Thrilho

De la Cruz's outing seems pretty good to me. HR to the second batter of the game, then only allowed a few ground ball hits. Walks a guy and hits another to start the 6th, next batter bunts, DLC gets lifted and the reliever lets in the two base runners. He got the 5 Ks to 1 walk, 6-3 GO/AO and really not much hard contact other than the HR. Could go for him finishing out the start better and being more economical but I'd put this one in the good side of the ledger.

Other thing could be that with the necessity of Candelario hitting, they didn't want to put him plus Happ on the infield in the same game. So maybe once the lineup stability is back Happ plays second all the time and Javy is doing tricks with chewing gum on the bench. Who know?!? Fun times

Baez didn't get to face Arroyo last time, have to think he'll probably throw out his back swinging so hard and then Happ can stay until Zobrist/Jay are healthy or longer. Joe's playing the long game. I'll keep to the increasingly unforgiving role of Javy Uber Apologist and say I agree that Joe's playing the long game. If Javy's got a role in the Cubs future then he'll have learn to hit righties, which means you keep running him out there. Maybe he's putting Almora in the more sheltered role Javy had last year to keep his confidence high. Not sure there. But the other, more likely, option is just that they don't trust Happ at second or want him to get comfortable with the bat before putting him on the infield of this high level defense. Seems like today would be a good day to play Happ over Javy but instead put Happ in center where he's played 4 games since South Bend. So I might be wrong, but I wouldn't be surprised if he isn't playing second consistently for a while. Center is a pretty good option though, if he can play it. He can protect Almora from tough righties and Jay can do a little more of the right handed side of the platoon in the corners. Plus Wrigley has a pretty easy center field and tougher than average corners. So I could see him getting comfortable there. Certainly would be nice to have the option, so why not give it a try against the Reds?

Saw the headline and figured it must be from ESPN.com

Off day and I had some time, so thought I'd serve up another tall glass of Bears Kool-Aid. I've been looking at this UDFA class and it seems like they've continued their trend of finding guys with lots of production at small schools. And most of these guys didn't even get invited to the combine, some despite huge stats and first team All-American FCS on their resume. So if this class hits it seems like it could be a big win for Pace scouting department. He got his guys in place for the second draft and by the third draft they're scouring the FCS schools. Seems like that was always probably part of the plan, and I'd think it'll continue. The first guy that's been getting all the pub in the drills with no pads is... Tanner Gentry - WR - Wyoming - 4.58 40-dash 6'2 220 He had 72 receptions for 1,326 and 14 TDs as Josh Allen's primary target. His 49 targets on deep passes was the most among college receivers (PFF). The PFF scouting report says he has NFL starter potential, and that his strengths are jump balls, sideline catches, and "circus" catches. But he's also not that slow and clearly can get downfield. He didn't get an invite to the combine, which seems weird for a guy who had those numbers and played with a likely high first round QB. But it's also weird that I couldn't find a highlight video for him. I'm guessing that for a guy whose goal is to "eventually be one of the best receivers in the league" going undrafted was a harsh lesson in the virtues of self-promotion. Hopefully he just got missed because he's a white guy from Wyoming and forgot to hire an agent or something. Either way, he doesn't have a good highlight video, so here's one of Josh Allen. It's pretty much all Allen heaving it downfield, while only occasionally looking where he's throwing it and Gentry making all kinds of jump ball grabs. He's very much of the jump up in the air, grab it, and fall down variety with zero YAC, but that can be pretty valuable if you can also have a knack for getting open on broken plays. On his training camp (some good Trubisky stuff too): http://sportsmockery.com/2017/05/one-name-dominated-early-bears-rookie-minicamp/ PFF scouting report: https://www.profootballfocus.com/draft-pff-scouting-report-tanner-gentry-wr-wyoming/ Alex Scearce - LB - Coastal Carolina - 4.51 40-dash 6'3 235 He transitioned from safety to LB this year as a junior and made 1st team All-American FCS. Had 84 tackles, 8 sacks, 18.5 TFL, 5 picks, 3 forced fumbles, 2 recoveries, 3 TDs (2 off picks, 1 off fumble) and 12 PDs. Another guy who didn't get a combine invite, but ran a 4.61 on his pro day with 24 bench reps. If someone actually saw him do those reps it's pretty impressive, as there were only 2 linebackers who beat that mark at the combine. Lots of production though and seems like good ball skills for a guy who transitioned from safety. Could be a good option at inside linebacker. Rashaad Coward - DT - Old Dominion - 5.08 40-dash 6'5 322 Had 47 and 49 tackles the last two years, which seems like a lot for a DT. Not much TFL productivity, but a huge dude who seems like he can play some run defense, according to PFF: Isaiah Irving- DE/OLB San Diego Stated - 4.87 40-dash 6'3 255x Had 45 tackles with 7 sacks and 11 total TFL. Not elite measurables but another guy who got to the QB this year. *All measurements and combine results are taken from their nfldraftscout.com pages. Then some other guys . Joel Bouagnon, RB 6'1 230, 4.66 40-dash had 18 TDs as a junior at NIU and zero fumbles (in 2016 at least according to some tweet I saw). Seems like the type of poor man's Howard that could win a spot over Carey or the other guy they got. OT Joseph at 6'6 300, the article below says he was looked at as a 6/7th rounder and could be a steal. But he's got 30 inch arms, so it's probably not at tackle (Chris Williams had 32). House at TE (6'6 250) is a star basketball player who hasn't played foosball, so all upside there. Another guy with measurables though. Then OT Kirsch was a FCS All American, but haven't read anything that reviews him highly enough to get me excited. They also got a fullback who....ah ok, that's enough. But some potential good looking guys there, to go along with a draft that I liked and think has some good upside. Check out this article and enjoy getting geeked over Bears prospects, now that most of the meaningful Cubs ones are playing on the Cubs. http://www.isportsweb.com/2017/05/13/chicago-bears-sign-tanner-gentry-12-other-undrafted-free-agents/

Zack Short continues to kill it at SB. After his 2/2 with 3 BB and a triple his line is .278/.441/.505. So far only 9 of his 28 games of his games have been at short and he's committed 6 errors in those. But he had 10 in 38 games at short at Eugene last year so maybe there's some hope? The 20.5% walk rate is real nice, as is the 16.5% K rate. But at 5'10 it'll be interesting to see what happens with the power. 4 HRs and a .227 Iso is pretty far out of line with his 1 HR and .087 Iso at Eugene.

Cool, your edit answered a lot more about what the broadcasters said. Having a bad arm is one of those problems that's pretty tough to solve with additional work. Still going to hold out some optimism though until somebody tells me for sure that he's junk and always will be behind the plate.

Where'd you see that? I've read it a couple of different places myself, but the last time I heard was during a broadcast of the Tennessee Smokies game from the Smokies announcers themselves a couple of days ago. So the broadcasters said explicitly during the broadcast that he wasn't good on defense? Then, was anything you've read recent? I've looked around and haven't found anything. He was left out of most top 30s despite a decent offensive year so figured the opinions weren't great but his absence from those rankings meant there weren't any write ups available. A quick look at bbref says his caught stealing rate has been pretty abismal so I'd be willing to write him off as a guy without a position if I had some tear down scouting reports, but the walks and power are pretty enticing.

His defense at C is supposedly VERY weak. Where'd you see that?

I edited my post to throw a Hedges reference in there without seeing yours. But he's looking good, getting the Ks. I know Rice has caught a couple of his other good starts too. I still defer to others on his projectability/stuff, but I like how Hedges looks based on the numbers.

Ian Rice is on fire, with today's grand slam making it 3 HR in 4 games. Heading into the game he was at .298/.459/.491 with a 23% BB vs 20.3% K rate. Hopefully he keeps up these offensive results so a prospect evaluator takes enough interest to give me a report on his defense. He's the Smokies primary catcher and they've got a team ERA of 3.78, which is second to last in the league. Not a great look, but sure how much of that is on him. There are some guys who have started out the season pretty well, like today's starter Zach Hedges, Clifton, and Daury Torres. That walk rate has consistently been way above average though, he's dialed back the Ks after starting out with a lot, and he's tapping back into the power. Would be cool if he had at least passable defense, because I think he's going to hit.

I was talking about subbing in their first next year for the 12 this year, not using both of them. If they thought Trubisky was better than the gamble of hoping they hit the QB lottery next year then maybe they would have given up that opportunity. Similar math worked out for the Bears do it and take Trubisky, especially if you think they think they're a top 5 drafting team next year. That'd be interesting. I kind of doubt SF would have done THAT. It'd be a hard sell to any fanbase. I don't know if Cleveland would do it either. But, its a very interesting offer. True. Lots of calculous on how good the Browns will be, how much SF likes the QBs, is Cousins going to SF, how many seconds and thirds to make up the difference with. But the Browns have a ton of picks this year and in the future, so seems like they could've put together some interesting offers. But I've gotta run a pool league. So if anyone thinks all that Browns stuff is nonsense and posts a disagreement, you could be right. Either way, it's still a sunny day in my Bears world where before there was only rain and Mike Glennon.

I was talking about subbing in their first next year for the 12 this year, not using both of them. If they thought Trubisky was better than the gamble of hoping they hit the QB lottery next year then maybe they would have given up that opportunity. Similar math worked out for the Bears do it and take Trubisky, especially if you think they think they're a top 5 drafting team next year.

I was good with the draft too. They probably didn't get much help for this year, but if Pace is trying to build the Saints offense I'm all for it. Shaheen seems like he could be in the Gronk/Graham mode. I can't tell anything since he looks like Wilt against the 1950s Celtics, but if the pick hits that's one that I'm sure people will like. I wanted a center fielder/playmaker at safety, which was why I wasn't big on Adams. So getting a guy who had 6 picks in a year and has a nose for the end zone looks pretty nice. Gamble with the injuries and reports of bad tackling, but with 10 other NFL players on the defense maybe he wasn't getting enough tackling reps. Cohen is intriguing. I went to NIU so I saw a lot of Garrett Wolfe. He was much more downhill, where Cohen has the Sproles moves. And he beat Sproles' 10 yard cone (1.47 vs 1.55). Sproles had trunks where Cohen has some chicken legs, but a couple seasons should put some meat on him. But I could see him contributing a decent bit this year, especially if he catches more passes than he didn't in college. Sproles, Cobb, Harvin, those type of guys can really add another dynamic. And could provide a nice checkdown for Trubisky. The guard in the 5th seemed weird, but the rest of it I liked. Again, not much for this year, but they're not going anywhere this year anyway. Get Trubisky and get the offense set up to help out Trubisky.

I think a lot of the arguments that the Bears didn't have to trade up forget about how much fire power the Browns had. I'd bet their 2018 first was on the table, and you can probably count on the Browns to suck enough for a shot at one of the top QBs. If SF wasn't that high on anyone in this draft but wanted a shot at Darnold or something the Browns had enough 2s and 3s in this draft to make it interesting. Then you had defensive guys falling all over the place who were supposed to be top picks. At the 12 spot SF could have had their pick of Foster, Allen, Hooker, Howard, Barnett, others. So the concept that they loved Thomas so much they wouldn't have taken a boatload of picks from Cleveland seems off. I think regardless of whether I liked Trubisky I'd think Pace played this well. If he thinks Trubisky is a top QB that's easily the most important thing, so go get it, screw the rest. And likely that he played it close enough to his vest that he got the Browns to tip their hands to him on roughly what they were offering to SF. We won't ever really know, but that's what I'm guessing happened. Seemed like a lot of smoke around the Browns and Trubisky before draft time, and I doubt it was all John Lynch rope a doping Pace through the media.

Supposedly, there's a few teams looking at him as a CB still. Your guy(Desmond King) and Justin Evans are also looked at as possibilities at either spot. With our needs at both and our lack of current picks.....I'd probably prefer one of those 3(not at 36, but a slight trade down), and let it work itself out where the kid plays. I'd have to look a little more but I think he played mostly safety. He racked up 118 tackles in 2016 (compared someone like Lattimore who only had like 35) and he averaged 77 in his previous 3 years. I had read that he could play CB but I'd hope we could just plug him in at safety. But this one where I'll admit I know nothing about most of the safety prospects so won't die in the Obi hill. I'd just like to get that FS solidified and hopefully with one who can create some turnovers.

If that's all I'd posted for my analysis then ok. But my opinion of the pick is based on his athletic traits and a season of 30/6 TD to Int ratio plus those other stats I posted. I put up the video so people could see the drive, which I thought was pretty good. He didn't play well overall in the game but he showed off some nice tools on that drive.

Welp, this couldn't have gone much better in my world. I love Trubisky but thought he'd get snapped up before the Bears and all you read leading up to today was how much they liked Watson if they were going QB. A number of nice storylines. For the second year in a row Pace targeted a player and moved up to get him. They had a chance to take the top QB in the class and they took it. To me it feels a lot better than the traditional Bears moves like trading out of the Terrell Suggs pick for Haynes and Grossman. The hot takes from everywhere on how bad SF hosed the Bears are laughable to me. You hit on a QB and a few third round picks mean very little. The NFL is a little like the NBA where if you get a really good player you can generally hold onto them for their whole career. Seems particularly true of QBs. So they might have some needs now, but if Trubisky is great you can hold onto him for 10+ years and 2017 roster construction means very little in comparison. And it'll be pretty easy to trade back a couple times and grab some picks to fill out the roster. But on Trubisky. I'm sure I belabored these points plenty in January but might as well throw them out there again for anyone interested in reading additional words about the new future Bears QB. My favorite things about him are accuracy, touch, pocket presence, quick release, and mobility. Seems good at hitting guys in stride. But then you've got the deep ball (see 2:32, 2:51, and 3:51). *As with any highlight reel I recommend muting out the brutal music Then you might hear some noise about his bad bowl game. But check it out from 5:35 on. He threw like 4 TD passes on this final drive only to have them dropped or penalty flags go up. Then Voch Lombardi does a great in depth look here. Breaks down mechanics and focuses a lot on how Mitch reads the field, contrasted against a guy like Watson who was very frequently limited to one read or one side of the field. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwONkFHias8 He seems like the kind of guy you don't have to have an all world O-line to keep him safe, with that pocket presence and the fact he ran the same 40 as Watson. Only 6 picks on the year, 68% completion, 8.4 Y/A, #1 in adjusted completion rate under pressure at 68.6% (PFF). Ran shotgun, but with those feet and mechanics I'd think he could figure out a drop step. So again, I'm just rehashing stuff I already said but with so many news outlets throwing shade either on the pick or the trade I wanted to get on here and be all ecstatic, post some videos. For tomorrow, I'm pumped about these safeties left on the board. Obi is my favorite, but Baker or Williams would be cool too. Probably a trade down or two. But yeah, good day today. Made all the better by Greg Gabriel getting pantsed.

Yep. I haven't given up faith in Javy. But he shouldn't be playing right now. He definitely shouldn't be facing any reliever with a fastball/slider repertoire when we are narrowly losing late in a game. And he absolutely shouldn't be taking playing time away from those two (mainly Almora). The Almora/Jay combo works great. And Jay seems like he can fill just about any role. He'll give you a good AB. He can come off the bench and hit. He can play wherever you need him in the outfield. I want Albert getting a ton of playing time, though. Let's see what he's got. I have a feeling he's going to prove to be a really valuable player. Javy... you're gonna have to prove it. You still have skills we can use in a more limited role. I mean, he's like the perfect defensive replacement, especially considering Zobrist would be in the lineup. And he can fill in all over. But if he wants to play as much as he did last year, then he's going to have to improve at the plate and earn it again. Yeah, this. This bad start isn't even a full April but he looks terrible right now so my long term view isn't too dampened but he's looking pretty rough. So I'm with Almora pushing Javy to a defensive replacement and matchup/rest guy until he hits his way into the lineup. Those Ks today were vintage 2014 shut your eyes and swing hard.

Bad day for Team Baez

#MEKKESWATCH Ok maybe Happ in center isn't the top thing. A no-no is pretty special.

Interesting thing of the night: Happ played his first game in center tonight. If he can take games in center there could be a big role for him this year without even decreasing Javy and Zo's ABs that much. Trade Jay and you've got 150+ ABs to work with right there.

Heh after watching the start our pitching is off to I was just thinking about posting in today's minor thread something along the lines of "imagine the slobber jobs that will be written about this FO if the pitching they drafted starts hitting." A thread about it is more fun though, so thanks. 2016 is looking really promising, Cease looking dominant and Clifton/DLC starting out like you'd hope they would. Then guys like Hudson, Steele, Tseng, Underwood who had started to slip of the radar starting out well. Morrison and Kellogg seem like potential MLB starters. I don't know how many guys out of there could be break through but you know...imagine if they did. It'll be fun checking out these box scores for pitching, knowing the big club + Iowa have the big league position spots pretty well locked up for a while.

Also, JHey is looking so good. A guy last week asked me to put an over/under on the wins for this year and I said 110. This lineup is a juggernaut that will make last year's team blush.

Happ's blocked too don't you think? Javy's probably going to be the everyday 2B next year and Zobrist will become the utility guy. Happ could take La Stella's spot but how much playing time could Happ hope to get unless he plays in the OF. Ewww. Has everybody forgotten that javy is a terrible hitter against most pitchers? I love him but the hot playoffs and spectacular defensive highlights have made everyone nuts. How much confidence do you have in Happ's second base defense? I don't know what it looks like because I haven't spent much time watching him, but imagine a world where Happ gets to MLB is a below average second baseman. Zobrist last year was -3 DRS, in 2015 he was -7. Say Happ comes up and is something like the -7. So far this year Javy has 5 of 6 games and all of them at second. He started every playoff game at second. I'd say right now he's looking a lot like the every day second baseman. Could change if you everyone's assumptions about his lack of hitting against RHP are correct, but with no sample size to say Javy has improved against RHP Joe has been rolling with him practically every day. So maybe Happ mashes and the Zobrist/Happ combo push Javy out the door. But you'd be looking then at Zobrist or Happ still in RF and a bad second baseman. I think it's premature to think Javy's locked in as the primary second baseman for years, but also premature to make the assumptions that 1. he'll always suck against RHP 2. Happ will be a good enough 2B to push him off 3. The Zobrist/Happ combo will make the team better when defense is taken into consideration. I've definitely come around on Happ, as his K rate didn't balloon last year and his power has taken off bigly. I'm thinking that the most likely scenario is him taking the 2B/OF job and pushing Zobrist out the door a year early. But yeah that Javy defense and general spark...they're real and they're spectacular.