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Another Forgotten Bears Draft Pick Is Starting To Emerge At Camp

By
Erik Lambert
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bears draft pick

It seems Leonard Floyd wasn’t the only 2016 Bears draft pick who successfully gained weight this offseason. That was the same assignment for third round selection Jonathan Bullard after he struggled at time as a rookie. It’s important to remember that he came in at 282 lbs. For a 3-4 defensive, which is his position, that’s incredibly light. By comparison Akiem Hicks is listed around 330 lbs.

Suffice to say Bullard wasn’t equipped for the starting job. That is what he spent the past six months doing. Last word was he made it up to 296 lbs. No doubt it’s encouraging to hear. This will make it hard for offensive lineman to move him. The question at this point is did he manage to retain the same explosion and quickness that drew him to the Bears in the first place?

Initial impressions from training camp are that he has. Not only that but his mental processor has improved as well. He’s seeing things much faster.

Jonathan Bullard anxious to meet 2016 Bears draft pick expectations

Already the 2016 Bears draft class is shaping up to be one of the franchises’ best in over a decade. Jordan Howard is a Pro Bowler. Cody Whitehair and Leonard Floyd appear poised to join him shortly. No doubt Bullard doesn’t want to go down as one of the disappointments of an otherwise great class.

In fairness John Fox insists the coaches never stopped believing in him. Not only that, they’re impressed with the progress he’s made on the field.

“We weren’t disappointed with Jonathan,” coach John Fox said. “There’s some growing pains that come with some rookies and I think he’s learned a lot — just recognizing run and pass. The game is way faster in this league. He’s got the athletic ability. It’s more mental as far as deciphering things, knowing things that are going to happen before [they happen].

“He’s developed a pro body. I like what I’ve seen so far and I’m looking forward to getting into game situations.”

Even though he struggled for the most part in 2016, there were always flashes. Every once in awhile he’d make a pretty play that got a reaction. As with all rookies it’s about learning to do that consistently. It takes hard work, dedication and the hardest thing of all:  patience.

If he takes that next step this year, then the Bears defensive front could become one of the best in the NFL along with Hicks and Eddie Goldman. That’s a trio that is big, athletic and young. Hicks is the elder at 27-years old. Together with Floyd that gives Chicago a foundation to build around for years to come. Here’s hoping Bullard can put it all together.

White Sox Rebuild Gives Fans A Nostalgic Feeling

By
Emmet McClain
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The Chicago White Sox and their fan base have fully embraced the rebuild that saw their respective farm system jump from 25th to 1st in the span of eight months. The White Sox have only ever seen their farm system ranked this high just once. That would be way back in 2001, when Baseball America had the White Sox farm system ranked no. 1 in all of baseball. Four years later, the White Sox won the World Series. Back in 2001, Joe Crede and Aaron Rowand were two key names in the White Sox system. However, the White Sox had a handful of other top prospects as well, but they were traded away to acquire veterans that played a key role in the 2005 World Series. Let’s take a closer look at some of those trades.

Miguel Olivo, Jeremy Reed, Michael Morse For Freddy Garcia And Ben Davis

What a trade this turned out to be for the White Sox. At the time, Jeremy Reed was the no. 25 ranked prospect after the 2003 season, and headlined this deal. He went on to slash .252/.309/.354 with 110 RBI’s and 100 BB’s in his entire MLB career. Freddy Garcia was a rental at the time, but obviously resigned after the 2004 season and helped Chicago win the World Series.

Gary Majewski And Jon Rauch For Carl Everett

The White Sox actually traded for Carl Everett first in the 2003 season, then he signed with the Montreal Expos in 2004, and was traded back to the White Sox that same year. Good thing too, because in 2005, DH Frank Thomas went down for the season with an injury, allowing Everett to man the DH role for the majority of the year. Majewski finished with a career record of 9-13 and an ERA of 4.75. Jon Rauch faired slightly better, going 43-40 with a 3.90 ERA. Everett would wind up playing a pretty sizable role on the 2005 team, as he batted .251 with 23 home runs and 87 RBI. Not eye-popping numbers by any means, but definitely a solid contributor, and worth the prospects given up.

How The Past Relates To The Future

No matter how many prospects a team has, they are never a sure thing. And when push comes to shove, Rick Hahn will be forced to move some young talent to acquire proven veterans to help a young, up-and-coming team. The White Sox could have all of their prospects hit, but some will still wind up getting traded. No matter how much young talent an MLB team has, it needs veterans to succeed. Look at the Cubs last year. They brought in Jon Lester, Jason Heyward, and David Ross to help the young Cubs, and look what happened. Now, some of you might point out that those were free agent signings. Fine. Look at this year’s trade deadline then. The Cubs traded for Jose Quintana in exchange for top prospects Eloy Jimenez and Dylan Cease to strengthen their rotation. It’ll sting to see some prospects shipped away down the line, but it is for the greater good and the best way to accumulate seasons of sustained success.

Who Could Be On The Move?

Let’s get one thing straight first. We’re talking two, maybe three years from now when Rick Hahn is forced to deal some prospects. I think the White Sox top bats in the system (Jimenez, Robert, Rutherford, and Collins) will be untouchable, as well as Michael Kopech. So, who could be on the move?

Giolito-Dunning-Hansen

So far, Giolito’s season in Triple-A has been sub par judging from the hype he was receiving from scouts nationwide. That doesn’t mean that he will be a bad pitcher by any means. He is still ranked no. 60 overall according to MLB.com. However, if Dunning and Hansen continue to play like they have so far this season, it makes Giolito more expendable. Kopech, Rodon, and Lopez are essentially locks for a starting spot down the line. On the flip side, if Giolito figures things out and turns into a stud at the MLB level, then that makes one of Dunning or Hansen expendable. Don’t be shocked if one of these three arms gets traded a few years from now for a proven veteran in his prime.

Cease-Fulmer-Burdi

Out of these three pitchers, Dylan Cease has the highest upside. If he can harness his control and command the strike zone, he can be a front end starter. If not, his pure stuff will play just fine out of the bullpen.

Zack Burdi was a lock for the closer role for the foreseeable future until he recently underwent Tommy John surgery. The common opinion on Tommy John is that it is much more beneficial to have it done sooner in a career than later. Burdi will miss all of 2018, but should be good to go for 2019. If Carson Fulmer has shown he can hold his own out of the bullpen, then the White Sox could afford to package Burdi with other prospects for a vet.

If Carson Fulmer does not pan out however, the White Sox will certainly hold onto Burdi. Of these three pitchers, the one I see most likely to be dealt, if at all, would be Fulmer. While still a valuable asset, he simply does not have the same upside as Cease or Burdi, even with the latter undergoing Tommy John.

Adolfo-Sheets-Basabe

Two to three years from now, these lesser bats in the organization could grow into pretty solid trade chips.

Micker Adolfo has been a man on a mission this year after a disappointing 2016. He has really tapped into his power tool this season, which was his biggest concern at the beginning of the year. He is currently slashing .275/.341/.461 with 27 doubles and 14 home runs in low-A ball. Last night was his first multi-home run game of his career, as he swatted 2 out of the park. With the future outfield more than likely being Blake Rutherford-Luis Robert-Eloy Jimenez, Adolfo could wind up being blocked, making him a valuable trade asset.

Gavin Sheets was the White Sox second round pick this past June. At 6’4, 230 lbs, Sheets is destined for first base or DH. Jake Burger should eventually be the first baseman of the future, while Jose Abreu could be moved to the DH spot down the road to help preserve his career. This means that Sheets could also essentially be blocked. His raw power alone should entice any team to make a play for him at a future trade deadline.

Luis Alexander Basabe was the throw in piece in the Chris Sale deal this past December. He is a legitimate 5-tool talent, but his hitting is going to have to come around if he wants to have a future in the MLB. If he can consistently hit for at least a decent average, he could actually be a perfect utility man for the White Sox. Or, he can potentially help net a great return in a future trade.

Jake Burger

While I don’t think Jake Burger is “untouchable” by any means, he still fits perfectly into what the White Sox are trying to build. If/when the White Sox sign a grade-A third baseman (pray for Manny Machado or Nolan Arenado), Burger will be moved to first base. His raw power and ability to hit for average are too great to ignore. It also helps that he is currently mashing the baseball in the minors to the tune of .326/.426/.558 and a .984 OPS. Many thought the White Sox reached on Burger, but if he continues to put up these numbers, he will make Rick Hahn look even more so like the genius he is.

Final Thoughts

The White Sox had the best farm system in 2001, but still made the necessary trades to build the rest of the team. Four years later, they were raising the World Series Trophy. Fast forward to today, and the White Sox find themselves in the exact same position with a future as bright as any team in baseball. When the time comes, expect Rick Hahn to make the necessary trades to complete the rebuild and take the White Sox to new heights for the next decade.

Cubs Place Addison Russell On The Disabled List

By
Aldo Soto
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mlb investigate domestic violence allegation addison russell

The Chicago Cubs have placed shortstop Addison Russell on the 10-day disabled list. Left-handed pitcher Rob Zastryzny has been called up to take Russell’s spot on the 25-man roster.

Russell’s 10-day stint is retroactive to Aug. 2. The young shortstop is going on the DL because of a strained right foot.

Meanwhile, Zastryzny returns to the Cubs after a brief stint with them back in May. The lefty made his MLB debut in 2016, pitching 16 innings and recording a 1.13 ERA.

Latest Corey Crawford Mask Has Been Leaked

By
Marc-Louis Paprzyca
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Images of a new Corey Crawford mask have been leaked onto imgur. It has yet to be confirmed if this is indeed the work of his artist Stephane Bergeron or if he will wear it.

It does look like his work and the style Crawford usually goes for. Crawford doesn’t really deviate from the feathers and the classic Blackhawks crest. It’s a standard Crawford looking mask with a matte finish.

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

Prince Amukamara Praised Kyle Fuller Without Being Asked

By
Erik Lambert
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prince amukamara kyle fuller
TAMPA, FL - DECEMBER 27: Kyle Fuller #23 of the Chicago Bears looks on against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the game at Raymond James Stadium on December 27, 2015 in Tampa, Florida. The Bears defeated the Buccaneers 26-21. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

It’s one thing when a teammate praises another when asked about them. That’s just standard procedure. What else can they say? They certainly can’t talk trash about them to the media. That earns a fast pass to the dog house in professional sports and has even gotten some players released for it. On the other hand, it’s quite another thing when a teammate praises another without being asked, like this Prince Amukamara Kyle Fuller example.

Here’s a quick backstory recap for those who haven’t kept up. Fuller was the 14th overall pick in the 2014 draft. He had a decent rookie year with four interceptions. Then in 2015 he regressed badly to the point he was benched for a short time. Towards the end of the season he rebounded in a big way and seem poised for a big 2016. A few months later he was forced to have knee surgery and would miss the entire season.

Now the Chicago Bears have set the stage for him. They did not pick up the fifth year option on his rookie contract. That means he has to make the team and then perform well or he’ll be a free agent in 2018. Odds are his chances at a big pay day will be dashed by that point. That’s a lot of pressure on the shoulders of a 25-year old kid.

Prince Amukamara Kyle Fuller praise came out of nowhere

There is at least one person in the Bears organization who is convinced Fuller will have a big year. That’s new roster addition Prince Amukamara. He spoke with the Chicago Sun-Times recently about how he’s fitting in on defense. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, he gushed about his impression of his new young teammate.

The latest was an unsolicited endorsement Thursday from new teammate Prince Amukamara.

‘‘I don’t know what he was last year, but he’s been practicing lights-out,’’ Amukamara said when asked about the competition at cornerback. ‘‘It’s going to be great to see what he does in these [preseason] games.

It was public that his option wasn’t picked up,’’ Amukamara said. ‘‘So a guy like him could just go in the tank, like, ‘OK, this team doesn’t believe in me.’ I haven’t seen that at all. I’ve just seen a guy who comes to work every day and does what he’s asked. He’s been making plays and showing that he wants to compete.’’

Fuller is a man on a mission

Indeed Fuller has looked like a focused man on the field. He’s playing faster and more aggressive than people remember. There’s a sense of urgency about him. Best of all he’s making plays, indicating he hasn’t lost any of the ball skills that made him so valuable prior to his injury. It’s a big reason why the Bears are anxious for him to get back on track.

If this is the Kyle Fuller the Bears will see in 2017, along with Amukamara on the other side? There’s no question this defense could be in business. Leonard Floyd appears poised for a giant year as a pass rusher. The defensive line is stacked with young talents as well. Everything is coming together, health permitting of course. A resurgent Fuller would be sweet, sweet icing on the cake.

Nicky Delmonico Blasts First Career Home Run, White Sox Right Back In It

By
Emmet McClain
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What a week for Nicky Delmonico. After trying and failing over and over to make it to the MLB, he finally got the long awaited call earlier this week. In his first game, he recorded his first hit. Now, he has his first career home run. A 3-run bomb that put the White Sox right back in the thick of things against Boston.

There’s still a lot of baseball left to be played in this one. Let’s see if Nicky has any more fireworks for us later in the night.

Mike Glennon Trade Floating Around After Ryan Tannehill Injury

By
Erik Lambert
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mike glennon trade

Mike Glennon trade rumors began in Chicago the moment the Bears signed him. That may sound unusual but the logic comes from two factors. The first is the subsequent drafting of Mitch Trubisky. Most believe he is now the future and Glennon is merely a placeholder using this opportunity to audition for other NFL teams. Another is the possibility of dangling him in a deal similar to the Sam Bradford situation last year in Philadelphia.

In other words offer him up to a desperate team that just lost their quarterback to injury. That’s what happened with Minnesota last offseason. Teddy Bridgewater blew out his knee, so the Vikings gave up a first round pick and change for Bradford. The Eagles accepted since they already had Carson Wentz in their back pocket.

Some are hoping the Bears could pull off something similar, if not quite as lucrative as that. Turns out a development down in South Beach may provided an answer.

Mike Glennon trade rumors heat up after Ryan Tannehill injury

The narrative is remarkably similar. A playoff team from the previous year with Super Bowl aspirations. A quarterback runs a routine play and goes down on the field having not been touched. This time it’s the Miami Dolphins who watched as Ryan Tannehill went to the ground during practice clutching his knee. The same knee he’d injured last year that knocked him out for the season.

News began to spread that it looked bad. The Dolphins feared the worst. Soon that began the speculation about what they should do if that’s the case. Former Super Bowl-winning coach and current analyst Brian Billick asked the million dollar question.

That was when fellow NFL Network expert Adam Rank decided to offer the first option. All he needed was two simple words.

Needless the say the buzz began in earnest. There were plenty of Miami fans who were wide open to the idea. Glennon is a veteran with starting experience. The Bears run a similar offense to Adam Gase. It would at least give the team options besides Matt Moore who clearly wasn’t up to the task in the postseason.

However, initial fears seemed to die down when the MRI came back negative on any structural damage to the knee.

That would seem to kill any potential momentum regarding a trade right? Not so fast. Former NFL doctor David J. Chao reviewed the video and warned that the issue may not be over for Tannehill.

“Ryan Tannehill opted to not have surgery when he suffered what was termed a “partially torn ACL” in his left knee late last season.

It was not unprecedented that he would go the rehab route and attempt to play this season with a brace. But it was a risk that his knee would lack stability.

Now, the Dolphins’ worst nightmare is being lived out, as their quarterback went down without contact in Thursday’s practice.

It appears Tannehill won’t be able to avoid ACL reconstruction surgery this time.

Whether the ACL is “partially” torn is not the issue. The knee has proven to be unstable.

Nine times out of 10, partial ACL ends up unstable and needing surgery. The hope with Tannehill was that he was the exception.

The grainy video is consistent with all instability.

Unfortunately for the hopes of the Dolphins and their fans, it does not seem to be consistent with PCL injury (which is not usually season ending) as some have speculated.

Rolling out, lead leg override and non contact unfortunately fits the narrative of ACL tear.”

Glennon trade value still up for debate but need is there

In shorter terms the negative MRI may not be the blessed relief Miami was hoping for. Tannehill gambled that he could rehab and play with the partial tear this year. Early signs show the knee may not be up to the task. Thus their dilemma returns. How do they fill that void? There is of course free agency. Colin Kaepernick remains available, as does Jay Cutler who prepares for his new career in broadcasting.

Those might be more palatable options from a financial perspective. At the same time the Glennon option might be best. He’s younger than both and less of a media lightning rod too. It would just come down to price. Pro Football Weekly columnist Arthur Arkush believes the Bears do indeed have a valuable asset on their hands.

So maybe the short-term option with Miami might be a tad farfetched. At the same time, if Glennon showcases some positive qualities this season the Bears could definitely get a good return for him by next year. This would usher in Trubisky while also erasing most of what the team gave up in the trade to get him.

Smart business, if that happens.

WATCH: Cubs Bullpen Has Another Dance Off During A Rain Delay

By
Gus
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Stop me when you’ve heard this one before: The Cubs bullpen did some dancing today.

In what has turned into a pretty cool tradition this season, the Cubs bullpen has built quite the reputation for being phenomenal dancers. Ok, maybe not phenomenal but you get my point.

The pen has regularly celebrated home runs from their teammates this season which is shown on closed circuit TV in the home dug out for the rest of the team to openly laugh at.

Even the newest Cub, Justin Wilson, has gotten in on the fun.

Besides celebrating home runs, the bullpen has also engaged in challenging the visiting team’s pen to some friendly dance offs. We saw an earlier dance off this year between the Cubs and Brewers in May.

Well they were back at it again today but this time, they challenged the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Not quite sure why they felt the need to bust out those creepy masks but you got to go with what works for you I guess. Once again, another solid effort from relief pitcher (and self proclaimed best dancer in the bullpen) Carl Edwards.

 

Cubs Grounds Crew Member Tarp Surfs After Getting Caught Underneath

By
Aldo Soto
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The series finale between the Chicago Cubs and Arizona Diamondbacks has already been delayed twice and they haven’t even made it beyond the top of the second inning. First pitch was delayed until 2:50 p.m. and then more heavy rain delayed the game in the second inning. One member of the Cubs grounds crew got caught underneath the tarp, so the only way to get out was to go for a little surf.

Bears Get Their Official Record Prediction From the NFL

By
Erik Lambert
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chicago bears record prediction

Every year the NFL Network has a special episode dedicated to predicting the records for each team that season. The Chicago Bears record prediction has finally arrived. How did they do? Well things must be prefaced by noting that Heath Evans and Elliot Harrison were the men making the picks. Both have histories of being notoriously hard on the Bears.

Harrison ranked the Bears as the 29th team in the league after the NFL draft, almost making fun of Ryan Pace for his rationale when drafting Mitch Trubisky and Tarik Cohen. Evans was even worse, slamming the Bears for the Trubisky selection and stating he’d likely never resemble anything like an NFL starting QB.

So again, these are the two guys deciding the 2017 record for Chicago. You can pretty much guess what happens next.

Chicago Bears record prediction has a whiff of 2015

It’s no secret that everybody views the start of the Bears’ season as a lost cause. They’re playing four teams who had a winning record in 2016 right out of the gate. Three of those teams played in conference championship games. That is a brutal first month. So it’s not fair to criticize Evans for giving them four-straight losses. Given where the Bears are at in their development, it’s a real possibility.

Where things went off the rails came later on. Winning five of their next seven games was a pretty fair move including three-straight in the division. However, that good will went out the window when Harrison inexplicably gave them five-straight losses to end the year. This includes dropping games to teams like the 49ers and Browns. Both of whom had worse records than the Bears in 2016.

This is where their anti-Chicago bias most definitely seeps in. For the Bears to not get at least one of those two games and a second amidst the Bengals, Lions and Vikings matchups? That’s as pessimistic as it gets.

Still, that’s the final tally. The Bears will finish 5-11 in 2017. In all likelihood that means John Fox gets fired and the coaching staff changes. Here’s hoping that, like almost every year, they’re wrong.

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