What have we learned this baseball offseason? Don't trust a Cubs employee. From Ryan Dempster to Carlos Marmol to Anibel Sanchez, the Chicago Cubs front office is closer to a group of high school girls than the frat boys they're made out to be.
Its an offseason like this that one would hope they make Life-Lock: Baseball Franchise. One would also assume that Carmine, Theo Epstein's computer system doesn't have an anti-virus program.
The Cubs haven't lost out on anything, really. They may have dodged a bullet, and a shock to the rebuilding plan had the signed Sanchez, and although it might have been nice to pull off the Atlanta deal you don't see the Braves make many mistakes when they've decided to deal players.
Baseball fans ask, who related to the Cubs has the loose lips, and apparently girls are hoping Theo and Jed Hoyer have loose lips (Theo has been known to turn some ladies eyes and Jed was named the 5th most sexy baseball GM by Yahoo! Sports).
Undeniable that the Cubs have improved their club this offseason, but at what cost? Will future bigger names think the potential deals that leaked are a negative? Will this deter or cause the Cubs to overspend in the coming years when going to the free agent market?
Well... Who knows for certain, right? I mean blown secrets are one thing and $10 million a year for 4 years is certainly another.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Where do we go now
Well, well, well, the Bears certainly have put themselves in an interesting position haven't they? The team, which didn't address their number 1 concern in the offseason, started off 7-1 and was ranked in the top 5 in all of the NFL (higher in some polls). But even with this, weren't Bears fans a little concerned? I mean there still was no offensive line, we weren't handing the ball off or taking advantage of Matt Forte in the passing game. Jay Cutler has shown signs of being erratic since arriving in Chicago, and the Bears defense wasn't exactly getting younger.
But alas, the Bears were 7-1 and in control of their destiny. The Packers, although beating the Bears early in the season, were an afterthought and the surprising Vikings were the team which posed the biggest first half threat. Lovie Smith was on pace to receive an extension to stay here for at least 3 more years, Jay Cutler would get the same. Heck! Even Brian Urlacher was possibly in line for a new deal. All things were good, and the Bears had just shalacked the Tennessee Titans 51-20.
Boom! Reality.....
The Bears faced a contender in the Houston Texans, and even though teh Bears defense kept them in the game, Houston eventually rolled on with a 13-6 victory and Jay left the game early with a concussion. We still didn't worry cause in the offseason we brought in Jason Campbell, who legitimized the Chicago back-up QB position.
San Francisco rolled on over us, with a rookie QB under center. Picking apart the Bears defense like Tom Brady himself, Colin Kaepernick (ex Chicago Cubs prospective prospect) was thrust upon the national stage, while the Bears defense looked old and Jason Campbell spent more time on the ground that his balls did in the air. Worry at this point is setting in, although chants of MVP began for Jay Cutler...
After a week of questioning if Cutler would make his return, he did, leading the Bears to their 2nd divisional win and further prompting some MVP chatter. Radio stations began to pick this up, and national guys argued for and against the notion. But, don't you worry cause that all ended abruptly as the Bears faced it's 4th contender and 3rd in the last 4 weeks, Seattle. This was a highly contested game, with the Bears leading at the half, but you felt some air leave Soldier Field when the Bears were unable to convert a 4th and 1 which would have extended a drive in their own red zone. In the 2nd half, it was time for Russell Wilson to perform his very own version of Colin Kaepernick. Running an offense which seemed unstopable, Wilson had 3 options, hand off, run it himself, or pass and all 3 would result in what seemed like 12 yard gains. The Bears showed some life with a long pass to Brandon Marshall, but losing the coin flip in overtime did the Bears in as the defense was slow and tired and has become visably old.
The next 2 weeks have gone exactly the same, looked old, tired, and just unable to compete at a professional level. Jay Cutler is under pressure and the only weapon being used, possibly more than anticipated, is Marshall. With the Bears going 3-6 against teams that currently have winning records (all 6 of their losses have been to playoff caliber or competing teams), they have placed themselves in a position which almost all is lost. Lovie's extension is torn to shreds, Cutler went from MVP candidate to maybe not receiving new money, Urlacher went from the newest member of the Bears Middle Linebacker Mount Rushmore to calling out the fans (twice this season) and possibly on his way out of Chicago. Mike Tice is sure to be replaced (his replacement will certainly be the 4th Offensive Coordinator Cutler will have while with the Bears), and if Lovie Smith is gone, the Cover-2 defense will certainly leave as well.
So I ask the questions... Should the Bears invest in Jay Cutler again? What about Lovie Smith? Should he keep his job? Is Urlacher in jeapordy of leaving Chicago? Should Matt Forte be used more in the passing game? Is it time to completely rebuild this franchise? How far can Jay Cutler take us, even with a healthy and good offensive line?
All I know is, if the Bears win a playoff berth or not. If the rebuild or not. If they fire Lovie or not. Come August the Bears will be the center of the Chicago sports world once again, and us Bears fans will scream about this or that, but proclaim that this team will win a Super Bowl.
But alas, the Bears were 7-1 and in control of their destiny. The Packers, although beating the Bears early in the season, were an afterthought and the surprising Vikings were the team which posed the biggest first half threat. Lovie Smith was on pace to receive an extension to stay here for at least 3 more years, Jay Cutler would get the same. Heck! Even Brian Urlacher was possibly in line for a new deal. All things were good, and the Bears had just shalacked the Tennessee Titans 51-20.
Boom! Reality.....
The Bears faced a contender in the Houston Texans, and even though teh Bears defense kept them in the game, Houston eventually rolled on with a 13-6 victory and Jay left the game early with a concussion. We still didn't worry cause in the offseason we brought in Jason Campbell, who legitimized the Chicago back-up QB position.
San Francisco rolled on over us, with a rookie QB under center. Picking apart the Bears defense like Tom Brady himself, Colin Kaepernick (ex Chicago Cubs prospective prospect) was thrust upon the national stage, while the Bears defense looked old and Jason Campbell spent more time on the ground that his balls did in the air. Worry at this point is setting in, although chants of MVP began for Jay Cutler...
After a week of questioning if Cutler would make his return, he did, leading the Bears to their 2nd divisional win and further prompting some MVP chatter. Radio stations began to pick this up, and national guys argued for and against the notion. But, don't you worry cause that all ended abruptly as the Bears faced it's 4th contender and 3rd in the last 4 weeks, Seattle. This was a highly contested game, with the Bears leading at the half, but you felt some air leave Soldier Field when the Bears were unable to convert a 4th and 1 which would have extended a drive in their own red zone. In the 2nd half, it was time for Russell Wilson to perform his very own version of Colin Kaepernick. Running an offense which seemed unstopable, Wilson had 3 options, hand off, run it himself, or pass and all 3 would result in what seemed like 12 yard gains. The Bears showed some life with a long pass to Brandon Marshall, but losing the coin flip in overtime did the Bears in as the defense was slow and tired and has become visably old.
The next 2 weeks have gone exactly the same, looked old, tired, and just unable to compete at a professional level. Jay Cutler is under pressure and the only weapon being used, possibly more than anticipated, is Marshall. With the Bears going 3-6 against teams that currently have winning records (all 6 of their losses have been to playoff caliber or competing teams), they have placed themselves in a position which almost all is lost. Lovie's extension is torn to shreds, Cutler went from MVP candidate to maybe not receiving new money, Urlacher went from the newest member of the Bears Middle Linebacker Mount Rushmore to calling out the fans (twice this season) and possibly on his way out of Chicago. Mike Tice is sure to be replaced (his replacement will certainly be the 4th Offensive Coordinator Cutler will have while with the Bears), and if Lovie Smith is gone, the Cover-2 defense will certainly leave as well.
So I ask the questions... Should the Bears invest in Jay Cutler again? What about Lovie Smith? Should he keep his job? Is Urlacher in jeapordy of leaving Chicago? Should Matt Forte be used more in the passing game? Is it time to completely rebuild this franchise? How far can Jay Cutler take us, even with a healthy and good offensive line?
All I know is, if the Bears win a playoff berth or not. If the rebuild or not. If they fire Lovie or not. Come August the Bears will be the center of the Chicago sports world once again, and us Bears fans will scream about this or that, but proclaim that this team will win a Super Bowl.
Monday, December 17, 2012
We weep
I am still angry, saddened, dazed, confused, and discouraged by the horrendous actions that took place in Sandy Hook Elementary School. I feel a little uneasy today as we sent our children to school or left them in the care of others as we returned for another work week. There is a huge part of me that would like to stay home and shelter my children from all the dangers of the world. Over the next couple paragraphs I want to make abundantly clear, my thoughts and prayers, in fact I believe everyone's thoughts and prayers are with the children, their families, the brave teachers that did everything they could to save them, the kids that will live the rest of their lives with this memory, and the Newtown community.
I am discouraged because we hear about the monster that did this in Connecticut, we hear about the tragic event the same day in China, we hear about the high school basketball game later that night, and we hear about the movie theater incident just last night. As I sat down for the days work a colleague was speaking to a client in Connecticut not far from the event and his children's school was locked down due to suspicious activity at a subway nearby.
I'm not sure about you, but my wife and I decided to keep the news from our children. After all how do you explain to a 1st grader that kids his age were just rifled down in a classroom just like his? I think part of not telling him was also because it would make this event even more real to us as parents. I still sit here imagining the parents staring at their children's rooms, grasping their favorite toy, laying in their blanket. Even more so realizing that in a week it will be Christmas.
People will scream to toughen on gun laws, they already have. This isn't fixing the issue though. It is the people behind the weapon. The monster in Connecticut was a monster, gun or not. The monster in that Colorado theater was a monster, guns or not. The monsters in Columbine were monsters, guns or not. Virginia Tech, Northern Illinois University, so on and so on and so on. These people were the problem. Their ability to acquire the firearms were the problem. The firearms were not the problem.
To put the sports perspective on it. Brandon Marshall suffers from Borderline Personality Disorder. He admittedly has suffered from this possibly his entire life. In most US states he is perfectly qualified to purchase firearms, and in some he can even fit the criteria to be approved for conceal and carry. This is a problem.
Now of course there is a glaring hole in restrictions for people with mental disabilities and owning firearms. Some will say to close that hole and we can fix a lot of what's wrong. Sure, this could possibly stop an incident from happening, but it is more important to identify those with mental illnesses. In Brandon Marshall's case he wasn't diagnosed until sometime in 2011, this was after numerous incidents and outbursts. What if he happened to have a firearm on him during one of these incidents? What if he hadn't of been diagnosed and properly treated? As a 27 year old star athlete, he would have been brushed away as another poor athlete that couldn't handle the pressure of professional sports. But he was diagnosed, and we can do more to help others get treatment they need.
We need to do more to identify individuals that suffer from mental illness. We need to do more to ensure they have the proper care and treatment they need and deserve. We need to make sure that the underprivileged kid that is always starting fights isn't doing it because he has a ticking time bomb in his head. We need to make sure that rich child that has social anxiety isn't this way because he is suffering everyday from deep depression. We owe this to our children, every one of them. Most of all, parents, family members, adults, and anyone else in position of influence needs to make sure they tell and show the kids in their life that they are loved.
I mentioned before that all of our thoughts and prayers need to be with those so impacted by this tragic event. This is so true, but as a caring nation we need to also let them know that they are loved, especially in this time of need.
I am discouraged because we hear about the monster that did this in Connecticut, we hear about the tragic event the same day in China, we hear about the high school basketball game later that night, and we hear about the movie theater incident just last night. As I sat down for the days work a colleague was speaking to a client in Connecticut not far from the event and his children's school was locked down due to suspicious activity at a subway nearby.
I'm not sure about you, but my wife and I decided to keep the news from our children. After all how do you explain to a 1st grader that kids his age were just rifled down in a classroom just like his? I think part of not telling him was also because it would make this event even more real to us as parents. I still sit here imagining the parents staring at their children's rooms, grasping their favorite toy, laying in their blanket. Even more so realizing that in a week it will be Christmas.
People will scream to toughen on gun laws, they already have. This isn't fixing the issue though. It is the people behind the weapon. The monster in Connecticut was a monster, gun or not. The monster in that Colorado theater was a monster, guns or not. The monsters in Columbine were monsters, guns or not. Virginia Tech, Northern Illinois University, so on and so on and so on. These people were the problem. Their ability to acquire the firearms were the problem. The firearms were not the problem.
To put the sports perspective on it. Brandon Marshall suffers from Borderline Personality Disorder. He admittedly has suffered from this possibly his entire life. In most US states he is perfectly qualified to purchase firearms, and in some he can even fit the criteria to be approved for conceal and carry. This is a problem.
Now of course there is a glaring hole in restrictions for people with mental disabilities and owning firearms. Some will say to close that hole and we can fix a lot of what's wrong. Sure, this could possibly stop an incident from happening, but it is more important to identify those with mental illnesses. In Brandon Marshall's case he wasn't diagnosed until sometime in 2011, this was after numerous incidents and outbursts. What if he happened to have a firearm on him during one of these incidents? What if he hadn't of been diagnosed and properly treated? As a 27 year old star athlete, he would have been brushed away as another poor athlete that couldn't handle the pressure of professional sports. But he was diagnosed, and we can do more to help others get treatment they need.
We need to do more to identify individuals that suffer from mental illness. We need to do more to ensure they have the proper care and treatment they need and deserve. We need to make sure that the underprivileged kid that is always starting fights isn't doing it because he has a ticking time bomb in his head. We need to make sure that rich child that has social anxiety isn't this way because he is suffering everyday from deep depression. We owe this to our children, every one of them. Most of all, parents, family members, adults, and anyone else in position of influence needs to make sure they tell and show the kids in their life that they are loved.
I mentioned before that all of our thoughts and prayers need to be with those so impacted by this tragic event. This is so true, but as a caring nation we need to also let them know that they are loved, especially in this time of need.
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