Tuesday, August 28, 2018


August 26, 2018
I was very disheartened when I heard Coach Matt Nagy decided not to play his starters Saturday against the Kansas City Chiefs. With a new offensive system and a young quarterback, they need to play in games and not just practice. All you’ve seen up to now, is two quarters and two series of an inconsistent offense. They’ll have 21 days off until their first game.

I understand they didn’t want to risk injuries. However, good teams beat inexperienced, healthy ones. Nagy also said in a week that they were game planning and he felt the practicing and preparation were good enough to sit his starters. Good practices against your own team in a controlled environment does not translate into victories. How many times did John Fox, after an abysmal loss, scratch his head and mumble jumble that they had a good week of practice.

Who knows for sure what to expect? The offense now has receivers to throw to and good running backs. Nagy seems to have installed a present day offense using multiple formations, running different plays off the same offensive sets.  However, there is a big difference between having the plays and sending them in from the sideline. He has only called plays five times in his career. I will admit his team scored points. The difference is he had a veteran offense and a proven quarterback. People I talk to say I should give Nagy the benefit of the doubt. That’s okay because I have a lot of doubt.

The defense can rest because theys have experience. Defensive guru Vic Fangio has been a mastermind in putting together a defense that will keep the Bears competitive in most games. Resting the defense should get everybody revved up and ready to go. Aikeem Hicks, Prince Amukamara and the oft injured Leonard Floyd, can use the time off to recover from injuries and be ready to face the Packers in the opener. Staying healthy all year is key to this defense.

If I were to grade GM Ryan Pace he would receive a D-.  Start with the hiring of John Fox for a young team. He became one of the worst coaches in Bear history. Trading up to draft Mitch Trubiisky. He was supposed to sit all year as an understudy to Mike Glennon, probably the worst free-agent signing in Bear history. Trubisky may become a real good quarterback but the Bears could have drafted a stud defensive lineman who could have made an immediate impact. This was the year to draft a quarterback, but that’s water under the bridge.  Pace was in his own world when he unnecessarily traded up in the previous two drafts. This year the biggest need was a defensive end. I wonder if a deal could have been struck to move up from the eighth pick to the fifth pick to draft defensive end, Bradley Chubb. He would been a much better fit than Roquan Smith. Smith may turn out to be a very good player. The way the Bears stupidly negotiated his contract caused him to hold out. Trying to get ready in a hurry, he had a hamstring injury.  So Bears. Mabey a D- was too high.

I hope I am wrong about this mess. Maybe Nagy and the offense can score more than the defense gives up. The problem is with the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings and the Detroit Lions the Bears are the worst team in their conference. I haven’t seen enough to predict their record. When they hired Nagy both he and Pace said to temper your expectations. That being the case, 8-8 would be the best you can hope for.

What are your feelings and predictions for the Bears? Let me know if I am way off base.

Tuesday, August 21, 2018

Cubs Lore and Michael Kopech

August 18, 2018



The seventh game of the 2016 World Series will always be the best game in the Cubs history. However, there are other memorable games. I wasn’t around in 1938 for Gabby Harnett’s Homer in the Gloamin’ but I do remember the Sandberg game. It was 1984 where the Cubs would reach the post season for the first time in thirty-nine years. It was a wild and windy Saturday afternoon and a back and forth game. The Cardinals were ahead by one run in the ninth inning. They brought in Bruce Sutter, a future Hall of Fame reliever, to close out the game. Sandberg tied the game with a lead- off homer. The Cardinals scored two runs in the top of the 10th. With two outs Sandberg faced Sutter again and hit a two-run homer to even the score. The Cubs ended up winning 12-11. Sandberg went 5 for 6 with two home runs and seven RBI.

Why do I post this? The David Bote game. Last weekend against the Washington Nationals the Cubs were on the verge of being shut for the second time in two days. Losing 3-0 heading into the bottom of the ninth, the Cubs load the bases with two outs. In a scenario that players young and old of dream of, David Bote hits a Grand Slam to win the game. Next up were two meaningless games against the Milwaukee Brewers. The Cubs were shut out in the first game and won the second, scoring eight runs
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Will the real Jon Lester please stand up? As of late he has been very good and equally as bad.  This is not what you want in your number one starter. He did throw six scoreless innings in the Cubs 1-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. The way Cole Hamels is going, maybe he should be your number one? He has been nothing short of spectacular, throwing seven scoreless innings in another 1-0 Cub victory. They followed this losing two games scoring only one run in each.

In the last nine games the Cubs have been shut out twice and scored only one run in four other games.  You can’t win if you don’t score any runs. You’re not going to win many games scoring one run. The Cubs pitching may be very good, but if the bats go silent (like last year against the Dodgers), there could be some agonizing moments before they get to the playoffs. Despite all this the Cubs are 3 1/2 ahead and still five in the loss column.

Glory be! The White Sox bring up top prospect Michael Kopech who will start Tuesday. I know there are going to be comparisons to Chris Sale. Sale is the best pitcher in baseball from April-July, then he stumbles and gets knocked around, putting himself out of contention for the Cy Young Award. My hope is that Kopech is more like Justin Verlander. Where is Eloy Jimenez?

If there is something worse than the White Sox, it must be the Kansas City Royals. Five and five in their last ten, it looks as if the White Sox may win more than fifty games. That’s nothing to be proud of, but not as bad as the Royals or the Baltimore Orioles. The White Sox should bring up Jimenez and move Nicky Delmonico to third and bench Sanchez and his .303 on base percentage and no power. That would be a nice upgrade.

Carlos Rodon is worth the price of admission. Since regaining his strength after surgery he has been lights out. He is a number one pitcher and what you need to lead a young pitching staff. Maybe the other youngsters, who are having as expected their ups and downs, will figure it out for next year. Maybe then the White Sox can earn some R. E. S. P. E. C. T. Sorry, couldn’t resist an Aretha reference.

Monday, August 13, 2018

Cubs Keep on Trucking White Sox Keep on Losing


August 10, 2018

Facing two last- place  teams, the Cubs had a chance to put some space between themselves and their challengers. In the four games against the San Diego Padres, the Cubs only managed a split. They beat the Kansas City Royals in the first two games. Winning game three would have redeemed their poor showing against the Padres. However, in what has become a recurring theme, the Cub bats went silent and they were shut-out] by Royals rookie Heath Fillmyer. The Cubs, who used to feast on these types of teams,] went a disappointing 4-3.

You would think they may miss the playoffs if they keep underachieving. There is no chance of this happening. Before the series started, the Cubs were up 1 1/2 games, three in the loss column. As it stands right now they are 2 games ahead, four in the loss column. Their closest competitors, the Milwaukee Brewers, do not seem capable of consistently winning games.  The Cubs have a better chance of putting together a winning streak, despite how they are currently playing. Come September,  Kris Bryant and closer Brandon Morrow should be back. With a month under their belts they should ready for the postseason.

I can go on and on about how bad the White Sox are. They were playing a little better, but then the Yankees came to town and beat them three straight, with only one game being close. In game two, Reynaldo Lopez went seven innings giving up one run. As usual the bullpen faltered in the 10th  inning, giving up two runs. However, with two outs in the bottom of the inning, red -hot] Jose Abreu tied the game with a   two- run  homer. With one out in the 11th inning, Sox manager, Ricky Renteria changes pitchers for a lefty vs. lefty match up. Problem is, he walks the batter and the next two hitters are righties. Yankees score the winning run.

During the series, White Sox center fielder  Adam Engle made two outstanding catches on balls that would have been home runs. I’m thinking, he would be a real good fourth or fifth outfielder as a defensive replacement. The Sox have to find someone who hits over .215, preferably with some power. There still are reasons to watch. Jose Abreu is possibly the hottest hitter. Since the all-star break he has a 1.144 OPS. Not all prospects turn out to be good players. It will be interesting to see if Yoan Moncada improves. Speaking of prospects, where are Eloy Jimenez and Michael Kopech?
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Saturday, August 4, 2018

Dog Days of August


 August 3, 2018

In prior seasons the Chicago Cubs have gone on a tear after the all-star break. This year they are struggling. Their lead has shrunk to one game. They do however have a three game lead in the loss column. There are chinks in the armor and the pennant race may go down to the wire.

I’m not ready to anoint Cole Hamels as the savior. He pitched extremely well in his Cub debut. The only problem is like other Cub starters he didn’t make it to the sixth inning. Kyle Hendricks and Jose Quintana are guilty of this problem. Montgomery hasn’t pitched this many innings previously in his career and who knows how long he will last. You can wear out your bullpen before the September. Chasing the Cubs are the Brewers. Needing to shore up their pitching the Brewers added hitters to their team, not the pitching they desperately need to compete with the Cubs. They did acquire Joakim Soria for relief help.

In a loss Thursday night to the dreadfully awful San Diego Padres I believe you saw the real Jesse Chavez who along with other relievers stumbled in a six to one loss. Once again the hitting disappeared, the Cubs amassing only three hits. No one knows when Kris Bryant or Brandon Morrow will return. Cub fans are getting antsy and maybe losing a little confidence.  Alas, your next six games are against the aforementioned Padres and an even worse Kansas City Royals team. The Cubs, for the most part, feast on bad teams.


There is only one question regarding the White Sox. Will they promote Eloy Jimenez and Michael Kopech? The answer seems to be NO! General Manager, Rick Hahn, said so mumbo jumbo about a checklist which they haven’t completed. There are numerous players on the current roster that never completed that check list. The other reason at issue is they don’t want to lose service and keep them under control. I’m sure I get this but I think it’s a matter of six years instead of seven.  My question is if these players are as good as advertised woudn’t you want work out a contract after three years and have control for years to come? I think the Whte Sox owe to the suffering fan base to field the best team possible. Damn the checklist and service time.

Meanwhile, on the field, Carlos Rodon is showing he can be one of the top pitchers in the league. He is worth the price of admission. After the worst slump of his years in baseball, Jose Abreu is starting to be himself again. His eye and power have returned. Manager Ricky Renteria, needs to come to the realization that Danny Palka, not Matt Davidson should be the designated hitter, especially against what he can be. The problem for me is I expected him to improve as the season progressed, but he hasn’t. I know he’s a rookie and is learning. Someone needs to tell him that with two strikes some pitches are too close to take. You try to get a piece, maybe foul it off and get another pitch. He seems to be striking out looking..
right hand pitchers. Renteri also has to realize who’s on the opposing team’s bench when doing his matchup thing. Top prospect Yoan Moncada is striking out at a record pace. I have seen glimpses of