CubinNY

I know I shouldn’t count on Davis/Mervis but plugging them in the line up sure does save a ton of money to spend on SS. If they can get Abreu/Bellenger on short term big dollar contracts and a really good SP or two through trades or free agency, that’s a 90 win team if Davis and Mervis reach 70-80 percentile projection. I’m not as sold as most on the young pitchers. I’m also a bit apprehensive about extending Happ.

That was a statement win.

This postseason has been so much fun so far.

Hold the ball longer. It will be like 3 on 3 from the back yard.

It's axiomatic, but you can't do the same thing in a different environment and expect success. This is not the same Bears players Pace inherited. I keep going back to my belief that they don't think they have a top-tier QB. Maybe they are correct, but they haven't attempted to see if they are correct.

If Mervis breaks out next year it's going to make a great national media story. UDFA to the bigs, to performing at a high level in the bigs.

I'm disappointed with the product on the field, regardless of experience. I agree it says more that veterans like Patrick, Reiff and Schofield who were brought in to secure this line have been awful. I get they want to get worse before better but doing so at the expense of Fields puts them back further compared to giving him some protection and weapons. It's not a coincidence the current run of bad QBs runs parallel to the current run of horsefeathers GMs and Poles is looking like another one. The opportunity to improve this team is there, they have cap space. OBJ Daryl Williams Quinton Spain They would immediately improve this team and give Fields a chance. It's not about the playoffs or anything like that but they're going to Tim Couch his career and for the next year or two, they need to see what they have. With this crap supporting cast, you'll still have no clue. This is a sentiment that many people share. I went back and forth with a dude that wants Reiff in there now for Braxton Jones. And I think the disconnect is our goals as fans aren't the same as the goals of the front office. Fans want to build up Fields to be the next great QB in this league. Poles' goal isn't to build up Fields, it's to build up the 53-man roster. That's why you saw him taking what he thought were BPAs over pigeonholing picks to OL or WR in Round 2. That's probably a big reason why you have Jones, Jenkins and Borom starting on the OL. Guys like Beckham, Williams, Spain, Reiff and Schofield don't really serve a purpose. They are all 1-year guys. Granted, Beckham could be more, but that simply isn't happening. He isn't going from SB ring to the worst team in the league even if he could potentially put up astronomical numbers as the only good player on the team. But there's really no reason for a rebuilding team to bring in a bunch of 1-year veterans to salvage what we already knew was going to be a lost season. Poles is trying to develop 53 players, or at the least 22-35 long-term starters and contributors to the overall team. Bears fans are trying to develop 1 great QB. Granted, the best way to win games in the NFL is to develop 1 great QB.....but clearly Poles feels like he needs to build this thing from the ground-up, at every position at the same time. And if the QB he didn't pick doesn't survive it, so be it (his opinion). I agree. It will also be the reason he doesn't get a contract extension.

Worst center I’ve ever seen in the NFL

I will go out on a limb and say 2 of the top 10 will lose for sure. This is likely a must win game for Harsin. If he loses he’s done.

Less than a top 5 payroll. Last year are 220 million. I know where you're going to go with your response, but the 6th highest payroll is not a "low payroll" taking advantage of labor. What do you want? Some kind of [expletive] number where they look like their trying? They were 14 last year. They have the 2nd highest ticket prices, the highest food prices, and were 9th in attendance this year, with a horsefeathers team for half the season. They have concerts, a hotel, apartments, and a TV network, and soon part owners of a betting house. What do you expect them to pay for a competitive team? Anything less than a top 5 payroll is low.

They won't have a top 5 payroll, wherever that line is. They won't sign anyone longer than 5 years. Pick a dollar figure that represents "Low Payroll". Also, avoiding contracts longer than 5 years is generally a good thing as long as you can still get the players. Less than a top 5 payroll. Last year are 220 million.

BTW - 9 of the top 12 payroll teams made the playoffs this year. Only the Rays, Guardians, and Mariners were not in the top 12. So contrary to PTR, it appears that money is a strong factor in having a championship caliber team. To get into the top 10 they need to add about 20 million Top 5 they need to add 67 million.

They won't have a top 5 payroll, wherever that line is. They won't sign anyone longer than 5 years. They don't control if they have a Top 5 payroll. They don't? Everything is relative.

Set the over/under and let's make a bet. Please keep your line consistent with your statement. They won't have a top 5 payroll, wherever that line is. They won't sign anyone longer than 5 years.

I keep coming back to PTR whose mantra is "you can't buy championships". He wants to keep the payroll low and exploit cheap labor like a good capitalist.

That's interesting. He also pretty implicitly called out adding a shortstop with this remark He said something similar when he was in the booth that last weekend of the season, and combined with the power remarks it really does seem like he wants one of the star shortstops. I wonder if the thought is getting Correa/Turner to take something more like 7/250 instead of 10/300, or if he's got his sites set more on Swanson/Bogaerts, who inherently are looking at sub $200M contracts. They've already shown that they will look for a glove-first SS on the cheap.

Jed says that they will make a qualifying offer to Willy, thus depressing his value in free agency. I hope he takes the offer although I don't think we will.

Upset week in College football. #3, #5,#7, #8, #9 could all lose this weekend

I’m not sure they will win another game this year.

I called an early Cardinals exist three months ago.

MSU has -11 rushing yards for the game into the third quarter

After week 3 I thought Michigan and OSU were basically a toss up. These last couple of weeks make me think Michigan has no shot.

I don't think a team is going to be able to stash him away on a big-league roster either.

Serious question. Does it really make that much sense financially to target a big ticket SS when they have arguably a top 5 SS already? I’d kind of like them to try to pry away Devers from Boston with some prospects add a big bat corner OF and load up on pitching. I know I’m probably wrong in my thinking, but they need power.

Mr. Christian, Mike Matheny was fired by the Royals. Another potential landing spot for the ex-Cubs named Joe.