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Preseason Finale Showcased Exactly Why John Fox Will Be Fired

By
Erik Lambert
-
head coach john fox

The end result of the game didn’t matter. Although losing 25-0 to the Cleveland Browns is never the best look. Either way all anybody wanted was for the Chicago Bears to get out of the game relatively unscathed on the injury front. Turns out the football gods couldn’t even give us that with players like Lamarr Houston, Victor Cruz, Deiondre Hall and Connor Shaw leaving with various ailments. Yet somehow that wasn’t the story of the game. It was head coach John Fox, and for good reason.

From the moment the Bears drafted Mitch Trubisky #2 overall in April, there was an undercurrent of concern. Does the 62-year old know how to manage a young quarterback? Many, this writer included, had their doubts. After all Fox has never once in his career successfully developed one. His most notable attempt, Jimmy Clausen in Carolina, was a colossal flop.

If anything this explains his stubbornness in regards to keeping Mike Glennon as the starter. He prefers veterans who’ve been developed by somebody else. However, it was the preseason finale that Fox showcased how out of depth he really is and why he’s likely going to end up fired by the end of this 2017 season.

Head coach John Fox almost needlessly got Trubisky injured

Now this is the Chicago Bears franchise. Quarterback mismanagement is nothing new here. Then again somehow Fox managed to challenge for the top spot in the mindlessly dumb category on Thursday night. It began even before the game. Fox announced that Trubisky would be starting the contest. Never mind it was a meaningless game that served little purpose considering Mitch was a roster lock.

Fox stated it was a good chance to get him extra work. A nice cop out line but hardly convincing, especially when the Bears had him hand off the first nine offensive plays of the game. Then when he finally did start throwing, Fox forgot to remember they were playing against a Gregg Williams-coached defense. The same Gregg Williams who got suspended for the Bounty Gate scandal in New Orleans.

So naturally it led to a play like this.

Oh but Foxy wasn’t done yet. Trubisky was mercifully pulled from the game shortly after and replaced with Connor Shaw. It looked like he was done for the night. That is until Shaw got hurt.

Not having Mark Sanchez available cemented it

This was where the cluelessness seeped in the worst. The Bears, for some reason, only had two quarterbacks active that night. Fox didn’t feel the need for a third, you know, just in case one got injured. This is especially brainless considering the injuries his QBs suffered last year. As a result there was no Mark Sanchez to come in for relief. So guess who had to go back on the field?

Yep. Mitch got his helmet and jogged back out there. No big deal, right? The game was already out of reach. Just hand the ball off, run the clock out and get the hell out of there. Except nope. Fox cemented the loss of his sanity by having Trubisky throw. On a screen play he was knocked to the ground and then on the last play of the game he was sacked.

Try to imagine the riots that would’ve broken out if Mitch got hurt during that sequence. Best of all? Fox didn’t seem the least bit apologetic about it after the game.

If ever Bears fans were looking for an example of why John Fox isn’t going to be around much longer, his handling of Trubisky this past week shines like a lighthouse beacon. GM Ryan Pace has remained supportive of the head coach in public but he had to be fuming at what happened during that game. Everybody else saw it and he’s not blind.

Fox was a good coach for this team during the rebuilding phase. Still if they’re going to truly change the culture of this franchise then he has to go.

REPORT: Justin Verlander Wanted To Come Play For The Cubs

By
Sean Sears
-

Well, Justin Verlander finally was traded after months of reports saying the Tigers were making the 34-year-old Cy Young winner. But, it wasn’t the Cubs that landed the veteran righty.

The Astros are reporting getting some serious salary cap relief in the trade, something the Cubs apparently were not able to get in their talks, but Houston is likely putting together a more appealing package. That being said, Verlander apparently has been holding out hope the Cubs would up their offer to acquire is services. He was so adamant about coming to Chicago that he actually waited until the last possible moment to accept Houston’s deal.

While the Cubs couldn’t make a deal come to life this trade deadline, Verlander heading to the Astros pokes a massive hole in the team’s offseason plan as Verlander was likely a target for the club after season’s end. The veteran Verlander has gotten his ERA back down to a respectable 3.82 while throwing harder than he has in five seasons. Adding Verlander for the stretch run and for the next two years could’ve helped round out the Cubs rotation for the next few years.

Sadly, Verlander will head to Houston and the Cubs will likely look to either re-sign ensuing free agent Jake Arrieta or look to add another arm via free agency or trade this offseason.

The Cubs Trade For Mariners OF Leonys Martin

By
Sean Sears
-

The Cubs continue to build on their potential playoff roster, while everyone was talking about pitcher Justin Verlander, the North Siders pivoted and went after an outfielder.

The 29-year-old Martin was once seen as a top prospect for the Mariners just a short six years ago, but has since turned into a fringe outfielder bounce back and forth from the majors and minors. However, Martin did have somewhat of resurgence last season, scoring 72 runs with 15 home runs.

Martin is also a plus defender, with 45 defensive runs saved from 2013-2015, his defensive ability along with the pop in his bat could be a difference maker these final weeks of the regular season.

According to a few sources, the Cubs have been disappointed with the offensive productions in the outfield, so maybe a saw something in Martin’s game that could help their offense? Beyond that, it’s hard to really see how adding Martin does much to help the Cubs right now. Long term wise, Martin is only on a one year deal and at 29-years-old it’s hard to see the Cubs wanting to re-sign Martin – barring a surprising postseason performance.

White Sox Stay the Pace of the Rebuild, Deal Miguel Gonzalez

By
Matthew Milakovich
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The Marlins are in the market for one of the White Sox' starting pitchers. But his name isn't Chris Sale. (Photo courtesy of Jerome Miron/USA Today Sports)

Welp, Rick Hahn is at it again, as tonight he dealt Miguel Gonzalez to the Texas Rangers for infield prospect (love the name) Edward Ti’Quan Forbes.

In the midst of a strong August (as of this afternoon 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA over his last 4 starts) with not much rental help still available around the league, the Rangers came knocking and Ricky Hahn answered.

Per CBS sports this is what the Sox are getting:

A former high draft pick by the Rangers, Forbes will head to a White Sox team that has completely retooled it’s farm system over the course of the last calendar year. Forbes (6-3, 180) has spent most of the season at High-A, where he’s posted a .242/.284/.368 slash line over 302 at-bats.

League Sources Seem Confused Over Details of Latest Bulls Trade

By
Matthew Milakovich
-

Hold on to your butts Chicago Bulls fans. Gar/Pax just pulled off another blockbuster deal.

Image result for laughing gif

According to Shams Charania of the Vertical, Chicago is close to acquiring forward Quincy Pondexter from the New Orleans Pelicans.

Who gives a fuck right?

Not so fast, it may not be all that meaningless.

After not much further research at all, it seems league sources are a tad confused as to the exact details of the trade, as Vincent Goodwill of CSN Chicago is reporting something very different.

All things considered, for a Bulls team in the midst of a complete overhaul, while boring, this is a decent move. It’s unlikely the Bulls will retain Pondexter; and acquiring a pick (even a 2nd rounder) and cash can’t hurt.

Just for shits and giggs here’s a snapshot of Pondexter’s career line per Basketball-Reference.com.

Career

G

279

PTS

5.3

TRB

2.0

AST

0.8

FG%

42.4

FG3%

36.5

 

 

Chicago Bears: 5 Sleeper Names Who Could Sneak Onto Roster

By
Erik Lambert
-
chicago bears roster

The Chicago Bears roster is coming out of the fog and into clear view. Most of the spots appear settled but the bottom third of the remains in flux. GM Ryan Pace knows there are still positions left unsettled. Some due to injury and others an ongoing search for upgrades. That is why this fourth preseason game against Cleveland is more important than people realize.

Evaluations are ongoing. Believe it or not some men could yet find a way onto the roster if they play well enough. There are some names that Bears fans haven’t kept track of at all who’ve quietly had decent showings the past few weeks. Finishing strong now might be their ticket to further opportunities down the line.

Here are the Chicago Bears roster sleepers to watch carefully:

Titus Davis (WR)

A lot of people might not know this, but Titus Davis is an Illinois native. He was born in Wheaton and went to high school there before attending Central Michigan. There he broke school records for receiving yards (3,700) and touchdowns (37). Both of those records were previously held by Steelers superstar Antonio Brown.

By that logic the young man clearly has some talent but still went undrafted. From there he’s spent time with three different NFL teams prior to joining the Bears. Given their sore need for help at the position this might be his best opportunity to date for cracking a roster. He has four catches for 52 yards over the past two games. A strong performance might sway coaches to keeping him around.

Ben Braunecker (TE)

The Bears appear stacked at tight end this year. Zach Miller is still around and now Dion Sims and Adam Shaheen have joined the fray. So for somebody like Ben Braunecker it’s no longer about battling for a roster spots. It’s about battling for time. Going into his second year, he’s still eligible to land on the practice squad.

The tricky part is convincing the coaches he deserves a spot on it. Thus far he hasn’t played much this preseason and when he has? It’s been rather quiet. There’s no doubting he has athletic ability and could be a passing game weapon. It’s just that the Bears haven’t seen it yet. They likely won’t waste more time if he can’t show up in this game.

Jordan Morgan (OG)

It sounds crazy to think about but there’s a chance the Bears might be thinking about stashing fifth round pick Jordan Morgan on the practice squad. Thus far the offensive lineman has barely played. It’s clear the transition from tackle to guard is taking some time. Not a big surprise given it’s a big adjustment.

Never mind the uptick in competition he’s dealing with. The Bears seem to have some good reserve pieces slotting into place. Hroniss Grasu at center. Tom Compton at guard and Bradley Sowell at tackle. So Morgan will have to convince them that carrying what would be a ninth offensive lineman in him is a worthwhile venture.

Isaiah Irving (OLB)

This name has gained a lot of unexpected steam in the past couple weeks. Isaiah Irving was a no-name last month. A defensive end out of San Jose State, he signed with the Bears as an undrafted free agent. However, with names like Leonard Floyd, Pernell McPhee, Willie Young, Lamarr Houston and Sam Acho already in place his odds never looked great.

Things have changed. McPhee looked like he’ll remain on the PUP list. Not a good development given the shaky health issues with this group. A young body like Irving could be a welcome boost. He had a sack in the week three matchup against Tennessee. Pro Football Focus credits him with a pass rush disruption every 12.5 snaps. Solid work.

B.W. Webb (CB)

The takeaway issue continues to persist for the Bears secondary. To date only journeyman free agent Webb has produced a turnover when he made an impressive interception in the Cardinals game. He’s had a solid overall run through the past month and is hoping to secure a job on the bottom of the cornerback depth chart.

Given the health status of Prince Amukamara (ankle) and Sherrick McManis (hamstring) going into this week, it’s not out of the question. If he can pull off another impact play against Cleveland then he might be able to bump somebody off the roster. After all this team is looking for takeaways and players who can provide them.

NFL Declares This Is The Best 2017 Record The Bears Can Hope For

By
Erik Lambert
-
bears 2017 record
Credit: USA Today

The Chicago Bears 2017 record is a hot topic for debate. Why? Nobody seems entirely sure what this team is. They were 3-13 last year so naturally they’re viewed as one of the worst in the league. At the same they’ve stepped up considerably in the preseason against three fairly good opponents. They lost a late comeback to Denver but defeated both Arizona and Tennessee on the road. Yes it’s preseason but the performances were still notable.

Unfortunately that’s not nearly enough to convince most experts this team is capable of a turnaround. Most of them cite the obvious question marks at quarterback. Mike Glennon is a former backup who hasn’t started a game since 2014. Mitch Trubisky is a rookie who only started 13 games in college. Even with a strong running game and defense, it’s undeniably a weak link on paper.

This goes a long way towards explaining the official prediction by NFL.com analyst Elliott Harrison on what the best-case scenario can be for the Bears this year.

Bears 2017 record can’t possibly reach the double digits

“Ceiling: 9-7. John Fox pushes back against his better judgement, starting Mitchell Trubisky under center. The kid responds with a Matt Ryan-esque rookie season. The Bears limit Trubisky’s pass attempts to fewer than 30 in most games, allowing a standout offensive line and Jordan Howard to carry much of the load. The front seven stays healthy, while Leonard Floyd becomes a double-digit sack guy.

Floor: 2-14. Eddie Goldman, Pernell McPhee, Lamarr Houston and Kyle Fuller have trouble staying healthy and on the field. The secondary carries 2016 over into 2017. Howard slogs through a sophomore slump, while a brewing QB controversy stifles any momentum the Bears can muster. I think Chicago will fare much better than this, but …

Tipping point: With Cam Meredith likely out for the year, can Kevin White finally live up to his draft billing and provide Chicago with an effective WR1?”

While a 9-7 record would be considered a welcome sign to most Bears fans, it is curious why it’s so low. Is 10-6 or 11-5 really that farfetched? After all last year the Cowboys went from 4-12 to 13-3. They were led by a rookie quarterback, a Pro Bowl running back, and a solid offensive line. One could say their defense wasn’t nearly as good as this Bears one could be.

Even the Bears have history on their side in this record. In 2000 and 2004 they went 5-11. The next years they went 13-3 and 11-5 respectively. This is the NFL. Teams can change drastically from one season to the next. Here’s hoping they prove that yet again.

Ian Happ Set Two Incredible Records With His Home Run Last Night

By
Gus
-
PHOTO: Chicago Tribune

The Cubs will play the first of a four-game set against the Atlanta Braves tonight finishing off the month of August which was highlighted by the team setting all types of offensive records.

The team began to wrap up the month last night with an absolute drubbing of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Cubs tied a season-high by plating 17 runs, collected 20 hits, and scored in every inning but the fourth.

A 17-run outburst will always be filled with a slew of highlights and last night was no different. The Cubs flexed their muscle at the plate by bashing four home runs courtesy of Anthony Rizzo, Kyle Schwarber (2), and Ian Happ.

It was after that Ian Happ home run, a few impressive records were set. First, Ian Happ became the fastest Cub to hit 20 home runs in their career. The feat took the 23-year-old only 89 games. Who’s record did he break?

Kyle Schwarber (who set the record in May after reaching the 20 home run mark after 97 games.) Hopefully Happ can interview Schwarber about that one.

The second record that was set was a direct result of the brilliance of Theo Epstein. Once Happ hit number 20, the Cubs became the first team in Major League history to feature a variety of young sluggers.

The reason I’m crediting Theo Epstein with this record is simple: he drafted three of the five players (Bryant, Schwarber and Happ). The Cubs roster is a testament to Epstein’s brilliance and his vision has set the Cubs roster up for the next 3-4 years to continue to murder opposing pitching.

Now let’s hope the Cubs don’t lay their usual egg after having a huge offensive game the day before.

 

A New Authentic Blackhawks Jersey Will Do More Than Just Hang On Your Body

By
Marc-Louis Paprzyca
-

Adidas unveiled their new ADIZERO NHL jerseys on June 21st that are lighter, cooler and stronger. These are features of an authentic on-ice jersey that a casual fan may not care about. So Adidas is giving Blackhawks fans and all hockey fans an incentive to buy an authentic NHL jersey instead of a replica.

Mike Forman, the Director of Marketing for the Carolina Hurricanes, tweeted that the authentic jerseys will have a scannable tag. This tag will give the owner the ability to access exclusive “Adidas hockey content.” He did not go any further on what the content would be.

Replica jerseys will not be Adidas branded but will carry the Fanatics label instead. For this reason, I would believe you will not get access to the content with a replica jersey.

If you have $220 to shell out for one of these new jerseys, you may want to act now.  That price has tax included and will get you free customization from the Blackhawks Store until September 14. After that, customized jerseys will probably go up to around $300 plus tax.

Personally, I would just check what stock they have left of the old Reebook replica jerseys at the Blackhawks Store because the collars on the Adidas jerseys look silly. They’re 60% off and have been for some time, so you have to act fast.

Follow @Pappy_Hour on Twitter for more Blackhawks news and musings. 

 

Derek Holland’s Move To The Bullpen Is All But Certain

By
Matt Enuco
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White Sox Holland a strong candidate to move to the bullpen.
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images North America

“For the most part, I didn’t think it was as bad as it looked,” said Derek Holland after dropping his fourth loss in August to the Minnesota Twins. Unfortunately, it was that bad. The Twins scalded the ball around the park exposing Holland’s mistakes and taking advantage of free passes.

Holland lasted five innings while fanning four Twins’ batters and allowing five runs on eight hits. But the Dutch Oven remains positive, the only attitude he can project after a season with meager results.

“I’ve dealt with a lot over the past three years,” Holland said after the game from Target Field. “So, to say that I’m healthy and going as long as I have…the main thing is I’m happy I’m healthy.”

When the southpaw elected to sign with the White Sox over other teams it appeared it was a decision driven by working with Don Cooper, the South Siders’ pitching guru. However, Cooper has not unlocked the success Holland hoped for. On the season, Holland is 7-14 with a 6.16 earned run average and 1.70 walks, hits plus innings pitched (WHIP). Walks have been the Achilles heel for the southpaw and the bullpen could solve or highlight his command issues.

Health is the only positive Holland can take away from a sour 2017 campaign. Yet, given his injury-riddled past, it certainly is a focal point for the left-hander. Given the tack in direction the White Sox took in the offseason, Holland fit squarely within the needs of a rebuilding organization, however foolish it was to believe he was the Scott Feldman lottery ticket on the south side.

Major league rosters will swell on Friday and it is time to have a conversation about moving Holland to the bullpen. I wrote about the likelihood of such a move earlier this week and after his start on Wednesday, a venture into the bullpen seems more necessary than ever.

Reynaldo Lopez is slated to return from the D.L. on Friday and Holland is the likely candidate. If Rick Hahn can pull off a last-minute trade through waivers for either Miguel Gonzalez or James Shields, Holland could find a second wind as a starter, but this is highly unlikely even if a trade is executed.

If Holland is not swapped for Lopez, Tyler Danish and Carson Fulmer could bump him once the rosters expand on Friday. Rick Renteria sunk the idea of expanding the rotation before Wednesday’s game. Yet, if Renteria sticks to a five-man rotation Shields seems to be the next victim in the rotation.

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