The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of Chicago Sports

The State of Football: Are NFL Teams Abusing the Franchise Tag?

2007-07-30T08:50:00.001-07:00

If you took a poll among NFL players today, you would probably be hard pressed to find one who wouldn't want to be thought of as "the franchise." Until free agency rolls around, that is, at which time what was once intended to be a flattering designation turns into a cause of discontent. If you are unfamiliar with the rules of the NFL, here is a quick breakdown of the franchise tag:

• A club can designate one franchise player in any given year.

• The salary level offered by a player's old club determines what type of franchise player he is.

• An "exclusive" franchise player -- not free to sign with another club -- is offered a minimum of the average of the top five salaries at the player's position, or 120 percent of the player's previous year's salary, whichever is greater.

• If the player is offered a minimum of the average of the top five salaries of last season at his position, or 120 percent of the player’s previous year’s salary, he becomes a “non-exclusive” franchise player and can negotiate with other clubs. His old club can match a new club's offer, or receive two first-round draft choices if it decides not to match. The signing period for non-exclusive franchise players to sign with new clubs is March 3 through November 9 (10th week of the season).

To understand how the NFL's franchise tag has evolved into a potentially abusive tool, allowing owners and general managers to hold their star players hostage, it's important to look at its history.

Wilber Marshall was the first player ever slapped with the franchise tag. Marshall’s challenge to football’s newborn free agency system threatened an agreement which was supposed to usher in an era of labor peace and end a decade of work stoppages and lawsuits.

In 1992, free agency did not yet exist in the NFL. Major League Baseball players won the legal right to test the market once their existing contracts expired in the mid-1970s, but the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) was unsuccessful in doing so. In 1974, after a preseason lockout, NFL owners devised a plan that forced teams to pay compensation if they signed a free agent from another franchise. The price, however, was steep — a first-round draft choice — thus, few free agents changed teams. The fight to change the system during the strike in 1982 proved to be futile and produced no results.

After the 1987 strike, the Players Association changed its approach and allowed players to challenge the league’s free agency system in court. The owners panicked and quickly moved to "Plan B free agency" which said teams were allowed to retain the rights for 37 players on each roster, leaving the rest to become free agents. This failed to satisfy the players, many of whom successfully challenged the system in court. Few star players changed teams under Plan B. Ironically, one of them was Wilber Marshall, who was lured away from the Bears by the Redskins with a five-year, $6-million deal in 1988.

By the end of the 1992 season, both players and owners knew that change was inevitable. The league had been operating without a collective bargaining agreement for five years. Players were winning major court battles, and Reggie White's case vs. the NFL threatened the league’s entire salary system.

On January 6th, 1993, the Players Association and team owners agreed to a collective bargaining agreement and free agency officially became part of the NFL. Nevertheless, for the players, it came with two catches: a salary cap, which would take effect in 1994, and a new set of "designations", the most notorious being the franchise tag, that would limit the bargaining power of many top free agents in the league. If a player was "franchised" his team could offer him a one-year contract and take the player off the market. Owners in the NFL did not want the salaries of the top players in the league to escalate to the same levels as that of Major League Baseball. Although, not completely satisfied, one "right-of-refusal" player per team was much better than 37 per team, so players accepted the compromise. A few weeks after the CBA was ratified, teams found themselves with a new dilemma: to tag or not to tag. Facing a strict February 28th deadline to designate franchise players, owners and GMs hustled to comprehend and apply the new rules.

On February 23rd, the Redskins officially tagged Marshall, a 31-year-old linebacker coming off a 138-tackle, six-sack, Pro Bowl season. Later that same year the 49ers tagged Steve Young, the Buccaneers tagged tackle Paul Gruber and the Chiefs tagged defensive end Neil Smith. On March 2nd, Marshall became the first player to fight the franchise tag when he filed a memorandum in federal court asking judge David Doty, the same judge who on February 26th gave preliminary approval to the CBA, to remove the designation.

“We think this is not a fair or a reasonable position into which Wilber should be forced,” agent Richard Bennett said.

A hearing date was set for April 16th. By then, all ten of the players who were franchised that year would file objections. Just days after it's inception, the franchise tag became the most despised guaranteed pay raise in all of sports.

Doty ruled in the favor of the NFL and on April 30, gave his final approval to the agreement, including the franchise tag. Doty called the CBA “fair, reasonable, and adequate.” He said the arguments of Marshall and the other franchised players were “extremely limited in scope” and suggested that overall market conditions favored them. In the mean time, Marshall was given permission by Washington to work out a contract with the Houston Oilers, where he would play under Buddy Ryan, his defensive coordinator on the 1985 Chicago Bears.

While the Oilers and Marshall were negotiating, the league and the NFLPA were re-wording the rules behind the franchise tag. The results were that now a team could sign away another team’s "non-exclusive" rights franchise player. The price, however, was two first-round draft picks. The "exclusive" rights franchise player would receive the average of the top five salaries at his position calculated at the end of the signing period, not the end of the previous season.

The franchise tag, of course, remains a big part of the NFL today, as does the hostility of the players who are designated as "the franchise." A tagged linebacker (Lance Briggs) will make more than $7 million next season. As much as that may seem to you and me, superstars who are slapped with the tag feel the same way Marshall did in 1993. Somewhere, another team is willing to offer more money, or a longer deal, or a larger signing bonus.

Over the last few months, big-name players like Lance Briggs, Asante Samuel (pictured above, failing in his attempt to cover Bernard Berrian), and Dwight Freeney have been franchised. As of now, Briggs ended his hold out, realizing he couldn't afford to pass up over $400,000 a week, and the Colts did the honorable thing and gave Freeney a $75 million extension. Samuel on the other hand, has yet to sign his name to the one-year, $7.79 million contract the Patriots have put on the table and is saying he will sit out until the 10th week of the season. By returning on week 10, he is guaranteed to recieve a pro-rated portion of the $7.79 million deal but if he sits out the entire year, he gets nothing and the Patriots could franchise him again next year.

A good compromise, as they say, is one that satisfies no one, but when you consider the alternatives such as sitting out and losing large sums of money, the franchise tag doesn’t seem so bad. Are owners and GMs abusing the power which the wording of the CBA has given to them? In some cases yes (Samuel), but many times these teams do right by their players (Dwight Freeney). For example from 2002-2004, the Seattle Seahawks franchised offensive lineman Walter Jones and paid him $17.3 million in tenders. In 2005 the team rewarded one of the league's best blockers with a 7-year $52.2 million deal.

"The tag, to me, was always kind of a compliment," Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said. "Now, it's like we're putting them in prison."

Players may despise being franchised, but the tag is now ingrained into the NFL's CBA and since it appears that there is no one prepared to fill the role of Wilber Marshall and challenge the league, don't count on the franchise tag going anywhere anytime soon.

The State of Basketball: Will Yi's Stance Set A Dangerous Precedent?

2007-07-19T09:48:00.001-07:00

Yi JianLian the sixth overall selection in the 2007 NBA draft is refusing to play for the team who selected him, the Milwaukee Bucks. His agent, Dan Fegan, and Chen Haitao, the president of his former team, the GuongDong Tigers, have demanded a trade that would send Yi to a team on their list of "approved cities" which include Chicago, Sacramento, Golden State, both Los Angeles teams, and New York. As wrong as this may seem, I feel it is important to provide an insight into the relationship bewteen the Chinese athlete and their government as well as a brief history lesson in regards to how China's athletics have shaped its past. By doing, it will be easier to understand the mindset of Yi, considering that the Chinese government permits him to say little, if anything at all.

According to Li YongYan, an esteemed analyst of business, economy, and politics in China, the motto of the Chinese athlete is, "I owe it to the party."

In China, athletes are brainwashed into staging extravagant tributes to the political leadership of their country. For example, in Athens, during the 2004 summer Olympic games, moments after a young Chinese girl won the gold medal in singles table tennis, a Beijing TV station went into the stands to interview her parents. Without hesitation, the father told all those watching back home that his daughter was a "good Communist Party member and her success was because of the party organization."

In essence, the father was right because the government and the Communist Party own all the Chinese athletes. In the words of YongYan, "They (the Chinese athletes) are trained, funded, and sent to the Olympics and to other sporting events, such as playing in the NBA, by the China Sports Bureau, a cabinet-level ministry in the government."

It is common knowledge that competitive sports require huge amounts of spending and, in some cases, generate little, if any, revenue (just ask the Florida Marlins). Yet, despite the cost, Beijing still retains a monopoly over Chinese athletics. Why would the government of China be willing to travel down the road of Capitalism when it is now allowing private and even foreign ownership in most other industries?

"The complete control of the Chinese government over telecommunications, aviation, the postal service and defense is easy to understand: national security and high profit margin are the two chief motivations," said YongYan. "But figure-skating and weightlifting never come close to making money or contributing to territorial integrity by any stretch of imagination."

The answer lies in history. Similar to how Adolf Hitler introduced a heavy dose of Nazi propaganda into the 1936 Berlin Olympics, China's association with sports has been, and always will be, closely intertwined with politics. During the reign of Mao Zedong, Beijing boycotted all international sporting events, refusing to compete along side both those Chinese who lived across the Taiwan Strait and his enemies from the West.

In the late 1970s, sports took a back seat as China had more pressing needs; revitalizing agriculture, for example. Then, in the early 1980's, something unexpected happened. China's women's volleyball team overcame seemingly unbeatable odds and clinched three consecutive world titles over a three-year span, winning the World Cup, the World Championship and the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.

The Chinese people were so inspired that a group of impressionable students took to the Beijing streets in celebration, labeling these victories as a "stimulus to revitalizing the Great China." To the delight of veteran propagandists, they found that athletic achievement provided a much-needed outlet for Chinese citizens to express their discontent with society.

Presently, it excites the Chinese people when their country's national anthem is played in a Western stadium. "When a red five-star flag is raised, the republic's past humiliation is washed away and replaced with a pride that every Chinese is thrilled to share,” said YongYan. "The 'Sick Man of East Asia' is now strong, is fast, and stands high and proud. Thus national prestige suddenly finds a new support in the able-bodied, professional athletes - instead of the export of communist ideology."

Thus, the government has increased the budget for competitive sports, although exactly how much is spent has never been clear. The most recent public budget report from the Treasury Ministry is from the year 2000 which states that a total of 2.6 billion yuan ($3.4 million) was allocated to "culture, sports and broadcasting."

This now brings us to the topic of Yi JianLian. Before the draft, Fegan and Haitao compiled a list of cities which they felt would best suit Yi. The Bucks not only weren't on the list, but they weren't even allowed to watch Yi workout in LA. Nevertheless, when it came time for Milwaukee to pick, sure enough, they took Yi, creating a major headache for the 19-year-old (supposedly) Chinese phenom and the NBA.

In his latest statement, Haitao said to the Chinese press on Tuesday that the lack of playing opportunity was the primary reason for Chinese officials' reluctance to allow Yi to sign with the Bucks.

"This is not - as media reports have said - because Milwaukee, as a city with very few Chinese people, is not good for Yi's commercial development," Haitao said. "Rather we want to find a team suitable for Yi's growth. That's the root of the problem."

Yeah, right. Yi plays as a power forward, a spot where the Bucks struggled with injuries last season and at times had undersized Ruben Patterson playing the position, so I don't believe that reasoning for a second. In addition, returning to the team is 6’11” Charlie Villanueva, who is coming off surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder. Seven-footer Andrew Bogut, the top pick in the 2005 NBA draft, is now firmly entrenched at center and plays a much different game than Yi, who is more perimeter-oriented and often faces the basket. Did Haitao notice that the Bucks were 28-54 last year and haven't had a real power forward since Larry Krystkowiak was on the floor instead of sitting on the bench in a suit? So, assuming for a minute that playing time is indeed the primary motivation here, do you think playing for a contender would make the situation better?. The Bucks could move Yi to a good team, like Chicago, San Antonio, Phoenix or Dallas, where he would get almost no playing time. Wouldn't that go against everything that Haitao is trying to accomplish? Doesn't he want Yi to be in top shape for international competition? If he was to be traded to a better team, he'd be so rusty by the time the Olympics rolled around that the trainer would need to keep an oilcan nearby.

"I need to know the Chinese word for 'hogwash' so I can e-mail it without delay to Chen Haitao," writes Michael Hunt (Who's the first person I've ever known to actually be named that) of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

An NBA spokesman said the league would not comment on the situation at this time. He said NBA Commissioner David Stern was still overseeing everything alongside Bucks' officials. One published report suggested that Milwaukee general manager, Larry Harris, may visit China next week, but a Bucks official said there were no imminent plans to do so. Commissioner Stern now finds himself between a rock and a hard place because he has been trying to expand the NBA globally and China has been one of his main targets. He doesn't want to upset the Chinese government, but at the same time he won't allow his league to be taken hostage.

The problem now is that Harris' cell phone isn't exactly wearing a hole through his designer britches. Other teams like Yi, but not enough to give up what it would be worth for the Bucks to part with the sixth overall pick in one of the deepest drafts in recent history. Let's put the situation in perspective. How long did it take Yao Ming to become a good NBA player? Three to four years, depending on whom you're asking. Oh, and by the way, he just happens to be playing in Houston, home to one of North America's largest Chinese communities.

So, here's the question: who's to blame? The answer to that is not a simple one. First of all, I think what Fegan and Haitao are doing is despicable. It's an honor and a privilege to be selected sixth overall into the best league in the world. You should play for whoever was kind enough to select you, period. That said, it's the wording of the NBA's own Collective Bargaining Agreement which gave Yi the loophole that Fegan is hoping to use in order to orchestrate a trade for his client. Under the CBA, if Yi were to sign with another team in Europe, for example, the Bucks would own his rights. However, if he didn't sign with another club and played only for China's national team, he could re-enter the draft in 2008.

Yes, what Yi's camp is trying to pull off is wrong, but no, it's not the first time something like this has happened. In 1999, Steve Francis was selected 2nd overall by the Vancouver Grizzlies. He vowed he would never play for Vancouver and was traded a few days later to the Houston Rockets. In the 2004 NFL draft, Eli Manning refused to suit up for the San Diego Chargers and was traded to the New York Giants. To complete the transaction, the Giants then selected Philip Rivers and sent him to San Diego. However, there is a major difference in Yi's case, that being the fact that he is controlled by a communist nation. Unless you are a citizen of Cuba, Haiti, or China you cannot claim that you are able to relate to Yi's situation. It should be made very clear: Yi is not in the wrong here. For all we know, he would love to play in Milwaukee, but the fact of the matter is that he will never be allowed to voice his opinion because the Chinese government won't allow it.

Now, let's turn the attention back to the Milwaukee Bucks. How in the world do you draft a player whose agent warned you ahead of time what would happen if you did? The only conceivable way that, as a general manager, you would do something like this is if you had a trade already in place that would send him to one of the teams on his list of approved cities. Otherwise, it is mind-blowing to me that Milwaukee had the arrogance to think that despite the warnings of Yi's camp, they could get him to play for their team. How could you open the door for the possibility of walking away from this debacle with literally nothing? Oh, I can just imagine the reaction from Bucks fans if Harris comes back empty-handed after the best draft since 1996.

Ultimately, Milwaukee should have passed on Yi and drafted Brandon Wright, who they claimed they fell in love with after his private workouts. Yi would have slipped past Minnesota and Charlotte (because it's hard to believe that there are two other GMs in the league stupid enough to select him when they weren't on his list) and he would have ended up in Chicago. Funny story: had the Bobcats not blown a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter against the Knicks on the last day of the season, the Bulls, who had New York's pick in the draft, would have had the sixth selection instead of Milwaukee.

In the end, I predict that the Bucks will trade Yi to another team. There's no way that Harris can tell his fans that he has nothing to show for the sixth pick in the draft. It's an unfortunate situation that Milwaukee finds itself in, but again, it's not as if they weren't warned about what would happen. Hate to say they told you so...

Potential Trade Targets for the Cubs at the Deadline

2007-07-18T16:36:00.000-07:00

TAMPA BAY:

1. Carl Crawford (LF)
2. Ty Wigginton (UT)

Analysis:

Carl Crawford is a young superstar-to-be. He is a left-handed, speedy outfielder who would fit perfectly into the two-hole in the Cubs lineup. He his currently batting .281 with 6 HR, 51 RBI, and 27 SB. Soriano and Crawford would give the Cubs the best 1-2 punch in the league.

Ty Wigginton, a former Pirate, would provide depth to the Cubs’ bench. He’s started games at 1B, 2B, and 3B this year for Tampa Bay. He’s currently batting .281 with 13 HR and 46 RBI.

Proposed Trade:

Jacques Jones, Ryan Dempster, Felix Pie, Jake Fox, and Donald Veal to Tampa

Carl Crawford and Ty Wigginton to Chicago

BALTIMORE:

1. Miguel Tejada (SS)
2. Daniel Cabrera (SP)

Analysis:

Miguel Tejada’s career numbers speak for themselves. He is one of baseball’s bonafide superstars. On June 23rd he was hit by a pitch on the wrist which landed him on the 15-day DL. Yesterday he took the field for the first time and Baltimore expects him to see live pitching on July 24th, the day after his second MRI. If healthy he would make the middle of the Cubs’ lineup scarier than it already is. One thing to keep in mind is how Derek Lee’s power numbers went down after his wrist injury. Although, Tejada’s is much less severe (Lee had to sit out almost the whole year while Tejada will miss just over a month) will he have the same pop in his bat as before?

Ask anyone who knows baseball and they’ll tell you that Daniel Cabrera has nasty stuff. For some reason though, the light bulb just hasn’t turned on. In 2005 and 2006 he recorded 157 strikeouts. His highest win total, however, is only 12. If the Cubs were able to land Tejada in a deadline-deal, then Hendry might be willing to let Rothschild work with the young Cabrera. He has a low salary so it’s a low risk-high reward proposition.

Proposed Trade:

Jacques Jones, Ryan Dempster, Felix Pie, Jason Marquis, and Jake Fox to Baltimore

Miguel Tejada and Daniel Cabrera to Chicago

KANSAS CITY:

1. Gil Meche (SP)

Analysis:

The Cubs made it very clear at the Winter Meetings, that they wanted Meche on their team. As far as pure stuff goes, Meche ranks right at the top. When the Royals unexpectedly swooped in and made him an offer he couldn’t refuse, the Cubs were left disappointed and turned to Jason Marquis. Considering the team he plays for, Meche’s numbers (6-6, 3.69 ERA) are good. Lou Piniella managed him in Seattle so it would be a good fit for the Cubs and would give the team a second chance to acquire the guy they wanted all along.

Proposed Trade:

Jason Marquis, Jake Fox to Kansas City

Gil Meche to Chicago

TEXAS:

1. Kenny Lofton (CF)

Analysis:

Kenny Lofton (.309, 6 HR, 20 RBI, 20 SB) still has a lot left in the tank. In 2003, the Cubs made a playoff run with him in center field so why not again in 2007? The Cubs are in need of a true centerfielder after Felix Pie proved he was not ready to take over the job full-time. Lofton is versatile enough to bat either leadoff or in the second spot and, along with Soriano, would give the Cubs a potent top of the lineup.

Proposed Trade:

Jacques Jones, Sean Gallagher to Texas

Kenny Lofton to Chicago

HOUSTON:

1. Roy Oswalt (SP)
2. Mark Loretta (UT)

Analysis:

This is a long-shot considering that Oswalt is one of the best pitchers in the game and the Astros, if they would be wiling to trade him, would be hesitant to send him to a division rival. He would make the Cubs rotation one of the best, if not the best, in baseball. If Houston does put him on the market, how much would Hendry be willing to give up?

In 2003 the Cubs tried to acquire Mark Loretta (.307, 2 HR, 30 RBI), who was then a member of the San Diego Padres. He would provide the bench with the depth and is a versatile utility man. Loretta has played 1B, 2B, and 3B this year for Houston.

Proposed Trade:

Jacques Jones Felix Pie, Ryan Dempster, Jake Fox and Donald Veal to Houston

Roy Oswalt and Mark Loretta to Chicago

CINCINNATI:

1. Adam Dunn (LF)

Analysis:

I think the Cubs would actually prefer to acquire Ken Griffey Jr. instead of Adam Dunn, but with Griffey set to break the 600 HR record, the Reds will want to keep him around this season to fill the seats. Regardless, Dunn (.257, 26 HR, 63 RBI) would be a huge addition to the middle of the Cubs’ lineup. The Cubs haven’t had as powerful a cleanup hitter as Dunn since Fred McGriff left town. Sure he strikes out a bunch, as all power hitters do, but he also draws a lot of walks and hits a ton of homeruns. Lee-Dunn-Ramirez would give the Cubs the most formidable 3-4-5 in the league. The one negative about Dunn is that his defense is a liability. Would Piniella and Hendry be willing to look past that?

Proposed Trade:

Jacques Jones Felix Pie, Jake Fox and Donald Veal to Cincinnati

Adam Dunn to Chicago

PITTSBURGH:

1. Xavier Nady (RF)

Analysis:

Nady (.283, 14 HR, 51 RBI) is having a breakout year and the Pirates realize they won’t be able to afford him if he keeps producing. He has a cannon for an arm, would be a perfect fit for the fifth or sixth spot in the Cubs’ order, and he comes relatively cheap ($2.5 million). Plus, he’s a Cub-killer so why not add him to your roster?

Proposed Trade:

Jacques Jones, Jake Fox and Sean Gallagher to Pittsbugh

Xavier Nady to Chicago

SAN FRANCISCO:

1. Matt Morris (SP)
2. Randy Winn (CF)

Analysis:

Matt Morris (7-5, 3.86 ERA) is a pitcher the Cubs know well, being that he used to pitch for the St. Louis Cardinals. Morris, who has found himself in his share of pennant races, would give the Cubs a veteran presence in their rotation. He will be auditioning for playoff contenders tomorrow night at Wrigley.

Randy Winn (.288, 6 HR, 31 RBI), like Lofton, would give the Cubs a true centerfielder to insert into either the second hole or at the bottom of their lineup. He is stellar defensively and would bring the element of speed to the team.

Proposed Trade:

Jacques Jones, Jason Marquis, Ryan Dempster, and Sean Gallagher to San Francisco

Matt Morris and Randy Winn to Chicago

In my opinion, Meche, Lofton, Morris/Winn, and Nady are the players the Cubs are most likely to bring in at the trade deadline. It should be a fun month for the Cubs as they try to move past the Brewers for first place.Hendry has already brought former all-star catcher Jason Kendall into the fold. Look for him to make another move before July 31st.

Update: It was just reported on ESPN radio that Izturis was sent to the Pirates for a player to be named later. The Cubs then called up AA outfielder Jake Fox, who was hitting .284 with 18 HR and 60 RBI, to take his roster spot. Since this is obviously a showcase for Fox to be eventualy included in a package at the deadline, any trade where Izturis' name popped up, I replaced with Fox. More than likley, multiple teams who are in discussions with Hendry about a deadline-deal have requested they see more of Fox before they accept him in a trade, hence the call-up.

Tribune To Sell Cubs

2007-04-02T20:08:00.000-07:00

It looks like I'm going to have to change the web address to my blog. Real estate tycoon Sam Zell (pictured to the left) bought the Tribune Company for $13 billion and has announced his plans to sell the Cubs after the 2007 season. I never thought I would actually see the day. So, the question now is, who would buy the team? Chicagosports.com's Rick Morrisey has come up with the following suitors:

Mark Cuban: A bit too much of a jock sniffer for my taste, but the bottom line is whether or not he would be a good owner. He too often wants to be the show, but he runs an excellent Mavericks franchise. If he hires the right people, this could work.

Michael Jordan: OK, we agree the guy doesn't seem to know a whole lot about running a basketball operation. But unlike his deals with the Wizards, and now the Bobcats, he could actually live AND work in Chicago. He wasn't a very good baseball player, but maybe with the right management team he could succeed. As for a new manager, can Zen be translated to baseball?

Pat Ryan: The insurance titan is a part owner of the Bears and is heading Chicago's bid for the 2016 Olympics. Would he be that much different than Tribune Co., you know, business suit-wise?

Jerry Colangelo: The king of putting together other people's money and then running an operation, Colangelo has had lots of success in Phoenix. He's a Chicago Heights guy, and he'd be motivated.

Mike Ditka: Don't be so quick to laugh at this one. If enough rich Republicans thought he could be a U.S. senator, why couldn't Da Coach put together a group to run the Cubs? Mmm… him and Lou Piniella working together. This could be good.

The Sun-Times: I'm not sure how the paper will be able to carry on, now that it's reason for living--criticizing the Tribune--will soon be gone. Maybe it could put together a group of Canadian investors and buy the team.

If I had my pick from this list I would choose Colangelo as the new owner of the Cubs. He's a proven winner and notorious for opening his check book to lure free agents. Plus, he's obviously less animated than Mark Cuban. Mike Ditka is an interesting candidate. He's passionate and wants to win at all costs. I would have no problem with him owning the Cubs, so long as he vowed to never sing the seventh-inning stretch ever again.

Headlines...

The Cubs lost their first game of the year 5-1 to the Reds...and that's a good thing. Don't laugh. The previous two opening games (both wins), the Cubs scored an average of 13 runs and then went on to lose the next three series.

The White Sox also lost their first game 12-5 to the Cleveland Indians. 73-year-old Jose Contreras gave up 7 runs in his first start.

The Redskins have offered their first round pick (6th overall) for Lance Briggs and the Bears' 31st pick. If Washington drops their demand for Chicago's draft choice I would pull the trigger on this deal in a heartbeat.

The Bulls lost an overtime thriller to the Cleveland Cavaliers and blew a chance to move into the second spot in the Eastern Conference. Two days later, after Cleveland lost to the lowly Celtics, the Bulls once again found themselves only a half game back. They play their most important game of the year Wednesday night in Detroit.

Bears Add Archuleta

2007-03-22T08:56:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, the Redskins traded Strong Safety Adam Archuleta to the Bears in exchange for a sixth round pick in next month's draft. Lovie Smith, who was Archuleta's defensive coordinator in St. Louis, has been trying to acquire the safety since becoming the head coach in Chicago. To complete this complicated deal, the Bears had to rework Archuleta's contract. He had a guaranteed $5 million option bonus due last week, but with hopes of getting a trade, Archuleta delayed the execution of that payout until Wednesday. The Bears were looking for a playmaker at the safety position. Smith created defenses involving Archuleta when they were in St. Louis. In Chicago, Archuleta will have more opportunities to make plays at the line of scrimmage.

What a great move for the Bears. In my "offseason needs" post I said that the team should add a hard-hitting, run-stuffing safety which is the definition of Archuleta's game. Not only did this fill a need in the secondary but it also kept the Bears out of the over-inflated free agent market. Signing someone like Ken Hamlin of Seattle would have cost over $30 million but the Bears get Archuleta for only $2.7 million a year.

Now, with Tommie Harris, Mike Brown, and Dusty Davorek returning from injury, in combination with the addition of Archuleta and the inevitable softened stance of Lance Briggs, the Bears' defense looks even better than it did at the beginning of last year. The Bears can now package the 31st and 37th picks to move up to make sure that TE Greg Olsen is still available, if they so choose. In my opinion, the team team has improved themselves mainly by not diving head-first into free agency this winter where the majority of the available players were average, role-playing backups at best. There were only two winners this offseason, New England and Denver, but with the draft coming up, it's now safe to put the Bears on that list.

As for future moves, look for Angelo to resign Rueben Brown and Ian Scott.

Headlines...

I want to start a petition to have Steve Rosenbloom fired from writing his blog for Chicagosports.com. Not only did he take another writer's material without posting a link to the Boston Globe as he should have, but when he does come up with an original idea, it's entirely idiotic and so far in left field that you wonder how he even got the job in the first place
The Bears resigned 8 coaches including Ron Turner. Wasn't his brother available this offseason? Signing Norv Turner would have put the Bears over the top. I still believe that when Grossman struggled last season it had something to do with Turner's poor offensive gameplans.
Ronny Cedeno has earned a roster spot because of his improved defense. Wasn't the whole scouting report when he came up from the minors that his best asset was his glove? Anyway, I think he could be a good fill-in/late-game defensive substitute or pinch runner. Talk about an over-hyped prospect.
Scott Skiles decided to give his team the day off after back-to-back losses to sub .500 teams. Ben Gordon and Luol Deng look dead at this point which is not a good sign going into the postseason. The Bulls had two days off before their loss to Memphis so I don't know how much one day off is going to help. Gordon just looks as if he's lost his explosiveness when driving to the basket and Deng has no spring to his jumper causing his shots to fall short and look flat. And, boy, does the team miss Andres Nocioni. The Bulls have to go 9-4 the rest of the way to accomplish their goal: 50 wins. When you look at their schedule I don't see why not, but this team tends to play down to their competition so who knows.
Violet Palmer is officially the worst NBA ref...ever. If you watched the first quarter of tonight's game against the Nuggets you know what I mean. And if you watched the second quarter, maybe I ought to take back what I said about Loul Deng.
The more I see Chinese NBA prospect Yi JianLian in video clips the more I want the Bulls to take him in the upcoming draft. Yao Ming compares the 7-footer's game to Amare Stoudemire. Not too shabby. If you don't believe Yao, take a look for your self.
Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa was arrested for driving while under the influence. Apparently he fell asleep at the wheel with his car in the middle of an intersection. I'm sure that's going to go over well with a blue collar city like St. Louis. But if I managed a team with the Cardinals' rotation, I would drink too.
In less than a month, the NHL has had three career-threatening incidents. The latest was in the Rangers-Flyers game last night when New York's Colton Orr knocked out Philadelphia's Todd Fedoruk during a fight just 21 seconds into the first period. But the NHL says that fighting actually protects the players because it keeps them from hitting each other with their sticks. You mean like this? Whether it's airing the all-star game on a wednesday night on OLN, a station no one has ever heard of, or using an "unbalanced" schedule that doesn't allow for the league's young stars to visit every city, the NHL is becoming more of a joke every day.

Malik Allen Diagnosed With Atrial Fibrillation

2007-03-10T11:11:00.000-08:00

According to the American Heart Association, about 2.2 million Americans suffer from atrial fibrillation, which is treatable with medication. In the past, NBA players, including Hakeem Olajuwon and Aaron McKie, played multiple seasons after being diagnosed with the ailment so it is therefore not considered career-threatening.

By defenition, atrial fibrillation is "an abnormal heart rhythm which involves the two small, upper heart chambers. Heart beats in a normal heart begin after electricity generated in the atria by the sinoatrial node spreads through the heart and causes contraction of the heart muscle and pumping of blood. In AF, the regular electrical impulses of the sinoatrial node are replaced by disorganized, rapid electrical impulses, which result in irregular heart beats."

Allen left the bench during the second quarter of Thursday night's victory over the Magic. He was evaluated by Magic medical personnel and spent Thursday night at the hospital and then returned to the team hotel Friday evening.

No timetable for Allen's return will be set until team doctors are able to evaluate his condition. Given the thorough way the Bulls have treated other health issues, such as Eddy Curry's heart problem and Jay Williams' motorcycle accident, expect a conservative approach before Allen returns.

The Bulls are stressing this situation is different to Curry's two years ago. Curry suffered an irregular heartbeat on March 30, 2005, in Charlotte. Team officials wanted him to take a DNA test to prove that he didn't have cardiomyopathy. That condition killed basketball players Hank Gathers and Reggie Lewis. Paxson would later trade Curry to the Knicks when he refused testing.

The prayers of Bulls fans everywhere go out to Allen and his family.

Headlines...

Yesterday, the Cubs faced the Rangers in a game of reunions. Ex-Sox players Brandon McCarthy and Neil Cotts didn't fare so well while ex-Cub Sam-ME Sosa continued his hot spring. It's be safe to assume that Sosa is back on the juice.
Felix Pie continues to improve with each spring training game. He is now batting .370. It's a possibility that he could win a roster spot and join the team much sooner than expected.
Don Pierson wonders if all the RBs who have changed addresses this offseason will make a difference for their new clubs. It's his opinion that teams have replaced their starters with players of equal, not greater, value and you know what? He's right. Nobody improved themselves, they simply brought in new faces. So I ask, why go through all the trouble? I don't get it.
Bears' safety Todd Johnson signed with the Rams and Cam Worrell signed with the Dolphins. Both were special teams standouts so I hope I'm right by assuming that the team already has their backup plans in place.

Porter Goes To Miami; Denver Making Big Moves

2007-03-06T21:57:00.000-08:00

Just a quick update. The Dolphins signed Jerry Porter, who I thought would be a perfect fit for the Bears. Porter will get $20 million in guarantees and could make up to $35 million total. His signing continues the offseason trend of teams offering more guaranteed money than ever before.

On a positive note, the Minnesota Vikings took a step backwards today when LB Napolean Harris signed a 6-year deal to play in Kansas City and Fred Smoot received a 5-year deal to rejoin the Redskins.

Boy, have the 49ers been active. First they lure CB Nate Clements with the richest contract ever for a defensive player ($80 million). Then they add to their WR corps by signing the speedy Ashley Lelie and today they signed LB Tully Banta-Cain. Other than Clements, I think they wasted their money. Lelie is fast but as soft as a marshmellow and Banta-Cain (great name, average player) is nothing more than a backup. Hey, I said they were busy, not smart.

Other notable signings:

The Patriots added to their offseason success, trading for WR Wes Welker. What a great move by New England. He'll fill the role that Troy Brown took on while in his prime as a slot receiver and punt returner. A couple of days earlier the Patriots inked the big fish of free agency, LB Adalius Thomas.
The Denver Broncos signed RB Travis Henry who ran for over 1,200 yards with Tennessee. If he could do that with the Titans, imagine what he could do in Denver, a team with a blocking scheme that makes mediocre RBs look good. If he stays healthy, is 1,800 yards out of the question for Henry next year? Speaking of the Broncos, today they persuaded the best TE on the market, Daniel Graham, to play for them instead of Seattle. They also traded for massive DT Dan Wilkinson. Depending on Jay Cutler's progression in his second year in the league, look for the Broncos to make the playoffs. All three of Denver's signings are pictured above.
The Dallas Cowboys gave average OL Leonard Davis $49 million to block for his hometown team.
The Chargers kept OL Kris Dielman in San Diego for six-years $39 million.
And last, but not least, Jeff Garcia landed in Tampa Bay.

As for the Bears, nothing to report thus far. If I hear of anything I'll post it right away.

Thomas Jones Trade: What Direction Does The Team Go Now?

2007-03-06T06:21:00.000-08:00

After hearing the shocking news last night, I slept on it and here are my final thoughts considering that it appears that the reports were accurate:

If you are trying to figure out the Thomas Jones trade, it's pretty simple. The Bears moved up 26 spots in the second round, getting a Jets pick at No. 37. That's a prime position to get a borderline rookie starter or a quality prospect. Why would the Bears have to give up a second-round pick and Jones to get a second-round pick? The answer is simple. The market for veteran running backs at this moment is at best a third-round pick. The Bears wanted to get a second-round pick alone but they couldn't. If you look at the draft value charts, the Bears gave up 280 points. That's the equivalent of one of the final choices of the second round or a top choice in the third round. In other words, they got the best value possible for a 30-year-old running back. Combine those facts with Angelo being forced by Jones' agent to accomadate his client's trade demands and Angelo really had no choice but to get the best deal possible, which, by the way, is what I demanded for in my last post. So there's nothing really to complain about with this trade. Angelo had to get rid of an unhappy player. He got the most he could for Jones considering the sate of the market for RBs. It's a shame that it feels like the Bears should of got more for Jones but take comfort in that Angelo squeezed the Jets for as much as he could. Therefore, I humbly retract some of the negative comments I made in the last post. Believe it or not, Angelo made good on this one.

That said, from what I hear the Bears are looking to package the 31st and 37th pick to move into the top 10 of the first round so stay tuned. If they were to do this, obvious targets would be Wisconsin OL Joe Thomas, LSU Safety LaRon Landry and Michigan DT Alan Branch (all three are pictured above). Here are the scouting reports on all three:

Thomas - He possesses an ideal combination of size, athleticism and upper-body power, which is why he projects as a future perennial starter at left tackle in the NFL. Thomas ranks as one of the elite prospects in the 2007 class and he should be off the board within the top-five overall selections.

Landry - He is as close to the complete package as it gets for a safety prospect coming from the collegiate ranks. He projects as an immediate starter at free safety in the NFL; he can hold up in the box, in deep-middle zone coverage and one-on-one versus a slot receiver. Landry is the top safety in the 2007 class and he should come off the board in the first-half of the first round.

Branch - He is an all-around gifted defensive tackle prospect with an outstanding combination of size, power and quickness. He has experienced playing end in a 3-4, the three-technique in a 4-3, and nose tackle in both alignments. Branch is the most complete all-around interior defensive lineman in the 2007 class and he should be a top-10 pick.

Bears Trade Thomas Jones To Jets

2007-03-05T16:21:00.000-08:00

League "sources" are reporting that the Bears have dealt 1,200 yard rusher Thomas Jones and their 2nd round pick (63rd overall) for the Jets' 2nd round pick (37th overall). Wait a minute...WHAT?!? You mean to tell me Angelo just gave one of the better back in the league away for nothing? In fact, the Bears gave up more than they got. HUH? I understand Angelo wanting Benson to take over full-time, and I've gone on record as saying that I think Benson will be a star in this league, but when you have a chip with as much value as Jones to trade, and a team like the Jets who were desperate enough for a RB, how do you not come out of the deal with AT LEAST equal value?

The first thing I thought upon hearing the news was that this was too preliminary of a report to be completely true. There has to be other picks in either this draft or in the future coming to the Bears. I think that it is very possible that these "sources" haven't told the whole story so it might be prudent to wait until tomorrow when the deal is officially announced and we have all the information before we pass judgment. But let me say one thing: if this is true, if this report is 100% accurate, this is a disgrace to Angelo and the entire Bears front-office. The team needed an OL, a TE, a Safety, a DT, and a FB, and the Bears should have demanded at least a first rounder, if not a starter at one of those positions I just listed, in exchange for Jones.

But not let's look at it through the Bears' perspective:
1) Thomas Jones is 30 years old and it's common knowledge that a RB's production drops drastically at this stage of their career.
2) Thomas Jones was demanding out of Chicago which takes Angelo out of the driver's seat during negotiations. Whenever another team knows that you are going to have to get rid of your player, their offer automatically comes down.
3) The Bears basically now posses two first round picks, although the second one is early second round. Who is to say they are done dealing? They could package those two picks in order to move up into the top 10.
4) If Angelo did decide to keep the two picks, there's no doubt that he would be able to find two impact players. Starters Devin Hester and Danieal Manning were both second-round picks.
5) This frees up money and allows the Bears to be bigger players in free agency if they so choose. It definetly gives them the money they would need to sign a player drafted with one of the first ten picks.
6) All of a sudden, there are a number of RBs who hit free agency (McGahee, Rhodes, Jamal Lewis etc.) that the Bears could add for depth

Like I said, I'm holding out until further details are presented but either way, wow.

Headlines...

The Bulls made a miraculous comeback and erased an 18-point deficit in the 4th quarter to beat Milwaukee in overtime. Ben Gordon scored 20 of his 48 points in the 4th quarter and OT. Michael Redd added 52 of his own and it marked only the 8th time in NBA history that two players combined to score 100 points. The Bulls need 15 more wins to get to 50 on the year. They only play 6 teams with winning records the rest of the way. An interesting stretch to register in your datebook: the Pistons, who lost to Golden State tonight, will play the Suns, Mavs, Spurs and Rockets from March 16-23, with only one of those games (Dallas) at home. Perfect time for the Bulls to gain ground.
The refs screwed up 18 plays in the Bulls game which is the second highest total since I started the "Missed Call Counter." The worst of their errors was, again, during the final sequence of the game. The Bulls battled back to take a 111-110 lead with about 20 seconds left when Chris Duhon was whistled for a reach in. When looking at the replay he clearly made a clean strip of the ball. Luckliy Rueben Patterson only shoots 63% at the line and he missed the first of two free throws.But with about 3 seconds left, Gordon tries to move the ball up the court and gets knocked on his backside...no call. Keep in mind that Gordon's teammates say that they have to check his pulse from time to time because he is so calm but after he got knocked to the ground on the final play, he got up and began yelling at the ref. He usually doesn't open his mouth unless it's something big so there was undoubtedly a foul. Once again, bad officiating at the end of games. What a shame for the league.
Apparently, Lance Briggs wants out too. He says that he loves his teamates and the city of Chicago but is not so fond of the front-office. If they trade him the Bears should accept nothing less than a starter and a 1st round pick in return but after reading what the initial reports say Angelo settled for in exchange for Jones, who knows.
By the way, Forbes.com ranks Jerry Angelo as the eight best GM in sports. Jim Paxson is tenth. While I think Angelo and Paxson are great at what they do, Kevin McHale sits atop their rankings so you have to question the validity of that list. In case your wondering Jim Hendry is 58th, Kenny Williams 67th, and Dave Tallon? He's not even included.
Mark Prior wasn't effective in his first spring training appearance, but more importantly his arm felt 100%. Kerry Wood, on the other hand was impressive, going one-two-three in the fifth inning. He got the fastball up to 95 MPH and had tremendous movement on his slider. Wood had one strikeout and threw 12 pitches, 8 of them for strikes.
ESPN.com's Jemele Hill wonders if Alex Rodriguez's lastest comment that he considers Lou Piniella to be a father figure is a silent plea for the Cubs to rescue him from New York. What a lineup they would have with A-Rod but for it to work he would have to move back to SS because Aramis Ramirez can't play anything but third. I truly believe that he is looking to leave after this year and, hey, why not the Cubs? After all, Piniella would represent the deciding factor if it came down to, say, the Cubs or Mets.
Ron Artest has been arrested for domestic violence. As if abusing his dogs wasn't enough.
David Beckham is out for a month after injuring ligaments in his knee during a game for Real Madrid. He was given a $250 million deal by the LA Galaxy for next season despite not even being close to the best player in the world. Now he's damaged goods on top of that. Soccer players with bad knees usually don't last too long. Mark my words, Backham's signing will go down as one of the biggest dissapointments in sports history, espcecially for a league which is already considered second-class.

Bears' Offseason Needs

2007-03-03T07:51:00.000-08:00

Now that the Bears' front office has provided the team with stability by signing Lovie Smith and Jerry Angelo, let's take a look at the team's needs (listed in order of most importance), now that free agency has begun, and how they plan to better themselves...

Offensive line: The offensive line proved to be a strength of the team. The Bears went 14 weeks with the same starting linemen, then substituted a veteran reserve at left tackle for the final two games to let Tait heal up for the playoffs. This is a quality group with proven reserves, but it is the right time for Chicago to begin to develop young, talented offensive linemen for the future. The NFL free agent market has become as ridiculously inflated, it seems, as baseball's was this winter. Yesterday, the Redskins signed Derrik Dockery to a seven-year $49 million deal. The Browns followed that by giving Eric Steinbach, a player that the Bears had on their radar, a 7-year $49.5 million dollar deal. A year ago, no one ever thought an offensive lineman would make $7 million a year, but Steve Hutchinson put a rest to that theory when he signed with Minnesota. With Leonard Davis and Kris Dielman as the only two legitimate OL left, the price will be high for either, so don't expect the Bears to improve their blocking through free agency. A more realistic scenario would be either to trade Thomas Jones to Houston, who has contacted the Bears in regards to the veteran RB, and use Houston's 8th overall pick to select Levi Brown of Penn State or to stay at the 31st slot and take Aaron Sears of Tennessee.

Strongside linebacker: Hunter Hillenmeyer has done a solid job, but an upgrade at strongside linebacker, alongside MLB Brian Urlacher and WLB Lance Briggs, would arguably give the Bears the best linebacking corps in the NFL. The Bears placed the franchise tag on Briggs, meaning it's likely that he will return to Chicago. The Bears will seek an athletic linebacker quick enough to match up with receiving tight ends in coverage and stout enough to play on the line of scrimmage in an underfront (a 3-man line with the same effect as a 4-man line), taking on blocks at the point of attack. Call me crazy, but doesn't it sound like Jerry Porter is exactly what they need? He fits the bears perfectly with his explosive first step. He is quick enough to put pressure on the quarterback or run with a tight end such as Dallas Clark. Along with Brian Urlacher and Mike Brown, he would bring a stabilizing veteran presence to a team filled with young defensive stars. Six teams have already checked in with Porter's agent and they are taking the weekend to figure where he is going to make his visits. The only reason the Steelers let him go is because they have too many key free agents next year, a list that includes Alan Faneca, safety Troy Polamalu, linebacker Clark Haggans, fullback Dan Kreider, and guard Kendall Simmons. If not Porter, the Colts' Cato June, who played in Tony Dungy's Cover-2 scheme, is available as well. He is comparable to Lance Briggs, with less power but more speed. He led the Colts in tackles this year and earned his first trip to the Pro Bowl. If Angelo decides to address this need through the draft, look for him to take Paul Posluszny who set the record for most tackles by any Penn State player ever.

Safety: After another season-ending injury to Pro Bowl standout Mike Brown, it is evident that the Bears must look for a talented, young safety to develop behind Chris Harris, Todd Johnson and Danieal Manning, giving the back end depth. The Bears have done an excellent job in recent years of evaluating defensive backs and adding to the overall talent at the safety position. These players not only provide depth in the secondary, but also impact the Bears' excellent special teams. From what I hear, the team has their radar set on Seattle's Ken Hamlin whose scouting report reads, "Overcame serious head injury sustained in 2005 to reclaim his starting spot last season and played well, especially versus the run. A big hitter with limited range and is always going to be most effective playing close to the line." Perfect, that is exactly what the Bears need, a punishing safety who would stuff the opponent's rushing attack and make receivers think twice about going over the middle, ala Sean Taylor or Roy Williams. The team already has quick cover safeties, so Hamlin would provide the perfect complement with his physical presence. After looking at countless mock drafts, I haven't seen anyone project the Bears to take a safety with the 31st pick, so either Angelo is weighing his options via free agency or he feels he has another sleeper in the later rounds of the draft. Just a feeling, but I think the Bears are going to sign Hamlin.

Defensive tackle: After playing dominant football on the defensive interior, three-technique Tommie Harris was lost for the month of December with a serious hamstring injury. With the loss of Harris, the Bears were even more susceptible to the run, and they lost any inside push in the pass rush. Chicago would improve tremendously with a stout, run-stuffing nose guard alongside Harris. A tough run defender would keep Tank Johnson, Alfonso Boone, Ian Scott and Harris fresh. It would make the coaches' decision of which rotation to play a difficult one. ESPN predicts that the Bears will sign San Francisco's free agent Anthony Adams to add to the depth on the defensive line. Here's the scouting report on Adams: "An undersized but active interior lineman who was not served well by the 49ers' defensive changes of the past couple seasons and probably needs to get to a team with a one-gap system. In the right situation he can be extremely disruptive." Undersized is another word for "fits the mold of the Bears perfectly." The team's DL is smaller and more athletic than normal and Lovie Smith would have it no other way with the defensive system that he uses. It sounds like Adams would be a solid and cheap pick-up for Angelo. Again, there is no DT good enough at pick number 31 for the Bears to take, so look for Angelo to draft one in a later round if they do not sign Adams.

Fullback: With the offensive firepower on the Bears' roster, adding a powerhouse fullback would complete the package, opening up holes for the outstanding running back duo of Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson. Jason McKie is adequate as a receiver, but is not a strong lead blocker. He is better than rookie J.D. Runnels. Runnels is more physical, but is not as good of a receiver as the injury-prone McKie. Adding a strong lead-blocking fullback will give the Bears' ground game more juice. But doing so through free agency will be hard considering the mind-bogging $18 million deal that Atlanta just gave to Ovie Mughelli. Brian Leonard of Rutgers, a player that Angelo has said to really like, should be available in the 4th round if the Bears want to draft him. He is the number one rated FB in this year's class of rookies and is considered to be the total package.

Headlines...

Carlos Zambrano said yesterday that he will win the Cy Young Award and the Cubs will win the World Series. Gotta love his confidence, but let's get to the All-Star break in first place before we make any predictions.
Ozzie Guillen went off on Brandon McCarthy after the ex-Sox pitcher made comments questioning the team's makeup, saying that the clubhouse was filled with negative energy last season. At a certain point, you have to ask yourself what is the one constant in all these feuds that Guillen takes part in? The answer: Ozzie Guillen. But, according to him, it's everyone else who's got the problem. Hmmm...
Is Jerry Hairston involved in the same steroid controversy as Gary Matthews Jr.? Boy, if he was on juice, it sure was hard to tell. The guy's had 13 homers in 5 years for crying out loud. In the last 3 seasons, he's only stolen 26 bases. So, he's not hitting for power and he's not any faster than before but he's taking steroids? For what? At least with Matthews Jr. it makes sense when he all of a sudden has a career year (.313 avg, 80 RBI, 20 HR). I vote for Hairston as the worst cheater in the history of sports.
Tyson Chandler took his public frustration with Scott Skiles to new heights, saying that the Bulls' coach was a "bad person." Tyson Chandler was met with a chorus of boos when he came back to the United Center last night, something which confused me. The only reason that I could think of is because Bulls fans regret Chandler saving his best basketball for another team. If it were up to him he would still be playing in Chicago, so the rude reception made no sense, but I loved it nonetheless. As for his criticism of Skiles, it sounds to me like sour grapes, doesn't it? The Bulls won the game 104-93. Only 16 more wins needed to get to 50 on the season.
Oh yeah, the "Missed Call Counter" read 16 after last night's game. That's 4 less then Wednesday night, but still not good enough. On a positive note, the refs only misjudged two plays the entire third quarter, but made up for it with 4 botched plays in the other three periods. Still unacceptable. Put a replay system in for calls other than buzzer beaters. Let the coaches throw red towels on the court, whatever. I don't care what you come up with, Stern. Just fix the problem.
The Bears raised ticket prices for next year. The announcement comes a few days after they sign Lovie Smith and Jerry Angelo to extensions. Could they be any more transparent?
Dennis Savard has decided to cut the ice time of his team's veterans because they're the ones playing like rookies. OK, that's one sentence too many on the Blackhawks. Here's a deal: I'll write about them in depth once they sell the team. Sounds fair to me.
The Fire traded Goalie Zach Thorton to Colorado. Honestly, I didn't even know the guy still playing.

Lovie, Angelo Get Their Due

2007-03-01T12:45:00.001-08:00

Let me be the first to say that I have great admiration for what the Chicago Bears organization did by rewarding Lovie Smith with a new 4-year $22 million contract. Had it been me who was writing the checks, I might have let him walk after someone in his camp leaked to the press that negotiations were going nowhere and that the team had "lost touch with the modern NFL." Nonetheless, the Bears ultimately did the right thing by retaining Smith's services.

Even more exciting, in my opinion, is the five-year extension that Angelo received. The job he has done since coming over from Tampa Bay has been outstanding. He is by far the most effective GM come draft day, finding gems as late as the 5th round (Mark Anderson). His eye for talent is unmatched and, as a Bears fan, I eagerly anticipate this year's draft to see what he has up his sleeve. The Bears have no glaring weakness, so it should be interesting to see the direction Angelo decides to go.

Let's be honest, the Bears were weeks away form utter and complete disarray. Their coaching staff appeared to be in shambles and having an angry Smith at the helm next season would have made for a disfunctional year. Now stability has been restored. They have a new and better, in my opinion, defensive coordinator in Babich and they retained their reknowned special teams coach Dave Toub. Angelo can now focus on the scouting combine and bringing in free agents to add depth. The Bears are taking a hard look at Cincinnati's OG Eric Steinbach because they realize their offesensive line, while one of the best in the league, is aging. I think that the team could use a hard hitting safety like Seattle's Ken Hamlin or Philadelphia's Greg Lewis in addition to a good, young TE (University of Miami's Greg Olsen?) that the team could groom to pair with Clark and eventually take over full-time starting duties.

Suddenly, if Angelo makes the right moves this offseason, which I have complete confidence that he will, another Super Bowl appearance doesn't seem so far off.

By the way, as promised, I'm unveiling the "Missed Call Counter" in today's post. After watching the Bulls game against the Warriors last night, I counted exactly 20 plays which involved, for both teams, either a bad call or none at all when there should have been. Twenty plays the refs botched! Do you even realize how that affects the rhythm of the game? That's 10 mistakes per half, 5 per quarter. Simply unacceptable. I'll be observing the officials again on Friday night against the Hornets and I will make a note of the numbers for that night's post. The Bulls won the game 113-83. Skiles called the team out after losing to the lowly Magic at home. Whatever he said behind closed doors must have worked.

Headlines...

Paul Sullivan writes that aside from Kerry Wood's altercation with a hot tub, it's been a quiet spring for the Cubs--so far. If I could wish for one thing this year, it would be an absolutely uneventful and entirely boring Cubs spring training. No injuries, no contract negotiations, no distractions. Is that too much to ask for?

Scott Skiles says that Tyrus Thomas is growing before our very eyes. He's decided to take a patient approach with his impressionable rookie. I think Skiles is handling the situation perfectly. The more I see Thomas play, the more I can understand why they are so high on him. The same goes for Sefalosha whose confidence and shooting touch get better with each game.

The United States is in the running to host the 2018 World Cup. Why? So the host nation can embarrass themselves in front of their own fans? It's bad enough for youth American soccer players to have seen their squad lose to Ghana on TV in the last tournament. Now they have to see it in person? Yeah, that'll help boost the sport of soccer in the US.

Looking to go in a new direction with their linebacking corps, the Steelers released Jerry Porter. What I wouldn't give to see him line up next to Urlacher and Briggs. Imagine what an opposing QB would be thinking as he stared down that trio.

The Lions traded disgruntled CB Dre' Bly to Denver in exchange for RB Tatum Bell, George Foster, and 5th round pick. And this is why the Lions are the Lions. Let me get this straight; they give up one of the premier corners in the NFL for a RB whose stats (over 1,000 yards rushing) were inflated by the blocking scheme that the Broncos use. Take a look at every running back, other than Portis, who has left Denver to play elsewhere: Mike Anderson (200 yards in Baltimore), Reuben Droughns (700 yards for Cleveland), to name a few. In other words, anyone could run through the holes that Denver offensive linemen create. And the Lions just gave up their franchise CB for that? I love it. With every stupid move that an opposing NFC North team makes, the easier it gets for the Bears.

Now, all the Bears need is for the Packers to get Randy Moss. Wow. First of all, wasn't this the guy who mooned Packers fans in a wild-card playoff game a few years back? Now these same fans want him on their team? You're trying to rebuild, you have one of the youngest teams in the league, and you're seriously thinking about bringing in this kind of influence? You're going to allow impressionable players like 2nd year WR Greg Jennings to get an up-close view of Moss playing when he feels like it and throwing up his arms when Brett Favre (and Aaron Rodgers in the near future) fails to get him the ball? Be my guest, bring in Moss, but wouldn't the Titan's Drew Bennett, who had to scratch and claw his way to stardom, be a better role model? Just a thought. But again, that's why these other GMs in the NFC North couldn't hold a candle to Angelo.

The Texas Rangers gave SS Michael Young a 5-year $80 million extension. Yet another example of how the Cubs blew it last offseason with Zambrano. At this point, $80 million would be a bargain for the Cubs.

Mark Prior, barring injury between tonight and Monday (you never know), will pitch in his first spring training game in 2 years. But, of course, there was an injury scare when Prior threw batting practice. Catcher Jake Fox hit one back up the middle, but Prior luckily was able to protect himself by knocking it down with his glove. So far so good... but stay tuned.

John Hollinger lists the top 25 NBA free agents. How exciting would it be to see Rashard Lewis in a Bulls uniform?

The Knick's Jamal Crawford had season-ending ankle surgery. The draft pick that the Bulls get from New York just got significantly higher.

Can Money Buy Your Love?: A Cubs Preview (Part Two)

2007-02-27T18:36:00.000-08:00

Before I begin, I wanted to mention what a disgrace it is that Ron Santo was denied entrance to the Hall of Fame once again. All the guy did was put up statistics which compare to the best third baseman ever... while suffering from diabetes. What am I missing here? His absence in the Hall of Fame is a disgrace and embarrassment to the game of baseball.

OK, on to the second part of my 2007 Chicago Cubs preview...

BENCH (INFIELDERS)

Henry Blanco: Blanco is the best backup catcher in the league, hands down. The Cubs managed to sign him early in free agency before other teams could drive up the price for his sought-after services. Among all the big moves that Hendry made, retaining Blanco might have been one of the most important. Offense has never been his strength. In fact, his numbers last year (.266 avg, 6 HR, and 37 RBI) were the best of his career. An injury to Barrett allowed Blanco to get into somewhat of a rhythm at the plate and it showed with better offensive statistics. Nevertheless, he is invaluable to the Cubs because of his defense. Only one catcher last year, Pudge Rodriguez, had a better percentage of throwing out runners that were trying to steal. For his career, Blanco has stopped over 40% of base runners trying to swipe a base and consider this: for the majority of his time in the major leagues, he was the personal catcher of Greg Maddux, a pitcher notorious for ignoring base runners. Last season, Blanco also had a fielding percentage of .998. Managers were hesitant to call for sacrifice bunts when Blanco was playing, because they knew if the bunt wasn't perfect Blanco would fire a strike to second to record the out. He completely disrupts the opposition's running attack because even the fastest of players have to think twice before taking off. This is why he is so important to the Cubs. He acts as a security blanket for the team if Barrett doesn't continue his gradual defensive development.

Ryan Theriot: Just take a look at the numbers for Theriot last year: .328 avg, 6 HR, 16, RBI, 13 SB, 34 Runs, and .412 OBP in only 134 AB. You can see why the Cubs are so high on his future. There has been talk that Theriot is the perfect candidate to hit behind Soriano, because his patience at the plate is that of a seasoned veteran and it's hard to argue when you look at his statistics. But what position is he going to play? Unless the Cubs find a way to deal Jones before opening day and either move DeRosa to right or let Theriot play the outfield, you can expect him to begin the year as a super utility man. It's a shame that his growth as a player might be hindered somewhat since he will have to start on the bench, but if he continues to grow at the rate he showed last year, the Cubs will be forced to make room for him in the everyday lineup sooner rather than later. As it stands now, he will get time at second base when DeRosa has to move to right to give Jones a rest against lefties. He can also play shortstop is Izturis goes down to injury and he has been fielding balls at third base just in case something happens to Ramirez. In the offseason, Theriot made it a point to catch fly balls in the outfield if Piniella chooses to play him there at some point. No matter what, the Cubs have a young, valuable utility man who can also serve as a speedy pinch runner. It should be fun to watch him grow.

Daryle Ward (INF/OF): Ward takes on John Mabry's role from last year: a left-handed, pinch hitting specialist who can give Derek Lee a rest from time to time and who can also play the outfield in an emergency. Ward led all major league pinch hitters with a .355 avg, 17 RBI and a .645 slugging percentage last season. His four pinch-hit homers were tied for the best in the league with Cincinnati's Javier Valentine. Overall, Ward hit .308 and his average rose to .371 with runners in scoring position, a stat which will come into play more times than not as a pinch hitter. Ward is considered one of the top fastball-hitting players in the game which is an important quality to have since the pitcher will try to test you as a pinch hitter knowing that you came straight from the bench and aren't completely loosened up yet. This was another one of Hendry's signings that took a backseat to the bigger acquisitions, but Ward should be considered a major upgrade to the bench.

BENCH (OUTFIELDERS)

Angel Pagan: Talk about speed. Pagan might be the fastest player that I have ever seen, except for maybe Tampa's Carl Crawford and Seattle's Ichiro. His season was cut short due to a hamstring injury, but he's healthy now and he says that his legs feel better than ever, which is a good thing for the Cubs since they will ask him to pinch-run in crucial situations. On the whole, the Cubs are a fast team this year with Soriano and Izturis playing everyday and Theriot and Pagan coming off the bench. Pagan's offense is not good enough to allow him to start. He is average at best with the bat, but, as I said before, deadly once he gets on base. I once witnessed him have to slide midway between second and third just to stop his momentum since he was running so fast. I never saw anything like that before. His defense is good and his speed allows him to chase down balls that most players wouldn't be able to. He is a great player to have on the bench, but the Cubs will know they are in trouble if they have to plug him into the everyday lineup like they did on more than one occasion last year.

Felix Pie: I'm choosing not to spend too much time on Pie since the Cubs are saying that he will more than likely be sent down to AAA after spring training. Jim Hendry and Lou Piniella want to avoid a repeat of the Corey Patterson situation when the organization's number one rated prospect was called up too early. Pie is a legitimate five-tool threat with great speed and growing power. He has great range and a strong arm in center. But he has a lot of work to do in regard to his plate discipline and although he possesses great speed, his base-stealing technique needs to be refined. Last season at West Tennessee he appeared in 59 games, going 73 for 240 with 41 runs, 17 doubles, 5 triples, 11 hrs, 25 RBI, 16 BB, 53 K, and 13 SB while hitting for a .304 average. However, he struggled in the Dominican league this winter, appearing in 29 games, going 19 for 91 with 12 runs, 3 doubles, 2 triples, 1 HR, 10 RBI, 4 BB, 19 K, and 1 SB while hitting .209. If he has a strong showing at spring training, then he has a shot to make the squad. My bet would be on him starting in the minors. If the trade I just heard about (Jacques Jones for Geoff Jenkins) is true, then that means Pie will be called up sooner than later, because Jenkins has a buyout in his contract next year. Interesting. Stay tuned.

ROTATION

1. Carlos Zambrano (R)
2. Ted Lilly (L)
3. Jason Marquis (R)
4. Rich Hill (L)
5. Mark Prior (R) - Could be moved to the third slot with Marquis sliding down to five if Prior manages to stay healthy throughout spring training

Zambrano: There's not much to say about Zambrano. He is quickly becoming one of the young premier pitchers in the game. The numbers he has been putting up the last few years have been astounding considering that he ranks among the bottom of the league when it comes to run support. He has been winning an average of 15 games for the last three seasons with a bad team behind him. That's impressive. Last year he was 16-7 with a 3.41 ERA and 210 strikeouts. With a wicked slider and blazing fastball, he is the prototype ground ball pitcher for Wrigley Field. In addition, the man can hit. He ranked first in homers by a pitcher last year and third in batting average. Considering that this is a contract year for him (if the Cubs can't sign him by opening day), expect him to put up even better numbers. Not only will he be motivated to prove he deserves Barry Zito-like money, but he also has a good lineup to support him. My hope is that the Cubs don't let another star pitcher get away, but if they feel that they can't sign him before the start of the year, then trade him for 3 or 4 very good major league-ready players or top prospects. If they keep him the entire year, I see Zambrano earning 20 wins for the first time in his career.

Ted Lilly: Lilly was ranked as the 8th best free agent on the market by ESPN.com... ahead of Barry Zito. The summary under his picture said something along the lines of "Lilly is Barry Zito with more stuff." His career record of 59-58 will not instill confidence in Cubs fans, but keep this in mind: Lilly was not a full-time starter until 2003 when he went 12-10. In four years as a starter he finished only once with a losing record and managed to do so with bad teams behind him. Toronto was a bottom feeder until just last year, yet Lilly managed to keep his record above the .500 mark in every season but one. He has a knee-buckling curve ball which he likes to set up with a letter-high fastball that he often uses as his strikeout pitch. The one concern is that he is a fly-ball pitcher and that does not translate well in Wrigley. However, that was the knock on Howry as well and he's turned out just fine. I like Lilly. I think he is the mentally-tough SOB that the rotation has been lacking for quite some time. He is also considered a great club house guy and has been described as a rock for the younger players to lean on when the major league becomes mentally and physically exhausting. I think he will turn out just fine for the Cubs.

Jason Marquis: This guy has turned out to be an enigma wrapped in a mystery. Only a few years ago, when he was in Atlanta, Maddux was calling Marquis the future of pitching in the major leagues. He was then shipped to St. Louis in a blockbuster deal, where he was expected to be the ace of that staff for years to come. He did just that in his first year with the Cardinals, going 15-7 with a 3.71 ERA and 138 strikeouts compared to 70 walks. Last year he started as well as you could hope for (he was 11-6). But after the All-Star break it all fell apart. He recorded a 3-10 record in the second half with a 6.72 ERA. No one had a technical explanation for this 180 degree turn, so more than likely it had something to do with his mental psyche and his confidence. Larry Rothschild, after receiving advice from Maddux, had Marquis workout for the Cubs in the offseason. Rothschild liked enough of what he saw to advise Hendry to sign Marquis to a 3-year, $21 million deal. The scouting report on him is that he throws a heavy sinker, good changeup, nasty cutter, and a low to mid-90's fastball. That sounds identical to when Maddux first came into the league which should come as no surprise since it was Maddux who mentored Marquis when they were both with the Braves. I honestly don't know what the Cubs are going to get out of him this year. In this case, it could be one extreme or the other. I could see Marquis doing well in Chicago, because he gets a lot of ground balls with his sinker, cutter, and changeup. But I could also see him imploding and losing his confidence if, for example, he has a bad game on a day when the wind is blowing out. Tough to get a read on this guy. We'll just have to wait and see.

Rich Hill: Hill finally started to live up to the hype at the end of last year. Before the All-Star break Hill went 0-4 with an ERA over 9. The coaching staff was collectively shaking their heads, wondering when they were going to see the pitcher that every scout told them could dominate at the major league level. And then, after the All-Star break, it clicked. Hill went 6-3 with an ERA of 2.97. He also recorded 90 strikeouts to only 40 walks. If you thought Lilly or Zito had a good curve ball, wait until you see Hill in action, if you haven't already. How he gets the ball to dip so severely I will never know, but it is like watching one of those cartoons where the ball does about 6 corkscrews and 10 flips before it gets to the plate. His fastball tops out at 93, so he is not blowing anyone away, but he uses his heater to keep the hitters off balanced and then he drops the famous curve on them. If his progression continues, the Cubs have found their future ace and Hill could have a great year simply because major league hitters are not that familiar with him at this point in his career. I have a feeling though that by the end of the season opposing teams will know his name.

Mark Prior: Last, but not least. What can you even say about Prior other than when he is healthy he ranks among the best pitchers in the game, period. From 2004-2006, Prior has spent most of his time on the DL, but guess what, his career record is still 42-29 with an ERA of 3.51. If that doesn't demonstrate just how good this guy is, then I don't know what will. He is capable of getting the heater over at 96-98 MPH and he combines that with a hard-biting curve which is completely different than the finesse curve that Hill throws, yet just as effective. I say it again, if he stays healthy, Prior has the capabilities of an ace, so slotting him no higher than the third spot in the rotation is a great luxury for the Cubs to have. It allows the team to take some of the pressure off of Prior and match him up with the opposition's third starter instead of guys like Chris Carpenter or Roy Oswalt. This will cause Prior to regain the confidence he once had before all the injuries. I have a good feeling (knock on wood) about Prior this year. I think he will stay healthy and come close, if not return completely, to his dominant form.

BULLPEN

With Neil Cotts, Ryan Dempster, Kerry Wood, Scott Eyre, Bob Howry, Wade Miller, Roberto Navoa, Will Ohman, and Michael Wertz, it's safe to say the Cubs won't have trouble finding pitchers to fill out their bullpen. Piniella has said that he wants to have twelve pitchers on the roster when the season starts, meaning there will be seven guys in the bullpen. Therefore, two pitchers in the list from above will be sent to AAA or be dealt elsewhere. I think that Navoa and Wertz fall into this category. But, with talent like the Cubs have in their relief corps, it is safe to say that the Cubs boast one of the best, if not the best, pens in the entire league.

I believe that, when all is said and done, Wood will be the closer for the Cubs, which, in my opinion, works out perfect because Dempster used to be a starter and could take on a long-reliever or emergency starter role. I think that Wood could be as good a closer as Smoltz was in Atlanta when he made the same transition. Wood showed he could handle 8th-inning responsibilities last season with ease and I believe that will translate to success in the ninth inning.

Cotts gives the Cubs another long-relief option and he combines with Eyre and Ohman to form an impressive left-handed trio. Having this type of depth will translate to better years for the starters as well. I talked earlier about relieving Prior of some of the pressure on him. Having a pen which can take over in the sixth inning, if needed to, puts the starters at ease knowing that most leads will be safe with such a solid bullpen ready to come in.

The most intriguing pitcher to keep an eye on is Wade Miller. Where does he fit in? Remember, when he is healthy (I know it sounds redundant by now), Miller could easily be considered a 3rd or 4th starter. Will Piniella put him in the bullpen? There really is no other spot for him at this time and it would be a shame to waste the talent that he brings to the table, especially after investing in a player who has been rehabing for a year. It will be interesting to see how position battles such as this shape out during spring training.

Overall, the Cubs have what it takes to make it back to the postseason for the first time since 2003. The talent is there. On paper (I know, it's a dangerous phrase) they are superior to the rest of the teams in their division. I truly believe they will win the NL central. You get into the playoffs and anything can happen. Could the Cubs win the world series this year? Let's not get ahead of ourselves. We all know how long of a season it is and how different factors such as injury can affect performance, so right now it's one step at a time. But there's no doubting that they have put themselves in a position to enjoy success. Tune in April 2nd if you want to see for yourself.

Can Money Buy Your Love?: A Cubs Preview (Part One)

2007-02-26T21:27:00.000-08:00

$300 Million...that's the amount that the Cubs spent to field a competative team for this upcoming season. They resigned Aramis Ramirez, Kerry Wood, and Henry Blanco. They added Alfonso Soriano, Mark DeRosa, Ted Lilly, Cliff Floyd and Jason Marquis. But will this unexpected, Yankee-like mentality translate into wins? Let's break down the team to see how their roster compares with the teams in the upper-echelon in the league...

INFIELD

Do the Cubs have the best infield in the league? It's possible. They have the formula which is associated with success: power on the corners, stellar defense up the middle.

3B: Aramis Ramirez is almost assured of at least 30 homeruns and 100 RBIs this year with a healthy Derek Lee, and the additions of Soriano and Cliff Floyd. As for his defense, it gets better each year so there's no reason to believe that won't continue to be the trend. The knock on Ramirez is that he loafs around the field, at times not running to first base with as much effort as you would like to see. His laziness affected his defense at times when he failed to move his feet quick enough to make an accurate throw or to block a ball and keep it in front of him. Personally, this angered me to no end but when I thought more about it I think it was because of his injured groin and other nagging lower-body injuries. He's healthy now and vows to do his best to shed the "lazy" lable. The funny thing about his apparent lack of effort is that he's relatively fast when he wants to turn it on. A major question with Ramirez is whether or not the intensity he showed in the second half of last year will be there now that he's got his money. Ramirez projects to be the Cubs' best power hitter and I have a feeling he'll exceed everyone's expectations. Pencil him in for an All-Star spot this season.

1B: Lee is back and there's nothing being reported which would make me think he is anything but 100% at this point. At the end of last season, he showed flashes of power which is a good thing considering that wrist injuries usually take a full-year in regards to regaining your power stroke. No matter what, the defense will always be there for Lee. He saves the infield a good 30 errors a year if not more. So what should we expect of him as for his offensive stats? Will he revert back to the year when he almost won the triple crown? That would be a stretch and difficult for anyone to recreate but his numbers will be good. He has the lineup protection he needs this time around. The amazing thing with his potential triple crown season was that he was doing it alone so now with the aid of Ramirez, Soriano, Floyd, and Barrett, it's not unreasonable to think that he could put up all-star type numbers. I predict .300 avg, 30 HR, 100 RBI, 15 SB and a Gold Glove. Todd Helton's production is on the decline so I think that Lee will regain the title of NL's best defensive first basemen.

SS: Cesar Izturis is the best defensive player at his position in the league, period. He lacks any type of power at the plate but only two years ago he led the league in hits at the All-Star break. From then on, Izturis has found himself dealing with injury after injury which has obviously hurt his production. If his legs are healthy, he brings the element of speed to the lineup and if he is willing to be patient and take pitches, giving Soriano the chance to steal second, he might be the perfect fit as the second hitter. It would give the Cubs more speed at the top than they have ever had. Worst case scenario, Izturis is dropped to the bottom of the order and DeRosa is inserted behind Soriano. But Izturis makes more contact on a consistant basis than DeRosa and is far surperior in regards to speed and moving runners over with a bunt so Piniella is banking on Izturis working out in the 2-hole. One thing which will help him is hitting in front of Lee, Ramirez, Floyd, and Barrett because pitchers will not want to put him on base by walking him in front of guys that could put the game out of reach with one swing. I can see Izturis hitting .275, with 60 RBI, 30 SB and joining Derek Lee in accpeting his Gold Glove award...if he stays healthy.

2B: Mark DeRosa, although he has never won the award, is a gold-globe caliber second baseman. He has as strong of an arm as you will find in the league and he is accurate with his throws. His best position might be third base but he said he signed with the Cubs because of the chance to be the everyday second baseman. He had a breakout year at the plate last season but how much of that is due to half his games being played in Arlington, the Coors Field of the south? That said, DeRosa is at the age where baseball players are said to hit their prime so while his offensive statistics might have been inflated last year, don't expect too much of a drop-off. He is another possibility to hit behind Soriano if Izturis doesn't work out but his swing is a little longer than you would like from your two-hitter. A better spot would be batting sixth where he wouldnt have the pressure of taking strikes to allow Soriano to take off and he could utilize his decent power stroke to drive in runs. .290, 15 HR, 85 RBI seems like a reasonable projection for DeRosa.

Catcher: We all know that Michael Barrett can hit. He won the Silver Slugger Award two years running so offense is not his problem. It's his defense which is holding him back from that monster contract. But analyzing the statistics shows that he is in fact improving in this area. For as good a defense catcher as Henry Blanco is, Cubs pitchers actually had a better ERA when Barrett was behind the plate meaning that he is learning how to call a better game. If he can increase his percentage of runners thrown out while attempting to steal, there's no reason why he shouldn't be considered in the top-tier of catchers in the league. As of now, MLB.com has him ranked 6th so imaigne what they would think of him if he was better defensively. It is realistic to expect Barret to continue his offensive success. With a better lineup around him, it is logical to think that his stats will go up. I would say .285 avg, 25 HR, 85 RBI sounds about right.

OUTFIELD

The outfield is interesting. It could be great, or it could be a disaster. I love the addition of Floyd as both a left-handed presence and a clubhouse leader but can he stay healthy? Can Soriano handle a full year in center when he only has one season as a left fielder under his belt? If Soriano can't handle center, will Piniella swap Jones and Soriano or will he give Pie a chance? Can Piniella find enough bats for Matt Murton? Like I said, it should be interesting.

LF: Cliff Floyd and Matt Murton make quite the platoon in left but will either accept having to share time? Matt Murton feels like he is primed to break out and that platooning could ruin his rhythm. He has good patience at the plate and showed power to the opposite field which is a huge milestone for a young player's development On the other hand, Cliff Floyd has been voted to the All-Star game multiple times and when healthy is one of the best left-handed hitters in the game. If Murton only plays against lefties, which Piniella has hinted at, Floyd will be getting most of the playing time. As for the defensive side, neither is stellar but both will run through the brick wall at Wrigley for their manager. I honestly can't say what will happen in reards to LF. I am very high on Murton. I think he has a lofty ceiling in regards to his potential. But I just can't ignore the potency that Floyd brings to the lineup. To be continued...

CF: The $136 million question is whether or not Soriano can handle center field. He is definitely athletic enough and posseses enough speed to track down balls hit in the gaps but how will he deal with the swirling winds? You have to remember that this is no ordinary center field, this is Wrigley and the wind pattern changes from day to day. I wish that he could spend his spring training in Chicago so he could get ready for what is in store when the season begins but obviously it doesn't work that way. In a perfect world, I would play him in right but right field at Wrigley might be even harder than center because of the sun during day games and the small foul territory, half of which is occupied by the opposition's bullpen. The Cubs really don't have an alternate position for Soriano since they failed to work out a trade for Jones in the offseason. No matter what, Soriano is playing so the other outfielders better hope he works out in center because otherwise someone will be losing out on a lot of playing time. Offensively, Soriano is one of maybe two players, the other being Carlos Beltran, with the ability to steal 40 bases and hit 40 homeruns. Hitting in Wrigley will increase his numbers except for the start of the year when it is cold and homeruns are hard to come by. This is when his speed comes into play because Soriano can thrive without hitting the ball out of the ballpark by using his legs to beat you. He is the all around package who suddenly finds himself in a lineup which is much more talented than the one he had in Washington. There is no reason to expect anything but an increase in his statistics. 200 runs, 95 RBI, 40 HR, and 40 SB is a realistic projection for Soriano. That's incredible production considering he is batting leadoff.

RF: Jacques Jones is returning for his second season and looking to improve on his solid stats from last year. He played all season long having a problem with his rotator cuff which is why he bounced many of his throws. He's fixed that so expect him to go back to having a rocket for an arm. He, like Floyd and Murton, go all out when playing the field and he has the experience in right to be successful in Wrigley. While he is known to strike out more than he should, he has improved each year in that regard. He never loafs, has more than decent speed and never makes mistakes on the bases. He had a big problem hitting lefties last year so look for Piniella to switch DeRosa to right on days when they face a southpaw and insert Theriot, another young player the Cubs love, at second. I think that Jones hit his ceiling in regards to offensive stats last year and I expect him to duplicate those numbers (.280 avg, 25 HR, 85 RBI). I also expect his outfield assists to go way up now that he has fixed his shouler problem.

Tomorrow I will break down the bench players, the rotation, and the bullpen.

Deja Vu

2007-02-26T20:10:00.000-08:00

Well, the refs were at it again in tonight's Bulls game. This time their stupidity lead to a loss against a struggling Orlando Magic team. The Bulls were losing by two points with about 1:30 left when Orlando's Nelson pulls a fast one on the refs by stopping suddenly, sticking out his backside, and allowing Hinrich, who anticipated Nelson curling around the screen, to slam right into him. Because the ball hadn't been inbounded yet, the Magic got one shot and the ball back. Now, they are up by three. Next play, Nelson fools the refs yet again, this time by leaving his feet for a shot and leaning into Hinrich. He initiated the contact, not Hinrich, but, of course, he's on the line shooting two and putting the Magic up by five. On the inbound play, it should have been an offensive foul, because Hinrich has as much right to that spot on the court as Nelson does, plus Nelson was the one who purposely stuck out his rump, drawing the contact. On the jump shot, there should have been a no-call, considering that Hinrich stood there with his arms up. The shot rimmed out, by the way.

Regardless, the refs get worse on a nightly basis. They make it difficult for me to sit through an entire game, because they are just that bad. I mean, the average age of the three refs they had out there tonight must have been pushing 90 and that's being generous. For God's sake, hasn't Dick Vebetta qualified for retirement yet? Isn't there an age where refs are forced to hang 'em up? If not, there should be. These guys just can't keep up with the fast pace of the NBA

That said, I'm introducing what I call "The Missed Call Counter." I am going to keep tabs on all the bad calls or calls which the refs neglect to make, and I'm doing it for both teams, not just the Bulls. With every blog I write, I'll make a note of my calculations for that night. This should be interesting.

Nonetheless, how long is it going to take for a change to be made? Everyone knows that the league is suffering because of this. It makes me laugh when Scott Skiles is stating his case to the ref and the ref actually has the nerve to argue back when thousands of people in the stands and on TV can see just how bad of a call it was.

But let's be fair. The Bulls were out rebounded tonight by 16. That's pathetic. Sometimes I don't know what's worse, the refs or the mental lapses this team displays night in and night out. Case in point, the Bulls made a strong run in the fourth quarter, taking the lead by four points. They force a missed shot, Gordon grabbed the rebound and took it down the court for a fast break. Instead of making the smart pass to Deng on the wing, he tries to force a lob to Sweetney which is broken up and leads to a three-point play by Ariza on the other end. What should have been a six or seven point advantage rapidly dwindled to just one. Unbelievable. For as good as Gordon can be, he, along with Hinrich and others, makes the stupidest choices at times. The excuse of this being a young team can only hold validity for so long. Back to the drawing board.

NBA Refs

2007-02-25T12:44:00.000-08:00

I had to take a break from studying to get something off my chest. What I have to say is simple: the refs in the NBA are by far the worst of any professional league.

Today I watched the Bulls play the Pistons. A great game, which, unfortunately, was decided by the refs in the end. In the fourth quarter, with the score tied 93-93, Billups pulls up for a jumper. He misses the shot, but for some reason, which at the time was unclear to me, Webber was wide open for the putback. When looking at the replay it became quite evident why there was no one near him: he completely pushed off his man, P.J. Brown, with two hands and arms extended. The whistle must have conveniently malfunctioned, because the replay also shows the ref no more than 5 feet away, staring directly under the basket. The Pistons went on to win the game 95-93 and the Bulls had another game stolen from them, the first being when they hosted Toronto before the All-Star break. In that game, they did make the call under the basket in the final seconds, but this time it was agianst the Bulls. I had no problem with the foul, in fact it was refreshing to see a call being made that everyone knows is not 9 times out of 10. But then Gordon comes down and goes up for the jumper to tie the game, gets bumped into the first row and the whistle once again remained silent.

Maybe I'm coming off as biased right now, being that I'm a Bulls fan, but they get the short end of the stick more times than not. And I'm not the only one complaining about the incompetency of the NBA refs. Believe it or not, Marc Cuban is right about them. They stink, period, and I'm sick of them deciding games in crucial moments. For the health of the league there needs to be a different referee-evaluation process put into place, because if things like the end of the Bulls-Pistons game continue David Stern will have a full-blown mutiny from the players and their union in a few years. Jason Kidd put it best when he said it's like three blind mice running around out there.

There, I got that out. I feel better now. Back to studying...

Random Thoughts

2007-02-24T10:07:00.000-08:00

I was so sick last night that I had to sleep in the bathroom. No, not because of the chicken I ate at the airport waiting for my flight back to Boston but because of the cowardice shown by Bulls' GM John Paxon by not pulling the trigger on a trade-deadline deal. Let's get something clear: I never wanted him to give away the team's future for one player, Pau Gasol, but Paxon had the opportunity to add two proven, playoff-tested veterans in Abdur-Rahim and Bonzi Wells and came away from negotiations empty-handed. All it would have took to pry away Abdur-Rahim would have been P.J. Brown and a second-round pick the Bulls got from the Knicks. Paxon, however, felt that Abdur-Rahim's contract was simply too big to take on. Question: Isn't the point, when making a trade, to work it out so that neither team is left to deal with a financial mess? Doesn't the leage have rules in regard to a salary cap that teams are not allowed to exceed? Therefore, Paxson's comments have no validity. They are a facade to cover the fact that he didnt have the guts or gile to change his current roster. Let's be honest, and I've heard this directly form his mouth, the Bulls want to keep Brown's expiring $8 million contract because the team is saving as much money as posisble for the summer that Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, and Chris Bosh become free agents.

As for Wells, Paxon offered Sweetney but Houston didn't bite. I guarantee if he had added the other second-round pick the Knicks' so graciously gave the Bulls, the deal would have got done. Wells was the big guard that this team needed. He can post-up the smaller guards in the Eastern Conference and the Bulls could have run their offense through him when they needed to slow the tempo which would allow them to hold on to the big leads they are so quick to give away. Wells is also a prime-time player come playoff time as was evident in last year's postseason when he almost single-handedly defeated the Spurs in the first-round. Gordon would have gone back to the bench, teaming up with Nocioni, and the team would have been that much better. Now imagine a frontcourt of the offensive-minded Abdur-Rahim, defensive monster Ben Wallace, and budding-sperstar Luol Deng combined with Wells at the two-sopt and Hinrich at the point. And guess what Paxson? You didn't have to mortgage your team's future as you were so worried about doing. You could have won the East with two minor trades. You blew it. Live with that as you look in the mirror the rest of this season. But I will forgive you if you manage to sign Wade or James in a few years.

Oh by the way, the Bulls are 3-0 since the All-Star Break. 2-0 since Jim Paxon let the team down. Ben Wallace is playing with a chip on his shoulder. Maybe he's upset with all the talk that he need shelp up front. Perhaps he's preping for his upcomming battle in Detroit. Whatever the reason, ot's impressive what he can do when he feels like playing. That bodes well for for the playoffs.

Here are some other headlines in the sports world, inlcuding those which are non-Chicago related...

CUBS

Eric Patterson is following in his older brother Corey's footsteps and hoping to make a bigger impact in the Cubs organization than Corey did in his brief stay. Trust me, that shouldn't be too difficult of a task.

The Alfonso Soriano experiment will be scrutinized, mainly because it could lead to a game of musical chairs in the outfield if he can't handle the switch to center field. Does anyone else feel uneasy about a player with one year of experience in Left Field making the transition to Center? I thought that this was the most absurd idea I had ever heard when it was first proposed all the way back at the Winter Meetings. My heart says that I hope it works but my brain is teling me otherwise. Plus, I want to see what this kid Felix Pie can do already.

After Cubs pitchers were done running Wednesday, Larry Rothschild gave young Jeff Samardzija some unsolicited advice on how to wear his cap. He recommended the centered look, the way almost most major-leaguers have worn caps since 1876. But it was OK for Juan Pierre? Maybe I'm crazy but I even remember when Pierre was trying on his hat during an introductory press conference he remarked "I've always worn it a little to the side". Can you say double-standard? Leave it to the Cubs to make an issue out of something like this.

Part I of the Carlos Zambrano saga ended Tuesday when he agreed to a one-year, $12.4 million deal, avoiding an arbitration hearing only minutes before it was to begin. This should have been done months ago ala Chase Utley's $76 million extension soon after the conlcusion of the World Series.$76 million would be a bargain now considereing how Zito's $128 million contract has inflated the free agent market beyond belief. After Zambrano's comments that the Cubs need to sign him before opening day or he will enter free agency, I think it would be better for the team to trade him for 3 or 4 really good players. It's hard for me to see the Cubs agreeing to another Soriano-type deal.

Kerry Wood threw 25 pitches off the mound Monday in his first prolonged throwing session since hurting his chest in a hot-tub spill last week. Close your eyes, invent a creative way for a major-league pitcher to hurt himself and before you can say "DL", Kery Wood will do it. I hope he stays healthy because I think he could be as good a closer one day as John Smoltz was for the Braves after he converted from starter to reliever.

BEARS

With his stalled contract talks and other organizational changes serving as a backdrop, Bears coach Lovie Smith addressed reporters at the NFL scouting combine Friday morning and said he's hopeful a deal will get done. What in the world is going on? All Smith has done is earn Coach of the Year and take the Bears to the Super Bowl, yet he is still the lowest-paid head coach in the NFL In fact,. there are some coordinators making more than him. This is a joke. Pay the man his money. Don't make the same mistake you made with the team from 1985. Unbelievable. Only in Chicago.

Expect the Bears to accommodate Thomas Jones' apparent trade request. Presume they will ignore the same request from Lance Briggs. If the Bears decided to trade Jones, which I am not ocmpletely opposed to, they can accept nothing less than a first-round pick. There are teams such the Giants and Jets who are desperate enough for a starting back that the Bears would have the upper-hand in any discussions involving Jones. As for Briggs, if he demands a trade the Bears, by rule, would recieve two first-round picks. In my opinion, Benson will be a star in this league and for a team who has no glaring weakness and whose philosophy is to build through the draft, having three first-round picks in your pocket wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.

Ron Rivera accepted the job of Linebacker Coach for the San Diego Chargers after he was let go by the Bears. When I heard the news, I jumped out of my seat in delight. Rivera lost the Super Bowl for the Bears, period. When they blitzed Manning in the first half, he looked bad, throwing an interception on his first posession. But for some reason in the second half, the defense went conservative which allowed Manning to pick them apart with 4-5 yard passes the rest of the night. At one point, Urlacher looked over to the sidelines and began yelling at Rivera to get his act together. Good riddance.

BLACKHAWKS

Another five-game losing streak for the Hawks. Another? When did the first one end?

WHITE SOX

Ozzie Guillen's gut says first-place. First place in what? The draft? I know he's not talking about finishing first in the AL Central. With the moves that GM Kenny Williams made this offseason, don't be surprised to see the Sox finish behind Detroit, Minnesota, and Cleveland. All of those teams had productive summers while the Sox invested in nothing but young pitching which might pay off down the road, but not this year.

MISCELLANEOUS

Did you see that all-out brawl between Buffalo and Ottawa? It was nostalgic. A blast from the past reminding us of what the NHL used to be; a league filled with excitement and passion. The goalies went at it, with the coaches almost doing the same. I absolutely loved it.

Sadly, an NBA legend passed away. He took a piece of all that is good about sports with him to the grave. Why does it seem like the worst things happen to the best people. Dennis Johnson collapsed due to heart failure while coaching a youth AAU team yet, as horrible as it may sound, people like Terrell Owens and Jay Mariotti remain in perfect health, flapping their gums to whoever's left that can still stand the sound of their voice. I would never wish harm upon any individual, but you get my point, sometimes it just feels like the best people suffer the worst of fates. Johnson was truly one of the good guys.

Just how much can change in a matter of months? Ask Brady Quinn who is projected in the majority of mock drafts to be taken at the number 9 slot by Miami. Before the season Quinn was the hands-down number one pick but after a shaky Sugar Bowl he will need a strong combine showing to even be selected in the top 10. I don't know what would be worse for Quinn, free falling down the draft board or being scooped up by the black hole we so fondly call Minnesota at number 7. You be the judge.

The GM of the Tennessee Titans says that because of Pacman Jones' legal troubles, he is involved in a triple shooting at a Las Vegas strip club, it is very possible for him to not be on their roster come next season. Could you imagine him lining up next to Devin Hester on kickoffs and punts? Even more scary, would be him and Tank Johnson getting together on weekends

The Kansas City Royals are counting on Gil Meche to be their opening day starter. At least in the past the Royals had an excuse for being a bad team: they were a small market club with no money to spend. So now the team will stay in last place and they'll owe Meche $55 million. And you wonder why some teams just never get any better. Talk about a prime canidate for dispansion. Bud Selig needs to break this team apart and start an expansion franchise, perhaps in Las Vegas.

Finally, Kevin Garnett speaks out saying that his team is obviously not trying to better themselves. He stopped just short of demanding out but he did say "Thank God for (contract) opt-outs" meaning that he is as good as gone this summer. I dount Minnesota would allow him to walk for nothing so look for a blockbuster sign-and-trade deal during this year's draft. Calling Jim Paxson. Time to awake from your slumber. Are you paying attention? Your path ot the NBA finals has been paved.

Da Bears

2007-01-30T12:30:00.000-08:00

Wow, it's been a while since I was last able to post something. School work has kept me busy, to say the least. Let's just say I'd much rather be here than stuck in a class room all day, but what are you gonna do? I'm not even going to make an attempt to catch up on all the headlines since August, so instead I've chosen to fast foward to the present (I've been told there's no better place to live). That said, the obvious headline is the Chicago Bears making it to their first Super Bowl in over 20 years.

Let me just say this: there is nobody in sports today who is as mentally tough as Rex Grossman. All year long he heard how bad he was and that he should be replaced by Griese. Yet, he took it in stride, never lashing out at the media when most athletes would have (T.O. perhaps?). But for as bad as he's been portrayed to be, call me crazy now, didn't he have to get something right along to way to lead his team to the Super Bowl? What do Drew Brees, Steve McNair, Philip Rivers, and Tom Brady all have in common? They're sitting home watching the big game while Rex is playing in it. Rex Grossman, you've shown me what it truly means to be mentally tough. Go get that Super Bowl ring, you deserve it. Let's recap Rex's rollercoaster year.

What a start to the season; for the Bears and for Mr. Rex Grossman. In his first five games he would record 10 touchdowns and only three interceptions. Four of those five games saw him record a passer rating of 100 or more and he completed nearly 60% of his passes while leading his team to a record of 5-0. MVP chants were rampant during home games; it couldn't get any better for Rex. And then, one Monday night in Arizona, it all changed.

Grossman went 14 of 37, throwing for only 144 yards with 4 INTs. It seemed as if the Cardinals had created a blueprint for how to fluster the Bears' inexperienced QB: blitz, blitz, blitz, and then blitz some more. The Bears somehow managed to comeback and win that game without the benefit of an offensive touchdown, something which had never been done. But it was only one bad game, right? A mere smudge on his perfect beginning to the year.

It appeared as if that was the case when he bounced back in a big way against the 49ers at home the next week, successfully completing 80% of his throws and finding the endzone three times. But the Arizona contest marked a bad game-good game pattern for Grossman. It was obvious that he had not forgotten how poorly he played in the desert. A week after meeting San Francisco, Miami came to town. How did Grossman fare? 18 of 42, 3 INT... It was the first blemish on the Bears' record and left them at 7-1 heading into a three game road trip which the press claimed would define this Bears team.

Again, Rex recovered and shredded the injury-depleted Giants' defense for 246 yards and three TDs. The Bears never had to leave New York, because the next week they would play the Jets who share a stadium with the Giants. It was only the fifth time in the history of the NFL that a team played both New York squads on back-to-back Sundays. This time Grossman broke the trend and played an average game. Not bad by any means, but his statistics were nothing for Fantasy Football owners to get excited about either. However, the experts were saying that this was the game where Grossman finally showed his maturity, taking what the defense gave him and playing mistake-free football. The Jets run defense ranked near the bottom of the league and the Bears exposed their weakness by running for nearly 200 yards. When the Jets had enough and loaded the box to stop the run, Grossman used play action to take advantage of one-on-one coverage down field. He finished with 119 yards and one TD.

Against New England, however, Grossman returned to his bad habits and threw three picks, costing his team a game that they should have won. The next Sunday, against Minnesota, he hit an all-time low, recording a passer rating of 1.3 and it was around this time that the nasty headlines began to appear, such as "Gross, man" or "Lovie Quit the Pampering and Dump Grossman." Despite extreme pressure to make a switch at QB, Lovie Smith never budged and remained loyal to Rex. He did, however, find ways to motivate the young Grossman, such as giving Griese half the snaps in practice that week. Lovie sent a message that, as much as he believed in Grossman, he wouldn't let one man sink the ship on the way to a championship. So how would Grossman respond on Monday night against St. Louis? After all, Rex's troubles began on a Monday...

How does 200 yards, 2 TDs and, more importantly, no interceptions sound? The next week he was even better, accumulating 339 yards and another two TDs, leading the Bears to a 34-31 overtime win against Tampa Bay. You could hear the city of Chicago breath a collective sigh of relief. The Bears had a confident quarterback heading into the playoffs. All of a sudden there was no stopping this team. Anything less than a Super Bowl appearance would be a disappointment. And then the clock struck twelve on New Year's Eve, the last Sunday of the year, one which was important on two levels: keeping the momentum heading into the postseason tournament and sending Brett Favre into retirment (hopefully) with a loss in his last game. But Grossman managed to top his performance against Minnesota, ending the first half (that's all he would play) with a 0.0 passer rating, which he would later blame on his lack of preparation due to the game being meaningless. Let's put it this way, the punter, Brad Maynard, finished the game with more passing yards (39) from a fake punt than Grossman had in the entire half. Bears fans were sent into a panic. Could the Bears win a Super Bowl ring with an inconsistent quarterback?

In the Divisional Playoffs, the defending NFC champion, the Seattle Seahawks, gave the Bears all they could handle, forcing the game into overtime until Robbie Gould connected on a 50-yard FG. But Grossman, at least for a couple of days, made everyone forget about his poor play against Green Bay. He finished with 282 yards and one TD and completed a number of big passes to keep the chains moving, including a 30-yard bullet to Rashied Davis in overtime. Perhaps the question of whether Good Rex or Bad Rex would show up was misguided. Instead, it was Clutch Rex who came to play against the Seahawks.

The same could be said against the Saints in the next round. Although he only threw for 144 yards, he came through when his team absolutely needed a play to be made. He lead a key drive in the 3rd quarter when he went 4 for 4 and racked up 80 yards with a TD. The Bears relied on their running game to carry them through to the Super Bowl, rushing for nearly 200 yards. Their defense was also a determining factor in this game, creating four turnovers and holding the Saints' rush attack to under 60 total yards on the ground.

So, despite all the abuse, all the heartache that Grossman and his family had to endure, here he finds himself in the biggest of the big games. Yet, all the experts, TV and internet alike, choose to concetrate on the Peyton Manning vs. Rex Grossman matchup, claiming that the Colts have a decided advantage in this game because of it. They are quick to point out that in the last five games, Grossman has thrown five INT. But why do I never hear about Manning's six INTs in the playoffs? Why do I never hear how Grossman's passer rating (75.3) is superior to Manning's (68.8) in the postseason? Last time I checked, the Bears offense was ranked ahead of the Colts' offense. Plus, the Bears are scoring 33 points per game in the playoffs compared to the Colts' 28. Also, last time I checked, Manning doesn't play cornerback or linebacker, so this whole QB vs. QB thing is ridiculous to begin with. Let me put it this way, I would rather have Grossman against the Colts' suspect defense than Manning against the Bears' dominant D, not to mention that Devin Hester should have a field day going against one of the worst special teams cover units. Indianapolis and their run defense, which gave up 173 yards per game, will see a heavy dose of Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson, keeping Manning on the sideline for the majority of the game. The more you take a look at the matchups, the more you like the Bears in this game. The whole "let's root for Manning to finally win the big game" sentiment seems like the media has a bit of a mancrush on number 18. The Bears are the better all-around team. They are not a one-trick pony, like the Colts and Mr. Manning.

My prediction: Bears 27 Colts 17

You have got to feel good for Grossman, and if not, you have to at least respect him. He has gone through more this season than most athletes go through in their entire career. I will be glued to the TV on February 4th, rooting for my Bears, but I will also be watching Grossman, hoping that he has that moment when he can bend over and tell the world "kiss my..."

FIBA Championships Update

2006-08-30T17:34:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning at 6:30 am to watch Team USA play Germany in the FIBA championships. At halftime, USA was ahead by only one point, but pulled ahead for good in the third quarter behind the play of Chris Bosh, Kirk Hinrich, and Carmelo Anthony. Bosh grabbed countless offensive rebounds (USA went 9 of 31 from behind the arc) and Hinrich completely disrupted any offensive flow for Germany by smothering their point guard on the perimeter.

Let me just that, right now, Anthony is the best basketball player in the world, period. He's had a chip on his shoulder ever since he's been considered lesser of a player than Dwyane Wade and LeBron James, and he's now showing why he was crowned "the people's champ" by SLAM magazine. In the end, USA won that game by 20 points, but if it weren't for Wade and James, they would have won by 40. At least James looked like he was giving a genuine effort and his shots just weren't falling, but Wade appeared as if he didn't even want to be there, and that he was irritated with the Germans for actually playing hard. He missed a break away lay-up that he would have normally dunked and at one point he was attempting to bank in 3-pointers. It was a pathetic performance that fortunately did not cost the Americans, but I do not think that he should get much playing time in the semi's against Greece, because right now there are much more deserving players. There, I said my piece, so let's get on to the headlines for today...

With a 2-2 tie against Houston, the Chicago Fire ran their unbelievable unbeaten streak to... 4 games. WHOOP DEE DOO.
The Cubs have officially hit rock bottom after getting swept by the Pirates. In games 2 and 3, they gave up late leads, the last of which marked another blown save by Ryan Dempster, this time with his team up by two runs. Both of the games which the Cubs gave away were won by Pittsburgh in 11 innings.
In the previous series, the Cubs were swept by St. Louis. Backup catcher Gary Bennett hit a walk-off single in game two and a walk-off grand slam in game three. It's pathetic. Not much else you can say.
Aramis Ramirez is up to his cop-out ways again, this time saying that it's not important whether or not a player has a slump, because everyone does, but rather it's the timing of the slump which counts the most. Uh, yeah, like when Derek Lee was injured for most of the year and Ramirez was hitting something like .230 instead of helping his team pick up the slack. Now he knows he is in for a payday and, voila, all of a sudden he can't make an out. For once I would like him to be a man and say "I stunk and I take responsibility for my poor play." Way to show your character, Ramirez.
John Mullin explains that, for the Bears, there is still a lot riding on the final preseason game.
After aggravating a right-foot injury, Dusty Dvoracek's season appears to be over. If you remember, I predicted that Dvoracek would have a big year for the Bears and would eventually replace Ian Scott at DT. So at least we know that one Bears fan (me) was disappointed when this was reported.
The Blackhawks and Comcast SportsNet have agreed to put a whopping 5 home games on TV this year. Wow, how generous.
Marlen Garcia reminds Bulls fans how good of an offensive player Andres Nocioni can be, something which he is demonstrating by his unbelievable scoring run in the FIBA Championships. In the quarterfinals, he recorded 21 points against Turkey to help Argentina reach the semi-finals. In seven games at the World Championships in Japan, Nocioni is shooting 51.7 percent from the field and 46.2 percent on three-pointers. He's averaging 12.6 points per game on a team whose leading scorer, Manu Ginobili of the San Antonio Spurs, averages a modest 15.
After splitting a four-game series against Detroit, the White Sox played Minnesota in a three-game set. The Twins took two out of three and climbed into the wild card lead by ½ a game.
The White Sox proceeded to take the first two games from the Devil Rays, and have reclaimed the wild card spot by 1 ½ games. They finish the Tampa series this afternoon.

By the way, make sure everyone supports Team USA in the semi-finals (6:30 am). The Americans take on Greece while Argentina goes against Spain (3:30 am). I plan to get up and absorb every minute of it. I'm loving this tournament. ESPN2 will cover both matches.

Stay Tuned

2006-08-27T20:13:00.000-07:00

I'm back but I regret to inform you that there isn't much to report on this afternoon. A slow day in the sports world to say the least. I'm typing in between pitches of the Cubs-Cardinals game on ESPN, which is tied 6-6 in the bottom of the ninth. Two outs, bases loaded, grand slam, Cardinals win. I don't know why I watch anymore. Anyway, I'll be back later tonight...

Predictions for the 2006-2007 Season

2006-08-27T00:25:00.001-07:00

It's that time of year again, football season, and with the first game only days away I thought that now was as good an opportunity as any to make my predictions. I've done hours of extensive research, reading up on all the teams, and I'll be talking regular season win totals, playoff seeding, and winners of every game from the Wild Card Weekend all the way to the Super Bowl. If you're into betting on football, all the information you'll need is right here. Let's get started...

Here are my predicted final standings for each division.
Win totals will only be shown for teams that I think will make the playoffs

AFC EAST
1) New England: 11-5
2) NY Jets: 10-6
3) Miami
4) Buffalo

AFC NORTH
1) Baltimore: 11-5
2) Cincinnati
3) Pittsburgh
4) Cleveland

AFC SOUTH
1) Indianapolis: 14-2
2) Jacksonville
3) Tennessee
4) Houston

AFC WEST
1) San Diego: 13-3
2) Kansas City: 9-7
3) Denver
4) Oakland

NFC EAST
1) Philadelphia: 11-5
2) Dallas: 9-7
3) NY Giants: 9-7
4) Washington

NFC NORTH
1) Chicago: 12-4
2) Minnesota
3) Detroit
4) Green Bay

NFC SOUTH
1) Carolina: 10-6
2) Atlanta: 9-7
4) New Orleans
5) Tampa Bay

NFC WEST
1) Seattle: 12-4
2) San Francisco
3) St. Louis
4) Arizona

SUPERBOWL: CHICAGO vs. BALTIMORE

Analysis
Let's start with the AFC East. The Patriots' run is over? Not, just yet. I think that everyone is overestimating the signing of Daunte Culpepper. I live in Ft. Lauderdale and the Dolphins practice nearby. From what I could see, Culpepper's knee did not look anything close to being ready for the season. He made some plays with his good arm but he looked a shell of his former self even in half-speed drills. But don't get me wrong. I think the Patriots have major flaws including the fact that they will be forced to use a three tight end formation at times due to the lack of quality WRs on their roster. I'm still wondering how in the world they would let Vinatieri go. That will ultimately be their downfall. There has never been a better kicker in the history of the NFL, especially in clutch situations. Nevertheless, the Patriots win this division by default. Remember, they still have one of the best football coaches to ever grace a field and a QB who does nothing but find ways to win. The Jets might give them a run for their money but I will get into that later.

As for Miami: All you ever hear lately is how they have finally found that QB to replace Marino. Give me a break. The only reason he had success in Minnesota was because of Moss. He is not good at reading defenses, and as I said before, he can't make up for it, at least not this year, by using his legs to move the chains. On a positive note, Chambers and Booker are top-notch wide receivers, second-year RB Ronnie Brown rushed for almost 1,000 yards as a rookie sharing playing time, and Randy McMichael is considered to be one of the best Tight Ends in the league. But will Culpepper get them the ball? The defense will always be a constant, especially with a team coached by Nick Saban. Expect progress for the Dolphins this year, but don't buy into what all the so-called "experts are saying".

The Jets will be this year's surprise team. Take a look at their schedule; there is maybe three games this season, Chicago and New England twice, where they go in thinking they have no chance to win. Even against the Patriots, look for Mangini's knowledge of his old team to keep the game closer than it should be which could possibly lead to an upset. There is no reason for this team not to make the playoffs. They would ultimatley lose when they got there but I still think they make it into the tournament. Look for Pennington to have a bounce back season. He has a good WR corps surrounding him. The oonly question mark will be at RB but look for little-known Leon Washington to provide a spark in that area. Also, their defense is underrated with guys like DT Dewayne Robertson and OLB Jonathan Vilma. I predict 9-10 wins for this group.

The AFC North is an intriguing division, and should be considered one of the toughest in the league with the improvement of Baltimore. I feel that, with the addition of Steve McNair, the Ravens should win that division, beating out two very good teams in the process, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. Year in and year out, the defense has been outstanding and, like Miami, the only thing that Baltimore has been lacking is a star QB. Now, with a proven signal caller behind center, the weapons on offense which the Ravens have always possessed can finally be unleashed. Despite what you may have heard, Baltimore has two good receivers for McNair to throw to, Derrick Mason, who McNair played with for many years in Tennessee, and the talented Mark Clayton. Expect both of their statistics to double now that they have someone to actually get them the ball. Add a healthy Jamal Lewis and Pro Bowl TE Todd Heap into the mix and offense no longer seems like a liability in Baltimore.

As for Pittsburgh, I don't think they will be able to overcome losing both Jerome Bettis and Randle El, at least not enough to win the division. I have heard analysts say that the loss of Bettis will hurt the most, but I don't agree because even last year I considered Willie Parker to be the number one guy and I think that he will be a stud for fantasy owners this year due to the way that Pittsburgh emphasizes the run. I can see the Steelers using Najeh Davenport in short yardage situations and I don't think Bettis will be that big of a loss. However, with no Randle El, the receiving core looks very thin and very shaky. Outside of Hines Ward there is no go-to guy and Steelers fans should not count on rookie Santonio Holmes, at least not this year. After watching last night's preseason game against the Eagles, you can see how missing most of training camp has slowed his learning process. I think I saw him line up with the third-stringers at one point. With another year under his belt, look for Roethlisberger to pass the ball much more than in the past. I've never been a fan of his. I think that he is highly overrated and his success in the past was the result of a great team around him. Honestly, the Steelers should not have won the Super Bowl. Let's be honest, the refs robbed Seattle. The only touchdown pass thrown in that game for Pittsburgh was by a WR. Roethlisberger has trouble reading defenses which is shown by how many times he is forced to throw on the run. It has nothing to do with his offensive line. He is just too slow in assesing the defense and being decisive. In my opinion, Roethlisberger will have a bad season.

As for the Bengals, a lot depends on the health of Carson Palmer, which will be determined by how he feels after tonight's game against Green Bay. The other night he played great but when he came out he had to be helped up the stairs because his knee is not ready yet. That's not a good sign. Look for Chad Johnson's stats to take a minor dip this year because of Palmer's iffy knee. Also, I don't trust their defense which has a tendency to give up the big play down field. In addition, it seems that their players spend more time in jail than they do the field. Does character count for anything? Apparently not in Cincy. Too many question marks in Cincinnati.

The AFC South is self-explanatory. The Colts may be even better than last year because of two things, the signing of Adam Vinitieri and the replacement of Edgerrin James with rookie Joseph Addai. I watched Addai play the other night and, although it was the pre-season, he looked as if he has the potential to be twice the running back that James ever was. The only thing left to say about Peyton Manning is that he hasn't won the big game yet. Will he ever get that playoff monkey off his back? I think he gets it done this year as long as his defense and special teams plays up to par. There's nothing to worry about in regards to the Colts' offense but the defense at times is as shaky as it gets, especially in the running game. Alot of that has to do with their defense being so small. They are built for speed and because of that, they get pushed around on many running plays. On special teams, they seem to give up alot of return yards, particularly on kickoffs. Those two units will have to support Manning if the Colts are to do anything this year.

I'm going to say this just once: Jacksonville's 12-4 record last year was a fluke, plain and simple. It was nothing more than a result of an extremely weak schedule and if you think back, the Jaguars barely escaped some of those games against the Texans and 49ers. Not only is their schedule tougher this year but they seem to play down to their competition, losing to teams that have no business being on the same field with them. It's a shame because their defense is as good as that of Chicago and Baltimore but it's wasted because of an overall lack of team focus and effort. Leftwich is average at best, Fred Taylor is aging and gets hurt every year. On the bright side, I expect rookie RB Maurice Jones-Drew to pick up the slack for Taylor. This kid can run. They don't call him the human bowling ball for nothing. Nevertheless, don't expect a repeat this year from them.

While Tennessee did improve themselves this off-season, and rookie QB Michael Young does look like the real deal, it's too soon for their upgrades, such as stealing WR David Givens from the Patriots, to equal enough success to get them back into the playoffs. Look for them to contend in 2-3 years when RB LenDale White and Young will combine to form one of the most potent one-two punches in the league. That said, they will be very exciting this year. Pacman Jones is as good of a return man as you can find in this league and Travis Henry is more than capable to hold down the fort until White is ready. I expect Young to start sooner than later and he'll show why he was picked so high in the draft. I'm excited to see this team grow in the near future.

Houston, other than trading for WR Eric Moulds, didn't do nearly enough in the off-season to compete this year. They are going to regret not drafting Reggie Bush or hometown Michael Young for years to come, especially now that their starting RB, Domanick Davis, is shelved with knee and hamstring problems and David Carr looks like he takes a step back every year. Not much to say about the Texans. Whoever is their GM should be fired, and quick, because at this point, there has been plenty of time to have built a competitive squad. From the first day of their existence, with their opening pick in the expansion draft, they made the wrong decision, selecting once-dominant offensive lineman Tony Bosseli who played half a season before retiring. I don't see it getting better any time soon. They are stuck in a division with the powerhouse Colts and the up-and-comming Titans.It's depressing to dwell on them so let's move on.

Now on to the AFC West. In my opinion, the Kansas City Chiefs, is the most improved team in this division, because they finally decided to get serious about the defensive side of the ball. Rookie DE Tamba Hali will team up with DEs Eric Hicks, Jared Allen, and DT Ryan Sims to form an excellent defensive line. 2006 Rookie of the year Derrick Johnson will play along side former Steeler and 2001 rookie of the year, LB Kendrell Bell, forming one of the best linebacking duos in the NFL. The secondary, which boasts the likes of Patrick Surtain, Ty Law, and Sammy Knight will also be a strength. The days of being able to run up the score on Kansas City are long gone and we all know what they are capable of offensively, with players like RB Larry Johnson, QB Trent Green, TE Tony Gonzalez, and the always dangerous Dante Hall. But while they have greatly improved themselves as an overall football team, San Diego is still the best team in this division. However, with their upgrades on defense, coupled with a full year from Larry Johnson, look for the Chiefs to make the playoffs.

The Broncos will be another solid defensive team and, in my opinion, drafted a QB, Jay Cutler, who will supplant Jake Plummer behind center. In addition, coach Mike Shannahan seems to have found another diamond in the rough, a la Terrell Davis, with undrafted RB Mike Bell. He has the patience to wait for his blockers and then uses his breakaway speed in the open field to take it in for six. The addition of WR Javon Walker adds the big play threat that has been lacking opposite of veteran WR Rod Smith. TE Stephen Alexander at times last season became a security blanket for Plummer and is always a reliable option. As for the defense, with stars such as S John Lynch, CB Champ Bailey, LB Ian Gold, DT Gerrard Warren, and DE Courtney Brown, they should be as good, if not better, with another year of playing together. It all depends on how fast Cutler comes around, but I wouldn't expect the Broncos to be playing in the postseason this year but watch out season.

As for the Chargers, I don't think it will take Philip Rivers that long to catch on, as some of the experts would have you believe. Remember, he is not a true rookie like Cutler and he was studying under a very good teacher in Drew Brees. All-world RB LaDanian Tomlinson will continue where he left off last year. In fact, look for him to have his best year ever because there will be more emphasis on the run this year than last . Defensively the Chargers are solid with Merriman leading the way. Cromartie, a rookie CB from Florida State who had to sit out his senior seaosn with a torn ACL might be the steal of the draft. He will be a shut-down corner and a good return man as well. Look for the Chargers to take the next step and supplant the Broncos for the division crown.

There's not much to talk about when it comes to the Oakland Raiders. They have a horrible offense and they are miserable on the other side of the ball too. Actually their pass defense isn't half that bad but as a whole they are an embarrasement to the league. Randy Moss seems to lose more and more interest with every passing year and who could blame him with the trainwreck that is Aaron Brooks behind center. LaMont Jordan was a flash in the pan and Jerry Porter is already causing problems for head coach Art Shell. Their overall lack of talent, combined with a tough division, equals another year of last-place football.

Now, for the NFC East. The consensus among experts is that this is the toughest division in football. but I think that every team has enough flaws, that anyone could win it. The Redskins have a headache at the QB position heading into the season. Mark Brunell is no longer adequate, because while he did an admirable job last season, at his age, 35, he no longer has enough left in the tank to survive another year. Nevertheless, he will be the starter for Washington, but look for second-year QB Jason Cambell to eventually replace Brunell at quarterback. Clinton Portis is also becoming a bit of a mystery in regards to the severity of his shoulder injury, something which was evident by the Redskins' acquisition of RB T.J. Duckett. If Portis is out for an extended period of time, expect the offense to struggle due to the uncertainty at QB. An unkown name who could make a name for himself this year is backup RB Ladell Betts. He showed promise late last year and could be a bright spot for Washington's offense. Duckett is a more than serviceable RB, but he is no Portis or Betts for that matter. If the quarterback, whether it be Brunell or Cambell, is able to consistently get rid of the ball, he has four good receivers, Santana Moss, Brandon Lloyd, Antwaan Randle-El, and David Patten, to use as targets. With this deep of a receiving corps, I'm surprised they haven't used it to their advantage yet and made a trade to address other areas of need. Washington is always a top defensive team and that should continue despite the loss of LB Lavar Harrington. All in all, I have a very bad feeling about this team. Look for them to be a big dissapointment this year. Another year of big offseason spending will equate to another down year for the Redskins.

Dallas is an interesting team to try to dissect. I just don't like 'em, plain and simple. They're good, but not great in all aspects and I think that Terrell Owens, who today was already fined $10,000 for violating team rules, will be an even bigger distraction as the year goes on. My prediction is that he is released from the Cowboys around week 10 if not sooner. This is another team with a QB problem. The Cowboys ranked 29th in sacks allowed last year, partially due to a bad offensive line, but also because Drew Bledsoe is basically a statue. I think that backup QB Tony Romo will push Bledsoe for playing time and will eventually take his spot around mid-year. Bledsoe will never be happy having to look over his shoulder, and a disgruntled QB always results in more losses than wins. Look for them to trade him elsewhere next season. RB Julius Jones has the potential to be one of the better backs in the league, but like his brother in Chicago, he has to prove that he can consistently stay healthy. The defense will be there, but it won't be enough to make up for a sub-par offense. Their safties are better against the run then they are against the pass which is comical. Roy Williams is one of the best hitters in the NFL but he couldn't cover the backside of a barn. I think they will have enough to make the playoffs but don't expect too much out of this team.

Philadelphia, in my opinion, is a dark horse and could completely ruin my predictions. I watched them last night against the Steelers, and they were running on all cylinders. McNabb looks healthy, they have good depth at RB with Westbrook and Buckhalter, and WR Reggie Brown looks like a keeper. But who will step up on the other side and take some of the attention away from Brown? That question was answered by the acquisition of Dante Stallworth. The fans of Philadelphia will quikcly learn to value him. He was a very good reciever in New Orleans and I'm confused why the Saints let him go so easily. In addition, if McNabb happens to get hurt, Jeff Garcia is a more than capable backup QB. TE L.J. Smith seems to be developing into one of the better players at his position, and the offensive line has been revamped with the massive additions of OT Winston Justice, 6-6, 320, and OG Max Jean-Gilles, 6-3, 358. Their defense also looks completely healthy, and they have some household names, such as Jevon Walker, Jeremiah Trotter, Lito Sheppard, and Brian Dawkins, which should allow for a successful season on that side of the ball. DE Darren Howard, formerly of the Saints, looks renergized, perhaps because he escaped a stressful situation in New Orleans. However, they could very well finish second to last for one main reason, their brutal second-half schedule. Take a look at their last seven games: at Indianapolis, vs. Carolina, at Washington, at NY Giants, at Dallas, vs. Atlanta. It's completely conceivable that they go 0-7 in those games. There is a point to be made, that if their opponents have already secured a playoff birth, they will rest the starters, making it an easy win for the Eagles on that particular Sunday, but that thoery will not apply in this case. When Philadelphia plays Indianapolis and Carolina, it is too ealry in the season to be sending in the second units because both of those clubs I just mentioned will be gunning for home-field advantage in the playoffs. Every game after that will either be with a team attempting to earn the highest playoff seed possible or with a team that is fighting for it's life just to make the playoffs (the Giants, Dallas, and Atlanta). When you add the Redskins in week 10, Cowboys in week 4, and New York in week 2, to an already difficult second half of the schedule, you have a recipe for a potentially dissapointing season. Nevertheless, Andy Reid is as good as any coach in the league and he will have his team ready to do battle. I think the Eagles will win their division.

The Giants, on the other hand, are the complete opposite of every other team in this division, because they are a terrible defensive team. They did add LB Lavar Harrington and S Will Demps, but it will not be enough for a squad that nearly gave up 40 points at home against the Carolina Panthers in last year's playoffs. They are very good on offense with QB Eli Manning, RB Tiki Barber, TE Jeremy Shockey, and WR Plaxico Burress, but is it enough to overcome their defensive shortcomings? No. Plus, I believe that after Roethlisberger Eli Manning is the most overrated QB in the league. It was a big mistake for the Giants to have chosen Manning over Rivers a couple of years back in the draft and they will regret it for years. Let's just say that he is not his brother and never will be. The Giants will be average at best.

The NFC North is not very hard to breakdown. The dominant team of the division has become the Chicago Bears and there is no reason why they should not repeat as champs this year. They are the only team in the entire league to bring back all 22 starters. Combine that with a healthy Rex Grossman (cross your fingers) and the team should be dramatically improved without the signing of a major free agent this off-season, with the exception of backup QB Brian Griese. If Grossman can keep himself in the lineup, Mushin Muhammad will see his stats rise dramatically, and look for running mate, WR Bernard Berrian, to have a breakout year as well. If, for some reason, Grossman falters, the Bears finally learned from past mistakes and signed a proven winner in Griese. At running back, Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson form what might be the best combination of both speed and power of any team in the league. While Jones is a pure speed back, Benson has both. Look for him to replace Jones as the season goes on and take over full-time starting duties next year. The offensive line, which includes Olin Kreutz, Fred Miller, John Tait, Ruben Brown, and Roberto Garza, is one of the best in the NFL. This bodes well for the Bears, considering that they are a run-orientated team and Grossman is not very mobile. On defense, DEs Adewale Ogunleye and Alex Brown, both pro bowlers last year, lead one of the deepest defensive lines in not only the NFC, but the entire NFL. DT Tommie Harris, also voted to the pro bowl as a rookie last year, along with Ian Scott, are capable of completely stifling an opponent's running attack. DT Tank Johnson is constantly being rotated in and he is just as good if not better than Scott. We all know what Urlacher and Briggs are capable of, and the secondary has actually added more depth than it had last year. Nathan Vasher is as good as it gets at CB, and despite having some shaky performances last year, Charles Tillman is a great complement on the other side. Vasher brings finesse and speed, while Tillman can physically pound the other team's best receiver. Adding Ricky Manning Jr. and Dante Wesley will greatly improve the secondary and defense as a whole, because it will allow the starters to get more rest if the offense is having trouble staying on the field on that particular day. S Mike Brown, when healthy, is a top-five player at his position. Chris Harris did a great job as a rookie last year, but should be replaced by second round choice Daniel Manning this season. Coaches are raving about Manning with his blazing speed and ability to learn the system so quickly. Also, watch out for third-round pick Devin Hester. If you've seen him return a punt, you know what I mean. He will be the best return man since Dante Hall, mark my words. Expect the Bears to run away with the division. 13 wins seems realistic.

The Vikings seemed to have left off where they started last year, and that's not a good thing. The problems have already begun, most recently with the release of WR Koren Robinson after his latest run-in with the law. QB Brad Johnson, age 37, will attempt to recreate last year's magical run at the end of the season, but you have to figure that at his age, his body won't have much left to give. Another question mark is RB Chester Taylor and his ability to be the feature back for the entire season. It's uncertain whether or not he can handle the load by himself, and it speaks volumes that Baltimore chose to keep Jamal Lewis, who had been in jail and was rehabing a broken ankle, rather than re-sign Taylor. Robinson would have been their number one receiver, but without him, second-year WR Troy Williamson will have to learn as fast as he runs. A team whose best two wide outs are an unproven speedster and a broken-down Marcus Robinson is not in good shape offensively, to say the least. And to compound the problem, the signing of OG Steve Hutchinson for roughly $50 million is absurd and leaves them with no flexibility to add anyone of significance in the near future. The defensive side of the ball should be a bit better than the offense. Also, the Vikings have changed to a Cover-2 scheme. Even if they had the correct personnel to carry out this type of defense, which they don't, switching philosophies equates to at least two years of adapting to a new system. Their number one draft pick, LB Chad Greenway, is out for the year, because, for some unexplained reason, he was played on special teams where be blew out his knee. I would say an 7-9 record sounds about right for the Vikings.

In Detroit, the addition of offensive coordinator Mike Martz won't be as significant as people think. After all, you still need talent to work with in order to have success. QB Jon Kitna is a backup, nothing more, and proved this by constantly making stupid mistakes at the worst times in Cincinnati. Second stringer Josh McCown does have some potential, but according to reports from multiple coaches, well let's just say he isn't the most cerebral of quarterbacks. Guys like that tend to quickly fall out of favor with Martz, who incorporates the most complicated offensive playbook in the league. WR Roy Willams is pro bowl-caliber, but Detroit has no other option to take the pressure off of him, because first round picks Mike Williams and Charles Rogers are both busts, which leaves the Lions depleted at the wide receiver position. I like RB Kevin Jones, and think that in the right system he could be a top back in the league, but I don't think that he will have a good year statistically, because Detroit will not be able to stretch the field, consequently allowing defenses to load the box with 8 players and focus on the run. On defense, the Lions are average at best. Their number one pick, LB Ernie Sims, has suffered nine, count 'em, nine concussions and has been told by doctors that if he gets one more his playing days are over. Yeah, that sounds like the right player to take with the 10th overall pick. They have some good names such as DE Kalimba Edwards, LB Boss Bailey, and CB Dre' Bly, but as a unit, Detroit's defense isn't scaring anybody. If the Lions reach six wins, they should consider that a step in the right direction.

Oh, how the mighty have fallen in Green Bay. Brett Favre is already complaining that his body aches everyday after practice and it seems as if he is holding on one year too long. RB Ahmad Green has returned, which should help take the pressure off of Favre somewhat, and help him to make fewer mistakes than last year, but, with all his knee problems, Green will never be the back he was only three years ago. WR Donald Driver had an all-pro year and was one of the few bright spots for the Packers. Rod Garner is, at best, an average complement, and rookie Greg Jennings will give the team a spark off the bench every once in a while, but nothing more than that. Despite signing DT Ryan Pickett and CB Charles Woodson, the best addition in the off-season was draft pick A.J. Hawk. The first time you watch him play, he reminds you of when Brian Urlacher first came into the league. I expect him to develop into one of the premier LBs in the near future. It should be fun to watch Urlacher and Urlacher Jr. go at it for years to come. The signing of Woodson was an obvious case of a desperate team trying to convince their star QB to stay one more year. Look at his stats, he didn't catch more than one INT the last 5 years and they pay him close to $25 million? Ryan Pickett will be solid, but overall it is looking like another abysmal season for the Packer faithful. I predict that QB Aaron Rodgers will be handed the reigns next season, marking the end of the Favre era. Six wins, in my opinion, is the maximum for this team.

Carolina, in my opinion, is a good team but they are not as good as some of the TV pundits think. QB Jake Delhomme is another quarterback wh oin my opinion is overrated. To be fair, his game does seems to raise to a notch or two come playoff time but there are much better all-around QBs in the NFL. RB DeShaun Foster, who had to share time at the beginning of the season, ended the year with a respectable 879 yards on only 207 carries, with two rushing touchdowns. He really began to hit his stride just before the playoffs and rode that momentum until he broke his leg in Chicago. If he can stay healthy, a problem which has plagued him through his career, he is primed for a big year. If for any reason he goes down, the Panthers drafted his insurance policy, first-round pick DeAngelo Williams, who in the near future should take over full-time duties in Carolina. The skills of WR Steve Smith have been well-documented. 1,563 yards, 103 catches, and 12 TDs, is a year that most can only dream about. Carolina's passing attack improved with the acquisition of Keyshawn Johnson, who brings two things to the table: first, opposing teams can no longer double or triple-team Smith, which might actually increase his production, and second, Johnson will make those tough catches over the middle, allowing Smith to play vertically instead of risking the chance of injury. That said, don't expect his addition to put Carolina over the top. His numbers have gone down each year for the last 3 seasons and his age is starting to show in both the passing game as well as in his blocking techniques. Let's put it this way, his mouth runs faster than his legs do at this point. Carolina, along with Chicago, should be considered the top defensive team in the NFC. They boast the most athletic front four, led by Julius Peppers, that I have ever seen. With players such as DE Mike Rucker, DT Kris Jenkins, LBs Na'il Diggs and Dan Morgan, and CBs Chris Gamble and Ken Lucas, the Panthers are a force to be reckoned with. However, I think that their offense will struggle, putting a huge strain on the defense which will cause their statistics to be misleading. While I think that they should win the division, don't expect them to run away with it.

I love the moves that Atlanta has made so far this offseason. First was the trade for DE John Abraham of the Jets, who wanted out of New York so badly that he was basically given away for nothing. Abraham has averaged 9.16 sacks per year and is considered one of the better talents at DE in the league. Adding him into the mix with DE Patrick Kerney, DTs Rod Coleman and Grady Jackson, LB Keith Brooking, and shut-down corners DeAngelo Hall and Allen Rossum, makes for one heck of a defense. Next, they went out and traded for WR Ashley Lelie of the Broncos, who led the league with 17.2 yards per catch. All the Falcons had to give up was backup running back T.J. Duckett, who they shipped to the Redskins. Washington then sent a third round pick to Denver. Lelie, along with Michael Jenkins and TE Alge Crumpler, will give Michael Vick multiple options on offense. Warrick Dunn continues to be solid, rushing for 1,416 yards on 280 carries. However, he only ran for three rushing TDs, a number which should improve now that Duckett's not there to take red zone carries away from Dunn. And finally I come to my "X" factor, Mr. Vick. I personally think that while he has a rocket for an arm, his passing is mediocre at best. In my opinion, he should be moved to either WR or RB, something which will never happen, but that's how I feel so I thought I'd share it. In fact, I think that Matt Schaub is a better quarterback than Vick. Read the wording carefully. I didn't say he was a better football player or better athlete, I said better quarterback, and he is. Schaub would be starting for alot of the teams in the league if Atlanta's management would agree to send him elsewhere and not let him rot away on the bench. Vick's 73.1 passer rating and 55.3 completion percentage is not nearly good enough for a player of such high expectations. We all know Atlanta's pattern; one good year one bad, and last year was a bad year. Will this season be a successful one? Tune in and find out.

Tampa Bay is an interesting team to analyze offensively. Chris Simms, Tim Rattay, Jay Fieldler, and Bruce Gradkowski, who I just saw tear apart Jacksonville's starters in the preseason, give the Bucaneers extreme depth at the QB position. Carnell WIlliams rushed for 1,178 yards on 290 carries and had 6 TDs. He was one of the most over-used backs in the league, something which could be seen by all the nagging injuries he had to deal with last season. John Gruden cannot make the same mistake and push Williams too hard. His carries should go down so expect the rest of his stats to follow. The one weakness for Tampa which jumps out at you, is the lack of quality WRs on the roster. They do have Joey Galloway, who with his outstanding speed, is able to break the game open at any moment. He caught 83 passes for 1,287 yards and 10 TDs, which is nothing to sneeze at, but he begins this year at the age of 34, and for receivers that's pushing the envelope. Tampa will be counting on second year WR Michael Clayton to carry more of the load, but don't expect too much. He only had 372 yards receiving last year. Tampa's defense, while still good is not even close to where they used to be. With Simeon Rice leading the defensive line, Derrick Brooks running the linebackers, and Ronde Barber lurking in the secondary, it would be safe to think that the Bucanneers will be able to stay close with most of their opponents and produce a good number of takeaways next season. All in all, I see them as a last place team in this particular division.

New Orleans won't be as bad as some people might think, in fact they might play spoiler on more than one Sunday. Drew Brees will be a fresh breath of air at the quarterback position, please excuse the pun, considering that Saints fans had to endure watching Aaron Brooks operate behind center for years. Reggie Bush and Deuce McAllister will be a formidable combination in the backfield, and depending on the situation, New Orleans plans to put them on the field at the same time. Joe Horn is a quality, veteran reciever and his stats should go up because of the presence of Brees. I might be crazy but watch for this kid Marques Colston from Hofstra. He is a WR who the Saints drafted in the seventh round of the NFL draft and he migh tbe the reason that New Orleans was so willing to deal Stallworth to Philadelphia. On defense is where the real problems lie. There aren't many big names to talk about other than DE Will Smith and CB Mike McKenzie and it appears that the Saints are primed to give up more points than they score. Their secondary is extremely old and have absolutely no speed which will hurt them on many ocassions down the road. The Saints could be exciting and will give alot of joy to a city in shambles. Wouldn't it be the feel-good story of the year if they were to somehow make it to the playoffs? It's almost as if they are a team with an angel lookin gover their shoulder, beggining with Reggie Bush, somehow, someway, slipping to them with the second pick in the draft. All year you'll hear the phrase "Team of destiny" etc. Maybe it's not so far-fetched.

The NFC West should be a bit more interesting now that Arizona has improved themselves. However, the division clearly belongs to Seattle and I don't see the Cardinals overtaking the Seahawks, at least for another 2 years. Matt Hasselbeck is one of the more solid QBs in the game and brings stability to the Seahawks. That said, Seattle will have a huge problem if he goes down with any kind of injury. The Seahawks number two option is Seneca Wallace, who is actually better suited to play WR, as he showed with his 40-yard reception in the playoffs, so needless to say losing Hasselbeck would completely ruin the season for Seattle. Nothing really needs to be said about Shaun Alexander, after all he does hold the record for touchdowns in a season, but again, if for some reason he hurts himself, there is nobody even close to adequate who could take his place. Also, will Alexander post the same stats with the departure of Steve Hutchinson? Taking his place is 6-4, 330 pound OG Floyd Womack, who many think will be a serviceable blocker, but will not perform at the level of Hutchinson. Time will tell if it affects Alexander, numbers wise. At WR, Seattle will rely heavily on Nate Burleson, who despite only having 30 receptions, managed to rack up 328 yards with one TD before he was placed on the DL. In 2004, he had 68 receptions for 1,006 yards and 9 TDs. The Seahawks have thrown a lot of money his way in hopes that he stays healthy and has a big year. I wouldn't expect him to live up to his contract judging from his years in Minnesota. Rounding out a good but not great receiving trio is Darrell Jackson and the always-dependable Bobby Engram. On defense, Seattle should be better than last year with the addition of LB Julian Peterson. DE Grant Wistrom plays 100 mph on every down but that kind of style is starting to wear him down since he doesnt get to play in the cushy conditions of the dome in St. Louis anymore. LB Tofa Tatupu should improve on his pro bowl rookie season, and CB Marcus Trufant gives Seattle the ever-important shut-down DB. However, the more you look at Seattle's roster, the more you realize what a thin line they are walking. If the team falls ill to the injury bug, which is a huge part of the NFL, their roster is ultimately set up for disaster. It makes you wonder how they have gotten by this long. Still, they are the best team in this division, so barring any unforeseen events, they will win the NFC West crown again.

The Arizona Cardinals are an offensive juggernaut, although the injury to Kurt Warner last night against the Bears will hurt. Matt Leinart looked good in the preseason, and could soon be ready to take over full-time but I question how long he will survive in this league with such a weak arm. Edgerrin James will obviously upgrade an offense that ranked last in rushing yards per game but he won't come anywhere close to matching his production in Indianapolis. No Peyton Manning to stretch the field, and a mediocre offensive line, equals lower statistics for James. You won't find a better duo of receivers than the one the Cardinals have. Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald will both make multiple visits to the pro bowl before they're done. Defense is where the problem lies for Arizona. In the past, they have invested multiple picks for the defensive side of the ball, all of whom have yet to come to fruition. CB Antrel Rolle, LB Karlos Dansby, and DT Darnelle Dockett are the only names that jump out at you. While those are three great players, three great players does not a defense make. Expect the Cardinals to make a small push for the playoffs, but fall short at the end. However, if they continue to build on defense, watch out in the next couple of years.

To everyone's surprise, the Rams will be a run-first team for the first time in a while. Stephen Jackson will be the focal point of the offense, and if he continues to progress from last year, he will be a dream for fantasy team owners this year. Mark Bulger is a good, accurate QB who had a passer rating of 94 and threw for nearly 2,500 yards with 14 TDs. However, don't count on him to stay healthy for an entire season. The Rams offense, on passing plays, utilizes no blockers in the backfield, resulting in hard hits from blitzing linebackers or DBs. WRs Isaac Bruce and Tory Holt are aging, and it shows in their progressively lesser stats so don't expect them to recreate the "Greatest Show on Turf" days. This is another average defensive team, at best but DE Leonard Little is the league's best kept secret. If he was playing in a major market such as New York, he would be a household name by now. But even he is 31 years old and beginning the latter part of his career. The problem with the Rams is that they are old at key positions. That never translates into success.

49er fans will not have to suffer through another year of rebuilding in my opinion. Alex Smith seems to be progressing nicely and has a good backup in Trent Dilfer to learn from. Frank Gore, a third-round pick, appears to be a steal for San Francisco. He will develop into a solid running back in the near future. However, other than those two, and new TE Vernon Davis, this is literally a team of no-name players. Man, do the 49ers have work to do on the defensive side of the ball. I feel bad for Joe Nedney, one of the best kickers in the league. He's wasting away his career in San Fransisco when he should have been granted a trade to a contender by now. Nedney is 33, and for kickers that is not too old. I would say he could play until he is 40, and hopefully by then he will be kicking for a winning team and helping them towards a Super Bowl because he's that good and deserves the chance. That said, I think that San Fran could push the Cardinals for second place in this division. I Have a feeling that the 49ers will surprise alot of people and make life more difficult that expected for Seattle and Arizona.

Patriots Give Holdout WR Branch Permission to Seek Trade

2006-08-25T17:52:00.000-07:00

Tonight, as I sat down and searched the headlines, trying to decide what the main topic of this particular blog would be, I was surprised to see that there was absolutely nothing of significance to report. Before giving up and calling it a night, I decided to look at ESPN.com, where I came across an article which talks about how the Patriots have granted disgruntled WR Deion Branch permission to seek a trade to another team. I previously wrote two articles about how the Bears should make a run at either Jerry Porter of Oakland or Ashley Lelie, the former Bronco, both of whom had fallen out of favor with their respective clubs. Since then, Lelie has been shipped to Atlanta and Porter is still sitting at home, refusing to play as long as Art Shell is the coach of the Raiders. But with the sudden availability of Branch, it's a whole new ballgame. Last season he was the Patriots' number one receiver, catching 78 passes for 998 yards and averaging 12.5 yards per catch. Just a couple of years ago Branch was the Super Bowl MVP; that's right, it wasn't Tom Brady, it was Deion Branch and now he's being offered to the higest bidder.

OK, so GM Jerry Angelo failed to act the first two times I so graciously offered my advice, but could he really pass up an opportunity of such magnitude? When Porter was put on the market, I said that Angelo should take a page out of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks' book when they pounced on the chance to trade for Chris Pronger after he had demanded out of Edmonton. If Porter is to Pronger, then Branch would be to Alexander Ovechkin being put on the trading block. Needless to say, a talent like this doesn't come along very often and the Patriots won't allow him to get away for cheap. The Bears more than likely would have to give up a first-round pick plus one of their young wide recievers, such as Bernard Berrian or Michael Bradley, in order to secure Branch's services. Let's just put it this way: Branch is so important to the Patriot's offense that Tom Brady actually went against his own policy and sided with Branch, not the organization, during the contract dispute, something which he has never done in the past with players such as Ty Law, among others. If Angelo is able to work out a deal to bring Deion Branch to Chicago, in my opinion, the Bears are a lock to represent the NFC in Miami this year.

Headlines...

Mike Mulligan, of the Chicago Sun-Times, wonders if the Bears missed the boat by not trading for Ashley Lelie. All the Broncos wanted was a third-round draft choice, but Angelo wouldn't budge, instead offering a fourth-round pick along with DE Michael Haynes. I wrote in a past blog that by not getting Lelie, the Bears missed a chance to move up from being a great team to a Super Bowl team. Angelo can more than make up for it by acquiring Branch.

Brian Griese says that he is not satisfied with being Rex Grossman's backup and that he agrees with everyone who says that the preseason should be shortened. Gene Chamberlain reports that the time for Airese Currie to display the speed that got him drafted is rapidly dwindling.

David Elfin, of the Washington Post, says that the Chicago Bears and the Houston Texans have more in common than you might think: a huge headache at the running back position.

The Cubs placed SS Cesar Izturis on the 15-day DL with a strained hamstring. Is this shaping up to be Nomar Garciaparra part two? Let's hope not, because when this guy is healthy, he is the best defensive shortstop in the league, and will be an important building block for the Cubs as they attempt to regain respectability.

While the Cubs have had very little to rejoice about this year, the recent pitching performance of Angel Guzman is giving the team some hope for the future. Ryan O'Malley's injury is far less serious than expected. The Cubs called up Jae Kuk Ryu from Triple-A to replace O'Malley on the roster.

Shame On You, Mariotti

2006-08-24T17:59:00.000-07:00

The other day I was watching ESPN's "Around the Horn," as I always do around 5 pm, when the subject of Maurice Clarette, and his recent arrest for possession of loaded firearms, came up. The question posed by the host was whether or not Clarette should be given another chance, considering the bad decisions that he seems to be constantly making. The first two writers, as any decent human being would, answered that of course he should be given another chance, because, after all, the man is human and makes mistakes just like everyone else.

However, it was Jay Mariotti, writer for the Chicago Sun-Times, whose comments invoked an extreme emotional response in myself. To make a long story short, Mariotti basically said that Clarette has been given enough chances, he should be forgotten, left to rot in prison and then thrown out into the street like garbage when his sentence is up. Upon hearing his heartless words, I became teary-eyed to the point where I could barely see the television screen. Clarette's story caused me to immediately think of a childhood friend of mine by the name of Antoine, who, in my opinion, would have been the best youth soccer player in the United States, had he not fallen victim to the disease of alcoholism. For Antoine, it got to the point that instead of drinking water at halftime, he felt as if he could not perform without beer in his system. I watched him as his body slowly deteriorated, causing him to hunch over and appear as if he was 70 years old. He slept all day, and it goes without saying that the minute his lips touched alcohol, his soccer career was over. Last I heard, he checked himself into a clinic that he later ran away from and is now a father at the age of 21. My point is that Antoine was not a problem child, in fact, far from it. He made some bad choices and surrounded himself with the wrong people, period and end.

Is Maurice Clarette a bad person? No. His situation, as well as Antoine's, involves external circumstances beyond the individual's control. It appears that Clarette is clinically depressed, something which a mental evaluation ordered by the judge residing over his case will either prove or disprove. Clarette also came into contact with negative influences, mainly the Israeli Mob, who tempted him with a life of luxury that he was not ready for. Now that his NFL career is all but over, these individuals, who Clarette owes money to, understand that they will never be reimbursed, a realization that has prompted death threats, both by phone and mail. This also explains why Clarette was riding around with a bullet proof vest the night that he was arrested.

The sad fact is that the education system has failed these athletes, which is another topic for another time, and most of them do not have the intelligence level to make critical decisions for themselves. That said, where were Clarette's advisors at Ohio State? Why didn't they warn him that it would be a mistake to take the NFL to court and that it would be in his best interest to stay in school for another year? Was his agent clueless that the Israeli Mob had given Clarette a beach-front home in Malibu, rent free? It seems that athletes these days just dont have any kind of patience or common sense, and the people who they rely on to make decisions for them are just as incapable as they are. Take Adrian Peterson, running back at Oklahoma University, for example. He was recently spotted driving in a Lexus, one owned by the same dealership that cause the QB at Oklahoma to be dismissed from the team because the owner paid him for hours that he never worked. In a year, Peterson will most likley be a top-10 pick in the NFL draft. Is it so hard to wait one year, when he can buy five of those cars for himself? Does the owner of that dealership really think that it is a good idea to be setting up these athletes for possible explusion from the team, or does it not matter as long as they are kept happy and perform at a high level for his Alma mater? The only crime that Clarette ever commited was not surrounding himself with a group of people who would ultimately allow him to succeed. Is that reason to discard him? If I could, I would give Antoine a million chances because he has done nothing to deserve less. And let's put it this way, I would rather have Maurice Clarette than Terrell Owens on my team any day.

The bottom line is that Clarette entangled himself in a deadly web, and the more he struggled to get out, such as his attempt to rob a house with the goal of partially paying off his debt, the deeper he found himself. However, under no circumstance does that mean he should just be tossed to the side and considered insignificant. You should be ashamed of yourself, Mariotti. It embarrasses me to even consider you part of the human race, and knowing that there are others like you out there that would share your opinion on a subject such as this sickens me. I'm asking for all those who read this blog to send an email to the Sun-Times (Sun-Times.com) and demand that Mariotti be fired. There is no place in sports journalism, a field which I am currently pursuing, for people like him. Perhaps Ozzie Guillen, who I hate by the way, I think he is an embarassemnt to baseball but we'll get into that another time, was on to something when he called Mariotti what the English so casually refer to as a cigarette, or bundle of sticks...

Today's headlines...

The White Sox split a four game series with the Detroit Tigers, leaving them exactly where they started: 5 1/2 games back. Paul Kornerko considers this series a victory for the Tigers and a failure for the Sox. Jon Garland continued his second-half resurgence.

Bigger news for the South Siders is Jim Thome's injured hamstring, which is expected to sideline him for what is shaping up to be the biggest series of the year against the Twins. Given Thome's history of injuries, what I don't understand is how this didn't happen sooner.

The Cubs homered four times, avoiding a four-game sweep against the Phillies. Dave Van Dyke says that Aramis Ramirez and Carlos Zambrano have made the second half of the season watchable, but wonders why it didn't happen sooner. With a 14-5 record, Zambrano is considered the front-runner for the NL Cy Young award.

The Bears traded Lennie Friedman to the Cleveland Browns. Friedman played in one game for the Bears as a reserve. Do you really care?

Team USA finished pool play with a perfect record of 5-0. They routed Senegal 103-58 in the final game, but looked less than unimpressive the day before against Italy, winning by only nine points. They were actually trailing by twelve at one point in that game. To think I woke up at 6:30 am to see that performance... Team USA plays Australia, a team with only one NBA player, Andrew Bogut, on Sunday. If everything unfolds as expected, they would take on Dirk Nowitzki's Germany in the elite eight and then Greece in the final four. Earning the top seed in their group allowed them the luxury of avoiding both Argentina and Spain until the finals.

Former Bulls' point guard, Jay Williams, whose NBA career was abruptly interrupted by a devestating motorcyle accident, has apparently completed his rehab and is considering an offer from the New Jersey Nets.

The Month of August

2006-08-22T12:09:00.000-07:00

Wow! It's been a while since my last post. I went away on vacation and I apologize for the delay. I'm back, I'm re-energized, and I've decided to incorporate a fresh, new style for this blog. More links, more reader interaction, less unneeded length. I'll focus on one topic per day, followed by brief headlines.

This time I have chosen Team USA and their play in the FIBA World Championships:

While it still counts as a win, game one against Puerto Rico was not exactly easy on the eyes. Trailing early, Team USA stormed back in the second quarter, led by Carmelo Anthony, and grabbed a slim 57-51 lead at halftime. Carlos Arroyo, who hit on 8-of-16 from the floor, led all scorers with 23 points for Puerto Rico. Kirk Hinrich added 15 points of his own. Team USA ended up winning by a score of 111-100, and while it was a great offensive performance, there was a lot to be desired defensively. One hundred points is way too much to give up to a team with only two NBA players on its roster.

Game two was against Yao Ming and China, and while it was a better defensive effort (they gave up 90 points), it still wasn't good enough. In contrast to game one, Team USA wasted no time finding its rhythm, building a 15 point first quarter lead, and handing the Chinese a 63-38 halftime deficit. Dwyane Wade led the way with 26 points, while Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard chipped in with 16 a piece. Final score: USA 121, China 90. Next on the menu would be Slovenia.

Game three featured what seems to be Team USA's philosophy in this year's tournament: pressure defense and unselfish, fast-breaking offense. After trailing early once again, this time by five points, Team USA went on an 11-0 run to take the lead for good. USA Basketball outscored Slovenia 36-22 in the second quarter to take a 66-49 halftime lead and firmly take control of the game. Dwyane Wade scored 20 points and LeBron James had 19 for USA Basketball, which forced 25 turnovers and handed out 21 assists. Team USA would go on to win the game 114-95.

What worries me the most thus far is the amount of points that are being given up. In three games, Team USA has allowed 100, 90, and 95 points to teams which are not considered to be in the top-tier. If the Americans are to have success in the next couple of rounds, the defense must be turned up a notch. Ninety points for China equates to 110 for Argentina or Spain. This problem must be addressed or Team USA will not win the gold, and the tournament will be considered another step backwards for USA Basketball.

Since my last article was on August 1st, and it's now the 22nd, let's go back and review everything that has transpired thus far. So without further adieu, on to the headlines...

Cubs

Todd Walker blames day games for years of losing on the North Side. David Haugh, of Chicagosports.com, says that these days "I had a bad day" isn't good enough for an athlete to explain his failures. Neifi Perez offers a more reasonable explanation, at least for this year: three rookies in the rotation and injuries.

The Cubs won an 18-inning marathon in Houston which might accelerate Wade Miller's climb to the big leagues. Dusty Baker used all 25 players on his roster and Phil Rogers ponders whether rookie pitcher Juan Mateo was pulled from the game to avoid retaliation from Roger Clemens.

Desperate and depleted from the night before, the Cubs were forced to call up a surprised Ryan O'Malley to make an emergency start. He pitched 8 innings of shutout baseball.

Phil Rogers thinks that the Cubs' good play of late, they actually have the third-best second half record in the league, is Baker's ticket to stay in Chicago. Dusty is pushing as if the Cubs are in a playoff race and the team is responding.

Juan Pierre robbed Albert Pujols of what would have been at least a bases clearing double, in the bottom of the ninth inning. His heroics set up Phil Nevin's game-winning single in the 10th. The Cardinals took two out of three in the series, ending what once used to be a long losing streak at Wrigley. Meanwhile, Ryan Dempster was booed off the field, as his struggles on the mound continue.

With a 19-16 record in the second half, Derek Lee wonders why the Cubs didn't play the same way at the beginning of the year. It frustrates Lee that the Cubs are not in the thick of a mediocre NL wild card race.

Aaron Rowand broke his ankle last night against the Cubs in a nasty collision with second baseman Chase Utley. He is expected to miss 4-6 weeks. The Phillies won the game 6-5.

USA Today reported that Dusty Baker, Jacques Jones, and former Cub LaTroy Hawkins, have all gone on record, saying they received hate mail and racist phone calls from Cubs fans. Melissa Baker, Dusty's wife, no longer attends home games with her 7-year-old son because of the hostile environment. Baker says that the opinions of a few people will not affect his feelings of wanting to stay. It's one thing to dislike the man because you feel he is a bad manager, I would include myself in that group, but it's a whole different ballgame when you are atacking him as a human being. These racist, close-minded scumbags should be ashamed of themselves.

Bears

Despite Rex Grossman's lackluster performances in the preseason thus far, Lovie Smith has made it clear that Grossman is ahead of Griese on the depth chart. Griese, on the other hand, has looked so good and smooth that K.C. Johnson, of Chicagosports.com, wonders if he has even broken a sweat. To this point, Griese has led three touchdown-scoring drives to Grossman's zero.

Rookie Devin Hester continues to impress, displaying what K.C. Johnson calls, "wow power." He is already averaging 21.7 yards per punt return. Mark my words, Hester will be the best return man in the NFL since Dante Hall.

Thomas Jones returned from a "mystery" hamstring injury and practiced half-speed with the team. Ironically, Jones saved his best sprint for last, when he attempted to catch a golf cart in order to get back into camp. With every passing year, it seems the trend among NFL players is to either fake or embellish an injury for all it's worth in order to sit out the preseason. (see Terrell Owens)

John Mullin reports that Bears fans should keep an eye on WR Rashied Davis, who, with his solid play, is steadily climbing the depth chart. Davis returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown in the Bears' preseason victory over San Diego.

Despite giving up no touchdowns, and scoring as many points as opposing offenses, Tommie Harris says that the Bears' defense has yet to find its rhythm. It'll be scary when they do. The defense looks even better than last year, if that's even possible.

Justin Gage has emerged as Brian Griese's favorite target.

It has been rumored that Cedric Benson left the sidelines of Friday's preseason game against the Chargers and then missed the postgame meeting. The Sun-Times quoted two Bears players who said they felt that he did leave early. Benson says that it's hard to let his guard down even when he is among his own teammates. The consensus is that Thomas Jones should be the starting running back, and it has become evident that certain veterans plan to make Benson's career harder than it has to be. You don't squeal on a fellow teammate and you sure don't go to injure him in practice when there's not supposed to be full-force tackling. If the veterans want Jones as the starter, they should be going about it with more class than this. The fact of the matter is, Benson has friends in the lockeroon and all this is doing is causing a split within in the team before the season has even started.

White Sox

The Sox split a four game series against the lowly Royals. Ozzie Guillen hopes that his team's poor performance will serve as a wake-up call. Fans are calling for Javier Vazquez to get the heck out of town.

Minnesota took two out of three from Chicago and narrowed the White Sox's lead in the wild card standings to just one game. Freddie Garcia was roughed up once again.

Apparantely, Sandy Alomar Jr. was only kidding when he told ESPN the Magazine that he would "knock out" A.J. Pierzynski.

Brandon McCarthy has a unique explanation for why Brian Anderson's struggles at the plate did not cause him to be down in the dumps: Anderson was too dumb to know what was going on.

Mark Gonzales says that if Alex Cintron can keep producing, Juan Uribe is expendable this offseason.

The Tigers won 7-1 last night. The White Sox now find themselves 6 1/2 games out of first place. In his last two starts, Jose Contreras has given up 14 runs, the most he has allowed in consecutive starts since he surrendered 15 on Sept. 2 and 7, 2004.

A Recap of Yesterday's Events

2006-08-01T10:05:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, GM Jim Hendry actually appeared to have pulled a rabbit out of his hat with the acquisition of former Dodgers' SS Cesar Izturis. Hendry sent Maddux to L.A. in exchange for Izturis, who had been unhappy all year long because he was asked to switch position after the addition of Rafael Furcal. What helped the Cubs was the fact that the Dodgers knew they were going to pick up SS Julio Lugo in a separate deal, making Izturis expendable. Many believe that the Cubs would have been lucky to land a major league-ready prospect for Maddux, so despite whether you consider Hendry's deadline dealings to be lucky or just plain brilliant, the man actually got the job done for once. So, for now, let's give him credit where it's due.

Izturis, who won a gold glove as recently as 2004, is considered to be the top defensive shortstop in all of baseball when he is healthy. In fact, when asked about Izturis' fielding abilities, former Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda replied, "Can he field?!" Lasorda's voice boomed, probably startling half the neighborhood in Chavez Ravine. "Man, we had Billy Russell at shortstop here for 17 years, but Russell couldn't play with this guy. I would have to go back to Pee Wee Reese to find a better defensive shortstop in the history of our franchise."

Current Dodgers manager Grady Little added, "Even on nights when he doesn't get any hits, it's like he's driving in runs with his glove. That means as much to us as a guy hitting .350."

Izturis is a prototypical top-of-the-lineup kind of hitter (think as speedy as Juan Pierre with slightly more pop). He started the '05 season as one of baseball's best hitters, collecting 75 base knocks through the month of May, something only a handful of Dodgers have ever done. His presence does two things for the Cubs. First, it provides insurance that the team has a true leadoff hitter, if in fact Hendry turns out to be too cheap to resign Pierre; and, second, if JP is indeed on the roster next year, it gives the Cubs a one-two punch that the league hasn't seen since Pierre and Castillo teamed up in South Florida. Also, given that Izturis stays healthy (I know Cubs fans don't even want to go there), this makes up for not resigning Garciaparra or opening up the check book to nab Furcal. Imagine what the Cubs could have done in 2003 had Izturis been the shortstop that year instead of Alex Gonzalez. The Cubs would have been in the World Series and maybe, just maybe, we wouldn't still be talking about 1908.

About a year ago, Izturis looked like the best shortstop in the National League, period. His batting average through June 1st was .348 and, at that point, he led the league in hits. Soon after, Izturis injured his back and throwing elbow, which would explain the overall decline of his statistics. He did, however, still make the all-star team as a reserve behind starter David Eckstein, but, physically, he was considered to be damaged goods. This is the reason why the Dodgers felt it necessary to grossly overpay for Furcal's services.

In addition, adding Izturis leaves one less hole for Hendry to fill in the off-season. The perfect blueprint for a successful infield is in place: outstanding defense at SS and 2B, with power hitters at the corners. Oh, and let's not forget that Derek Lee is also a gold glove-caliber first baseman. Now, as far as the 2B situation is concerned, Hendry could move Cedeno over there and it would probally work out just fine, but my solution would be to sign Mark Loretta, who made the all-star team this year, as a free agent. I remember a couple years back when he was still with the Padres and the Cubs made a strong offer to try to get him at the deadline. I believe he was hitting around .330 at the time and considered one of the the best contact hitters in the league. Loretta, depending on who the Cubs decide to pursue in free agency, would fit perfectly into the 5th slot in the Cubs lineup, giving the team a hitter who is always ranked near the top of the fewest strikeouts category, as well as a very good defensive second baseman.

In my opinion, I still think Barrett needs to be dealt, preferably for a high-level starting pitcher. With a catcher such as Blanco, as well as Izturis, Loretta, and Lee patrolling their respective positions, all of a sudden the Cubs would be a top-notch defensive ball club. I feel that a replacement for Murton in LF is also a necessity this off-season.

Nevertheless, the Cubs did anything but come away from this year's deadline empty-handed. In fact, they came away from it in extremely good hands... Please excuse the pun.

Countdown to the Trade Deadline (The Last Day)

2006-07-31T12:04:00.000-07:00

Today's 4 p.m. deadline will mark the final opportunity for teams to make non-waiver upgrades to their rosters. Up until now, there has been little to no activity, with the exception of Bobby Abreu being sent to the Yankees. I was actually at the Phillies game yesterday when it was announced. Abreu was still in the dugout and wearing a Philadelphia uniform as the news was relayed to him. He came out, saluted the crowd, and was given a 5 minute standing ovation. If you were a Phillies fan, it was either a special or depressing moment, depending on your viewpoint. On one hand, they dumped a truckload of salary by demanding that the Yankees assume the rest of Abreu's contract. On the other hand, they did not receive the Yankee's best prospect, soon-to-be-star Phillip Hughes, or anything close to major league-ready talent for that matter. Oh yeah, and by the way, Corey Lidle was also sent to New York in that deal.

I understand that in order for the Phillies to be major players in the free agent market this off-season, they have to unburden themselves of some ugly contracts, and basically giving Abreu away was the first step in this process, but, come on, the guy's a perennial all-star. Couldn't the Phillies at least have asked for OF Melky Cabrera? The Yankees have an extremely crowded outfield, with Damon, Matsui, Sheffield, Abreu, Bernie Williams, and Cabrera all looking for playing time and it was a mistake for the Phillies not to capitalize on this. I have no clue what New York is going to do with all these players, perhaps they will send Cabrera to triple-A, but that still makes five, and I can't see Jason Giambi playing anything but DH, leaving one less spot to fill. So who sits when Matsui and Sheffield return healthy? There's no way that Abreu is the odd man out because then there would be no way that the Yankees could justify trading for him and absorbing all that money. Matsui, along with Derek Jeter, is the heart and soul of the team, and I can just hear Sheffield whining when he gets the news that he will be platooned in right field. In fact, that's the only way I can see this working. Envision this if you will: Matsui's a lefty and the majority of starting pitchers are right handed, so it appears that he won't have to share much time in LF. That said, Sheffield bats from the right side, Abreu from the left, so the only logical thing to do would be to platoon them together, with Abreu playing against righties and Sheffield against lefties. Abreu has also played some CF, so when Damon needs a breather, manager Joe Torre could pencil him in there. In addition, I could possibly see Sheffield being moved to 1B in order to get all the big bats in the lineup at the same time. At the very least, it'll be interesting to see the fallout from all of this. Anyway, my prediction is that after the Yankee's rental of Abreu has expired, he will resign with Philadelphia. From what I saw, he loves it there, and the feeling, from the point of view of the fans, is mutual. Remember, the only reason he agreed to waive his no trade clause is because New York is a two hour drive from Philly, making it easier for him to spend time with his family, then, say, if he was dealt to Detroit.

Anyway, with only hours until the deadline, let's review the latest rumblings and grumblings which involve players on the Cubs:

Greg Maddux
As of right now, ESPN.com is reporting that Maddux being traded, is no better than a 50-50 proposition. As of Sunday night, San Diego appears to be in the lead to acquire his services. The Padres have been actively trying to shop RP Scott Linebrink, in hopes of receiving a top-notch third baseman. They would then use Maddux to fill the pitching void left by Linebrink’s departure. However, considering the respect that Dodgers’ GM Ned Colletti has for Maddux, this could all change by 4 p.m. this afternoon. I say, if San Diego needs a starter and a third baseman, they should look no further than the Cubs. I’m picturing a larger deal, which would expand to include Aramis Ramirez. It could look something like this: Greg Maddux, Aramis Ramirez, and Todd Walker for Scott Linebrink, Adrian Gonzalez, and Mike Cameron. Just a thought...

Todd Walker
Speaking of Walker, the Seattle Mariners, looking for a left-handed DH, have sent scouts to watch him play. The Mariners think Walker could give them a reliable veteran bat from the left side. Carl Everett, who began the years as Seattle’s DH, is batting .172 in the months of June and July. It is being reported that the Rangers are also in serious discussions with the Cubs regarding Walker. It is hard to say exactly what the Cubs would receive in either case but more than likely, trading Walker, would yield no more than a C-level prospect. However, Chicago has asked the Mariners for SP Gil Meche in return, and if they refuse to lower their demands, the deal might fall through. If the Cubs were to deal Walker to Texas, the consensus around the league is that they would ask the Rangers for Mark DeRosa.

As for the other Cubs, such as Michael Barrett, Ryan Dempster, Kerry Wood, and Mark Prior, who make up my list of tradable players, I have yet to hear anything at all regarding potential deals. But, again, things can change very quickly from now, 12:18 p.m., until the 4 p.m. deadline. And by the way, phase one, the dumping of unwanted salaries, of my "plan to fix the Cubs" has yet to be put into motion, but to be fair, it could be done in the off-season, so no reason to panic in that regard.

On a side note, I wanted to talk a little bit about a minor altercation that I had at the first game of a Phillies-Marlins doubleheader this Sunday. The reason for the whole situation is a topic that I have been wanting to discuss for some time now and I would like to take this opportunity to do so. Allow me to describe the scene for you: My girlfriend, her sister, her father, and I, took our seats on the third base-side of the lower section about 30 minutes before the first pitch. The weather forecast called for rain, which, as usual was off the mark, and a high of 96 degrees. Fortunately, the row which we sat in was far enough back that the sun was blocked, so the weather was bearable.

Anyway, the Marlins go one-two-three in the top of the first inning and the Phillies come up to bat, when at which time, a small child, maybe six or seven years old, sitting directly behind us, begins shrieking, at the top of his lungs, every time a Phillies player swings the bat. For example, when Ryan Howard walked to the plate, this kid would scream, over and over, "LETS GO HOWARD!" right in our ears. Let me quickly say that this kind of chant is heard a thousand times a game, but it always involves a huge number of people cheering simultaneously, not one kid blatantly screaming. Now, at first, I thought nothing of it because I figured that he would wear himself out and get tired of yelling at the top of his lungs, oh, say by the third inning. As the game goes on, I begin to notice, more and more, that people, including other small children mind you, are turning around to give the kid’s parents dirty looks, hoping that this will force them to put an end to the noise. No such luck. In fact, one time I looked behind me only to see the mother and father laughing hysterically about how loud their son is being.

So, it’s around the sixth inning now, and people are becoming so irritated with this kid, that I begin to hear nasty remarks being made out loud, to no one in particular. "Will someone get that kid a muzzle," you know, things of that nature. It’s at this point when I turn to the parents and say, "Will you please act like parents and control your child. He’s being obnoxious and ruining the game for everyone" The father replies, "No, he’s not obnoxious, he’s just an excited Phillies fan." I then begin to realize that these are the type of people, who will go out of their way to make the situation worse if you argue with them, so I drop it, and turn my attention back to the game. Just as I thought, the kid restarts his routine, only louder, most likely acting on instructions from the parents. Well, at that point, I lost all patience and I say, "I don’t understand how the government let’s people like you even have children. I wouldn’t trust you with a guinea pig, let alone to teach a child the right way to act in public." Yeah, I know that was a little harsh, but, hey, the kid stopped, which, by the way, I began to feel awful about because in no way did I ever blame the little boy.

Children will act like children, it’s just what they do. I was happy that he was an excited Phillies fan, but there’s a thin line between excited and completely obnoxious. I never said "Can you please tell your kid to shut up" or anything remotely close to that. I simply asked for the parents to be just that, parents, and control their child. I only requested that they tone it down so that everyone could enjoy the game, and not feel like they wasted $180 to come to the park. Anyway, the kid turns into a mute, which, again, I felt really bad about, and the family decides to leave around the 8th inning, instead of watching the game in its entirety. As the mother is passing me, she taps me on the shoulder, and says "It was obnoxious of you to tell us that." I replied that I was not the only one in the section who felt that way, at which time I pointed to all the different people who shared my opinion. As I motioned to each individual they nodded, as to say that I was right, and it was then that the father became red in the face and scurried off in embarrassment.

But here’s my point: there are no parents anymore, only babies raising babies. The announced attendance that day was around 31,000. I cannot imagine taking my child to somewhere where there are thousands of people, and not explaining to him ahead of time, the proper way to cheer for your team without ruining the experience for those around you. In fact, I would be downright ashamed of myself for knowing that, as a parent, I failed my kid. But it was my fault that the game was ruined for this little boy? Nobody takes any kind of responsibility anymore. The parents have no one to blame but themselves for what happened because if it wasn’t me who spoke up, there were about fifty others waiting in line for their shot. And what worries me the most, is that when this kid has children of his own, he’ll teach them the same thing; that this type of behavior is OK. The trend of parents acting irresponsibly needs to stop. Allowing a child to act that way, is not only disrespectful to the game of baseball itself, but it also shows an complete disregard for the comfort and happiness of the fans around you.

Update: It appears that the Padres are set to acquire Walker, not Maddux, as it was previously reported. Apparently they want him to move to 3B. So in my opinion, nothing should change just because it’s Walker in the deal and not Ramirez. Package Walker and Maddux for Linebrink and Gonzalez. Walker would hold less value than Ramirez, so asking for Cameron in the deal would be expecting too much.

Countdown to the Trade Deadline (2 Days Left)

2006-07-29T14:18:00.000-07:00

After taking a look at the Cubs' 40-man roster, I have decided to target Ryan Dempster as the subject of Today's post. Last year, it appeared that Dempster was ready and willing to take over the closer role, but watching him this year has left a lot to be desired. In fact, a few nights ago it got the the point where Dempster found himself in a jam with the bases loaded, and Dusty Baker brought in Bobby Howry, with two outs in the ninth, to clean up the mess. Nevertheless, Dempster could still be a valuable pickup for teams, such as Boston or even the White Sox, who are looking to strengthen their bullpen and as I wrote in a previous post, I believe that Kerry Wood is the Cub's closer of the future.

Here's something to consider: Why shouldn't the Cubs get involved in the Alfonso Soriano sweepstakes? Hendry should try a package of Dempster, Felix Pie, Matt Murton and Carlos Marmol for Soriano, Livan Hernandez, and Tony Armas. I believe that Dempster, if used properly, could be one of the best setup men in the entire league. His presence in Washington would create a bridge to closer Chad Cordero that the Nationals have never had before. They would also fill the void in LF, somewhat, by the addition of Matt Murton. At the very least, it would soften the blow of losing a superstar as well as creating one of the more young and promising outfield duos in the league, with Murton and newly-acquired Austin Kearns. The Nationals would also pick up their future center fielder in Felix Pie, as well as Marmol, who despite his occasional lack of control, has electric stuff. From the Cubs' perspective, they would add a proven superstar, who could play either LF or 2B as well as Hernandez and Armas, who would both solidify a shaky rotation. However, if it were me, I would be hesitant to take on Hernandez's contract because it appears as if his velocity as decreased significantly from all the innings he has been forced to pitch over the years. In order to complete the deal, however, I'm assuming that Washington would demand that the Cubs take him off their hands. Let's put it this way, if I had a chance to get Soriano, I would do whatever it takes. And anyway, Hernandez is a gamer who knows how to win, so it wouldn't be a total waste to add him to the roster. As for Armas, the Nationals have been actively trying to trade him in the last couple of weeks because they know his potential and realize that he is in line for a big pay day in the future.

Why it will happen: First of all, let's just get this out there: the Nationals do not have the money to resign Soriano, at least not at the price that he is demanding. If they did, he would have already signed an extension because Soriano has made it very clear that he loves the city of Washington, gets along great with his teammates, and wants to stay. That said, I don't think any other team out there could offer the Nationals a better combination of major league talent and minor league potential, than the one the Cubs could put together. I keep hearing names, such as Detroit's stud SP prospect, Humberto Sanchez, being tossed around in trade proposals, but does GM Jim Bowden really want to give up a player of Soriano's caliber for a minor leaguer? Especially Sanchez, who, although it has been kept relatively quiet, has a problem with chronic inflammation in his throwing elbow. It would be a public relations nightmare if Bowden traded for a "cant-miss" prospect, who could potentially be the next-coming of Mark Prior. I don't see him being able to pull the trigger on a deal such as the one which the Tigers have proposed. Could you imagine the Nationals having nothing to show for dealing Soriano? It ain't happening, plain and simple. The Cubs however, could offer good players with major league experience (Dempster and Murton) as well as minor leagues with potential such as Pie and Marmol, who, has showed that he can perform well at the highest level (despite the fact that he has played in the major leagues, it has been for such a short period of time, that I still consider him a prospect).

Why it won't happen: I still think that Soriano will be gone before, or right at, the deadline. I believe a team such as the Tigers or Twins who say to themselves that they are one player away from winning it all, will go all out and include who ever they have to in order to get the deal done. If this happens, there is no way that the Cubs can compete with the packages that contending teams could put together and offer to Washington. A more realistic way for the Cubs to be able to acquire Soriano would be to hope that whatever team he is traded to cannot work out an extension on his contract, allowing Soriano to become a free agent when the season is done. If this happens, I would hope that Hendry would jump at the opportunity and throw major money his way in the offseason.

Prediction: I haven't heard any rumors at all which involve Dempster and I would be very surprised if his name suddenly pops up, unless the Cubs initiate the discussions. I think that Dempster would be a great setup man for Kerry Wood, who in two years, would be properly trained to take over full-time closer duties. So my prediction is that Dempster is staying put. However, it can't hurt to look at the list of contenders and see who might need some help in the pen...

Boston could be a possibility, with the Cubs receiving Willy Mo Pena in return. Boston has been shopping Pena, who the Cubs tried to acquire when he was playing for Cincinnati. The Red Sox have had a susceptible bullpen for years and Dempster could provide some desperately needed help in the 8th inning, getting the ball to young closer Jonathan Papelbon.

What about a swap of Dempster for Freddy Garcia of the White Sox? Adding Dempster would give the Sox two options, along with Mike MacDougal, in front of Bobby Jenks and Garcia, who looks like he needs a change of scenery, could fill out the bottom half of the Cubs' rotation.

The Cardinals are another option. Dempster would go to St. Louis is return for super-utility man, Hector Luna, who would fit perfectly in the Cubs lineup as the number two-hitter. Luna would add great defense and blazing speed to the top of the order, while Dempster could be used as a backup plan for the unreliable Braden Looper.

I just finished dinner, I'm full, and it's a hot day outside, so I am going to take a nap. Hopefully, when I wake up, I will have some comments to read. Do you guys think Dempster is going anywhere? Let me know...

Update: Cubs 4, Cardinals 1...Dempster comes in. Pujols singles, Rolen walks, Duncan singles in a run. Cubs 4, Cardinals 2. Edmonds then walks to load the bases. Luckily, Desmpster gets out of this one with a strikeout of Aaron Miles. You just never know what you're getting this year when this guy comes in the game. I guess all's well that ends well, but you have to wonder how much longer the Cubs will use Dempster if he keeps creating these situations for himself. By the way, not that anyone has noticed, but the Cubs have won three out of their last four series. Progress at last...

Rosenhaus Visits Training Camp, but Status of Jones, Briggs Still in Limbo

2006-07-28T21:42:00.000-07:00

Seeing agent Drew Rosenhaus pull up to the Bears' training facility seemed to be an exciting turn of events in the eyes of Bears fans. Could he be there to work out an extension for Briggs? Did he orchestrate a trade for Jones? Turns out he was only there for client visits, so, for now, there's nothing really to report.

However, there was something which I read from ESPN.com that left me shaking my head, although I should come to expect things such as this from Chicago sports teams. If you recall, in a previous post that I had written, entitled "Will the Bears Show Up Next Season?", I proposed that the Bears trade Thomas Jones to the Denver Broncos for WR Ashley Lelie. And I quote... "I personally think that Jones is expendable and the Bears should take a gamble by sending him to Denver for disgruntled WR Ashley Lelie. This would satisfy both teams in that Denver would be getting the feature back they have been looking for and the Bears would get a bona fide 2nd WR who could learn from Mushin Muhammad and one day blossom into a star receiver. I read an article about Lelie on ESPN.com the other day which basically talked about how teams put too much stock in WRs who were chosen in the first round and never let them develop into 2nd receivers. Instead, these teams force them to be the focus of the offense right away. Lelie averaged 17.2 yards per catch in Denver, yet the Broncos always expected more out of him. The article gave me the feeling that Lelie could be something special. The Bears already have plenty of depth at running back with Benson, who showed flashes of why he was picked fourth overall, and Peterson, who I happen to think could start for a number of teams in the league."

Today, it comes to my attention that it was the Broncos who came to the Bears with this exact deal and it was the BEARS who turned them down. Ummm, yeah, wait, what? Are you kidding me? I thought, if anything, that it would be Denver rejecting the trade, not Chicago. The Bears actually turned down the opportunity to get a potential superstar receiver in return for a guy who no longer wants to be on the team? They turned away a player who had 17.2 yards per catch in favor of a former number seven pick who, before last year, had never rushed for over 1,000 yards? What am I missing here? Ok, they say they need depth at running back to play "Bear Football," and that would be a fair argument if not for the fact that they already have Benson and Peterson. I understand that Benson is unproven, but he, along with Lelie, has star potential, and by adding Lelie, the Bears would have improved their overall offense, rather than having their strength, that being the running game, concentrated in one position. Chicago GMs, with the exception of Jim Paxson, are the most cowardly group of men on the face of the planet. To be great you HAVE TO TAKE CHANCES, CALCULATED RISKS. The Bears just blew a chance to take that next step. They blew a chance to be great...

Thoughts? I need someone else to add their perspective to this whole mess. Maybe it will calm me down and keep me from throwing up my dinner. I'll be back later, maybe...

Disgruntled Porter Wants Out of Oakland

2006-07-28T08:24:00.000-07:00

From ESPN.com Insider's NFL Rumor Central:

"Just 17 months after signing a five-year contract that could net him as much as $15 million, Jerry Porter is demanding a trade, the Contra Costa Times reports. The 28-year-old has already fallen out with new coach Art Shell. The two exchanged heated words during a get-to-know-you meeting soon after the Raiders hired Shell to replace Norv Turner on Feb. 13. The confrontation ended with Shell booting Porter out of his office."

"There's guys every year that might not want to be on a team," Shell said Wednesday, "but, hey, part of this business is you play with who you've got."

Good morning, Mr. Angelo, this is your wakeup call. It has come to our attention that one of the top receivers in the game wants to be traded, and it just so happens that you could really use some help offensively. If our records are accurate, Thomas Jones wants out and you have a pool of talented young wide receivers that Oakland could pick from. Why not try this, offer the Raiders Jones, Bernard Berrian, and a 4th round pick in next year's draft.

That would be an offer that Oakland could not refuse. I know that I previously said the Bears should go after Ashley Lelie, but that was until I woke up today and read that Jerry Porter is on the market. The stats don't lie. Last year Porter caught 76 passes for 942 yards and 5 touchdowns, and that was with the awful Kerry Collins under center, so imagine what he could do with Grossman throwing to him. And, trust me, it won't get any better for Porter with Aaron "INT" Brooks taking over QB duties. Not only would his addition to the Bears give them a Randy Moss-like big play threat, allowing the offense to stretch the field, but it would also take some of the pressure off Muhammad by moving him into the 2nd WR slot. Having Mark Bradley, who is having a great training camp, as the 3rd WR would make the offense a strength instead of a weakness.

This is a no-brainer. In fact, if Angelo is so worried about Briggs leaving the team next year, include him in this trade. I would ask for Derrick Burgess, a DE who was drafted as a LB, and kicker Sebastian Janikowski in return. Last year, Burgess registered 16 sacks, and Janikowski led Oakland with 90 points. Players like Porter do not become available very often, especially in the NFL. Angelo needs to take a page out of the Mighty Ducks' book and pounce on the opportunity the way Anaheim did when Chris Pronger wanted out of Edmonton. Do whatever you have to, Angelo, because Porter's addition would, in my opinion, automatically catapult the Bears into the Super Bowl.

So to recap, the Bears send Thomas Jones, Bernard Berrian, Lance Briggs, and a 4th round pick to Oakland for Jerry Porter, Derrick Burgess, and Sebastian Janikowski.

What do you think? Will Angelo be able to pull it off or will he stick with the players he's got? The power went out last night and I didn't get much sleep, so I'm going back to bed.

Update: After reading the comments you guys left, which by the way I appreciate, I thought more about my trade proposal. Originally I envisioned Jones and LaMont Jordan as a thunder-lightning combination, similar to Dunn and Duckett in Atlanta. That said, I went back and looked at Oakland's roster and realized they are pathetic on defense, something which the Bears have in abundance. So I'm changing the trade to this: Bernard Berrian, Chris Harris, Ian Scott and a 4th round draft pick for Porter, Burgess, and Janikowski.

I agree with "anonymous" that the Bears should try to hold on to Briggs, because he is, after all, a potential superstar and I think Jones would be just as unhappy with the RB situation in Oakland as he is with the Bears. If the Bears and Briggs can't come to an agreement during the season, then the team might have to evaluate trade options at the deadline, so they don't lose him without getting anything in return. Let's hope it doesn't come to that. Rookie Danieal Manning looks like he will take Harris' spot and Dusty Dvoracek, another rookie, appears primed to win the DT spot over Ian Scott, reuniting him with his former collegiate teammate, Tommie Harris. This makes both Chris Harris and Scott expendable.

Even though Thomas Jones was not included in this trade, I still think he should be moved, but to a team, Denver or San Francisco perhaps, that needs a proven starting running back. Maybe the Bears could still coax the Broncos into trading Lelie, giving Chicago the best receiving corps in the league with Porter, Lelie, and Muhammad. However, Denver is looking for a tight end, so including Desmond Clark in the deal might be necessary to get something done. That shouldn't be a problem because Angelo signed two free agent rookies, Tim Day, who I thought was a steal and would of won the starting job from Clark anyway, and Cooper Wallace. On the other hand, the 49ers could offer Tony Parrish. It would be his second stint in Chicago.

Ok, I'm done with this topic. It's probably wishful thinking but the Bears are so close to becoming an elite team, that I hope Angelo will consider making another major move. Will he? Or will he play it safe? Let me know...

Countdown to the Trade Deadline (3 Days Left)

2006-07-27T17:23:00.000-07:00

As usual, a quick run-through of the day's headlines

Today, Chicagosports.com reported thst Jim Hendry announced that Dusty Baker will be allowed to finish out the season. This does not come as a surprise to me and it was about time that a decision was made, one way or another. I'm not even going to add a link to the article, because, honestly, I don't really care. As long as Baker is not the manager next year, I'm happy.

Apparently, Ozzie Guillen and Ken Williams are satisfied with the current state of their roster and have warned fans that they should not count on any big names being added before the deadline. Wait, it gets even better... Guillen actually believes that the White Sox have improved themselves by adding Mike MacDougal and backup catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. Reading that made me giggle a bit, but it was the quote which immediately followed that had me rolling on the ground hysterically. Here, see for yourself: "If you look at this group of guys, and you saw MacDougal [Tuesday night] and the way Sandy handled the pitching staff, I think what we need we got," Guillen said. I'm speechless. There's literally nothing to say. Mark Gonzales, the author of this particular article, suggests that the Sox could go after RP Scott Linebrink of the Padres. Sometimes I wonder where they find these writers, because most of them have no idea what they are talking about. First of all, the only thing that San Diego is looking for is a third baseman and unless Williams is willing to give them Joe Crede, and trust me he's not, there is no deal to discuss. In addition, Linebrink is a fly-ball pitcher who was born to throw in spacious Petco Park, not the southside of Chicago, otherwise known as Coors Field part two. But yeah, keep the roster just as it is right now and see if you're singing the same tune, when in two weeks you find yourself eight games out of the wild card spot.

Anyway, next on the list are Kerry Wood and Mark Prior...

Wood & Prior
The thing about Wood and Prior is that, since they have been injured so many times over the past couple of seasons, their value has plummeted so dramatically that it would be hard to get anything of value in return. I was reading an article on ESPN.com the other day where the author polled different GMs around the league, asking them what they would be willing to give up in order to get either pitcher in a trade. The response? For Prior, a B-level prospect, because every now and then he shows flashes of brilliance, and Wood, nothing more than a C-level minor leaguer. I'm not even going to go into the whole "why it will happen, why it won't happen" routine because, for Wood, no team in their right mind, given his fragile throwing shoulder, would take on his salary and I don't think the Cubs are willing to give up on Prior, especially after outings such as yesterday, where he took a no-hitter into the 6th inning. That said, my "prediction" segment will be short and sweet.

Prediction: First off, Mark Prior isn't going anywhere. His stuff, when healthy, is as good as it gets. However, something has to change in regards to his off-season routine, because whatever it is he is doing doesn't seem to work. When I first saw the size of his calves, I couldn't help but think to myself that something was a bit off, but right now I am going to give Prior the benefit of the doubt, and not jump the gun with the steroid accusations. I mean, he is the president of the Player's Association after all, so would he be that stupid? You never know, and if he continues to have long stints on the DL, the questions are sure to come. Nevertheless, performances such as yesterday allow Cubs fans to be cautiously optimistic, at least for the time being.

As for Wood, I think that Hendry should decline his option for next year and resign him at a low price... a very low price. As a free agent, the chances of Wood being offered a lucrative contract are slim to none. When he realizes that no one else wants him, he'll have no choice but to re-up with the Cubs, this time as a relief pitcher. Last year, Wood showed how good of a setup man he could be, averaging almost two strikeouts per inning. If it were up to me, next year should be used to groom Wood as the eventual closer of the Cubs. In 2007-2008, he would be prepared for the role and the Cubs could use Dempster in the 8th inning, where he would be better suited.

So to recap, Hendry will keep Prior and pray that he is healthy for the start of the year. If he begins the season injured again, then the team will seriously have to consider cutting ties, but that's something to discuss in a post much further down the road. Wood will then be resigned, at a greatly reduced price, and placed in the bullpen where he will thrive, eventually taking over the closer's role in two years, a la John Smoltz.

Sound realistic? Any other ideas about what Hendry could do with these two? Let me know. I'm tired and MTV's "Run's House" is on, so I'm going to watch. I'll look forward to reading your comments. Bye for now...

Benson at Top of Bears' Depth Chart

2006-07-27T11:35:00.000-07:00

After being pressed by the media, coach Lovie Smith finally admitted what everyone was waiting to hear: Cedric Benson is ahead of Thomas Jones in the starting rotation. Jones, who skipped organized team activities because of disatisfaction with his contract, also made it abundantly clear that, despite running for 1,335 yards, he was tired of having to look over his shoulder.

On Thursday, Jones broke his silence and spoke to the media for the first time since skipping voluntary team workouts and losing his job to Benson.

"Anybody who has done what I've done the last couple of years is a guy who should be a starter," Jones said. "I think I was the leader on the offense the past two years. I think I've been very productive despite some of the situations I've had to be in. I've worked hard. I've kept my mouth shut. I stay out of trouble. I do what I'm supposed to do and what the coaches ask me to do. As far as me being a starter, I was the starter the past two years. So we'll see how it goes."

Smith's policy of demoting players who hold out will also equate to Leon Joe being placed ahead of Pro Bowl linebacker Lance Brings on the depth chart, since Briggs failed to show up to OTAs. However, I don't see that lasting for too much longer.

It does not come as a surprise to me that Benson is listed ahead of Jones. What did everyone think was going to happen? GM Jerry Angelo did not use the fourth overall pick in 2004 and then throw $16 million of guaranteed money at Benson to have him occupying the end of the bench. Last year, when Jones went down with an injury, Benson came on strong. He played a prominent role in the Bears' OT thriller against Detroit, ran for 79 yards the following week versus the Saints, and then tore ligaments in his knee against the 49ers after racking up 50 yards in the first half.

Confidence is definitely not a problem for Benson. When asked whether he would eventually relinquish the job to Jones, he replied without hesitation, "No."

Through his own self-admission, Benson struggled the most in the area of pass protection. He has, however, put in many extra hours with Bears coaches to improve this aspect of his game. Ron Turner, the Bears' offensive coordinator, doesn't seem to think it's an issue anymore. "He worked hard at it and [running backs coach] Tim Spencer spent extra time with him," Turner said. "The running part of it, that comes naturally. That's easy. The protection part and passing part is what we have to put a lot of work into. And that's where he made his greatest strides."

I don't know how popular the ESPN series "Playmakers" was, but if you watched even a couple of episodes you would realize that the Benson-Jones saga mirrors what went on with the Miami Sharks, the fictitious team that the show was based upon. In "Playmakers," Leon Taylor, the veteran running back, has been demoted because hot-shot rookie Demetrius Harris was drafted to take his place. Harris shines and Taylor becomes increasingly upset as the season goes on, demanding a trade so he can have more playing time elsewhere. Anyway, I thought it was a great series, I own the DVDs to prove it, and it's amazing how the Thomas Jones situation is identical to the one on the show. I'm not sure why I felt compelled to mention that. Maybe watching the re-runs will provide everyone with a better insight into what is going on with the Bears right now.

Anyway, if Jones doesn't want to show up, then grant him his wish and send him on his merry way. As I talked about in the last Bears post, Jones is expendable and the Bears could really get a valuable piece (Ashley Lelie) to their offensive puzzle in return. I have a good feeling that Benson will have a breakout season, and the team always has Peterson, the best third-string RB in the game, to fall back on if anything goes wrong.

As for Briggs... give the man whatever he wants, well within reason of course. Just don't let him wear another uniform next year, Angelo. Trust me, you'll regret it.

Thoughts? Comments? Opinions? Is it fair for Smith to put Benson ahead of Jones? Will Benson keep the starting job or will Jones win it back? I look foward to hearing what you guys think. I'll be back tonight with only three days left until the trade deadline...

Countdown to the Trade Deadline (4 Days Left)

2006-07-26T16:29:00.000-07:00

With only four days left to the deadline, it's surprising how little has happened up to this point. However, as demonstrated in the past, that should change in the next day or so. In the meantime, let's do a quick review of what has transpired over the last 24 hours.

The Minnesota Twins swept the White Sox today, winning 7-4. By doing so, they moved into a three-way tie, along with the Yankees, for the wild card spot in the AL. The Sox haven't won consecutive games since they took three straight from July 4th to July 6th. Still waiting on GM Ken Williams to make a move of some significance... because we all know Mike "DL" MacDougal is exactly who's going to turn this team around. Give me a break. Williams is eerily beginning to resemble Jim Hendry. Ouch.

By the way, Phil Rogers, a columnist for Chicagosports.com, seems to think that the White Sox shouldn't be ashamed of earning a wild card spot. Yeah, he's right, because right now the Sox would have to consider themselves lucky to do even that.

The Cubs, not that it matters, took two out of three from the New York Mets, dropping the series finale 1-0 in 10 innings. Mark Prior gave fans a sliver of hope for next year, taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning before having to leave because of a high pitch count. Jose Valentine's bases-loaded, two-out single off of Glendon Rusch (who else?) was the decisive play in the game. Michael Barrett was quoted as saying, "For me, it was a great series for us as a team, [Greg] Maddux gutting it out, pitching a great game for us, getting a win the first night, and then [Carlos] Zambrano [Tuesday], and now Prior sort of [followed] suit." So let me get this straight, the Cubs, who haven't swept a series since their opening homestand against the Cardinals, failed once again to take all three games, and Barrett is happy about it? Even Rusch, the one responsible for blowing the game, said, "It would have been nice to get three games here." Oh, Mikey boy...we'll get to you in a minute.

In some exciting news, the city of Chicago has been named as one of three finalists to host the 2016 Summer Olympics. The U.S. Olympic committee has narrowed its choice down to Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.

Chicagosports.com thought that Brian McBride retiring from international soccer was worthy enough to be front-page news. As a soccer fan, trust me, no one cares.

Now on to the third player on my list of tradable Cubs...

Michael Barrett
Let me start by saying that Barrett is an amazing offensive catcher, as his .330 average would demonstrate. That said, defensively it does not get any worse. Throwing out runners, locating fly balls, handling a pitching staff, it doesn't matter, Barrett is ranked at the bottom of every category. A smarter strategy, that I would hope Hendry might actually consider, is to build up offense in other positions and allow a catcher such as Henry Blanco to take over everyday catching duties. Yeah, a one-legged Pomeranian named Armani could hit better than Blanco, but his defensive stats are always in the top 3rd of the NL.

To me there is only one solution and that is to trade Barrett to an AL team where he could be the permanent DH. He would thrive with no added defensive pressure and it would also keep his knees in tact, a common problem for catchers because of the constant squatting motion they have to make, prolonging his career. Now I've had this idea before the season ever started, so let me throw it out there and see what you guys think: The Cubs send Michael Barrett, Ronny Cedeno, Matt Murton, Sean Marshall and Felix Pie to Baltimore in exchange for Miguel Tejada, Ramon Hernandez and Daniel Cabrera. In the off-season, the Cubs tried to pry Tejada away from the Orioles by dangling Mark Prior as trade bait. However, Baltimore demanded two of three following players, Cedeno, Hill and Pie. When the Cubs refused, the deal fell through. I believe this could be Hendry's chance to redeem himself. The Cubs have almost no marquee names left on their roster, with the exception of Derek Lee, and adding Tejada would bring a level of excitement to Wrigley that hasn't been felt since the glory days of, dare I say it, Sam-ME Sosa. Ramon Hernandez is a good hitter, although not the caliber of Barrett, plus he has a good reputation for the way he handles a pitching staff. Cabrera has unlimited strikeout potential, 90 Ks in 85.5 innings, but it seems as if he can't find a way to turn that corner. He has never truly figured it out, and maybe a change of scenery will do him some good. It appears that he was simply rushed to the majors too soon, a la Corey Patterson. He is only 25 years old and you would have to think that his best years are ahead of him.

Why it will happen: Every time I read an article that has to do with the Baltimore Orioles, someone is complaining about Tejada never being on time for anything. His tardiness is starting to rub some of the Baltimore executives the wrong way. The team is going nowhere and the Orioles do not have the farm system to turn it around quickly, whether it be by trading prospects or calling them up. It is looking and feeling more and more like an Allen Iverson or Kevin Garnett type of atmosphere over there in Baltimore, meaning that the superstar wants to win now, but is not on a team that can fulfill his need for a championship. The only hope for the Orioles is to blow it all up and start over fresh and the Cubs should be more than happy to oblige. By acquiring Barrett, Baltimore kills two birds with one stone. First they get a player who should be more than happy to be the backup catcher, moving Javy Lopez, who complained about sharing backstop duties in the off-season, into the starting lineup. Barrett would not only give them a great DH, but would also pacify a grumpy Lopez who was forced to play a number of games out of position at 1B. Baltimore would also be receiving a good defensive shortstop, despite what his stats may indicate, in Cedeno as well as outfielder Felix Pie, the Cubs most highly touted prospect. Murton appeared promising last year and at the beggining of this season, but the more and more you watch him, it looks like he will never be more than a good to above-average player. Even so, he does have potential and Baltimore is thin at the OF position. Marshall would be a more than adequate throw-in. He performed at a reasonably high level this year considering he was rushed to the majors from double-A.

Why it won't happen: I seriously doubt that Hendry has, for lack of a better word, the marbles to give away his "golden boy" in Felix Pie. I'm also not so sure that he is ready to give up on Cedeno, Marshall or Murton just yet, even though I think they should be traded now before anyone else in the league realizes that they aren't that good. What ol' Jimbo doesn't seem to understand is that to get a great player you have to give some sort of value and somewhere along the line, now make sure you're sitting down Hendry, actually take a risk (gasp; the room falls silent). It's possible that Marshall might not be enough for the Orioles, he wouldn't be if I was their GM. I think they would ask for Rich Hill or Angel Guzman instead, but if I had my way, those guys would already be gone in previous trades (see the previous deadline posts). Murton, more than likely, would also not be adequate enough for Baltimore. Instead, they would probally want Jacque Jones, who in my opinion is one of the few guys the Cubs should keep. On top of that Barrett's offensive numbers are somewhat misleading because with runners in scoring position he is hitting .215. In addition, his power numbers are above-average at best, something which AL GMs might be scared off by if they invision Barrett as a DH. I also think that this is similar to the A-Rod situation where the only way that the Orioles would trade Tejada is if he comes to them and asks out. It appeared that he did so in the off-season, which is why the rumors were flying rampant, but then he quickly rescinded his demands. A team that wants to acquire Tejada would either have to wait it out until he hits his breaking point in Baltimore, or gut their entire farm system and half of their major league roster. I could see Tejada being traded, but I don't think it will happen for another three years, when the asking price would have to be lessened considerably.

Prediction: I don't think Barrett is going anywhere. I think that Hendry actually considers him part of the solution rather than the problem. So until he comes to his senses, Cubs fans will have to be exposed to Barrett's horrible defense. This year he's thrown out only 20% of potential base stealers compared to Blanco's 39%, which is third best in the NL. That said, here are some minor possibilities:

Detroit is looking for another bat, but if they aren't willing to give up any of their top pitching for Soriano, they definitely won't do it for Barrett. Whatever they might offer the Cubs would more than likely not be equal value. The only trade with Detroit the Cubs might accept would be to get Nate Robertson in return, but it's unlikely that the Tigers would agree to that.

When looking at the list of contenders, Minnesota seems like the only other team where Barrett would fit. Perhaps Barrett for Louis Castillo would work. It could give the Twins a top-notch bat and it would reunite Pierre, again that is if the Cubs resign him, and Castillo, giving the Cubs a potent one-two punch.

Hold on a minute, let me catch my breath. That was the longest post I've done so far. I'm going to exercise and work off some of this energy. But what does everyone think? Should Barrett go or stay? Let me know. Come back tomorrow, I'll be discussing Kerry Wood and Mark Prior and what, if anything at all, Hendry could get in return if he tried to trade them. Until tomorrow...

Hinrich Selected to National Team

2006-07-26T13:37:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, it was announced that Bulls' PG Kirk Hinrch will be traveling with Team USA to the World Championships in Japan. Despite playing through an injured hamstring, Hinrich was one of fifteen players named to the squad, demonstrating his ability to efficiently run a team as well as guard his position. Team USA will train in Las Vegas and play their first exhibition game on August 3rd against Puerto Rico.

In contrast to "Dream Teams" in the past, where it was arrogantly assumed that natural talent would be enough to bring home a gold medal, coach Krzyzewski has emphasized that team defense and aggressive full-court play will be the game plan. Perhaps this change in philosophy is because of Team USA's lack of size, Brad Miller, the tallest player, measures at 6-11. Regardless, it seems to play right into the hands of Hinrich's game.

"Our strength has got to be depth and athleticism," Krzyzewski said. "More full-court, up-and-down. No one has to pace himself. If someone is pacing himself, we'll get someone else in. The game is 40 minutes and goes by fast. There won't be a starting five, and if we do a great job this summer, the players who are with us will have built up equity [for the 2008 Olympic team]. We have no excuses. Everything is there. Now we have to do it."

The first week of camp was used for allowing the players to become accustomed to one another's playing style. Krzyzewski, who once was the head coach of the basketball team at West Point, went as far as to bring in military veterans who served together in Iraq, with the purpose of opening the players' eyes to the bigger picture; representing the United States.

Krzyzewski also mentioned that the players showed an excellent level of commitment.

"All of my surprises have been good ones," he said. "I expected the players to work hard. They worked harder. I expected them to cooperate. They cooperated better. I expected them to listen, and they listened better. I expected them to show enthusiasm, and they showed enthusiasm at a higher level."

"They showed a spirit of cooperation. I didn't realize the friendship they already have because I'm not around them, but a lot of these guys are really close friends. That helps with our team building."

I was in Holland, and was able to witness, first-hand, the pathetic performance of Team USA in 2004. They finished third place that year because, despite having superior individual talent, they looked as if they had no clue about what it means to play like a team. From what I'm hearing, this particular Team USA should breeze through the tournament, by combining skill with sweat, and return the title of "world's best" to the country where it truly belongs.

And again, congratulations to Kirk Hinrich, the first Olympian to represent the Bulls in a very long time.

Any predictions about the up-coming World Championships?

Countdown to the Trade Deadline (5 Days Left)

2006-07-25T08:46:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning, eager to read the latest happenings in the world of Chicago sports, only to find that there is nothing really news-worthy to report. The White Sox lost... again, invoking memories of their nearly devastating collapse last year, and Sam-ME Sosa can't believe that he is not a "hometown hero." I guess you tend to fall out of favor with the fans when you skip out on the team 3 innings early on the last game of the year because you know you're not going to the playoffs, get caught on camera, and then still lie about it, saying you never left, the next day. My father argues that Sosa, with his fifth grade education, should not have been expected to handle all the pressure in an intelligent way, and that it is unfair to ask him to be the bigger person when Hendry and McPhail (by the way, I think his last name is ironic...think about it, McPhail) have 50 years of education between them. Huh??? Even if Sosa didn't finish middle school, that's exactly why these guys hire agents to be smart for them. Sosa's agent should have immediately got on the phone with his client and told him "come clean, apologize, and maybe you can still retire as a Cub." No way, I don't buy it. Sosa had some great years, but it's like Zinedine Zidane headbutting Italian defender Marco Metarazzi in the last game of his career. Are we supposed to forget the lasting images that these guys have left for us just because they performed at a high level in the past? Absolutely not. Michael Jordan didn't punch Karl Malone in his last game and Wayne Gretzky didn't skate into the locker room because his team was out of contention. Get off your high horse, Sammy. You might have been included in the list had you not acted like an moron, but I forgot, you couldn't help it because you have the IQ of a duck-billed platypus. Yeah, right. Now that I got that off my chest, let's move on to the second player that I feel can bring the Cubs some major value in a trade:

Aramis Ramirez
The most interesting rumor that has been circulating as of late has Ramirez, Jacques Jones, and Rich Hill headed to the Yankees in exchange for Alex Rodriguez and promising outfielder Melky Cabrera. Yes, you heard me right, A-Rod. Although, at times, Hendry appears to play the role of village idiot, he has a tendency to surprise you every once in a while, such as in 2004 when he pulled off the four-team deal which brought Nomar Garciaparra to Chicago. Of course Nomar went on to have two injury-riddled seasons with the Cubs and where is he now? Playing 1B for the Dodgers and having an all-star caliber year. Hendry's poor decisions always seem to get me sidetracked, so let's get back to the topic at hand.

Why it will happen: I'm not ready to say just yet that A-Rod is the second coming of Chuck Knoblauch, the star second baseman who the Yankees acquired in 1997 from the Twins; he was supposed to put them over the top, but instead wilted under the pressure of the New York media, earning him the nickname "Knob-Blockhead," but I am not ready to dismiss the notion either. It seems as if booing Rodriguez has become the popular fad in New York and with Yankee fans, when the booing starts, it doesn't stop. Players say that it doesn't bother them, but it does, especially when it happens in your own stadium and you can see how it has affected A-Rod's performance in the last couple of weeks. Things have gotten so bad for him defensively that manager Joe Torre actually played A-Rod at DH. Have you ever heard of an AL MVP having to be hidden away by making him the designated hitter? I haven't. And it didn't help because Rodriguez earned himself a golden sombrero in that game, meaning he struck out four times. I honestly think that there is no other solution but to trade him and if Brian Cashman, the Yankees GM, does indeed put A-Rod on the market, the Cubs are one of the few teams who could realistically pursue a deal due to their financial flexibility and the fact that they have players at positions which the Yankees are looking for. By acquiring Ramirez, Jones, and Hill, the Yankees would only have to deal with one team to fulfill all of their needs. The contracts of Ramirez and Jones would also match up with that of A-Rod's, thus avoiding awkward negotiations regarding how to split the cost of A-Rod's salary.

Why it won't happen: As I mentioned before, A-Rod is the reigning AL MVP and I seriously doubt that he wants to give in and say that he wants out of New York, which would most likely be the only way he is dealt anywhere because I don't think the Yankees front office will do it without him asking first. I think that doing so would scar him emotionally for the rest of his career, because it will provide him with doubt about whether or not he is as mentally strong as he thought he was. If this happens, any team that gets him in a trade might be receiving damaged goods. A-Rod also has a no-trade clause in his contract, although I do not think this would be an obstacle for the Cubs because in 2003, when Rodriguez was a free agent, he made multiple trips to Wrigley Field during the playoffs, saying that he would love to land in Chicago.

Prediction: A more realistic deal would send Ramirez and Rich Hill to Oakland for Barry Zito and Milton Bradley. Eric Chavez, Oakland's regular 3B, has really been struggling as of late, so perhaps moving him to DH for a while would benefit his confidence. Chavez is much better defensively than Ramirez, so this move would only be temporary. I see Ramirez as a perfect fit playing DH in the American League. In fact, from what I read, the entire AL West is interested in him, especially Seattle whose DH, Carl Everett, is only batting .230. I don't think the Mariners are an attractive trading partner, unless they are willing to include Rafael Soriano, a dominating relief pitcher, which I don't see happening. With that said, let's break down the rest of the teams in that division and see exactly what the Cubs could get in return...

How about Texas? They seem more than willing to trade Hank Blalock and have been actively trying to move Kevin Mench over the last couple of weeks. They have always been desperate for pitching, so including Hill and maybe Angel Guzman would more than likely get the deal done and bring the Cubs two excellent everyday players.

And let's not forget the Angels who have the deepest farm system in the league. They could offer the Cubs a number of cant-miss talents such as SP Ervin Santana, SS Erick Aybar, and 2B Howie Kendrick.

A quick side note: A deal with the Padres is also possible with the Cubs getting Jake Peavy, Scott Linebrink and Terrmel Sledge. Peavy has been struggling lately and the Padres are still in the hunt for first place and the wild card, despite his poor play. However, he is still considered an ace and San Diego actively shopped him around the league, looking for a third baseman, and almost reached an agreement with Boston for Mike Lowell. Linebrink is one of the top relief pitchers in the league. However, being a fly ball pitcher, he has thrived at the spacious Petco Park, something which might not translate into success at Wrigley, although that was the concern with Howry, who is one of the few bright spots on the Cubs this year.

So that concludes day two of the countdown to MLB's trade deadline. Up tomorrow is Michael Barrett. I will explain why I think he should go and talk about where he might end up.

What do you guys think so far? Are any of these trades, including the ones I mentioned for Maddux, realistic? Let me know. Hopefully I'll have a couple of more posts later today, depending on whether or not anything happens. I get the feeling it is going to be a slow day, but you never know...

Countdown to the Trade Deadline (6 Days Left)

2006-07-24T21:38:00.000-07:00

With Major League Baseball's trade deadline less than a week away, I will dedicate one blog a day to possible trades the Cubs can make with the goal of assembling a better team for next year.

In my "master plan for fixing the Cubs," which I came up with because I have way too much free time on my hands, the first step is the dumping of unwanted salaries. In these trades, it doesn't really matter who the Cubs get back in return, so long as they have little to no major league experience and they earn a minor league salary. Players who fall under this category include Scott Williamson, recently traded to the Padres for two minor league pitchers, Glendon Rusch, Neifi Perez, and John Mabry. I would have put Phil Nevin and Todd Walker on this list, but I thought about it and realized that Nevin has been such a good hitter in his brief stint with the Cubs that he could at least bring the team a B-level prospect from a club desperate for some power down the stretch and Walker could be a vital left-handed pinch hitter for a contender, allowing the Cubs to get back an individual who somewhat resembles a professional baseball player. Ridding themselves of these players listed above would clear roughly $30 million dollars, allowing Jim Hendry to be a player on the free agent market next off-season. I'm not sure if the idea of Hendry with money to spend is such an enticing proposition given the awful signings he has made in the past, but I guess having some money is better than having none at all.

Now that step one is out of the way, let's shine the spotline on the first truly tradable player, who would actually yield someone useful in return...

Greg Maddux

The most common rumor has Maddux headed to the Dodgers for stud prospect Andre Ethier.

Why it will happen: The Dodgers have one of the deepest farm systems in the league and they feel that the only thing standing between them and the playoffs is a more experienced pitching staff. What better way to bolster your roster than to add one of the most successful playoff pitchers ever? From the Cubs perspective, this trade gives them a future can't-miss superstar to build their team around. With the edition of Ethier in LF along side Pierre, hopefully the Cubs resign him, and Jones in right, all of a sudden the outfield, which was a weakness going into the year, becomes a strength. Tonight Ethier went 4-5 with two HRs and 3 RBI. In only 70 games he is batting .349 with 8 HR, 36 RBI, and 3 stolen bases.

Why it won't happen: Ever since the Dodgers brought Ethier up from the minors with the intention of showcasing him for a trade, he has done nothing but hit. The Dodgers front office is now wondering whether or not this would be the right player to give up, especially for a pitcher who has gone 3-9 with an ERA of almost 5, after starting the year 5-0.

Prediction: I think the reality of the situation points towards two possible outcomes. First, the Cubs send Maddux to Arizona in exchange for gold-glove second baseman Orlando Hudson. This trade wouldn't create the same kind of buzz as the one mentioned above but Hudson would fit perfectly into the Cubs' middle infield and give the team a perfect number two hitter behind Pierre (again, that is if the Cubs resign him, something which I feel they must do to have any chance next year). Arizona, a team which came within minutes of signing Maddux as a free agent before the Cubs stole him away, finds itself only 1 1/2 games back of the wild card spot and has been looking for pitching since the season started. I don't think Maddux, and his tendency to give up the long ball, would be a good fit in Arizona, but hey, that didn't stop the Diamondbacks from signing Russ Ortiz did it?

The second scenario again involves the Dodgers with the Cubs receiving disgruntled shortstop Cesar Izturis who, with the addition of Rafael Furcal, finds himself asked to play out of position at 3B or 2B. He has made it very clear that he either wants to move back to SS or be traded elsewhere. Izturis was sidelined for the majority of last season and most of this one because of a sever injury to his throwing elbow. However, when healthy, he is a gold-glove caliber shortstop. In 2004 he hit .288 with 62 RBI and 25 SB while batting leadoff for the Dodgers, earning him a spot on the NL's All-Star roster. He would also be insurance in case Pierre bolted for another team. I have also heard rumblings of the Brewers being involved. I don't think that Hendry would be foolish enough to trade Maddux to an NL Central rival, but you never know with this guy. On second thought, it wouldn't be the worst thing to ship Maddux to Milwaukee, ONLY if they offer a package which blows the other teams out of the water. You wouldn't have to worry about him coming back to burn the Cubs because Maddux has maybe one year left in him after this season and perhaps Milwaukee, with their loaded farm system, could send an attractive package of prospects to the Cubs. If such an offer is on the table then I wouldn'thesitate to shop him within the division.

This is the first player who I think the Cubs should trade. What do you guys think? Should he be given the boot or should the team keep him and hopefully have him retire as a Chicago Cub?

Come back tomorrow when I talk about Aramis Ramirez and what jersey he could potentially be wearing come July 31st.

White Sox Acquire MacDougal; Will Soriano Follow?

2006-07-24T17:58:00.000-07:00

Today the White Sox acquired Kansas City Royals closer Mike MacDougal in an attempt to strengthen their unreliable bullpen. The Sox sent minor leaguers Tyler Lumsden, who was 9-4 with a 2.69 ERA in double-A, and Daniel Cortes, who was 3-9 with a 4.10 ERA in single-A, to the Royals. It looks as if MacDougal's role will be the primary setup man for Bobby Jenks. MacDougal missed the first 3 1/2 months of the season due to a right shoulder strain, but did not allow a run in four relief appearances after being activated from the 60-day DL. Last season, he pitched in 70 1/3 innings, a career-high, and went 5-6 while posting 3.33 ERA. From May 19 to Aug. 20, MacDougal converted 15 consecutive save opportunities. As a rookie in 2003, he earned a roster spot on the AL All-Star team, while setting a club record with 68 appearances and 27 recorded saves.

MacDougal is a solid pickup for the Sox, but this move is not nearly enough if they seriously want to contend for the Wild Card. Yes, let me make myself prefectly clear, I do not think that the White Sox can overtake the Tigers for the division crown, not even if they acquire Alfonso Soriano, which brings us to the hottest rumor floating around right now. According to ESPN's Tim Kurkjian, the White Sox are "extremely close" to pulling off a deal that would send Soriano to the Sox in exchange for a package which would include Brandon McCarthy. According to sources, Soriano's first choice is to stay with the Nationals, but he doubts that his agent, Diego Bentz, and the team will agree to a deal before the deadline (July 31st). A potential roadblock in any deal involving Soriano would be his recent demand for a no-trade clause. Any team looking to trade for him would have to be willing to add this to his already existing contract. Soriano will also be a free agent at the end of the year, so if the Sox were to add him to the team, there is no guarantee that he would remain in Chicago beyond this season. I think that the Sox would also have to give up Brian Anderson in the deal but it is looking more and more as if he is a bust and I see Soriano as a perfect fit in LF, moving Scott Podsednik back to CF where he began his career with the Milwaukee Brewers. The big question is whether or not this is a good move in the long run for the Sox meaning if the trade does happen to propel them into the playoffs. With Soriano in left and Podsednik in center, there is no doubt that the Sox are much worse defensively than they were last year. Not only that but Ozzie Guillen would then be forced to change his entire lineup. Podsednik is the most comfortable when he is batting leadoff but so is Soriano. You have to remember that Soriano struggled when the Nationals slotted him into the middle of their lineup. It was not until he was moved to the leadoff spot that he bagan to really turn it on. So let's say Guillen bats Podsednik first and Soriano second. Where does that leave Tadahito Iguchi? He is a classic number two hitter and moving him down to the bottom half of the lineup might take him off his game. It seems that there are plenty of reasons to both trade for Soriano or forget the idea all together.

That said, I think that if the White Sox manage to pry Soriano away from the Nationals, this automatically makes them a lock for the Wild Card. I stay true to my statement above, that Detroit will win the AL Central, because the Tigers are more than willing to make a move which will put them over the top, especially if they feel backed into a corner by the White Sox getting Soriano. If the slugging Dominican does indeed sport black pinstripes before the trade deadline, look for the Tigers to step up their persuit of Bobby Abreu. With this, I think that both teams would be back to square one as far as the amount of talent on their respective rosters, the edge slightly nudging its way toward the Tigers due to their superior all-around pitching staff, starters and bullpen included. That is unless Williams has something else up his sleeve... It should be an interesting 7 days to say the least.

This just in: The White Sox are refusing to give up McCarthy in the potential deal for Soriano. This appears to be a huge snag and may cause all talks between the two teams to cease. This could possibly allow the Tigers to swoop in and steal Soriano away at the last second.

The White Sox also lost 7-4 tonight to the Minnesota Twins. The Sox now move 7 1/2 games out of first place while the Yankees, 1 1/2 games behind, and the Twins, 2 games behind, inch closer to the wild card spot which the Sox currently occupy. Let's just say, with the White Sox closer to third place than first, they better make a splash at the trade deadline or they'll be home watching the playoffs this year. Stay tuned.

Bulls Headed Towards Elite Status

2006-07-24T08:31:00.000-07:00

Since I started this blog later in the summer, there have been plenty of headlines regarding the Bulls and the moves that GM Jim Paxson has made. Since I have to play catch-up, why don't I do an overall review of what has transpired thus far:

For starters, what a great draft for Paxson. On many draft boards Tyrus Thomas was ranked as the best prospect available, and to get him from Portland while picking up the promising Victor Kryapa (6-9, 210 lbs, from Russia) was a serious steal on the Bulls' part. Every description of Thomas that I have read to date, includes the phrase "freakishly athletic". I think you can get an idea about his athletisim by watching this clip (ignore the highlights after the dunk, although I think it is ironic that to end the clip Ronnie Brewer misses a jumpshot, allowing LSU to steal the game. I later talk about how the Bulls made the right choice by not taking Brewer in the draft because of his poor shooting). Let's not forget that Thomas was also the leader in blocks in the SEC. Portland failed to realize that the player they coveted, LaMarcus Aldridge, would have still been there when they picked at number 4, but they panicked, maybe because of some bad information, and cut a deal with the Bulls, slotted in the second spot, to pick for them. But the Bulls weren't done dealing just yet. Somehow, they persuaded Philadelphia to pick Thabo Sefolosha, who, by the way, would have greatly improved the 76ers, and then send him to the Bulls in exchange for the rights to Rodney Carney, who's described as "an excellent defender when he wants to be." Had the 76ers kept Sefolosha, he would of been a perfect compliment to Allen Iverson and selecting him would of put a stop to all of the trade rumors surrounding A.I. Sefolosha was regarded, along with Ronnie Brewer, to be the best perimeter defender in the entire draft and the 76ers instead chose to draft Carney, whose game and physique are identical to that of a player already on Philly's roster, Andre Iguodala. I have heard the argument that Brewer would have been a better fit for the way the Bulls play, but I could not disagree more. While both are relentless permiter defenders, Sefolosha is superior offensively, averaging 16 ppg, only second to Thomas' 16.2, in five Orlando summer league games, while showing a silky touch from mid-range. Sefolosha also added 6.4 rpg and a mind-blowing 5.6 spg. That said, the scouting report on Brewer states: "His Achilles' heel is his shooting. His stroke is a little bit broken. Brewer needs a lot of work in this area at the next level." A well-documented problem regarding Brewer's shooting is that he broke his right arm as a child and it never healed properly, resulting in his inability to fully extend it while shooting. Needless to say, throughout his career as GM of the Bulls, Paxson has built a bright future for the team, selecting players such as Gordon, Hinrich, Deng, Thomas, and Sefolosha.

On a side note, watch out for Aaron Miles, the former Kansas University star and cousin of the Trailblazers' Darius Milies. He looked very impressive in the summer league and might be a darkhorse candidate for one of the two remaining roster spots. I seem to remember watching him on TV a couple years back, when Hinrich was still playing at Kansas, and the announcer saying that there is no way that Miles is not a top ten pick if he enters the draft. He's not very tall, but he's a natural scorer and wouldn't be the worst guy to have sitting on the end of your bench. He would easily fill the void left by the departure of free agent Jannero Pargo. I wonder why his draft stock dropped so dramatically? It should be interesting to follow him.

Next is the Bulls' signing of Ben Wallace (4 years, $60 million). I was watching ESPN2 one night when the breaking news flashed across the bottom of the screen and I think I almost fell off the couch in amazement. Not only does this catapult the Bulls into elite status in the Eastern Conference, but it weakens a division rival at the same time. Some may argue that this was way too high of a price tag for a "defensive specialist," but I would have to argue against that for a couple of reasons. First, you have to put things in perspective and compare the amount that Wallace was given with other contracts around the league such as Samuel Dalembert, who's still owed $52.6 million, ex-Bull Tyson Chandler ($57 million), and Kenyon Martin who, in 2011, will have accumulated a whopping $70 million dollars. Personally, I would rather have Wallace over these three any day and in my opinion his contract was a bargain, especially when you understand the structure of the deal which brings me to my next point. Wallace's contract actually leaves the Bulls with the financial flexibilty to resign their young core in the near future. This is because Wallace will receive most of his money up front, meaning in the first couple of years. With each passing season his annual salary will decrease, thus allowing Paxson to offer extensions to Hinrich, Gordon, and Deng. In addition, if in a couple of years, for some reason, Wallace does not fit in well with the team, his contract will not be hard to move.

The third major headline this summer for the Bulls was the trading of Tyson Chandler for PJ Brown and JR Smith, who the Bulls later traded to Denver to make room for Adrian Griffin. This was a vital move for a number of reasons. First, it would not have been a good marriage to pair Wallace with Chandler in the front court. They are both defensive-minded players and having them both on the floor would have put too much pressure on the other players to carry the scoring load. Second, the combining of the two salaries would have left Paxson without the luxury of resigning his young soon-to-be stars, as I previously mentioned. PJ Brown brings an expiring $8 million contract, which seems like peanuts when compared to the money that Chandler will be owed. Listen, Paxson deserves all the credit in the world because he took the chance of signing the best available free agent despite the risk that he might not have been able to move Chandler. He went to win now and I think this is best summed up by White Sox GM Ken Williams. He was asked about whether or not he would trade young pitching to get Alfonso Soriano and he replied, "What year is this? Can you win the 2008 championship in 2006?" The situation with Wallace reminds me of when the Cubs refused to go after Carlos Beltran or resign Moises Alou because they claimed they couldn't take on any salaries until Sosa had been traded. So what did the Cubs do? They offered Beltran a low-ball contract of $75 million when everyone knew he was going to sign for at least $100 million. In the end, the Cubs trade Sosa for (gulp) Hairston Jr., Beltran signs with the Mets, and Alou leaves to play with his father in San Francisco. It seems the Cubs just do everything the wrong way, but let's save that for the next Cubs post.

On another side note, it is my opinion that Paxson made his first wrong move in trading away JR Smith, especially after watching his highlight-reel dunks, specifically the one at the end of this clip which takes place at Rucker Park. I understand that he wanted the roster to have more veterans mixed in, and I welcome Adrian Griffin with open arms, but I have a feeling that given the right situation Smith could be a special player. We shall see.

I also wanted to mention that I did not agree with Paxson hiring his brother as a consultant. Paxon's brother was fired as the GM from the Cavaliers for a reason so I'm not sure that was the smartest move. It usually does not work out when you hire a family member and time will tell if this backfires on Paxon.

A quick tidbit, I don't think Paxson is done dealing. I think he will package Deng, Tyrus Thomas, Sweetney, for his expiring contract, and their first round pick in 2007, which can be swapped with the lowly Knicks, for Kevin Garnett. What do you guys think about that idea?

I think my right hand just fell asleep, so I am going to go work off some of this energy at the gym. I will anxiously await to hear your opinions and/or comments about the Bulls so far this off-season. I'll be back later this afternoon....

Will the Bears Show Up Next Season?

2006-07-23T13:10:00.000-07:00

The Chicago Bears are the only team in the NFL to have all 22 starters from last year return. Nevertheless, they did little to upgrade the team on the offensive side of the ball, with the exception of signing backup QB Brian Griese. Last year the Bears had the 2nd ranked defense in the NFL, yet gave up a staggering 28 points at home in a loss to the Carolina Panthers in the divisional playoffs. In my opinion, this had nothing to do with the defense not being up for the task on that day, instead it was a matter of the defense burning out from the amount of time they spent on the field all season long because of an ineffective Bears' offense. Today, on Chicagosports.com, there is an article written by John Mullin and K.C. Johnson which analyzes many of the potentially problematic areas for the Bears. I will take a look at each portion of their article and offer my analysis.

The first issue is what the article calls "scar tissue," which deals with Thomas Jones' trade demand as well as Lance Briggs' desire for a contract extension. I personally think that Jones is expendable and the Bears should take a gamble by sending him to Denver for disgruntled WR Ashley Lelie. This would satisfy both teams in that Denver would be getting the feature back they have been looking for and the Bears would get a bona fide 2nd WR who could learn from Mushin Muhammad and one day blossom into a star receiver. I read an article about Lelie on ESPN.com the other day which basically talked about how teams put too much stock in WRs who were chosen in the first round and never let them develop into 2nd receivers. Instead, these teams force them to be the focus of the offense right away. Lelie averaged 17.2 yards per catch in Denver, yet the Broncos always expected more out of him. The article gave me the feeling that Lelie could be something special. The Bears already have plenty of depth at running back with Benson, who showed flashes of why he was picked fourth overall, and Peterson, who I happen to think could start for a number of teams in the league. As for Briggs, he was asking for an extension which would have paid him more than Brian Urlacher. Briggs is an incredible talent, but I felt his asking price was unreasonable. I hope Briggs and the Bears can come to a compromise, because to see him in another uniform after this year would be nauseating.

The second topic was the battle between Rex Grossman and Brian Griese for the right to be the starting QB. Honestly, I do not feel this is even a contest. Grossman, in my opinion of course, is a special talent that only comes along once in a blue moon. And while that makes me, as a Bears fan, very happy, I also cringe at the thought of Grossman's career slowly resembling that of Mark Prior. Perhaps this excerpt from CNNSI.com will help to summarize the talent of Grossman: "The mere presence of a healthy Rex Grossman for 16 games is supposed to guarantee improvement on the offense. It should, because Grossman is in his fourth year and appears to be the real deal. Grossman gets rid of the ball faster than most NFL quarterbacks, reads defenses quickly and gets the ball to the right receiver, usually with great accuracy. But, because of injuries, Grossman hasn't played enough yet to justify the Bears' faith in him - only seven starts."

The third, and perhaps the most talked about topic since the end of last season is: which WR will help take some of the attention away from Muhammad? Although I previously talked about trading for Lelie, I feel that the Bears have two potentially special receivers already on their roster in Mark Bradley and Bernard Berrian. I felt Bradley was on his way to stardom before he tore his ACL in a thrilling overtime win against Detroit. Only time will tell how he rebounds from an injury like that. In many cases the player does not have the same burst in his first step, due to the psychological fear of pushing off the injured knee. Against Carolina in the playoffs, Berrian showed how good of a WR he can be. He is a bit undersized, but makes up for this with blazing speed, great hands and heart. In the divisional playoffs he made some incredible catches over the middle, sacrificing his body in the process. He is also a talented return man which gives the Bears a third option behind newly-drafted Devin Hester and Danieal Manning. However, I think that by drafting these two players, this symbolizes Lovie Smith's desire to have Berrian healthy and competing for the 2nd WR spot.

Bold Predictions:

1.) Grossman stays healthy all year long and earns a Pro Bowl alternate spot. The year after he will start for the NFC in the Pro Bowl.

2.) Dusty Dvorcek, a DT from Oklahoma University who was selected in the fourth round by the Bears, will be starting along his former teammate Tommie Harris by the end of the year.

3.) The Bears' fifth round choice Mark Anderson, a DE from Alabama will record 6 sacks in his rookie campaign.

4.) Cedric Benson will rack up 1,300 yards in his first full season.

I'm exhausted after this one. Post some comments, tell me what you think. Until next time...

The White Sox Lose Again

2006-07-23T09:25:00.000-07:00

A 3-1 win for Texas on Saturday night marked the seventh loss in eight games for the slumping White Sox. It makes you wonder how long, if at all, Ken Williams will take to pull the trigger on a trade to bring some sort of pitching relief to the Sox. At the time, adding the aging Jeff Nelson seemed to be a low-risk maneuver, something which could have brought the team big benefits, but wouldn't kill them if he, for some reason, got injured (he is currently on the 15-day DL). The Sox then went out and acquired David Riske from the Boston Red Sox, another subtle move which didn't cause much of a stir within the baseball community.

What has happened to Ken Williams over the last couple of months? In the off-season he was the most aggressive GM in the game at a time when it could have been argued that standing pat would have been just fine. Now that the team actually needs some help, Sox fans are made to read articles such as this? Williams claims that no one in the AL is willing to help them improve. I'm confused, because I thought there were another 16 teams that play in this league that we call the NL. In fact, the Mets recently proposed a deal that would have sent Freddy Garcia to New York in exchange for relief pitcher extraordinaire Duaner Sanchez and the Sox actually turned it down.

Yes, you might argue that Garcia has a 10-4 record, but anyone who has watched him recently has noticed that he can no longer throw the ball over 85 mph, something which an ERA close to 5 might indicate. His winning record is simply a reflection of a good team behind him and does not represent the nasty stuff which he once possessed. I think that the Sox need to call Omar Minaya, GM of the Mets, and ask if the deal is still on the table. Brandon McCarthy could easily fill the void in the rotation left by Garcia and with this trade, the shaky bullpen would appear to be somewhat solidified.

Also, questions about closer Bobby Jenks and his ability to perform at a high level over the course of an entire season are sure to be brought up in the coming days, especially if Williams does not secure any help for the bullpen. Last night, in the 9th inning, Jenks walked three batters and allowed the second and third runs to cross the plate. Remember the Angels released Jenks not because he didn't have good stuff, but because he wasn't dedicated to getting himself in the type of shape that would allow him to be successful for the whole season.

Comments and opinions are always welcomed. Any ideas in regards to potential trade scenarios?

Should the Cubs Fire Dusty Baker?

2006-07-23T08:19:00.000-07:00

Today on Chicagosports.com there was yet another article on the topic of whether or not Dusty Baker should be sent packing. This article was less serious than the ones which came before it, the writer's purpose being to show how there is no way Baker can be fired when there are so many other worse sports figures still around. Some people might take this column at face value, but to me the fact that Baker is being compared to the likes of Barry Bonds and Dennis Rodman speaks volumes of the reality of Rick Morrissey's opinion on the subject. Yes, he says that Baker should stay, but the entire article is written in a sarcastic tone, therefore signaling that there is no way Morrissey would like to see Baker in a Cubs uniform next season.

I, for one, think Dusty and his so called "Magic Dust" has been a failed experiment and the team needs to move on. With that said, let me make myself clear: In no way is the team's poor performance this season Bakers fault! No, we can put the blame squarely on the shoulders of Jim Hendry, one of the worst GMs in the game, but let's save that for another post. However, Baker and Alex Gonzalez, the once gold glove-caliber shortstop, may his career rest in peace, were responsible for the collapse in 2003 (sorry, it wasn't Steve Bartman's fault). Baker's also to blame for the debacle in 2004 when they added Derek Lee after coming five outs from the World Series the year before. The team would have easily secured a Wild Card spot if they had not been mismanaged by Dusty.

I can't stand watching the man and his laid back attitude. The Cubs need someone next year who won't hesitate to get in the face of a player when he is not getting the job done. Cubs fans won't like to hear it, but the team needs someone like Ozzie Guillen (see article) and in my opinion I think Lou Piniella would be a perfect fit. Any comments? Opinions? What do you guys think?