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Joe Maddon Has Positive News On Kyle Hendricks

By
Aldo Soto
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kyle hendricks
PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 26: Kyle Hendricks #28 of the Chicago Cubs in action during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on September 26, 2016 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

Remember when the Chicago Cubs put Kyle Hendricks on the disabled list in early June and it wasn’t really seen as a big deal at the time? Well, it’s been nearly a month since that happened, but Cubs manager Joe Maddon finally has some good news on last year’s ERA leader.

Hendricks last started on June 4, against the St. Louis Cardinals, pitching only four innings in what resulted in a 7-6 Cubs win. Since then, Hendricks has been sidelined because of a hand injury. The team was hopeful he would miss the minimum amount of time, but there was a setback following his first throwing session after being placed on the DL.

On Wednesday, Maddon went on 670 The Score and said Hendricks is nearly ready to return to action.

It’s July, the Cubs are below .500, 3.5 games back in the division and just like every facet on the team the starting rotation has been disappointing. That includes Hendricks, who has a 4.09 ERA and 1.20 WHIP through his first 11 starts this year. However, Hendricks did appear to get back to his 2016 form from April 25 to May 24, during which he surrendered no more than two earned runs in six starts, going at least 5.1 innings in each outing.

Yet, there was something good that came from the injury and that was the emergence of Mike Montgomery. He took Hendricks’ spot and has pitched well, making six starts in June, with a 3.19 ERA during that stretch.

Now, as good as the news of Hendricks being back after the All-Star break is, I don’t think Maddon is planning to move John Lackey out of the rotation. Sad, I know. Montgomery should stay in, so the odd man out is most likely going to be Eddie Butler. He hasn’t been very good either, but honestly I’d rather have him on the mound rather than Lackey.

Of course, this problem could also be solved if the Cubs trade for a starting pitcher, so that Lackey and Butler can both be kicked to the curb.

What about Schwarber?

So, almost everyone was surprised that Kyle Schwarber wasn’t back up with the Cubs on Tuesday, but it now looks like he’ll be back for this weekend’s series against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Ultimately, Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer will decide when Schwarber will return to the Cubs. In 10 games at Triple-A, Schwarber is batting .333, with four home runs and seven walks. He’s also struck out 11 times.

Yet, no official timetable has been set, or at least that’s what Maddon said on Wednesday.

The Iowa Cubs finish up their series in Oklahoma on Thursday, before returning home on Friday.

Former All-Pro Warns Bears To Leave Window Open For Trubisky

By
Erik Lambert
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chicago bears quarterback competition

It’s been covered for weeks already and figures to continue for the next two months. Will the Chicago Bears quarterback competition be a real competition? Veteran signing Mike Glennon said that the team informed him multiple times that 2017 was his year. Top draft choice Mitch Trubisky will be a sit-and-learn man for this year, absorbing the pro style and learning the NFL speed.

That however is not something advisable from the perspective of a former All-Pro center. If anybody knows what great quarterbacking looks like, it’s Jeff Saturday. The man protected two of the best to play the game. First it was Peyton Manning, who will be entering the Hall of Fame in the next couple years. Then it was Aaron Rodgers. He has his own date down the line as well.

His opinion on how to manage the quarterback position is worth listening to. That’s why it was interesting to hear him weigh in on ESPN radio regarding what the Bears should do.

Chicago Bears quarterback competition should be wide open

“I don’t appreciate when someone says there is no competition here. In my opinion, no team gets better by diminishing the ability to compete,” Saturday said on ESPN Radio’s “Dickerson and Hood Show.”

“They paid Glennon a lot of money and they are going to try and get that year out of him, but my issue with that — as a veteran — is that if Trubisky shows up and just balls out and is the guy on offense that everyone wants to follow, shows he can be an incredible leader on the football field, and shows he’s a great quarterback and is better than Glennon, and then you make that decision that he’s not going to start no matter what … I think you’ve done yourself a tremendous disservice.”

Saturday is another alum of North Carolina. He knows what it’s like to come out of the draft with questions surrounding him out of a traditionally weaker football program. He also knows the value of being in open competition. He battled through most of his rookie year in 1999 and eventually became a starter. From there he reached six Pro Bowls and won a Super Bowl championship.

Pretty good for an undrafted free agent. If he could pull it off, why can’t the second overall pick in the draft? If Trubisky doesn’t win the competition, then no big deal. The Bears stick by the original plan to sit and teach him. On the other hand, him outperforming Glennon would be a clear sign he belongs on the field. College starting experience be damned.

Jose Abreu Crushes 3 Run Bomb

By
Emmet McClain
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Jose Abreu has been red hot as of late, and figured he’d light off some fireworks on the 4th of July. With the White sox down to Oakland by a score of 2-4, Abreu crushed his 16th home run of the year.

This was an absolute missile and seemed to get out of the park in less than 3 seconds. As of late, Abreu, Melky Cabrera, Carlos Rodon, and Jose Quintana have been lights out for the White Sox.

The NFL Has Chosen The Best Player On The Bears Roster

By
Erik Lambert
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chicago bears rankings

Who is the best player on the Bears roster going into 2017? The question is actually more difficult to answer than one might think given how ravaged it was by injuries a year ago. There’s no doubt it’s a group with plenty of talent. The problem for the past three years it seems has been keeping them healthy. Thus judging who is the best isn’t crystal clear.

One could say it’s Kyle Long. He’s certainly the most proven player on the roster with three Pro Bowls under his belt. Then there’s Danny Trevathan and Pernell McPhee, two gifted linebackers who both have Super Bowl rings. Their position mate Jerrell Freeman led the team in tackles last year and made fair share of underrated big plays. Long’s fellow guard Josh Sitton went to the Pro Bowl last year and center Cody Whitehair was among the top rated centers in the league despite no experience at the position.

It turns out though that the NFL itself feels differently. According to NFL.com analyst Conor Orr, the best name on the roster is one of the most unexpected.

Best on the Bears roster is Jordan Howard

“I was tempted to list Pernell McPhee here, given how fun he was to watch in John Fox’s defense. However, Chicago is building a very good offensive line, and Jordan Howard, who finished second behind Ezekiel Elliott in rushing yards last year, will undoubtedly be the linchpin of this offense. While the Bears break in rookie quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, Howard will be the player opposing defenses circle at the beginning of their game prep.”

How will he handle being the focal point on offense?

Jordan Howard was easily the most pleasant surprise of the 2016 season. Expectations for him were quite low going in. He was a fifth round draft pick out of Indiana perceived to be stuck as the third-string back on the depth chart. However, things began to change towards the end of the preseason.

Back-to-back solid performances against New England and Cleveland got him noticed. Then when Jeremy Langford went down with injury. Instead of going with Ka’Deem Carey the coaches decided to give Howard a shot instead. He responded with the best rookie season by a Bears running back in history at 1,313 yards, besting the old mark held by Matt Forte.

Considering he was able to do that despite only starting 13 games? Hard not to be impressed. It certainly elevated expectations for 2017. People want to see if he can match that Pro Bowl campaign now that defenses will be gearing to stop him. It probably wouldn’t be smart to bet against him at this point.

REPORT: Cubs Have Looked Into Trades For Justin Verlander And Alex Avila

By
Aldo Soto
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The Chicago Cubs have inquired to the Detroit Tigers about possible deals for 2011 AL Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander and veteran catcher Alex Avila, according to MLB reporter Jon Morosi.

After having an unbelievable starting rotation in 2016, the Cubs have struggled greatly to get any consistency from their starting five this year. Despite some great outings from Jon Lester and Jake Arrieta as of late, the rotation has not lived up to expectations, ranking seventh in the National League with a 4.47 ERA. Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer have said several times that pitching would be at the top of their list at the trade deadline and desirably acquiring a pitcher under contract for the next several years would be the most ideal.

Verlander, 34, is having a rough year for the Tigers, putting up a 4.96 ERA and 1.52 WHIP. The six-time All-Star is signed through 2019, with an option for the 2020 season. Verlander will make $28 million in each of the next two years. Despite the down first half, Verlander is coming off an impressive 2016 season, when he had a 3.04 ERA and 1.00 WHIP, with 254 strikeouts in 227.2 innings. He’s made at least 30 starts in 10 of the last 11 seasons and is on pace to reach that feat once again in 2017.

To put it nicely, John Lackey has been terrible for the Cubs this year and Joe Maddon has been without Kyle Hendricks for several weeks now. Hendricks won’t return until after the All-Star break and Eddie Butler hasn’t taken advantage of his opportunity. The Cubs need help in the rotation and Verlander is on their radar, although no actual trade negotiations have started.

Morosi also reports that the Cubs had a scout in Detroit for Verlander’s last start against the Cleveland Indians.

As far as the interest for Avila, he was immediately rumored to be a target for the Cubs after Miguel Montero was DFA’d. Avila, 30, is having a great comeback season after his stint with the White Sox last year. The catcher has a .310/.431/.571 slash line in 58 games. The left-handed hitter has 11 home runs in 168 at-bats.

The Cubs have Willson Contreras, who has been amazing behind the plate, but after trading Montero to the Toronto Blue Jays, a spot is open on the team for another catcher.

Again, the Cubs have only asked about Verlander and Avila, without actually engaging in trade discussions with the Tigers. However, Epstein has shown to strike early in the trade market, so keep an eye out for a possible move for a catcher or a starting pitcher. Pitching especially because after this season, Lackey and Arrieta will be free agents and most likely won’t be back with the Cubs. The rotation will look a lot different and that could be as early as the middle of this month.

Oh by the way, getting Verlander in a trade is only secondary to having Kate Upton come to Chicago too.

Brian Urlacher Explains Why He Thinks the Bears Are Cursed

By
Erik Lambert
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brian urlacher phil emery
Credit: CBS

The Brian Urlacher Phil Emery vendetta hasn’t lost its intensity over the past four years. They say time heals all wounds but this one may take a lot longer. The former Bears All-Pro linebacker no doubt still holds a grudge against the former GM for practically forcing him into retirement back in 2013. However, that might not be the biggest reason he’s upset. Or why he thinks the organization is cursed.

How so? Well it came up during an interview on CBS Sports Radios’ Tiki and Tierney show. He discussed several topics. Most notably why Jay Cutler ultimately failed in Chicago and how incredible it is that he doesn’t know anybody on the roster anymore. This after being ushered out just over four years ago.

His biggest declaration though came when asked why the team has struggled so much since he left. The reason?

Brian Urlacher Phil Emery beef centers on firing of Lovie Smith

“I like to say it’s the Lovie Curse – because since he left, (the Bears have struggled),” Urlacher said. “He got fired being 10-6. I think they fire him either way. Even if we go to the playoffs, I think they fire him. I don’t think the GM liked the way he coached the football team. The guy’s a winner. I love playing for him. I don’t know what the identity of that team is. They sign (Mike) Glennon, then they draft a kid No. 2 – I don’t know what (they’re doing). It’s confusing.”

Considering who Emery replaced him with, it’s impossible to argue the point. Then again it’s fair to wonder how Smith would’ve handled what was clearly an aged and deteriorating roster. Either way Smith, for better or worse was a far superior coach to what Trestman became. As for John Fox, the old veteran inherited the dumpster fire Smith’s replacement left behind. It’s difficult to place the same expectations on him.

The Bears are now a full-fledged rebuilding team. Expectations are limited for 2017 though some progress is desired. Urlacher no doubt believes the best way that happens is if this new breed of players can forge a similar locker room culture to what Lovie cultivated during his run from 2004 to 2012. The pieces might be coming together with guys like Kyle Long, Akiem Hicks, Danny Trevathan and Jordan Howard all stepping into those leadership roles. It could be just a matter of time before things start clicking.

NFC North Experts Agree With Bears Decision on Alshon Jeffery

By
Erik Lambert
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bears alshon jeffery
CHICAGO, IL - AUGUST 08: Alshon Jeffery #17 of the Chicago Bears participates in warm-ups before a preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Soldier Field on August 8, 2014 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Eagles 34-28. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

One of the biggest questions heading into 2017 is how much will the Chicago Bears regret not re-signing Alshon Jeffery? In their defense there were plenty of signs that Jeffery was intent on leaving this past offseason. He wanted to get paid like a top five wide receiver and the team wasn’t willing to meet that price. They had their reasons. Likely a mix of him not earning it and the team not viewing his talent to be on that level. Thus the Alshon Jeffery Bears soap opera began.

While the 26-year old continued to profess he wanted to remain in Chicago, he was fielding offers from several teams. Eventually he settled on a one-year deal for $9.5 million from the Philadelphia Eagles. Clearly he was looking for a contract with heavy guarantees and was willing to take another short-term risk for long-term gain.

Now he’s going to team with Carson Wentz in Philly and people are left wondering whether the Bears made a mistake not offering more for him to stay.

Alshon Jeffery Bears question fielded by NFC North experts

To get a feel on this subject, ESPN posed the question to their columnists who cover other teams in the division. Their answers were the typical style. They took great care to offer anything definitive. At the same time there seemed to be some common ground. Given the Bears are in a rebuild, they had little reason to overpay for Jeffery.

Packers (Rob Demovsky)

“For a rebuilding team to pay Jeffery top-receiver money probably didn’t make a lot of sense, anyway. GM Ryan Pace should follow Ted Thompson’s plan in Green Bay, where he drafts at receiver for Aaron Rodgers almost every year to make sure the cupboard is never bare.”

Vikings (Ben Goessling)

“Jeffery never quite followed up on his scintillating 2013 season — he had 1,133 yards in 2014, but dealt with injuries and a suspension after that. Still, he was the one Bears receiver that defenses had to account for at all times.”

Lions (Michael Rothstein)

“That said, the Bears don’t have an exciting group of receivers right now — White and Meredith are the most intriguing players — but there’s a chance someone could end up being a surprise. If that doesn’t happen, though, the Bears will miss Jeffery — but they won’t regret letting him go in free agency because of how much the franchise has to do to rebuild.”

The message is fairly clear. If Chicago wanted to win a couple extra games in 2017, paying him might’ve helped. That said the odds of them making the playoffs are long. Giving too much money for a really good #2 receiver wouldn’t have been an advisable move. Better to use the 2018 offseason, specifically the draft to get better weapons in place moving forward. It’s better for the pay structure and will allow Ryan Pace to add target of his choice.

Don’t forget Jeffery was drafted by Phil Emery. Whether people care to admit it or not, that had a significant factor in how everything went down.

Kris Bryant Is On The Final Vote Ballot For The 2017 MLB All-Star Game

By
Aldo Soto
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Well, after having five starters elected to the 2016 MLB All-Star Game, the Chicago Cubs were shutout this year for the game in Miami. Closer Wade Davis was the only Cubs player selected for the All-Star Game on July 11, but third baseman Kris Bryant does have one final chance to get voted in by the fans.

Bryant is one of five players on the final vote ballot for the National League.

As of now, Bryant and Anthony Rendon are tied for third-most home runs among NL third basemen with 16, while Bryant is second in the position group with a .391 OBP.

But really, who cares. He just had a minor scare with a fluke rolled ankle, stepping on third base after making a catch on a pop up. That made him miss a few games before returning on Saturday. Maybe the World Series hangover is real, but whatever it is the Cubs just haven’t been very good so far. Bryant is still putting up solid numbers, but at the end of the day getting more rest might actually be a good thing for him.

However, if David Ross can finish runner-up on Dancing With The Stars, I bet Cubs fans get Bryant to Miami.

Cubs Closer Wade Davis Named To 2017 MLB All-Star Game

By
Aldo Soto
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Chicago Cubs closer Wade Davis has been named to the 2017 MLB All-Star Game in Miami. The right-handed reliever is the lone Cubs representative at the mid-summer classic as of now.

Davis has been dominant for the Cubs, nailing down all 16 of his save opportunities. In 28 innings, Davis has only surrendered a .170 batting average, putting up a 1.93 ERA and 0.96 WHIP. He started the season by making 18 straight scoreless appearances out of the bullpen.

No Cubs position players were voted in as starters after having five elected in 2016, when the entire infield started in the All-Star Game.

No outrage for Cubs fans, as really only Kris Bryant had a case to be a reserve, but the more rest the better.

Here are the starters for the National League team.

Here are the American League starters.

Also, another reminder that the winning league MLB All-Star Game no longer determines home-field advantage for the World Series.

Experts Believe John Fox Will Seriously Consider Starting Trubisky

By
Erik Lambert
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john fox start mitch trubisky

Would John Fox start Mitch Trubisky? That’s the pressing question heading into training camp and preseason. Early signs out of practice are that Mike Glennon has done nothing to separate himself from the rookie #2 overall pick. Granted, both are starting fresh in a new offense. It may just take a little time before the veteran experience of Glennon shows up over the clear rawness of Trubisky.

Then again nothing is a guarantee in this league. Glennon can say all the right things and do all the extra work he wants. If he doesn’t show it on the field, in practice or games, then he’s not going to last long. Thus the question comes back. Would Fox dare to start the rookie, even as early as opening day if it’s clear he’s performing better?

A loaded question to be sure. So the crew of NFL Total Access decided to debate it. There wasn’t a total consensus, but they did agree on one point.

Will John Fox start Mitch Trubisky? If he’s the best player

There is no doubt that 2017 will be all about saving his job for John Fox. After two ugly seasons with just nine total wins, he doesn’t have the luxury of time on his side. Never mind the fact he’s 62-years old. He needs to start winning games. In order to do that he has to play the best 22 players on offense and defense. Period.

Conventional wisdom says that Glennon being the veteran means he’s better. At least right now. However, a lot can change in two months. If Trubisky consistently outperforms going down the stretch towards the season opener, Fox will be faced with a tough call. Stick with experience or ride the guy that is showing more on the field, even if it’s not live bullets.

If nothing else, remember this: Fox was willing to replace Kyle Orton in 2011 with Tim Tebow. So it’s definitely not out of the realm of possibility that he’d basically say, “Screw it,” and hand the keys to Trubisky.

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