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Kendall Wright Still Sounds Pissed At His Former Team

By
Erik Lambert
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bears kendall wright

There was a minor buzz when the Bears Kendall Wright signing went down back in the early part of free agency. If nothing else Chicago was getting a former first round. Clearly someone thought the guy had enough talent to be one of the top receivers in the league. For whatever reason though things just kind fizzled during his time with the Tennessee Titans. Just one of those things, right?

Well apparently not in his mind. Wright did not sound like a man who accepted the reality of him just having a bit of a regression over the past couple seasons. During the first Bears minicamp practice prior to the summer break before training camp, he was asked what motivates him. He had no issues calling out his former team for how they used him on offense.

“What motivates me the most is I was probably the best receiver on the Titans roster last year and I was playing like 10 plays a game.”

Shortly later he was asked why he was used in such a manner.

“That’s a question I can’t [answer]. Ask them,” he said. “They’ll feel it after this year.”

That’s a pretty loud boast to make, but is it well-founded? When examining some of the stats from last season, surprisingly Wright may have a legitimate complaint.

Bears Kendall Wright allowed to carry chip on his shoulder

According to the numbers, Wright was targeted 42 times through the air in 2016. He caught 29 of those passes for 416 yards and three touchdowns. That might sound like he got some pretty decent action, but no. Turns out four other players got more targets than him including running back DeMarco Murray with 67. If that weren’t enough, Murray only had 377 yards receiving despite being targeted more. Rookie receiver Tajae Sharpe was thrown to 83 times, nearly double that of Wright, and yet managed just 522 yards and two touchdowns.

So in essence Wright was getting much more bang for his buck. It’s easy to understand his frustration now. It’s hard seeing other guys get the ball when you know you can do more with it. That would explain why he chose to sign in Chicago. Dowell Loggains was his offensive coordinator in Tennessee from November 2012 through 2013. During their subsequent 20 games together, Wright was targeted 165 times.

Early impressions from OTA practices were that Wright looked good. He was making a lot of nice catches. It would seem his love for the Loggains offense hasn’t changed. That could be a huge boost for the Bears. They need all the help they can get as they try to break in two new quarterbacks. One thing is certain. Wright sounds like a man dead set on proving his former team made a gigantic mistake.

That can only mean good things for Chicago.

Joakim Noah Is Really Happy LeBron James & The Cavs Lost

By
Matt Peck
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joakim noah really happy lebron james cavs lost

Joakim Noah still isn’t a very big fan of Cleveland.

Back in 2010, during LeBron James’ first stint with the Cavaliers, a young Joakim and the underdog Bulls fought like hell but were no match for the league’s best player. Noah and an inexperienced kid named Derrick Rose only managed one win against Cleveland before being ousted in the first round.

Earlier that season, Noah turned some heads with a few harsh words about the city of Cleveland. Later, during their playoff visit, Noah was asked if he regretted any of the comments he made about the Midwestern city. He doubled down.

After LeBron ditched his hometown team to join forces with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami, he met the Bulls in the playoffs again. This time in the Eastern Conference Finals, as the young Bulls blossomed under new coach Tom Thibodeau and the meteoric rise of an MVP Rose. When LeBron and the Heat dispatched the Bulls in 5 games, Noah gave them their due credit. He also couldn’t resist calling them “Hollywood as hell.” No denying that, Jo.

Noah left the Bulls in free agency last summer, and the old Rose-Noah-Thibs teams feel like ages ago. The scrappy center had a tough year with the Knicks, and took plenty of criticism from New York fans for failing to play to the level of his new $72 million contract. He was also suspended 20 games for violating the league’s anti-drug policy after using supplements to aid his recovery from injury. Calling Noah’s 2016-17 season challenging would be a gross understatement.

But on Monday night, he probably fell asleep with a smile. LeBron “Hollywood as hell” James and his Cleveland team were vanquished by the Warriors in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

When Noah saw a post trolling the Cavaliers on Instagram, he couldn’t help but click that heart-shaped “like” button.

SB Nation’s Ricky O’Donnell, a recent guest on The 312 podcast, noticed Noah’s Instagram handle “stickity13” had recently liked the post and tweeted a screenshot for the world to see.

Kevin Love = Crying Jordan, Kyrie Irving = Mugshot Tiger, LeBron = Crying LeBron.

Joakim Noah = tickled, amused, very happy.

“What’s so good about Cleveland?”

Bears Could Add Another Intriguing Former Patriot To Roster

By
Erik Lambert
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tre' jackson bears

In case people haven’t heard it already the first 10,000 times, Chicago may have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades. With respect to how hard Jay Cutler tried, of course. Whether it’s Mike Glennon or Mitch Trubisky? That remains to be seen. One thing is clear. The priorities of the organization are now geared towards making one of those young men a success in this city. That includes premium blocking. Perhaps a Tre’ Jackson Bears deal would be a big help.

Wait who? Time for some backstory. According to multiple sources, the Bears had three players in for a tryout during their first mandatory minicamp practice. One of them was the young guard Jackson, a former fourth round draft pick of the New England Patriots.

Many felt at the time that he would be a steal for them. Not a surprise given the success they’ve had with drafting offensive linemen in the past. However, for one reason or another it didn’t work out. After failing a physical with the Rams, it appears he’s healthy and working out. If the Bears do end up signing him, would it be the right move?

Tre’ Jackson Bears idea could really work if handled right

According to Mark Dulgerian of NFL.com, Jackson was rated as a second or third round talent in 2014. A highly experienced guard who helped Florida State win a national championship. The feeling was if his health was right, he’s one of the best guards in the country. One that fits the Bears’ style no less.

“Jackson is the ideal big body you want in an interior lineman. He’ll earn his paycheck primarily as a run block specialist. If he can stay healthy he could compete for a starting spot on a team that has had its share volatility along the offensive line.”

Age makes the risk worth it

That would explain a lot. Injury was a big reason why Jackson had a falling out in New England. He suffered a knee injury late in 2015 at a point where he was starting to find his stride. That problem lingered in 2016 to where he was placed on the PUP list and never came off. In that space of time the Patriots kept adding young interior blockers via the draft and then won the Super Bowl without him. The writing was on the wall at that point.

With this said, it’s important to note that Jackson is only 24-years old. This tryout signifies whatever medical issues he had have cleared up. The Bears learned last year there is no such thing as too much depth. They put a heavy premium on quality interior blocking. If Jackson is healthy and in decent enough condition, he’d be worth a one-year flier to see whether he’s worth a longer investment.

Assuming the scouting report is correct, he could end up becoming a big help to the continued success of Jordan Howard and that running game. To say nothing of his understanding on protecting a franchise quarterback as he did with Tom Brady and Jameis Winston.

Theo Epstein Has Proved To Be A Trade Magician

By
David Holmes
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When Theo Epstein became Chicago’s President of Baseball Operations in 2011, he was inheriting a team that needed a full rebuild from the ground up. Coming off three straight losing seasons the Cubs front office went to work not only improving the farm system but systematically improving the big league club as well.

The Cubs have built up to the team we see today in a variety of ways. Through the draft and the international market, Chicago has been able to land Wilson Contreras, Javier Baez, Kyle Schwarber, and Kris Bryant. The team has also been active in free agency by adding Jason Heyward, Jon Lester, Ben Zobrist, John Lackey, and David Ross.

However, when evaluating Theo Epstein and his roster construction there has been one method he has excelled at. He has consistently made shrewd trades to help perfect the World Series winning roster we see today.

Below are some of Epstein’s most impactful trades during his tenure as the Cubs President.

Honorable Mentions:

RHP Kyle Hendricks and INF Christian Villanueva from Rangers for RHP Ryan Dempster

When Theo Epstein first looked to move Dempster, the Atlanta Braves were the preferred trading partner at the time. However, Dempster had other ideas and vetoed the trade. The Cubs finally settled on the Rangers and shipped Dempster off to Texas for Christian Villanueva and then unheard of pitching prospect Kyle Hendricks. Since then Hendricks has cemented himself as the No. 3 starter and was a 2016 NL Cy Young Award contender.

RHPs Justin Grimm, Carl Edwards Jr., 3B Mike Olt, RHP Neil Ramirez from Rangers for SP Matt Garza

On July 22, 2013, the Cubs sent Matt Garza to the then contending Rangers in a multi-player blockbuster. While Mike Olt and Neil Ramirez never blossomed into impactful members of the Cubs, the other two players involved have proven to be important contributors to the bullpen.

Justin Grimm has been streaky so far in his career with the Cubs, but when he is on, he is one of the more difficult relievers to go against. Carl Edwards also known as “The String Bean Slinger” has been fantastic. Over three seasons he sports a 2.80 ERA, 12.59 strikeouts per nine innings, and a 1.1 WAR. He’s only 25 years old and has the potential to become a shutdown closer in the future.

LHP Aroldis Chapman from Yankees for SS Gleyber Torres, OF Billy McKinney, and RHP Adam Warren

This one may surprise some people as an honorable mention. The Cubs did have to part ways with some significant prospects in order to land Chapman. Apart from Adam Warren, the Cubs threw in Billy McKinney and Gleyber Torres, the latter now the No. 2 prospect in the Yankees system. It worked out in the end for the Cubs as Chapman was dominant throughout the playoffs was one of the main reasons why the Cubs ended their World Series drought.

The Top Five:

  1. CF Dexter Fowler from Astros for RHP Dan Straily, INF Luis Valbuena

When Chicago acquired Fowler, they were in desperate need of a leadoff hitter and a center fielder. Luckily for the Cubs Fowler filled both roles and only cost a minor league pitcher and an infielder with no clear path to Wrigley. After his first season in which he vastly improved the defense in centerfield and the offense at the leadoff position, Fowler returned on a one-year deal. His second season was even better than the first. After all, he was the first player to hit a leadoff home run in Game Seven of the World Series.

  1. LHP Mike Montgomery and RHP Jordan Pries from Mariners for 1B Dan Vogelbach and RHP Paul Blackburn

The trade for Mike Montgomery was another case of Epstein trading from a position of strength to bolster a weakness in the Cubs lineup. Dan Vogelbach while an impressive hitter was buried on the Cubs infield depth chart. Mike Montgomery became a very important member of the Cubs bullpen throughout the 2016 playoffs. Pitching 14 ⅓ innings, with a 3.14 ERA including being on the mound for the last out of Game Seven against the Indians.

  1. RHPs Jake Arrieta and Pedro Strop from Orioles for C Steve Clevenger and RHP Scott Feldman

With this trade, we start to see some of Epstein’s wizardry in the trading world. The Cubs sent a rental pitcher in Scott Feldman and backup catcher Steve Clevenger for RHPs Pedro Strop and Jake Arrieta.

Strop has been a solid addition for the bullpen with a 2.77 ERA while amassing 235 strikeouts. However, Jake Arrieta was the steal of this trade. Once he got the chance to work with pitching coach Chris Bosio he has turned himself into a top-level starter. He has over 600 strikeouts and a 3.10 ERA over the course of five seasons with the Cubs. During 2015 he had one of the best seasons ever with 22 wins and a ridiculous 1.77 ERA while taking home the NL Cy Young Award.

  1. SS Addison Russell, OF Billy McKinney, RHP Dan Straily from Athletics for RHPs Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel

Theo Epstein pulled off one of his most audacious trades in 2014 when he sent the top two starters at the time in Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel to Oakland in exchange for Billy McKinney, Dan Straily, and Addison Russell. While Straily and McKinney didn’t directly produce for the Cubs, they were both used in other Cubs trades that helped build the Cubs roster.

Addison Russell was the crown jewel of this trade. At the time he was one of the top prospects in all of baseball. With his gold glove worthy defense he quickly became the starting shortstop and has gotten better each season including an All-Star selection in 2016. If his hitting can catch up to his defense then the Cubs just might have one of the truly elite shortstops in the game.

  1. 1B Anthony Rizzo, RHP Zach Cates from Padres for RHP Andrew Cashner, OF Kyung-Min Na

After only a few months as the new Cubs President of Baseball Operations, Theo Epstein went after a prospect he and the rest of the front office were familiar with from their time with Boston. The Cubs acquired the first franchise cornerstone in Anthony Rizzo for a hard-throwing Andrew Cashner.

At the time of the deal, some Cubs fans were leery of letting go of a pitcher with upper 90’s velocity, but the deal couldn’t have worked out better for the Cubs. Anthony Rizzo has become one of the best first basemen in the game. During his first six seasons with the Cubs, he has posted an impressive .860 OPS, 146 Home Runs, a 21.6 WAR, and took home his first Gold Glove in 2016. Rizzo is only 27 years old and on a very team-friendly deal for the next two years, it’s hard to imagine Theo topping this deal anytime soon.

Looking Like Another Win:

RHP Wade Davis from Royals for OF Jorge Soler

When the Cubs acquired Aroldis Chapman, it was clear that he was going to be nothing more than a rental. That meant Epstein would have to find another viable replacement during the offseason to ensure the Cubs maintained their stellar bullpen. Well, it would appear Theo did just that by stealing Wade Davis from the Royals in exchange for Jorge Soler.

Jorge Soler was a fan favorite by many and had shown plenty of flashes in during his young career as a Cub. He had a ridiculous postseason in 2015 posting an impressive .474 BA, and a 1.705 OPS. However, these flashes were intermittent and when he wasn’t dominating he was often injured and unable to contribute.

Since Wade Davis has come over he has been flat out dominant for the Cubs. He has converted all 13 save opportunities while only allowing four runs, with just three of them being earned. He has posted 31 strikeouts in 22.1 innings pitched. One thing’s for certain if he maintains this throughout the second half and into the playoffs, the Cubs will once again have a dominant closer to shut down opposing teams.

As the 2017 trade deadline approaches be on the lookout for Theo Epstein and the rest of the Cubs front office to strike gold again.

Scott Darling’s Farewell To Chicago Is Summer’s Most Captivating and Inspirational Read

By
Brian Foran
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I honestly can’t remember the last time something as harmless and well-meaning as a simple farewell elicited so many emotions from me all at once.

Former Blackhawk and current Carolina Hurricanes starting netminder Scott Darling took to The Player’s Tribune to issue a formal goodbye to his beloved hometown of Chicago and what ensues is a roller coaster of bittersweet and monumentally inspiring emotion.

You can read Darling’s touching story here.

As Darling reminds us all, there’s always sunshine lurking behind even the most ominous of clouds. He’s living proof that there exists no obstacle that can’t be overcome.

The Cubs Draft Pitchers Brendon Little And Alex Lange In The 1st Round

By
Sean Sears
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Almora, Bryant, Schwarber, and Happ. The four 1st round draft picks of the Theo Epstein era have all been hitters, a philosophy that has been well documented, and proven successful on more than one occasion. However, with the Cubs bursting at the seams with bonafide batsmen, the team is in desperate need of impact arms – and Epstein just drafted two of the best pitchers in this year’s draft.

The first was LHP Brendon Little, who was taken with the 27th overall pick.

And with the 30th pick, the Cubs took RHP Alex Lange.

Brendon Little, out of State College of Florida, and Alex Lange from LSU are two of the more polished arms in the 2017 draft and both own some truly filthy breaking balls. Lange, in particular, has been seen as one of the best arms in country when he can command his dive-bombing curveball.

Little has the stuff to be considered a top of the rotation type of arm, with a fastball that consistently hits in the high 90’s paired with his plus curveball and solid changeup. Little’s only knock is whether he has shown enough to be considered a top pick, only playing 15 total games at State College Of Florida. During his time with the Manatees, the six foot two inch Sophomore finished with a 2.53 ERA and compiled 133 strikeouts in 85.1 innings. Those numbers are excellent, but the sample size is small, making Little somewhat of a project arm. However, if the gamble turns in favor of the Cubs, Little could be the next ace of the future on the North Side. 

Alex Lange has been widely considered an absolute steal for the cubs at pick 30, featuring possible the best breaking ball in the draft.


In three season at LSU,  the 21-year-old amassed a career 2.88 ERA, 390 strikeouts with a 1.22 WHIP in 337 innings. Talking to scouts, Lange’s future with the Cubs might be the bullpen after losing some velocity on his fastball this season, dropping from 94-97 mph to 92-96 mph. If Lange wants to stick as a starter he will need to develop his changeup further, but his excellent combination of plus fastball and a plus curveball makes him a deadly late-innings option as well. 

Time will tell how these two are pan out for Chicago, but if there’s one guy Chicago should put their faith in, it’s Theo Epstein. The man keeps proving to all of baseball he’s eye for talent in unparalleled, and it seems as though he has netted himself two more  gems in the 1st round for the Cubs.



 

Bulls Insider Suggests Michael Reinsdorf Nearing Front Office Firings

By
Matt Peck
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bulls insider suggests michael reinsdorf fire gar forman john paxson

Bulls fans no longer have the NBA playoffs to distract them from the ugly offseason that awaits. By all logical accounts, Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo will return. Jimmy Butler won’t be traded. Nikola Mirotic will be re-signed, and next season’s roster will look very similar to the one that managed 41 wins and a first round exit as the 8th seed.

In their season-ending press conference, front office partners Gar Forman and John Paxson assured the media that coach Fred Hoiberg will return for the third year of his five year deal. They also gave the impression that their bosses, Jerry and Michael Reinsdorf, have faith in the GM and VP moving this Bulls team in the right direction. Fans in Chicago are starting to give up on the hope that either of the individuals who make up the cringe-worthy “GarPax” label will ever get canned and replaced.

Scholarships Revoked

Enter Joe Cowley, perhaps the biggest “stir the pot” member of Bulls media. The Chicago Sun-Times reporter, known for his willingness to say things others with press credentials won’t, appeared on 670 The Score’s Mully & Hanley Show Tuesday morning.

When asked to give Bulls fans a silver lining for the future, here’s what Cowley said:

“One thing I think Bulls fans should hang their hat on, I definitely think that the lifetime scholarships that have been handed out under Jerry Reinsdorf are about to be revoked under Michael Reinsdorf. People are being watched closely and I’d like to say that a couple people better get their résumés ready.” – Joe Cowley

Well that’s certainly something. It’s widely known that Michael Reinsdorf has taken over the day-to-day operations of the Bulls from his father Jerry, who’s 81 years old. The Bulls owner has always been a hands-off guy, very loyal to his employees. That’s true for his White Sox as well. But Michael? He’s a businessman, and perhaps a more ruthless one than his father. He’s all about this Bulls team making money. If fans start to abandon their loyalty (it’s already starting, actually) Michael won’t let some soft feelings get in the way of making changes to correct those financial losses.

The big question is: when might this happen? Cowley makes it sound as if GarPax – though he doesn’t mention them by name, the “couple people” isn’t very subtle – are on much hotter seats than Bulls fans previously believed. Will another .500 season and first round playoff exit next year be the final nail in the GarPax coffin we’ve all been waiting for? Will Michael have to convince his father that firing and replacing their longstanding front office is the right move? Jerry might be removed from the daily operations of the team, but as long as he’s breathing he still has the final say.

My advice for Bulls fans would be to take these comments for what they are, and nothing more. Cowley has a habit of saying lots of things before all the rocks are turned over. Sometimes he’s right, and he looks like a genius for being the first to say so. Sometimes he’s wrong. But Michael Reinsdorf putting GarPax on a much shorter leash than his father is definitely believable. Let’s hope Cowley’s right about this one.

The NBA draft is fast approaching, GarPax. Choose wisely.

Did Dennis Rodman Just Save An American Citizen In North Korea?

By
Matt Peck
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dennis rodman saves american citizen north korea

Um…did Dennis Rodman just give the United States government a huge gift and a lesson in diplomacy? The retired Bulls forward arrived in Pyongyang, North Korea this morning, according to a report from CNN.

Rodman has visited North Korea and its dictatorial leader Kim Jong Un on several occasions. In fact, The Worm refers to him as a “very good guy.” Still, Dennis has insisted on his previous visits that his presence in North Korea is simply for the goodwill and growth of the game of basketball. No more. Don’t call him a diplomat.

When caught for a quick word this morning, Rodman said he is, “just trying to open a door.”

But earlier this morning, the Associated Press broke some very interesting news:

Warmbier was one of four Americans being held in North Korean prisons. Did Rodman have something to do with this?

For more updates as news warrants, keep it here at Sports Mockery.

The Bears Backfield Received Their NFL Ranking From Top Expert

By
Erik Lambert
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bears running back depth chart

After having had time to take in what Chicago has done over the past few months, it’s time for an apology. GM Ryan Pace actually did a great job building the Bears running back depth chart. No seriously, think about it for a second. As anybody knows the basis of any position group is simple. Having one superstar at the top and then hopefully a series of able bodies who can help carry the load if he’s hurt.

Before anybody stopped to think about it, that’s exactly what Pace did. He found his star in Jordan Howard, fresh off his Pro Bowl rookie season. He’d already drafted Jeremy Langford the year before and retained Ka’Deem Carey. Then he increased the depth even further with the addition of rookie Tarik Cohen during this past draft.

Bears running back depth chart is diverse and deep

Suddenly the Bears have four running backs, each under the age of 26, who were highly productive in college. They also have varying skill sets, adding even more versatility to the stable. This is before including underrated free agent Bennie Cunningham and his special teams value.

People believe that Langford and Carey were destined to be cut the moment Cohen arrived. That’s not necessarily the case. The point of any position on a roster is to make it as deep as possible. Those two have flashed enough in the past to warrant keeping around. Sure, they’re not superstars as hoped but that no longer matters. Howard has that taken care of. They can just be the extra bodies to keep him fresh.

Media love is growing

In fact the Bears backfield is garnering more praise by the day. Cameron DaSilva of Fox Sports ranked it the fourth-best in the entire NFL.

“Jordan Howard is entering just his second season in the NFL, but he’s already one of the most underrated running backs around. He finished second in rushing last season to only Ezekiel Elliott, racking up 1,313 yards and six touchdowns on only 252 carries. He averaged a healthy 5.2 yards per carry behind a not-so-great Bears offensive line, which was the most impressive part of his season.

Howard is going to carry the Bears’ offense again with the passing game likely to struggle, and a sophomore slump shouldn’t be expected. He said he’s lighter and faster this offseason, and he’s eager to prove he wasn’t a one-year wonder. Jeremy Langford and rookie Tarik Cohen – the Human Joystick – are good complements to Howard, as well, providing the Bears depth at running back.”

Most experts are making it out to seem like the Bears are a one-back team. It’s basically Jordan Howard and nobody else. They refuse to acknowledge that Langford, Carey and now Cohen bring something to the table as well. Don’t forget Langord had over 800 total yards as a rookie. He just never got going last year because he got hurt early in the season, allowing Howard to ascend. That happens. It doesn’t automatically make him a bad player.

Don’t be surprised if the backup dancers get their own solos at some point this season and knock it out of the park.

White Sox Select 3B Jake Burger With Eleventh Overall Pick

By
Emmet McClain
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Rick Hahn has added another piece to the puzzle for the White Sox, drafting Missouri State 3B Jake Burger. Burger has soft hands and an incredible work ethic that should see him be able to stay at the hot corner longterm, but he could move to 1B or DH if the team thinks that is best. He has at least 20 home runs each of his last two seasons, and won Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year, as he hit .343, belted 22 home runs, and knocked in 63. Comparisons are being drawn to Kevin Youkilis and Hunter Pence as he seems to get the job done, but sometimes ugly fashion.

Scouting Grades

Hit: 50 | Power: 55 | Run: 50 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 55

Burger has plus-plus power to all fields and generates his pop from his strength as opposed to bat speed, but he also is advanced enough at the plate to hit for average as well. What is also important is that the White Sox drafted not only a good player, but filled a position of need, killing two birds with one stone.

Burger’s makeup is another thing the White Sox probably love about him, as he is always striving to get better. Burger is a player willing to make adjustments and sacrifices for the benefit of the team.

Final Thoughts

Jake Burger is one of the best college bats in the entire draft. A slugger who can also hit for average, Burger should one day find himself in the middle of the White Sox lineup. Staying at third base is more than possible, but could be moved to first base or DH as well. A hard worker with a great personality, Burger should be welcomed with open arms to the White Sox organization. At the end of the day, this was a very solid pick by Rick Hahn and the rest of the front office.


 

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