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Kris Bryant Set A Cubs Record After Today’s Home Run In Milwaukee

By
Gus
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Sometimes it’s easy to forget that Kris Bryant is only 25-years-old. In only three years with the Chicago Cubs, Bryant has turned into one of the the best players in all of baseball by posting some pretty impressive stats thus far — .282/.381/.520 in just over 400 games played.

While hot starts for players in Major League Baseball is not necessarily a rare occasion, Bryant’s start with the Cubs has already placed him on a list with some of the franchise’s all-time greats.

After crushing his 20th home run of the season during today’s 4-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers, Bryant joined an ELITE list of Cubs to reach the 20 home run plateau multiple times at this point in their career.

“Kris Bryant becomes the 4th Cub to have three 20 home run seasons by the age of 25 joining Ron Santo, Billy Williams, and his current teammate, Anthony Rizzo.”

Joining a list with the likes of Santo and Williams is pretty impressive by itself, but Bryant’s home run today also put him in a category all by himself.

To compare, through their first three seasons, Ron Santo had 49 home runs, Billy Williams had 27, and Anthony Rizzo had 39. After today, Bryant is up to 85 career home runs and has a shot to crack the top 20 list of most home runs by a Cub by the end of this season.

Once again, he’s 25-years-old.

I also have to add that Bryant won’t hit the free agent market until 2022 so Cubs fans will get five more years to enjoy watching KB hit lasers like the one he hit today.

 

 

The Best QB-WR Combo of Bears Camp Is Also the Most Unlikely

By
Erik Lambert
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mitch trubisky and tanner gentry

Given the way the Chicago Bears have tried to spin things, one would expect the most prolific quarterback-receiver combinations to be Mike Glennon and somebody. Cameron Meredith? Kevin White? Victor Cruz? Nope. All three of those players have made their share of plays. However, the most productive tandem isn’t even in the starting offense. That would be the unlikely duo of Mitch Trubisky and Tanner Gentry.

It’s rather amazing how this connection was formed when one thinks about it. Trubisky is the #2 overall pick of the draft. He’s a suburban bred young man from Ohio who made his name in North Carolina. Gentry is an undrafted free agent. He’s a country boy from the mountains of Colorado who quietly excelled at Wyoming.

It really doesn’t seem like their paths should’ve crossed like this. Yet it has. From the first minicamp through the start of padded practices, Trubisky and Gentry have showcased a growing chemistry that is producing results on the field.

Mitch Trubisky and Tanner Gentry have things clicking

It seems like once every few minutes during drills the two are hooking up for a nice play. Even head coach John Fox acknowledged the surprising ascent of Gentry. It’s not an isolated case of just one or two flash catches. He’s routinely made nice grabs for big gains, and Trubisky is almost always the one pulling the trigger.

This isn’t a surprise to Wyoming fans. They came out in droves to insist to Chicago fans that the Bears had gotten a good one. Of course people hear that all the time but in fairness it may be true. In 2016 Wyoming QB Josh Allen threw for 3,203 yards and 28 touchdowns. Around 1,324 of those yards and 14 of the touchdowns went to Gentry. In other words he was responsible for 41% of the passing yardage and 50% of the TD scoring.

That’s indicative of a classic “safety valve” option. A receiver who always makes the catch for his quarterback. Trubisky didn’t hold back in his praise of Gentry when asked.

This could be a potentially huge development for Gentry. As an undrafted player, his chances of making the roster are difficult already. Never mind the fact that Chicago added a ton of veteran receivers in free agency including Cruz, Markus Wheaton, and Kendall Wright. He’ll need something to help give him an edge over the next month to have a shot at the roster.

Forging a strong bond with the quarterback who is likely the future of the franchise? Yeah, that will definitely help his odds.

The Cubs Are Talking With Tigers On Alex Avila Again

By
Sean Sears
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Photo Courtesy of ESPN

While conversations between Detroit and Chicago had ceased as this weekend started, the two clubs have picked back up where they left off today. With a little more than a day left before the trade deadline, the Cubs are once again looking active as ever.

And while their talks with Oakland for Sonny Gray are still on-going, the team is also trying to add a veteran back-up catcher, and Alex Avila looks like the next man of the hour.

While Avila is attractive to the Cubs, slashing .271/.392/.472, he is not the big name from the Tigers that most Cubs fans were hoping to land earlier this week. That being said, Avila is easily the best offensive option on the catcher market, and comes with playoff experience.

While his defensive numbers may not be compared to an A.J.Ellis, who is also been rumored to the Cubs, he 30-year-old Avila has still thrown out 30% of would be base runners this season and has one defensive run saved according to Fangraphs.

Avila may not be one of the big names fans, and the Cubs for that matter, would want to add at the deadline. But for team that has already acquired Jose Quintana, adding Avila for a modest price could be the final touch to a surging Cubs team looking defend it’s title.

Early Camp Reports on Leonard Floyd Will Make QBs Very, Very Nervous

By
Erik Lambert
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leonard floyd

Start the Leonard Floyd Pro Bowl campaign. No, seriously. Don’t be afraid. Feel free to spread the word right now. Okay it may sound like simple posturing but rest assured it isn’t. The only thing standing between the Chicago Bears outside linebacker and his first trip to Orlando is more health issues. That’s it. If he can avoid the string of nagging ailments he suffered last year, it’s going to happen.

Why the optimism? Well of course it starts with what he did as a rookie. At one point Floyd had six sacks in five games. It was the first indication of how good a pass rusher he could be. Most agreed that if he continued to hone his craft and add muscle to his lean frame, stardom was right around the corner.

In the first padded practice of Bears training camp, he showed both problems had been solved. Though still lean for a 6’6″ guy, it was clear Floyd had added considerable bulk to his frame. It didn’t seem to affect his speed as he flew all over the field during drills. What also stood out was his technique. More than ever he used his hands and long arms to keep blockers off his body, making it almost impossible to stop him.

Leonard Floyd Pro Bowl journey is about to begin

Don’t believe it? Several other notable media personalities saw the same thing. Dan Durkin of The Athletic, a man notorious for being hard on the Bears, came away impressed.

It wasn’t just him either. Representatives from the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Daily Herald, CBS Sports and ESPN all mentioned it as well. Perhaps the most noticeable moment though came during 11-on-11 drills. Andrew Link of SB Nation breaks it down in his recent camp notebook here.

“Floyd was beating virtually everyone in his path today. His speed is unbelievable. His newfound strength was also on display as I saw him use speed to get an angle, then convert to power as he “punched” into Charles Leno Jr., work an inside rip move and close for what would have been a sack of Mike Glennon. It was beautiful and I fully expect to see that from him on a more consistent basis.”

Floyd is reportedly up to 251 lbs. That’s close to 15 more than what he started with as a rookie. The fact he hasn’t lost an iota of his trademark speed is exactly what the Bears were going for. Given the injury status of Pernell McPhee, the emergence of Floyd is more vital than ever. If this defense is going to take that next step, they need the pass rush to lead the way. Floyd must be out in front on that.

It appears he’s ready for that responsibility.

Bears CB Bryce Callahan Pulls Off Unreal Feat In Punt Return Drills

By
Erik Lambert
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bryce callahan

The first padded practice of Chicago Bears training camp was an enjoyable affair. There was lots of stuff happening from a positive point of view. The quarterbacks threw just one interception combined on the day but the defense still performed well. Rookies like Adam Shaheen and Tarik Cohen looked like instant contributors and (knock on wood) nobody came out of the action with an injury. That includes Bryce Callahan.

Most have become familiar with the third-year cornerback by now. An undrafted free agent out of Rice, he might be the best cover man they have in the secondary. Unfortunately he might also be the most brittle. In two seasons Callahan has missed a total of 12 games with a variety of injuries, most often hamstring or calf problems.

It’s hard to see where he stands for 2017 after signing a one-year deal to stick around. He should make the roster, but anything beyond that is a mystery. One thing is for sure though. The guy certainly knows how to perform under pressure.

Bryce Callahan punt return display wows fans

That became clear during the latter half of the practice. One area of the Bears roster that is wide open at present is their punt returner position. Being able to secure that would almost guarantee him a roster spot. It’s little wonder several players stepped up to try fielding punts. Soon though it developed into a unique competition. Mark Potash of the Chicago Sun-Times explains.

“In a punt return competition, Cohen and Daniel Braverman caught a third consecutive punt while still holding the first two; but Bryce Callahan outdid them with four straight, catching the fourth while still holding the first three.”

This displays offers a variety of intriguing features from Callahan. First and foremost is the obvious. He seems to have strong hands and body control. He catches each ball without jerking too much to drop the others. Then there’s the concentration under the eyes of what was reportedly 20,000+ fans. Never mind the fact he was a defensive player.

Well then again so was Devin Hester so forget it.

Point being it was a fun moment and showcased how loose this Bears team could be in the face of pretty strong pressure. Callahan especially. His NFL future is on the line this year. An inability to step up could mean his last, best chance petering out. If that’s true, then might as well go out having fun.

The Cubs Still In Play On Sonny Gray

By
Sean Sears
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Sonny Gray, Chicago Cubs, Trade

When the Cubs acquired Jose Quintana from the White Sox, it was assumed that they were effectively out on guys like Sonny Gray and Justin Verlander. However, despite those initial thoughts, the rumors continue to pour out linking the Cubs to both Verlander and Gray, but also to Yu Darvish, Zach Britton, Pat Neshek, Alex Avila and the list goes on.

And while many fans may be frustrated with the constant slew of wild rumors, the fact is, the Cubs ARE continuing to check in on these teams. While other clubs like the Dodgers, Astros, or Yankees may have more attractive pieces to offer, these deals are hard to put together.

Just today, Billy Beane and the Athletics, who were almost guaranteed to be moving Gray, have come out and said the 27-year-old righty could end up sticking in Oakland through the winter.

This is why teams like the Cubs, who have already mortgaged their top farm system players for pitching, continue to poke their head into these discussions. Anything can happen, and as Joel Sherman from the New York Post writes, that’s exactly what they are doing to Billy Beane and Oakland. Sherman has heard the Cubs referred to as a “Stealth Team”, meaning they are still trying to figure out a way to acquire Gray from the Athletics. Now, does this mean they will land the righty? Logic and sources say otherwise, but it does mean the Cubs feel confident they could still make something happen.

For the record, there is an overwhelming amount of evidence pointing to why the Cubs cannot or will not trade for Sonny Gray, starting with Ian Happ. He is the piece the A’s want the most from the Cubs, and the response from Theo Epstein and the front office has been a ‘hard no’, according to a source.

Along with this, there are a few teams who need another starter, making them possibly desperate for a guy like Gray. Teams like the Yankees or Brewers come to mind, and you could even throw in a team like the Astros in that category. Also, the Cubs traded Eloy Jimenez, who was probably the only other top-tier piece that could have realistically gotten this deal done.

On top of all this, Gray has been incredible over the last 30 days, with a 1.37 ERA, 8.24 K/9, and an opposing batting average of .164. He is also generating a ground ball rate of 62.1% and his soft contact is up to 21.2 % during this stretch. Translation: Sonny Gray is showing he is an elite arm, and doing Oakland a real solid in trade negotiations.

And just to show how wild this trade deadline season has been, both the Jerry Crasnick tweet above and this tweet broke during the 30 minutes I took to write this article…

If Billy Beane can get the right package, he will pull the trigger, and for what it is worth – very few GMs know the Cubs farm system better than Beane. If he feels the Cubs can put together an offer that can give him some high ceiling pieces for the future, he could find more value in that deal than another.

Don’t hold your breath Cubs fans….but the trade deadline is coming quick.

The Bears Draft Class Wowed In Their First Padded Practice

By
Erik Lambert
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bears draft class

The Chicago Bears draft class of 2017 came in with mixed expectations. Nearly every media source following the draft itself indicated the group had upside. However, their chances of making an early impact for the team? Not going to happen. This was a class intended to build for 2018, largely thanks to the presence of a new quarterback.

GM Ryan Pace has disagreed with that assessment though. On more than one occasion. He believes that a number of players in the class can contribute right away. People thought of course he would say that. He had to posture for his picks after all. As time has gone on though, it seems Pace wasn’t joking around.

After a fun little preview in minicamps, it was time for the major audition. The first padded practices of training camp arrived on Saturday, July 29th. It’s usually the time when veterans assert their dominance over rookies, right? Well not entirely. Seems a number of the Bears’ top picks came out firing.

Mitch Trubisky leads Bears draft class in strong showing

When hearing about the prized #2 overall pick, much of the Bears media chose to focus on one sequence in practice. It involved Trubisky fumbling three of his first six snaps from under center during his first team drills. It’s easy to get carried away without context. Trubisky never took snaps under center in college or high school. Head coach John Fox also insisted the centers had a bad habit of pulling out to block too soon. A common occurrence in the first padded practice.

Suffice to say it just means Trubisky will keep working on it. History says he’ll have it figured out in a few weeks. So that aside how did the rookie do in pads for the first time?

Trubisky looked how he should’ve looked. He’s a #2 overall pick with a world of talent but is also an inexperienced rookie. There were going to be moments where he faltered a bit. That’s standard procedure. On the whole the kid looked good. He made his reads, got the ball out and was accurate on almost every throw. He even made the proper decision to spike a ball when a defender blew up a possible screen play.

It’s a case of letting the experience catch up to the talent. Once that happens he’s going to be a good football players.

Adam Shaheen is that big and that good a pass catcher

Moving on we have the second round pick, tight end Adam Shaheen out of Ashland. The popular comparison for him is a baby version of Rob Gronkowski. Though he’s not overly wild about that connection, it’s clear why he’s earned it. Shaheehn is a physical specimen with basketball player size and speed to go with a football player mentality. People wanted to see how he could perform against pro defenders after dominating Division II teams in college.

They weren’t disappointed. Shaheen exerted his presence both as a receiver and blocker at times during drills.

It was particularly evident how much chemistry Shaheen already has with Trubisky. First appearing in minicamps a few weeks ago, the two roommates seemed to have grown in sync over that time. They connected on a number of positive plays. This could be a tandem that gashes defenses for years to come. No doubt something the Bears are banking on.

Tarik Cohen creating a cult fan base with every touch

The first two were relatively expected. What has caught fans pleasantly by surprise is the emergence of fourth round pick Tarik Cohen. The North Carolina A&T running back came in with plenty of skeptics. At just 5’6″ it was hard to take him seriously as a possible offensive weapon. This despite constant comparisons to Pro Bowler Darren Sproles. Apparently it took just minutes of practice for people to realize those comps might be valid.

Moving forward the Bears knew they’d want to find somebody who can compliment Jordan Howard in the backfield. Preferably a talent with different skills to offer. Perhaps some speed and receiving abilities. Cohen embodies both. His size may not be something he can control, but he also doesn’t let it stop him.

If there’s a hole anywhere in a defense on a given play, he has the vision, agility and speed to find it and hit it. In such cases his size can be an advantage because it’s difficult to track him behind the line of scrimmage until it’s too late. The same as its been with Sproles.

It’s still early. There are plenty of valleys to cross. Still, it’s nice to see that the latest Bears draft class got off on the right foot.

The Cubs Are Eyeing Marlins Catcher AJ Ellis

By
Sean Sears
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The Cubs, have weeks of rumors circulating about their desire to add a veteran backstop, have finally landed on the Marlins’ defensive catcher AJ Ellis, according to a source.

Ellis, as mentioned before, has made a name for himself as a defensive-minded catcher and profiles well behind current Cubs starter Willson Contreras. The 36-year-old veteran has been solid behind the plate, in his 27 games for Miami, he has a 43% caught stealing rate only allowing four stolen bases. And according to Fangraphs’ DRS, he has saved the Marlins two runs so far this season.

His offensive game, while lacking, isn’t terrible either. Currently slashing .232/.300/.341, which is essentially what David Ross was hitting last year without the pop, Ross hit 10 home runs and drove in 32. So, while his bat isn’t going to add much to the Cubs lineup, his defense plus his experience handling an elite pitching staff like he did while he was in LA, make him an attractive backup option.

Ellis is also on a modest deal worth $2.5 million and is a free agent after this season, so the Cubs won’t have to commit to him long-term and could possible get him for a much cheaper price than the Tigers Alex Avila or Rangers Jonathan Lucroy would cost.

 

Mitch Trubisky Sounds Pretty Confident In Message to Bears Fans

By
Erik Lambert
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bears rookie mitch trubisky

It’s often difficult to strike a balance as an NFL players. Fans want you to be humble and hard-working. However at the same time they like their guys to have a bit of an edge to them. That subtle cockiness that comes from years of honing their craft and having success wherever they’ve been. It would seem Bears rookie Mitch Trubisky has found that balance.

Every time the young man has been interviewed the past few months, he’s comes across as a polite, down-to-earth person who only cares about football. Early word from training camp is his talent comes as advertised. He’s a smart decision-maker with a strong arm who can place the ball pretty much anywhere he wants it.

That’s all well and good. The true test for him though is the same one for every young QB. Can he get his teammates to believe in him? Jay Cutler, for better or worse, never seemed to fully grasp that ability and it finally caught up to him. Trubisky is hoping to succeed where he failed.

Bears rookie Mitch Trubisky has a message for fans

He made that message clear in a recent appearance on the “Rookie Spotlight” feature. It’s a reflection of the top draft prospects of 2017 from NFL World, a Youtube channel run by the NFL itself. Trubisky introduces himself before setting out his simple goals for the immediate future:  become the starter and make the playoffs.

After explaining the origins of his infamous “Mr. Biscuit” nickname he took a bit of time to deliver a message to Bears fans.

Per usual he comes across and straightforward. No preamble or fancy wordplay. Trubisky is just a young football fanatic who intends to give the job and the team every last bit of what he has. It’s the sort of attitude fans wish all the draft prospects would have. Chicago can at least take this away from it. If Trubisky flops, it won’t be because he didn’t work hard enough.

Will he flop? That depends on a variety of factors that haven’t been determined yet. So best to just sit back and appreciate he’s going to give it his best shot.

Ryan Braun Throws A Tantrum After Jason Heyward Robs Him Of A Home Run

By
Aldo Soto
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Jason Heyward is a gold glove winner for a reason. This is not only great because Heyward saved two runs by robbing the Milwaukee Brewers of a home run, but it gets even better because he robbed Ryan Braun of a home run. And yet, it gets a lot better after seeing Braun’s reaction.

Show em how it’s done J Hey!

And Braun’s reaction.

Seeing Braun fail will never not be funny for Cubs fans.

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