our guy is the best.”

Well, now the Cubs play the waiting game in hopes Madonna enlists the help of Tim Buss and his way-too-revealing Speedo.

White Sox Top Prospect Compared To Two Awful Relief Pitchers

By
Dan Fappiano
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Lucas Giolito was the crown jewel of the trade that sent Adam Eaton to the Nationals. He is expected to be the White Sox future ace and help lead the team’s rotation in the near future.

It’s easy to get excited about Giolito by looking at his past accomplishments. He struggled during his first taste at the MLB level, pitching to a 6.75 ERA, but the former National was downright dominate during his time in the minors.

Over 75 games and 369 innings, Giolito amassed a 25-15 record with a 2.73 ERA and a 397/123 K/BB ratio.

Going into the 2017 season MLB Pipeline ranked Giolito as the White Sox second best prospect and the 11th best prospect in baseball. Fans have begun salivating over the idea of Giolito-lead rotation featuring pitchers such as Carlos Rodon, Reynaldo Lopez and Michael Kopech.

While in theory that sounds like a World Series winning rotation, Giolito hasn’t lived up to expectations this Spring Training. In four games and 9.2 innings, Giolito has pitched to a 2-1 record with a 5.59 ERA and a 6/4 K/BB ratio.

What may be worrisome is his dwindling velocity. After sitting in the mid to upper 90s for his career, Giolito has been consistently in the low 90s, topping out at 93 for most of Spring Training.

Of course Giolito is just 22 years old with only six games of major league experience. Many expect him to right his woes and become the dominant pitcher everyone expected.

However some feel that Giolito’s Spring Training is a much bigger program and that his prospect luster has waned.

ESPN’s Jerry Crasnik recently wrote an article detailing Giolito’s rough offseason and how he is viewed in the baseball community. Inside the article he had a quote from a National League scout that said:

“I think he will be a bullpen guy down the line, kind of like a Jon Rauch or Luke Hochevar. He got hyped up a lot and Washington found out later. Usually, the drafting team is the last to know.”

Jon Rauch and Luke Hochevar may be recognizable names to baseball’s older fans. But digging deeper into each pitcher proves just how bad this comparison could be for the White Sox top prospect.

Jon Rauch

Rauch actually started his career with the White Sox after being drafted in the third round of the 1999 MLB Draft. He went on to spend time with the Expos/Nationals, Twins, Diamondbacks, Mets, Marlins and Blue Jays.

In 556 career games and 595 innings Rauch holds a 43-40 record with a 3.90 ERA and a 475/179 K/BB ratio.

While those stats are more mediocre than awful, following in Rauch’s steps would be a terrible career trajectory for Giolito.

Rauch was never voted to an All Star Game, only had five postseason appearances, and pitched to a sub 3.00 ERA once in his career. That season he only appeared in 11 games.

Rauch was never a dominant reliever by any stretch of the means. He was a middle reliever that never did anything great. Giolito has the tools to be great, which is the opposite of what Jon Rauch’s career was.

Luke Hochevar

Hochevar’s name may ring a bell with more modern day MLB fans. Kansas City made him the first overall pick in the 2006 MLB Draft. He has spent his entire career with the Royals.

In his nine year career Hochevar has appeared in 279 games and 929.1 innings. He holds a career 46-65 record with a 4.98 ERA and a 702/299 K/BB ratio.

Hochevar actually had a breakout season in 2013 holding a 5-2 record and a 1.92 ERA. But the year prior he let up a league leading 118 earned runners. Outside of 2013 Hochevar hasn’t pitched to a sub 3.00 ERA when appearing in atleast 10 games.

Hochevar has never been voted to an All Star Game and while he won the World Series with the Royals in 2015, he only has nine postseason appearances. The Royals reliever has just three saves to his name.

Hochevar is a draft bust who never lived up to the hype. Going 16th overall in 2012, Giolito would fall into the same scenario if he follows Hochevar’s trajectory.

Overall

Giolito ending up in the bullpen in any capacity would mean that he didn’t live up to expectations. The White Sox traded for him to be their next ace, if he ends up in the bullpen then they clearly overvalued him.

However if Giolito ends up in the bullpen in a setup or closer role than that’s a different story. If he helps form a dominant back end of the bullpen with Zack Burdi then the White Sox should be in decent shape. The White Sox don’t want him in the bullpen, but if he becomes an elite reliever then that’s where he belongs.

If he becomes Jon Rauch or Luke Hochevar then he is nothing more than an average middle reliever at best. Outside of a good year here and then Rauch and Hochevar did nothing to separate them from the pack.

If Giolito becomes a mediocre reliever then the Nationals got an absolute steal in Adam Eaton.

Overall though, it’s far too early to tell what Giolito’s long term position is. Many expect him to remain in the rotation and be the dominant ace the White Sox traded for. Others, and this scout specifically, think he belongs in the bullpen.

If one thing is for certain, the White Sox thought they were getting much better than Jon Rauch/Luke Hochevar when they traded for Lucas Giolito.

 

Feel free to continue the conversation on Twitter: @DFappiano14

White Sox, Cubs Differences Go Beyond Just Talent

By
Emmet McClain
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Chicago Cubs vs. White Sox

Baseball in Chicago is as exciting as it ever has been in recent memory. The White Sox are in a current rebuild, having gained numerous elite prospects, while the Cubs are reigning World Series Champions. While the White Sox are going to be pretty bad this season, it will still be exciting to see the progression of their prospects as they get called up throughout the season. That is why one thing really stands out when it comes to Cubs/White Sox comparisons.

Ticket prices.

With the 2017 MLB season just one week away, fans are getting more and more excited to see their respective club play at the ballpark. The Cubs average ticket price on the secondary marke tops the league, at $150. The White Sox on the other hand, will average the lowest ticket price in the league at just $30.

Dark Days Of The Rebuild

White Sox tickets have always been cheap, everyone knows that. Whenever I want to go to a game I just buy the cheapest ticket at the box office and walk down to sit on the first base line or first row in right field because no one ever goes to the games. However, once the White Sox committed to the rebuild by trading away Chris Sale and Adam Eaton, I expected ticket prices to actually slightly rise. Fans want to be entertained, and seeing elite prospects such as Yoan Moncada, Reynaldo Lopez and Lucas Giolito get called up, should do just that.

What is especially surprising is that the average ticket to see the White Sox in 2006, the year after they won the World Series, was just $26! The White Sox have always been the second team in the Second City, and probably always will be, and the ticket prices are just another reminder of that.

Winning Has Its Perks

The Cubs on the other hand, are a completely different story. In 2017, according to Forbes, the North Side own the most expensive ticket on the secondary market. For comparison, the average price, face value, to see the Cubs at Wrigley in 2015 was just $44 and $50 last year. With the Cubs fresh off their first World Series title in over 100 years, the fan base has never been more active. Pair that in with the new field renovations, and an All-Star lineup, and the cash has been flowing in like a waterfall. The Cubs can afford to have the most expensive ticket in baseball because the fans have never wanted to see them play more than they do right now. The increase in ticket pricing is expected, but with the Cubs being the new face of the MLB, Wrigleyville surely does not mind.

Get The Show On The Road

The Cubs and White Sox are currently polar opposites, but both are going to be exciting to watch. Fans can get great seats to witness the White Sox rebuild in person for $7 at the cheapest. Cubs fans will have to ante up a little more to see their team play, but with them having just won the World Series, that is the least of their worries.

Baseball is almost upon us ladies and gentlemen. As the Cubs say, “Let’s Go.”

The Sad Decline of Joakim Noah Just Hit Rock Bottom

By
Erik Lambert
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joakim noah

It really has been depressing to watch. Joakim Noah became such a fan favorite in Chicago. The emotional driving force of the Bulls for a number of years. An utterly relentless and passionate kid from France who didn’t care who he had to beat down in order to win. Sadly he was also a man plagued by career setbacks as well, and the worst yet may have arrived.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical, word is the former Bulls and current New York Knicks center is facing a lengthy suspension for violation of the NBA anti-drug policy. It no doubt feels like a slamming into rock bottom after a long fall from where he was just a few years ago.

Insult to Injury

“The NBA is suspending New York Knicks center Joakim Noah 20 games for violating its anti-drug program, league sources told The Vertical.

The NBA plans to announce the suspension on Saturday, league sources said.

Noah tested positive for an over-the-counter supplement that is prohibited under the outgoing Collective Bargaining Agreement, league sources said.

Noah, 32, is expected to serve 10 games of the suspension to finish out the 2016-17 regular season and 10 games to start the 2017-18 season, league sources said.”

Noah reached his peak in Chicago between 2012 and 2014. During that span he was a two-time All-Star and averaged a double-double in points and rebounds. Not to mention being one of the best defensive centers in the league. Soon injuries began to pile up though. By 2016 he could barely manage 21 minutes per game and wasn’t nearly as productive. He’d hope for a fresh start in New York, but things haven’t been much better.

Now this. It’s never easy to watch once-great players finish out the string of a career that is clearly over. Here’s hoping he might be able to go out on a high note.

Special Olympics Troll Got This SAVAGE Retaliation From Arnold Schwarzenegger

By
Erik Lambert
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arnold schwarzenegger
HANDOUT - THE LAST STAND, an Alliance Films starring Arnold Schwarzenegger an Alliance Films release. HANDOUT PHOTO ORG XMIT: POS1301171742171818

Nobody ever said Arnold Schwarzenegger was perfect. He’s made mistakes in his life just like any other human being. One thing people have never said about him though was that he didn’t know how to inspire. Amidst his own setbacks in life, the man has never lost the ability to show people that it’s always best to try hard every day to be a better person. Improve the body through exercise. Improve the soul by trying to give back to others.

This is a message he’s tried to uphold for years. Never was that on greater display than in such a seemingly small moment. Arnold was attending a Special Olympics event and couldn’t help but share how inspired he was by the athletes for their courage and dedication. He shared as much via Snapchat and Facebook.

However, one nasty commenter decided to take a shot at the entire event, claim the event was nothing more than a showcase for “retards.” So as expected, Arnold decided to go all Terminator on their ass, but not with blazing guns. With words. Beautiful and truthful words.

People can say what they want about Arnold as an actor or as a politician, but there is no way they can argue the impact and truth behind this response. It reflect a level of awareness and compassion so few human beings embody in an era filled with bitter selfishness and hatred. The fact he was born in Austria, the same country that produced Adolph Hitler, is a perfect representation that no individual is like any other. It’s up to the person to make themselves better, just like those kids in the Special Olympics try to do every day.

If nothing else, let that be the lesson Arnold teaches here.

Signs Growing The Bears Might Snag DeShone Kizer At a Discount

By
Erik Lambert
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bears draft kizer

Will the Bears draft Kizer? Okay let’s back up for some context here. It’s no secret the Chicago Bears are undergoing a massive fluctuation at the quarterback position. Jay Cutler, Brian Hoyer, and Matt Barkley are all gone. Mike Glennon, Mark Sanchez and Connor Shaw have replaced them. That sort of turnover is rare at any position, let alone the most important in all of football.

Yet nobody is buying for a second that the Bears are finished. A former backup who hasn’t started a game since 2014? A veteran former first round pick who has underachieved most of his career and played for five teams? A preseason hero who’s coming off a broken leg? This doesn’t exactly look or feel like a strong group at all. Everything would indicate the Bears plan to add more help. Possibly high in the draft.

How high is the big question. That’s why they’re busy scouting and meeting with top prospects. The latest being Notre Dame standout DeShone Kizer.

Considered by many to be the best overall quarterback prospects in the draft, talent-wise, he’s coming off an inconsistent final year of college. He threw for 2,925 yards and 26 touchdowns. The Irish finished with a rough 4-8 record. Much of the blame was put on him for that, though it’s a bit unfair. He was working with minimal help on offense and a bad defense on the other side.

Nevertheless he’s got the size, mobility and arm strength teams look for. He also works really well with the Xs and Os.

The problem is there are questions about his steadiness under pressure, along with shaky accuracy and ball placement. It’s led to a steady decline in his draft stock. Once considered the top option in this class, there is a growing belief he could drop. And drop a lot.

When could the Bears draft Kizer?

It seems the primary dilemma facing the Bears at this point is this. How do they land a top quarterback without using the #3 overall pick? Some argue they should just bite the bullet and use that selection. QB is way too important to wait. Others think they should take the best player available and then trade back into the first round to get a guy.

Neither option seems overly appetizing at this point. Few if any of the quarterbacks have proven worthy of being drafted in the top five. At the same time the Bears have way too many roster needs to give up the picks it would require to move back into the second round. That leaves one alternative.

They wait, hoping that a top prospect falls to their pick at #36 so they can pounce. It’s not a new strategy, but it is a dangerous one. There’s a strong possibility the top four quarterbacks could be long gone by the time Chicago is on the clock again. However, there seems to be a growing consensus that won’t be the case.

A number of top draft analysts including Mel Kiper, Todd McShay, Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks all don’t see Kizer going in the first round.

Clearly people think that while Kizer is talented and worth a significant investment, there are too many question marks to warrant a first round pick. That could be sweet music for the Bears, especially given the way they’ve shaped their roster.

Getting a closer look

There is something important to factor into this case. Kizer is only 21-years old. He’s still very young and he looked like it at times last season. He’s not ready. Teams don’t want to invest their highest draft picks in players who aren’t going to play right away. At the same time a second round pick would be the perfect answer for Chicago. They get to use #3 on a stud defender and can stash a young talent on their roster for later.

They already have Glennon in place to handle the starting job this season. The signing of Sanchez might actually serve a greater purpose. He’s known for being one of the most encouraging and helpful veterans out there. His work helping Dak Prescott in Dallas last season is still drawing rave reviews. His vast NFL experience would be a huge help to a youngster like Kizer who still hasn’t learned to play at pro speeds.

The potential trade off? An uber-talented young quarterback to lead the franchise for years to come.

The hurdles

There is no question a lot would have to go right for the Bears in order for it to happen. Both Cleveland and San Francisco pick ahead of them in the second round. Both need quarterbacks. The 49ers in particular have taken quite an interest in Kizer over the past few weeks. So each will need to either solve their QB issue before then, or they’ll have to lose interest. Thus far it’s unclear which could happen.

A few things to keep in mind. Derek Carr fell to the #36 pick in 2014. So this sort of thing is not unheard of. Also, the Bears have a history of success drafting quarterbacks from Notre Dame. Johnny Lujack went to two Pro Bowls for them back in the early 1950s. They would’ve drafted Joe Montana as well if not for a last-second change of heart.

If Ryan Pace decides to play the waiting game and take the gamble, Kizer could be the one who falls into his lap. Imagine getting him and Solomon Thomas in the first two picks. The draft never offers guarantees, but that at least would offer hope.

Three Potential Targets Emerge To Replace Carlos Rodon In White Sox Rotation

By
Dan Fappiano
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NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 25: Carlos Rodon #55 of the Chicago White Sox in action against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on September 25, 2015 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The White Sox defeated the Yankees 5-2. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Carlos Rodon was expected to be a breakout star for the White Sox this season. After finishing the 2016 strong, including a 7-2 record from August 12th on, many expected Rodon to take the next step in proving he could be an ace.

Those plans may still come to fruition in 2017, but they took a significant hit just 10 days prior to Opening Day. After feeling tightness in his bicep, Rodon is now expected to undergo an MRI. While no structural damage is expected, the White Sox pitcher is expected to miss his first few starts of the season and could be placed on the DL.

Suffering an injury this early into the year does not bode well for Rodon. However there’s a good chance he could bounce-back and become the breakout pitcher many expect him to be.

In the meantime, the White Sox are now forced into finding a pitcher to fill Rodon’s spot in the rotation. General Manager Rick Hahn has already said that he isn’t going to rush any prospects to the big leagues just to fill the hole. That means pitchers such as Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez and Michael Kopech will spend more time in the minors to hone their craft.

It’s also unlikely that the team goes out and signs a veteran this close to Opening Day. Rodon will be back within the first two months of the season, there’s no point in spending money on a pitcher who would be bumped to the bullpen upon Rodon’s return.

With those two things in mind, the White Sox will now be looking for a pitcher inside of their rotation to prove he deserves to stay on the major league roster.

In Dan Hayes recent article for CSN Chicago, he points out that Hahn listed three young pitchers in: Dylan Covey, David Holmberg or Tyler Danish as potential Rodon replacements.

Dylan Covey

Covey was acquired from the Athletics during the 2016 Rule 5 Draft. If he does not stay on the White Sox roster for the entire season, he will be returned to Oakland. In 72 minor league games and 369 innings, Covey has pitched to a 18-25 record with a 4.20 ERA and a 264/119 K/BB ratio.

Covey is currently the White Sox 27th best prospect according to MLB Pipeline. The site writes that while Covey doesn’t do anything great, he offers the Sox an innings eater in the back half of their bullpen.

He has a fastball that can hit 95 and a nasty changeup to match. While he throws a curveball and slider, neither should be considered plus pitches. Overall Covey needs to improve his arsenal as a whole if he wants to be considered anything more than a long reliever.

Adding Covey to their rotation early would give the White Sox an opportunity to really see what they have in the Rule 5 pick. Covey has yet to pitch above AA. Throwing him right into the fire against MLB hitters early on in this season will allow him to prove if he can hang around in the big leagues.

While he may not be apart of their rotation of the future, if Covey succeeds there’s a chance he could stick around in the bullpen going forward.

If he struggles, he will likely be cut and sent back the Oakland. The Athletics didn’t bother adding Covey to their 40-man roster prior to the draft, meaning that if he is cut, there’s a good chance he spends the rest of his career in the minors.

Dylan Covey could be given the chance of a lifetime if inserted into the White Sox starting rotation. He has as much potential as anyone on this list, but arguably the most to lose as well.

David Holmberg

Holmberg was originally drafted by the White Sox in the second round of the 2009 MLB Draft. After spending time in Cincinatti and Arizona, he signed a minor league deal with the White Sox in April of 2016.

While he has yet to appear in a game with the Sox, he has appeared in 14 major league games and 62 innings at the major league level. He holds a career 3-6 record with a 6.24 ERA and a 33/35 K/BB ratio.

He has fared a bit better in the minor leagues holding a 49-54 record with a 3.71 ERA and a 773/285 K/BB ratio over 176 games and 984.1 innings.

Holmberg was the Reds 8th best prospect in 2013 and 11th best in 2014 according to MLB Pipeline. In both years the site wrote that Holmberg has the potential to become a mid-back end of the rotation starter.

The pitcher has an impressive four pitch arsenal including a fastball, changeup, slider and curveball. His changeup and slider and considered his two best pitches while his fastball and curveball could use more work. He doesn’t throw the fastest but his command could help him land a spot in the rotation.

It’s hard to envision Holmberg in a rotation with pitchers such as Giolito, Lopez, Kopech and others down the line. However he has the most MLB experience out of the three and could have the upper hand in filling in for Rodon.

For what it’s worth, Roster Resource believes Holmberg will win the battle to be the White Sox fifth starter to open the season. 

Holmberg has always had potential, but he has failed to succeed at the MLB. By putting him in the rotation to start the season, the White Sox will get to see if Holmberg could finally reach his ceiling.

While it’s far from a conclusion that Holmberg succeeds, the White Sox could be doing much worse than starting a former top prospect with a four pitch arsenal. Maybe 2017 is the year David Holmberg finds his groove.

Tyler Danish

Danish was drafted by the White Sox in the second round of the 2013 MLB Draft. He appeared in three games for Chicago in 2016 holding a 10.80 ERA and a 0/3 K/BB ratio.

Danish has performed much better in the minors, holding a 21-25 record with a 3.57 ERA and a 289/124 K/BB ratio.

Danish was the White Sox 21st best prospect in 2016 according to MLB Pipeline. He pitches with a 3/4 delivery which gives scouts concern for whether he can remain in the rotation.

Danish has a solid changeup with sinking action, however the rest of his arsenal needs some work. His fastball tops out at 90 and his slider is inconsistent. His three pitch mix is better suited for the bullpen, but overall he needs to improve if he wishes to stay at the MLB level.

As long as Danish pitches with his 3/4 delivery, it’ll be tough to see him stick in the rotation long term. Although there’s a chance he is able to prove himself.

If Danish is given a shot to win a spot in the rotation coming, he can prove that he can be consistent even with his awkward arm slot. Filling in for Rodon, Danish could prove that he is a pitcher to watch in the White Sox organization.

Danish struggled during his original trip to the majors which may make the team reluctant to have him start the year in the majors. However the fact that Hahn mentioned Danish on this list proves how highly the team thinks of him.

Tyler Danish’s repertoire suits him better as a reliever, but perhaps Rodon’s injury allows him to prove he can start at the major league level.

Overall

The trio of Dylan Covey, David Holmberg and Tyler Danish does not strike fear in opponent’s eyes. All in all any of the three would be a glorified placeholder before Rodon returns.

However all three have something to prove. Whichever pitcher earns the role out of Spring Training will get a chance to prove they belong in the MLB.

Carlos Rodon is still a pitcher to watch in 2017. If the team trades Jose Quintana then he will become the de facto ace. But even with Quintana in the picture, Rodon has all the tools to prove he is ready for the MLB.

Hopefully Rodon will right his injury woes as the season goes on. For now it appears as if one of Dylan Covey, David Holmberg or Tyler Danish will make atleast one start in the 2017 season.

 

Feel free to continue the conversation on Twitter: @DFappiano14

Ryan Pace Has A Proven Track Record Using This Bold Draft Strategy

By
Erik Lambert
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bears draft trade

A Chicago Bears draft trade is never a dull conversation. Not for the diehard NFL offseason lovers anyway. This year, more than ever, fans are desperate to know what the Bears might have planned early in the upcoming 2017 NFL draft. It’s plain that it could be the most important in the past decade for the franchise, and thus far the buildup hasn’t been enthusiastic.

Several experts around the league have been puzzled by the Bears’ moves up to this point. While they’ve brought in a sizable contingent of depth for the roster via free agency, most agree the roster isn’t that much better from where it was at the end of 2016. A year they finished with their worst record of the Super Bowl era at 3-13.

It feels more than ever like GM Ryan Pace needs to make some sort of splash in the draft. Something to galvanize the fans into believing this team is trying to make serious headway towards competing again. Often the best way to do that is with a bold trade. One people have begun to clamor for.

The Bears draft trade everybody wants

Primarily the argument among Bears fans is what they should do regarding the quarterback position in the draft. Many believe the team shouldn’t screw around. Just take the best signal caller available at #3 overall. Why risk it in such a thin class? Beyond the top 4-5 options it gets ugly in a hurry. Odds are most of them could be picked clean by the second round.

Then there are those who propose an alternative. Take the best player available at #3. Most likely a top defensive player like a Solomon Thomas or Jamal Adams. Then trade back up into the first round from pick #36 to go after that quarterback. It’s quite a popular proposal on social media, but quite difficult to pull off.

It just doesn’t make fiscal sense to many. Why give up extra picks when you can get the top QB right away and the draft class is considered deep at almost every defensive position? It’s not an easy sell on either side because they both have merit. Even so, why would Pace consider doing it? The short answer is simple. He’s seen it done before.

The 1-2 punch maneuver works

Back in 2011, Pace was the Director of Pro Scouting for the New Orleans Saints. A top man in their front office. So he had a hand in helping them pull off one of wildest draft-day moves in franchise history. It started when they selected defensive end Cameron Jordan with their 24th overall pick. A man who has become a two-time Pro Bowler since. Good pick.

It’s what came next that caught everybody off guard. Just four picks later the Saints traded their second round choice (#56) and their first rounder in 2012 to the New England Patriots for the 28th overall pick. With it they selected Alabama running back Mark Ingram. He became a Pro Bowler as well and now ranks third in franchise history for rushing yards.

Safe to say that move worked out quite well for the Saints as both remain key parts of their roster. That has to give Pace confidence that it can be done. So would he do it? Well he’s already proven he’s willing to trade up to get players he wants. In 2015 it was rumored he might try to go after Marcus Mariota but the price got out of control. Last year he did trade up from #11 to #9 to grab Leonard Floyd. Pace doesn’t fear the bold move.

Would he be willing to sacrifice a future first round pick if he thought he could get high enough to snag a potential franchise quarterback? Odds are he would, especially after placating John Fox with the defensive stud they grab at #3. So how high could the Bears get if they did that?

Finding the sweet spot

According to common draft trade charts, the minimum points value for a first round pick is 590. That’s for the team who wins the Super Bowl. Even so, we’ll keep it hypothetical. The Bears package their #36 pick and 2018 first round choice to move up. All told that’s a value of 1,130 points. Conceivably that would be worth the 14th pick (1,100 points) in the first round.

Is that high enough to get one of the 3-4 best quarterbacks in this class? Suffice to say the odds would be astronomically better there than if the Bears waited until the second round. The tricky part, as always, is finding a team who would be willing to do business. There’s no guarantee any of those picking in that range would want to move that far back, even if it’s for a future first rounder.

Regardless, it doesn’t change the facts. Ryan Pace has shown a bold Bears draft trade is not going to scare him. Not if he feels the right player is there for the taking.

Charles Barkley Has A Plan To Kill Skip Bayless

By
Marc-Louis Paprzyca
-

Charles Barkley is a dream for websites and social media. He has come through once again with his recent mutterings concerning internet enemy, Skip Bayless.

While on The Dan Patrick Show he told him about a plan he has to boost ratings.

Barkley: “You know what we should do for ratings? If I get a disease and I’m gonna die, how about you get Skip Bayless in here and I’ll kill him live on national television.”

Patrick: “I like it. Like pay-per-view.”

Barkley: “No, no, no. Just get him in here. Only when I know Imma die….Cause I just want to get Skip Bayless in a room one time and beat him like a dog.”

Patrick: “So you’d kill him.”

Barkley: “Yes. Only if I knew I was gonna die. Not if I’m gonna live, cause I don’t wanna go to prison. Cause like Mahorn say, ‘they would love you in prison.’”

So Basically, Barkley would kill Bayless for the sake of Dan Patrick’s ratings, but only if Barkley himself was terminally ill. He also wouldn’t want in pay-per-view because he obviously believe the public deserves to see the spectacle.

This all seems logical in some kind of twisted way. There aren’t too many people who like what Bayless has to say but I wouldn’t put any effort in trying to kill him.

He’s already dead to me because I turn the channel if he pops up.

You can watch the whole interview with Chuck below as he talks about Michael Jordan’s gambling habits and other current events.

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