Honestly, at this point anything that looks difficult for Javier Baez really isn’t because he makes the hardest plays look easy. It might only be his second spring training game of 2017, but the Chicago Cubs infielder is still out here flashing some leather.
Seriously, MLB needs to make a new category for gold glove winners who play all over the field like Baez did last year and is probably going to do again. During Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Indians, Baez showed why he’s flat out awesome.
Everybody has been so busy talking about the quarterbacks and the secondary for the Chicago Bears that it’s easy to miss another vital area they have problems at. Outside of Zach Miller, who was lost to injured reserve for second time in three years, this team has zero credible weapons at that position they can bank on moving forward.
Logan Paulsen is leaving via free agency (thankfully). He was a penalty machine during his short stint. Ben Braunecker was an intriguing undrafted free agent but didn’t see much action. Daniel Brown had some interesting flashes but was hardly a consistent threat. MyCole Pruitt and Justin Perillo are training camp bodies for this summer.
If the Bears are going to bring in a young quarterback, doesn’t it make sense for the team to add as many legitimate weapons as possible? Having a big tight end who can create mismatches would be a welcome luxury. Good news then because this 2017 offseason should be rich in potential solutions.
I’m not really a big fan of fights happening in the NHL, but I can’t lie about thinking Saturday night’s brawl was awesome between the Chicago Wolves and Iowa Wild of the AHL.
It started on the ice and ended with security guards separating players near the locker room. Vince Dunn of the Wolves and Kurtis Gabriel of the Wild, were both hit with a fighting major in the third period that soon escalated off-ice. Dunn appears to jaw at Gabriel, who then lunges at the Chicago player. A punch is thrown, but has no impact on Dunn, who then throws a straight right hand that puts Gabriel on his ass.
Here’s how the action got started.
Vicious right hand by Dunn and the entire scene off-ice reminds of those backstage fights in the WWF. The anticipation, the drama, the action. The ultimate knockout punch. This had it all.
Anytime a long-tenured starting quarterback is about to leave, it creates a vacuum. One where speculation and rumor swirl like a mighty maelstrom during a hurricane. In it, fans can’t tell which direction is which. The wind is howling from every direction and all they have is basic instinct to navigate by. It is this reality that Chicago Bears faithful have suddenly been dropped into.
After eight seasons the Jay Cutler experiment is finally at an end. With the leaked announcement that the team would try to trade him this offseason, it’s apparent GM Ryan Pace finally plans to make his move at the quarterback position. Cutler will depart Chicago with a 52-52 record. A fitting testament to his up-and-down career with the Bears.
All eyes are turned towards the future and incessantly ask the question. Who will be next? The options appear plentiful but there is no certainty as to what this regime has planned. All they know for sure is that “everything is on the table” as Pace put it. In other words the QB solution can come from anywhere. It’s a matter of timing and luck.
The defending World Series champions began their spring training schedule on Saturday, with two split-squad games against the Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants. Just like last year, the Chicago Cubs are on their way to setting an attendance record in the Cactus League. The game against Oakland was a sellout at Sloan Park and despite the calendar reading Feb. 25, players felt like they were in a regular-season game because of the atmosphere.
This was certainly a reason why Cubs fans were especially pumped up for the first spring training game.
Nearly 15,000 fans filled Sloan Park on Saturday afternoon, and Mike Montgomery was definitely pumped up. The lefty is competing for the fifth spot in the rotation along with fellow left-handed pitcher Brett Anderson.
Montgomery was on the mound for the final out of the World Series in 2016, and he was the first to pitch for the Cubs in 2017. In both occasions, the crowds were great, despite one being in a spring training game.
Mike Montgomery said he had a ton of adrenaline for a spring game due to an amped up crowd.
At this point the Chicago Bears are looking for any edge they can get in order to find a quarterback. Not just any quarterback either. One who can finally put a stop to decades of misery and mediocrity at the most important position in pro football. A position that has routinely held this franchise back from its rightful place among the NFL elite.
It’s not something GM Ryan Pace is taking lightly. Odds are that’s because it’s a decision that has destroyed many others who have held his job in years past. Whatever player he picks, or doesn’t pick for that matter, could determine both the outcome of this franchise for the next decade and his place as an executive in the entire league.
Will he be a Ted Thompson (Aaron Rodgers) and John Schneider (Russell Wilson) or the next Gene Smith (Blaine Gabbert) and Ray Farmer (Johnny Manziel)? No doubt he’s going to do his homework on this upcoming draft class. Not going to leave anything to chance. When it comes time to make a decision, he’ll want to know everything.
The name Zach Azzanni was a complete unknown to NFL fans everywhere just a week ago. He was enjoying a quiet but fulfilling existence as the wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator for the Tennessee Volunteers. Almost out of nowhere he received a call and request from the Chicago Bears. He’d had no advanced warning about it and wasn’t sure what it was all about.
Turns out they were interested in making him their next receivers coach. According to the Knoxville New Sentinel, Azzanni was absolutely blindsided when he got word that the Bears were interested.
To say Zach Azzanni was surprised by the interest from the Chicago Bears would be an understatement.
The University of Tennessee wide receivers coach had no clue he was even on any NFL radars.
“Hell yeah, I was shocked. Absolutely,” Azzanni said late Wednesday night. “I was all full speed, throttle down for next season here. That thing came and kind of staggered me a little bit.”
Indeed it was also somewhat of a shock to the NFL media and Bears fans. Most had expected the team to explore the pro ranks for their next solution. Somebody with experience who could help further the development of young guys like Cameron Meredith and Kevin White. When word hit that it Azzanni, people were left scrambling for an idea of who he was.
For the second time this season, Chicago Bulls fans have bitched so much, forcing a player to change his jersey number. First, it was Michael Carter-Williams and now it’s one of the newest members on the Bulls, Anthony Morrow.
After being traded to the Bulls by the Oklahoma City Thunder along with Cameron Payne and Joffrey Lauvergne, Morrow picked out his new jersey number. With the Thunder he was No. 2 and before Friday night Morrow was No. 1 with the Bulls.
According to the game notes, Anthony Morrow will wear No. 1, Cameron Payne will wear No. 22 and Joffrey Lauvergne will wear No. 77.
And just like Carter-Williams back in October, Morrow quickly learned about the insane Derrick Rose fans because before the night was over, Morrow decided to change his jersey number after a constant flow of bitching.
The fact he felt the need to apologize is embarrassing. What the fuck is wrong with these fans? What are they holding on to?
By no means do I hate Derrick Rose. He was the reason the Bulls ever had a chance at competing in the Eastern Conference since 1998. Youngest MVP in league history. That was all great. But who are we kidding? Why do some feel the need to project something that doesn’t exist? Why are people acting like players have the audacity to come to Chicago and ask for the No. 23?
Did I miss the time Rose led the Bulls to a championship and that’s why fans are so mad that other players would ever dare to wear No. 1? That’s like Cubs fans getting pissed off because someone wants to wear the No. 34, because Kerry Wood used to wear it.
AND IT’S THE SECOND TIME TO HAPPEN IN ONE SEASN!
You know what, earlier I stumbled upon this on Facebook.
Yeah, I was laughing too, but you’d be shocked by how many people argued yes. Anyway, after this show of bullshit by fans the Bulls might as well retire No. 1 because every player is going to be scared off by fans if they pick it.
#Bulls should probably just go ahead and retire Derrick Rose's No. 1 since no one can wear the thing.
So, what’s next? No one is allowed to wear the No. 2 because Eddy Curry is from Chicago and he played for the Bulls. Or, no one can wear No. 2 because Nate Robinson had a crazy fourth quarter in the playoffs one time.
This garbage makes Bulls fans look bad.
Bulls fans don't play lmao. We know Rose is our MVP and we'll be damned if anyone wears his number 😂 respect to @MrAnthonyMorrow , thank you
After Jimmy Butler scored five straight points, including a go-ahead jumper with 9.1 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns had a chance to beat the Chicago Bulls on Friday night. However, the second-year guard choked.
Dwyane Wade was called for a shooting foul on Booker, with less than two seconds left in the fourth quarter. Booker stepped up to the free throw line, down two points with a chance to win the game for the Suns. All night, Phoenix struggled from the line, but Booker calmly knocked down the first two free throws to tie the game at 108.
Then, Booker felt the pressure.
The game went into overtime and it was all Chicago in the final five minutes.
Hall of Fame head coach Bill Parcells had a great saying. “You are what your record says you are.” Since the Chicago Bears were 3-13 this past season, it’s clear they weren’t a very good team. Granted, injuries played a big role in that. Even so there is a lot of work for them to do if they’re going to have any hope of taking a real swing at playoff contention in 2017.
The positions of greatest need have long since been laid out and dissected. Quarterback tops the list with the defensive secondary and tight end not far behind it. Wide receiver threatens to join the fray depending on what happens in the next couple weeks with Alshon Jeffery. He could leave via free agency, creating an entirely new problem.
One area that hasn’t drawn much discussion of late is the offensive line. Specifically the tackle positions. Part of that is because there are disagreements about its state. Some believe the edge will be sufficient with Charles Leno Jr. and Bobby Massie in place. Others disagree and feel an upgrade should be sought. So who is right?
