RynoRules

Slightly blue...

After watching LaStella "hit" last night, I think Cogs may not have to worry as much come Friday.

My ex-father in law trolled me and other Cubs fans by showing up to my son's hockey game this past weekend in a Cardinals jacket. I want to shove this one fully up his and every other St Louis fan's ass.

The whole Steve McNair / Aaron Rodgers approach doesn't fly anymore. Bortles was an exception and it only lasted about 3 games. The Bears desperately need playmakers on D, an OT (Bushrod blows and should be cut after this year), and a G. That's a lot of needs.

The draft is supposed to be way stronger this year. Top of the draft probably includes DLs Joey Bosa and Robert Nkemdiche, OT Laremy Tunsil and possibly even QB Jared Goff. Bosa all day. This defense would have trouble producing back-ups on half of the leagues teams.

And don't think for a second that John Fox doesn't know what the primary needs are. He won a bunch of games and nearly a SB in Carolina with Jake Dellhome at QB and later made the playoffs with freaking Tim Tebow, who literally cannot throw the ball at the pro level (and arguably couldn't in college either). This is not because Fox is some QB whisperer, but because those teams were solid to spectacular up-front on both sides and had playmakers at skill positions.

The Bears need OL's and every position on defense. They are therefore stuck with Cutler or whoever is on the scrap heap in free agency. You can't go spending picks on QB when your lines on both sides are awful, LB's are meh at best, and backfield is manned by a bunch of guys who belong on 2nd string or PS.

And those people deserve to be called out. There are a strong contingent here that was consistent in their acceptance of a rebuilding and didn't rant about how the Cubs were the worst run organization in sports (like one Bears caller suggested this morning) because Chris Rusin had a bad start 2 weeks into the 2012 season. Nobody who is criticizing the Bears deserves to be called out. They've been a disaster and their current regime is nothing resembling Theo Epstein. Ryan Pace has done nothing in his career and John Fox is as bland a head coach as you'll get. Competent, but nothing resembling a star. The organization is very poorly run. +1 This is football, not baseball. The manner in which you rebuild a [expletive] organization is very different and - at the risk of repeating goony's point - Ryan Pace has a lot to prove. I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt for one more draft and free agency cycle, but if they don't win 8 or so games next season (i.e., competitive mediocrity) then you have to wonder about his competence as well. John Fox and his staff have more credibility in my eyes. Pace needs to get them some talent next season. We have maybe two keepers on the O-Line, the defense is an absolute mess, and our depth sucks as evidenced by the horrendous kick coverage. In short - the Bears suck, I accept that we have to re-build due to horrendous drafting by the previous administrations, and I am still going to acknowledge and sometimes complain about it.

The one HR Rodney has given up is the difference between him having a 4.45 FIP and about a 2.80 FIP. Not that the HR didn't happen, but we want to be careful about being too predictive about less than 8 innings, those numbers can change wildly in a short span. Yup, good point

I haven't done deep dive on how hard he has been hit when contact is made, but his FIP scares me.

I mentioned this in another thread, but Rodney is sporting a 351 ERA+ against a 4.45 FIP. That tells me he'd better continue to miss bats.

Full quote, one of my faves in Cubs history:

Because Rodney currently sports a 300 ERA+ and a 4.20 FIP. That's the most awesome split ever.

Cards 24 - Bears 14

Acho's contract was terminated today to an "undisclosed illness". Who is going to play defense for these guys?

Going deeper because my age allows me to, plus it makes some sense as making the playoffs in 84' changed the franchise somewhat: Mell Hall and Joe Carter?

He's fresh and has a large mouth.

Good stuff. Classy move. Love Aramis.

This. You guys are acting like they swapped Baez for him in a sort of "Anderson-Bagwell" trade for the new millennia.

Bonfacio's name has always made me think of "The Naked Gun":

Reminds me of Sammy. Once he learned to lay off sliders he became an absolute monster. There were almost no holes in his swing (maybe up and in, somewhat). Soler isn't Sammy, but there's no reason he can't be a consistent .275 / .340 / .475 type guy if he learns to lay off the breaking pitch.

Fun little glitch over at BR; everyone who is injured has two last names:

Not sure, but I know a report came out in the last few days that they were going to have him play a bunch of different positions. http://24.media.tumblr.com/934317fec9d5530a75f7034731bb5d3b/tumblr_mqrg4x5Yl31rdqbfro2_500.gif

MLBTR says we had scouts at the Phils game last night, along with the Giants and Yankees. http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/08/giants-scouting-utley-cubs-yankees.html EDIT: and he was placed on waivers on Sunday, meaning the claim period expires today.

Irony: if we keep this pace up we won't be getting Utley.