raw

Can't do anything right.

Whenever the Cubs are either in the playoffs or out of the playoffs by the last home game of the season, I irrationally want to see them let a player play all 9 positions in the same game.

There is only 1 answer, and that is TRAVIS WOOD. Of all the non-starters (hitters and pitchers), he's the one most likely to keep the Cubs in the game after an extended relief appearance due to a starter getting shelled, or get out a couple of tough lefties late in the game, or get out of a bases loaded 0 out situation (as he's done before), or come up with a big hit off the bench in extras if all the hitters have been exhausted, or make a run saving catch against the LF wall. Actually, I'd say any of the LHRPs (other than Chapman) have a chance to be an unsung hero. Not sure if Montgomery or Zastryzny will even be on the roster, but both those guys could fill similar roles to Wood. Both can be used to get out a tough lefty (maybe not ideally). Both can be used in long relief in case of a disaster start. Both could be last resort types in extra innings. Both seem athletic enough to give you a couple ABs in LF if the Cubs are facing a team with a tough RHH in between a couple of lefties.

OMG. This is terrible. One of the top young players in the league and a building block for the Marlins franchise. So sad.

I think they explained on the broadcast that because the ball hit the dirt on both occasions, they have to be called wild pitches because a catcher can't be held accountable for what happens after the ball hits the dirt. Or something like that. Yeah, that's the ruling logic that is used.

I think you guys underestimate how many meatball fans there are. I think meatballs make up the majority of most fan bases. And I think well more than half of Bears fans think Cutler sucks. And I think well over 3/4 of non-Bears fans think he sucks.

So, a bad Bears teams will probably be missing the following players this week: Cutler- starting QB Carey- backup RB Goldman- starting NT Fuller- starting CB Callahan- starting nickel Amos- starting S Trevathan- starting ILB Prosinski- backup S Houston- starting OLB (already on IR, so not on roster but he's starting for McPhee who is also not on the current roster)

Injury to insult. 5th starting defender hurt, oh and Cutler. My original thought of Fox being a poor hire looks to be more true than I even thought it'd be.

The biweekly terrible Cutler fumble. Has to hold onto to that ball that should have been thrown before he took the hit anyway.

Points left on board twice. Chipped shot FG, 50 yard line field position.

Bobby Assie

I read 60Mil in dead money they have to pay. 60Mil of a 150M payroll (it's not all 60 this year). That's pretty alarming, and all those guys should be gone if they don't win this season.

CLINCH DAY!

Brandon Graham and Conor Barwin are not bad at football either. Never said they were bad. They aren't big pass rushers though. Graham had a career high 6.5 sacks last year and has only averaged 5 per season in the last 4 years despite not missing a single game. Barwin's a little better, as he had 7 last year and has 2 double digit sack seasons under his belt, but those are mostly a distant memory and he also has 3 seasons where he's had less than 5. Granted Massie is bad, but these are ends that will beat the Bears by disrupting everything they try to do.

Should just award a team Cy Young. Lester, Arrieta, Professor all top 5 candidates IMO.

Need more guys on base.

That would be me (among others). This is a pretty interesting stretch of games for the Bears. As bad as the Texans matchup was for the Bears (dominant D front, pretty good OL), this next stretch of games are pretty good matchups for the Bears. As I said vs. the Texans, I expected the Bears tackles to struggle with Clowney and Mercilus and they most certainly did. But they actually a decent job vs. Watt on the interior. The next 5 games features teams that aren't huge pass rushing teams. Philly- not much pass rush other than Fletcher Cox. Dallas- their DL is a non-factor on passing downs Detroit- still do have Ansah on the edge, but can scheme against him and not have to worry about the rest Indy- best pass rusher is still Mathis, who just turned 107 Jax- spent a lot of money and picks on pass rush, still looking for results None of these teams are particularly good against the run either, as only the Jags gave up less than 4.3 yards per carry in the opener. The Eagles were gashed for 5.7 ypc against the Browns. The last 3 of those games are against teams who gave up at least 27 points, the last 2 gave up 450 yards to each other. Defensively, the Bears see 2 rookie QBs and then 3 turnover prone QBs. Not saying the Bears are in a better place than these 5 teams, but these are teams they don't have to be perfect to beat. And all these teams will probably be anywhere from the bottom of the top 10 in the draft to potentially competing for the last wildcard spot in their conferences. There were some encouraging signs against the Texans (1st half Cutler-to-Jeffery, 2nd half run D, decent enough coverage down the field), and I could see the Bears coming out with 3-4 of these 5 if they remember the home field is supposed to be an advantage this year. 3-3 would set the Bears up for an interesting 2nd half. 4-2 would give them a lot of momentum heading into GB in Week 7.

He probably doesn't mention Fred if the no-hitter was still on the table. Kyle gets my Cy Young for taking one for Big Fred.

SHOUTOUT!

horsefeathers

fwiw, both Rogers and Sharma have recently said he doesn't have a good chance based on what they've heard from writer/voter types. That said, a sub-2 ERA with a no hitter, might make him the favorite. I can see that being the case. But I always come back to.....if not him, then who? Edit: ugh Scherzer.

That was pretty legit to me. Great catch.

Every single pitch exactly where he wants it.

Their alternative is Peralta so........

I knew you and Fred became pretty good friends outside of here. And these are some cool stories. Sorry for your loss.