Rafer Madness

Cubs Spring blog: Castro's address, call Soriano "Papi" and Mr. Ricketts goes out on a limb.

Starlin Castro looked like a little kid about to lay across a parent’s knee as he walked up to our cameras.  The Cubs shortstop had already been grilled for hours by police over allegations of sexual assault.  Now it was time for his first meeting with the media since then.  Fortunately for him these were Chicago sports reporters who cover the team. 

 

“I had a great winter preparing to be ready on the field and be ready to play baseball,” said Castro who’s English has gotten better since last season.

 

So has this offseason been difficult?

 

“In the beginning it’s tough you know but I had to take this out of my mind and [prepare] to play baseball.”

 

When asked what exactly happened that night Castro said, “Yeah, I cooperated with the police and talking about that.  I don’t have all the kind of stuff to say about that.  I’m here to play baseball and practice very hard with this team.”

 

Baseball has been very very good to young All-Star which is why he’ll likely stay with the team regardless of what police decide to do.  No charges have been filed yet months since the allegations surfaced. 

 

Fellow Dominican Republic Native Alfonso Soriano helped Castro through the winter telling him everything will be OK.

 

“Soriano talked to me all the time,” Castro said. “[He] told me don’t worry about it.  I know you didn’t do [anything].”

 

Soriano spoke to us later in the clubhouse and said he felt bad for the 21-year old and decided to take him under his wing.

 

“I know how difficult it is to be two years in the big leagues,” said Soriano who like Castro was among the last to report to camp.  “I try to give him some support in any way not only talking about baseball but outside baseball too.  Because he needs some help because he is so young.  That’s my job to make him a better player and a better person too.  He’s such a great guy and he thinks everybody is [his] friend with him and now he knows that he has to be a little bit more careful.”

 

Castro echoed that.

 

“You have to be careful because there’s a lot of bad people in the world.”

 

Castro then fielded baseball questions about his fielding, which he says he wants to improve this spring.

 

“I’m working hard on my defensive work.  My running bases.  I want to steal more bases.”

 

Castro received a standing ovation at the Cubs Convention.  Soriano however was booed.  Despite knocking in 26 home runs and 88 runs fans are upset with Soriano’s lack of hustle.  He said he understands and plans to turn those boos into cheers.

 

“The fans when you do well they support you,” said Soriano who’s still the subject of trade rumors.  “When you’re doing bad they [do] not support [anybody].  See what happens this year.  I came here to work [and] not even think about the fans just about my job and what I can do on the field.”

 

So does that mean you’ll hustle out every play like new Skipper Dale Sveum expects?

 

“He’s the manager and we can do that so we can play hard for him,” he said.  “So I think if we play harder every day we see a difference.  I want to try and do my best to make him happy because he’s the manager.  If he’s happy the whole club is happy.”

 

And are you on board with the ‘Cubs Way’, I asked?

 

“I don’t know.  I think [it’s] my way.  I hope that their way is my way too.  We have to be on the same page.”

 

When asked about the ‘Cubs Way’ owner Tom Ricketts confirmed there will be a written manifesto coming out.  The question is, will it be a pamphlet or a tome?

 

“What they’re doing is they’re putting everything down on paper and they’re signing off on it,” Ricketts said. “Everybody is working together to create something that everyone buys into. So not only does it help you be more consistent in the way you treat players and the way you train players, everyone buys in. You’re accountable, and that’s a big part of the Cubs way.” 

 

Mr. Ricketts then went on a limb when asked if he was preaching patience this season.

 

“We’re not preaching patience, we’re preaching have high expectations,” he said.  “Expect these guys to play hard.  Expect them to compete every game.  Expect them to have a great season.  It’s not about patience.  We’re going to have a good team and we’re going to have a good year.”

 

Stay tuned Cub fans. 

 

 

Sox Starting Five Could Surprise

Last season the White Sox had high expectations to start.  But Jake Peavy was still ailing, Mark Buehrle while an icon was aging and Matt Thornton and John Danks’ rough starts seem indicate buckling under the pressure.

 

Now the Sox are looked over as underdogs. Jake Peavy is fully healed.  Philip Humber who looked like an all-star last season has more confidence and…well…more muscle and Danks and Thornton are coming off strong finishes.  

 

This is not to suggest the Sox will be better without Buehrle.  But they might be better than people think.  Because while the experts have little confidence in them they have plenty in themselves.

 

“We have the pieces in here to win it’s just the bottom line of us showing up and doing it,” said Peavy who says he’s as healthy as he’s ever been in his career. 

 

“It’s a different feel.  We’re excited about Robin and what him and his staff bring to us. It’s just got to be a group effort.  We’re going to have join forces and play good team baseball, care about each other and make things happen.”

 

GM Kenny Williams says he expects Peavy to return to his 2007 form when he went 19-6 with a 2.54 ERA with San Diego.  That might be a stretch but if Peavy can pull off 30 starts like he says he will the Sox will have another ace in the hole to go with Danks.

 

“Everyone’s talking about Detroit as they should be,” added Peavy.  “Detroit won this division and played well in the playoffs and did nothing but get better.  I understand they should be the favorites and that’s fine but there’s nobody in this clubhouse that’s conceding a thing. We’re gonna get after it.”

 

Danks’  had a slow start last year but his finish earned him his 5-year, $65 million dollar extension.  The confidence the staff has shown in him has resonated.

 

“It was incredible,” beamed Danks.  “For them to do that for me coming off my worst year and my toughest year.  I noticed that.”

 

He added: “I’m doing my best to forget last year.”

 

With extra money could come extra pressure but Danks said, “I feel like I’ve been overpaid since day one.  This won’t change anything.  I don’t think about the money when I’m on the mound.  Just getting the batter out.”

 

Backup catcher Tyler Flowers also had a rosy outlook on the suspected starting five.

 

“It’s a great staff,” said Flowers.  “We got a lot of guys bouncing back healthy.  I know there’s a lot expectations on certain guys but I feel like if everyone comes in healthy and just performs they way they’re capable of it’s going to be one of the stronger staffs in the league.  It’s up to A.J. [Pierzynski] and myself and [pitching coach Don Cooper] to formulate the game plans and help these guys succeed.”

 

Flowers will challenge Pierzynski for playing time behind the dish.  Flowers bloomed in spot duty last season and says the consistent playing time should help him get into a rhythm.

 

“It was a great opportunity. But playing once a week is kind of like ‘crap I gotta get a hit today,’” said Flowers who became a media darling in his first spring training interview.  “It’s a different feeling.  It’s a good feeling.  My wife brought it up to me today. But nothing’s guaranteed.  If I don’t perform I probably won’t make the team.”

 

If the staff seems thin anywhere it might be in the bullpen.  The Sergio Santos “trade” means there will be a fight for the closer role.  Thornton and Jesse Crain are motivated again to earn that job and Robin Ventura figures to have a tough decision if Addison Reed plays up to his potential this spring.  Although it could result in a dreaded “closer-by-committee” if none shines right away.

 

It would be surprising if the Sox press Detroit for the Division.  But even with the loss of Beuhrle the Sox pitching staff appears to be one of its strengths and might be the reason they do.

Sox arrive for spring training saying they love being doubted

Spring has finally come to the south side. And for the new sheriff in town at the White Sox western facility it couldn’t come soon enough.

 

“I’m tired of looking at paper,” said Robin Ventura in his first time addressing the media at the Sox Glendale facility.  “It seems like a long time doing anything.  You can talk to guys and everything else but it’s different once you get here.  It’ll be nice when everyone’s here but it’s at least nice with pitchers and catchers doing stuff.”

 

The day before pitchers and catchers officially “do stuff” the Sox didn’t have a huge player turn-out when they opened the clubhouse at 8:30 a.m. But don’t mistake the lack of numbers for a lack of enthusiasm especially when it comes to the new Skip.

 

“I’m excited.  I think he’s a great fit for this team,” said a smiling Gavin Floyd.  “He’s going to lead this team real well and I think he’s a good encourager and he’s going to manage the game real well.  I have no doubt about that.  And the times I met him he’s been a class act guy.”

 

Chris Sale who figures to take over the fifth starting spot from Mark Buehrle was even more demonstrative.

 

“He seems like a great guy,” said Sale who says he’s been working all off-season on his endurance.  “I remember when he played.  He’s a great player.  He’s level-headed so I don’t think he’s going to be as loud or entertaining as the last one.”

 

The last one?

 

“Yeah, Ozzie,” Sale said with a chuckle.  “He’s [Ventura] got a good head on his shoulders very knowledgeable of the game.  [We’re] Just ready to move forward.”

 

But Ventura said, he’s not THAT “laid back”.  He expects his players to perform and he plans to hold them accountable.

 

“It’s my way or the highway,” joked Ventura.  “Hopefully guys can play better [than last year].  That’s just obviously the goal.  And nobody is going to let you from that until you have an extended period of guys playing well.  That’s just the facts.”

 

Ventura adds he expects what few others do—to challenge Detroit for the Division.

 

“We still have the same goals,” referring to last season’s “All In” slogan.  “We’re here to win games and we have to figure out a way to do that once we suit up and get ready for the season that’s our goal.  Detroit’s kind of earned that [perception] based as far as what they’ve done last year and obviously signing some players this year.  But it’s not going to change the way we approach anything.”

 

Players seem to love being doubted and are using it as motivation—especially starting pitcher Philip Humber who came in about 15 pounders stronger.

 

“I feel like as far as our talent, we have as much or more than anyone in our division,” said a much more confident Humber.  “We had some guys who didn’t have years they’re capable of.  [If] we have guys play to their career averages we’re going to have a great year.  I think we’re all hungry.  Last year as many times as we lost to Detroit it kind of [upsets you].  It’s going to be fun going out there and proving people wrong.”

 

Reliever Matt Thornton agrees.

 

“There’s nothing better than going out there and playing above the standards of what the media thinks you’re going to do,” said Thornton.  “You’re under the radar.  We have a lot of guys who have a lot of pride and go out and play the game the right way.”

 

So if the Sox win the division I guess “thank you’s” should be in order for the cynical media who cover them ;).

 

Side notes: The only pitching competition appears to be for the closer role.  Jesse Crain, Matt Thornton and Addison Reed will compete for it.  Thornton and Crain said the right things about doing what they’re called upon but you can tell they really want that job.  Thornton knows he has to get off to a better start this season for that to happen.  He says that’s been his goal in the offseason to focus on having a strong start.

 

Position players don’t report until Tuesday, the 28^th.  The only starter from that group was Brent Morel who says playing for one of the best third-basemen to ever play the game is going to help him.  Plus he feels more confident as well after finishing the season pretty well.

 

It’s impossible to predict who’s going to have a good year I expect one for Humber.  Based on his physique and new confidence he appears ready to break out and be more of a team leader.  Ventura says he wants to see more leaders in the clubhouse both vocally and by example. Obviously, no one can "replace" Mark Buehrle but Humber realizes that others need to step up now that he's gone and plans to be one of those guys.

Cubs spring training blog. There's a new Samardzija in town.

Many of the Cubs have come to camp with a spring in their step but none is more focused than Jeff Samardzija.  After years of not living up to his expectations the light has apparently turned on for the Notre Dame alum.

 

“It’s definitely a different experience,” Samardzija said a day after his first throwing session.  “When I competed in ‘08 for a spot I didn’t really put too much into it.  I figured you just went out and had a couple of starts and they put you in the rotation and that’s how it went.  I’m a little more aware of it now and the seriousness of camp and especially for that rotation, I’m taking it very serious.”

 

Samardzija seems to realize now that he needs to put in the work to land in the starting rotation.

 

“I’ve been here for four months now working out for just that with the understanding that’s where I wanted to be and that’s what I wanted to do.  That’s all that’s been on my mind since the end of the season last year and I haven’t worked for anything but that.  I don’t have too many hobbies.  It’s really all about baseball.

 

“They’re giving me the opportunity but they’re not handing me the ball every fifth day.  I want to prove to them that pitching every fifth day is what best for this team.  I prove that by having a good spring training, showing them how I’m working, showing them I’m ready to prepare for this long season.”

 

Samadzija’s focus has gotten the attention of the staff.

 

“He’s obviously a different guy then he was a year ago or two years ago,” Skipper Dale Sveum said.  “His confidence level is on a peak level and he’s on a mission right now.”

 

Sveum also confirmed that Paul Maholm is pretty much locked in as the third starter (as if there was any doubt?).  That leaves Samardzija, Randy Wells and Chris Volstad competing for two starting spots. 

 

Volstad who came from Miami in the Zambrano “trade” said he’s just looking forward to playing in front of…well…a crowd.

 

“The fans in Chicago as everybody knows come out every game,” Volstad said with a smile.  “It’s gonna be awesome.  Coming here as a visitor it was always exciting just because you knew the crowd was going to be into it the whole game.  Having them have MY back as the home team is going to be pretty incredible.”

 

Position players arrive on Thursday but most are already here including David DeJesus who I sat down with for a one-on-one interview.  DeJesus seems like a great guy and is genuinely excited to play at Wrigley.  His wife is from the area and grew up a Cubs fan.  So we joked that winning a World Series as a Cub not only would get him forever remembered in Chicago but would help his marriage as well.  If he performs he’s going to be a fan favorite.  That will be a “7 on your Sideline” piece for later so look for that in the coming weeks.  

 

Spring Training blog. All Cubs looking for a fresh start.

The first day of pitchers and catchers reporting for duty was also Dale Sveum’s first day officially in a Cub uniform.  And for him, it could not come soon enough.

“It seems like I got hired two years ago,” the new Cubs manager said after the first session at Fitch Park in Mesa. “You’re just waiting for this day to come to finally get on the field and it took until late afternoon to get out there. It’s officially baseball season finally and that’s when we’re all most comfortable.”

Sveum’s staff wasted no time in trying correct mistakes from last year starting with struggling closer Carlos Marmol’s mechanics.

"(Pitching coach) Chris Bosio talked to him about a few mechanical things about his shoulders and keeping [them] level," Sveum said. "He wants to lean back and crank velocity and create arm strength through his shoulders, and then he gets out of whack. I think that will help him tremendously.”

True to his “no-nonsense” reputation Sveum even joked about Marmol’s struggles saying he “needs to get rid of that cutter from last season.  He’s a slider guy.”

Take it as a refreshing sign that Sveum and Bosio are already working on every detail…or maddening that it took this long to address one of Marmol’s issues.  Either way Marmol says he’s motivated to prove last year was an anomaly.

And that mentality seems apparent through the entire Cubs locker room right now.  Geo Soto also came in 20 pounds lighter like Marlon Byrd wanting to prove he’s an unquestioned everyday starter. Ace Matt Garza wants an extension too like Byrd.  (Sveum said he wants his team to sign Garza. If the Cubs do, it would show they feel they can win sooner rather than later).

It still remains to be seen if the Cubs have the talent to compete.  But their focus is honed like just like Ryan Dempster’s pitches off the mound into Soto’s glove today.

“Everybody’s hungry,” said a beaming Garza.  “Everybody sees openings and everybody sees opportunities.  It’s gonna be a lot of fun.  A lot of young guys filling up the team.  It’s gonna be a new year every night and that’s what our game’s gonna be—a scrappy ‘go get ‘em’ type of club.”

Is that the Cubs way, I asked?

“That’s gonna be our way,” Garza quipped.  “Play hard.  Play all nine.  At the end of the day let the ball fall where it may.  But we’re gonna play hard.  We’re gonna make things happen.  We’re not going to sit back and let them happen.”

Still not everyone is totally clear on the “Cubs way”, yet.

“I haven’t heard a whole lot about the new ‘Cubs Way’ but I’m looking forward to hearing about it,” said a smirking Kerry Wood, which got a laugh from us.  “Change is good.  Anytime you get a little stale in any aspect with anything, you’ve been doing it a certain way for so long. [I’m] excited to have the new group in and get underway here.”

Garza, Dempster and Paul Maholm seemed unquestioned starters.  Competing for the other two spots are Andy Sonnanstine along with a motivated Randy Wells, Travis Wood, and Chris Volstad who are also looking to 2012 as a clean start.  

“We brought in a lot of good guys,” said Wells who said he did plenty of hunting this offseason.  “A lot of veteran guys, a lot of young guys and I think it’s just part of building a winning team.  You’d always like to have a spot but that also makes you work harder and kind of brings out the best in you.”
Jeff Samardzija will also get a crack at the starting rotation.

“We just want to look at him and see how he reacts to multiple innings,” said Sveum of Samardzija.  “We haven’t promised anybody anything.  He might wow us.  That’s a power body that’s built to start.”

Hopefully this mix is also a group that’s built to last.

 

Spring Training blog. Cubs new Sheriff brings much Mojo to Mesa

There’s a new sheriff in town at the Cubs’ Wild West facility and he came out firing at the team’s inaugural spring training presser.

 

“The goal of the 2012 Cubs is to win the World Series,” said Theo Epstein with a straight face.  No laughter.  No "just kidding".  100% belief.

 

“The goal is to build a team that wins on an annual basis.”

 

Every Spring training his it’s own “this is our year” feel to it.  But Epstein already seems like the Messiah in Mesa even before his team has taken the field.  Two previous championships will do that.

 

“It’s definitely exciting,” piped OF Reed Johnson who seemed as enthused as his toddler son in tow.  “Obviously there’s a new excitement.  We’ve got a history with upper management and a coaching staff that’s won in the past so I think it’s a fresh start for the players.”

 

On the Eve of pitchers and catchers reporting most of the team was already here, which both delighted and surprised new “no-nonsense” skipper Dale Sveum.

 

“It’s amazing.  I’ve never been in a camp where so many guys were this early—five, six days.  There’s a lot of guys chomping at the bit.  That’s for sure.”

 

Chomping because they, like Theo, seem to believe winning now is easy as a 6-4-3 double play.

 

“Why not?” asked Ryan Dempster.  “What’s written down on paper and what rosters look like on paper that’s all great but if you can go out there and play harder than the other team and execute better than the other team then that’s what it comes down to.”

 

Johnson agreed.

 

“As long as we have those positive thoughts as far as being a winning ball club I don’t see why we couldn’t.”

 

Sveum and Epstein say it’s a matter of returning to fundamentals which they now call the “Cubs way”.  So can you sum that up in a few sentences?

 

“I can sum it up in a few hundred pages,” quipped Epstein.  “It's about playing hard and playing the right way.”  Epstein also said that manuals will be going out to all the players soon detailing that decree.

 

Sveum insists it’s not a revolutionary concept.

 

“We’re not creating the wheel or reinventing anything. It’s just refining things on an everyday basis.  It’s the right way to do things.”

 

If Sveum and the Theo Trio can undo 104 years of ineptitude then creating the wheel will seem like small potatoes by comparison.

 

Side notes:

Sveum said that three starting spots are pretty much locked up (Dempster, Garza, and Paul Maholm) with two spots wide open.  He and his players say the competition will bring out the best.

 

“That’s what makes America so great,” said Sveum.

 

Marlon Byrd showed up 20 pounds lighter after altering his diet upon learning he was allergic to among several things, mustard seed.  He also added an arm-long tattoo on his right arm of a quote by Teddy Roosevelt.  He said it took 9 hours and he did it in two sittings.  I think he’s going to have a break out year and earn a contract extension or be big-time trade bait.  I hope for selfish reasons he stays because he’s always affable and friendly and a very approachable and likeable guy.

Cubs Spring Training, the experiment begins

It’s time for spring training folks and with it hope springs eternal for Cub fans even if this year already has a “wait until next year” feel to it.

 

The most active and futile franchise in baseball met in Mesa with pitchers and catchers arriving Saturday with questions firmly in tow.  It’s hard to know just what to expect from the Cubs this season.  As Theo the mad scientist unveils the building blocks for his recipe for destructing 100 years of ineptitude we watch wondering will he be greeted as a genius or nixed as another North Side casualty.  For fans the new face from New England means it’s no longer “if” but “when”.  Now the question is “when” will we get an answer?

 

Manager Dale Svuem perhaps said it best: The Cubs aren’t rebuilding.  They’re building.  Most of the new faces are coming are so new they’ll need name tags.  Their slugger of the future—Anthony Rizzo will likely start this season in AAA.  He’s expected to one day take over first base in a tortoise-like progression from Bryan LaHair.  The team’s ace pitcher Matt Garza is still reportedly being dangled on the end of a hook while they team flirts with a six-man rotation coming in with Jeff Samardzija being worked into the mix.

 

To quote a former great Chicago sportscaster the Cubs have more if’s than a Rudyard Kipling novel.

 

So the Cubs in 2012 are the beginning of an experiment.  Like watching the fermentation of a potentially fine wine.  Will “Mad Dog” Jed Hoyer have the 20/20 vision that makes Cub fans drunk with euphoria or sick again like so many years?

 

No one knows the answer.  One things for certain, Cub fans will be along for the ride—which officially begins on Saturday.  

 

Bears Offseason To-Do list

To quote Israel Idonije, "It was just one of those years."

 

The Bears once promising season was over before feeling Minnesota.  Jerry’s kids were already Angelo’s ashes prior to their win standing in the purple rain.  So how do the Bears engineer a phoenix-like rise?  Well Mr. Angelo, to quote the aforementioned song:

 

“I know times are changing.  It’s time we all reach out for something new.  And that means you too.”

 

Bears fans are clamoring for across-the-board housecleaning this spring at Halas Hall.  It’s not happening.  Jerry Angelo is a competitor and has a big ego.  He’s taking the brunt of the blame for the roster being as thin as a slice of Al’s Italian beef.  Rumors of his retiring were likely planted by some hopeful he’d walk away with two years left on his deal.  But Angelo desperately wants to come back and prove doubters wrong.  While new Chairman George McCaskey has never publicly discussed whether he supports Angelo, he is a businessman.  If he fires Angelo, he still has to pay him.  He doesn’t want to pay two people to do the same job (although he kind of is with Tim Ruskell there but anyway…)

 

So Angelo will be here and he knows he needs to spend money to avoid what happened this past season.  At about $17 million under the cap he got by cheap and was exposed.  The question is will McCaskey let him?  Does he trust Angelo enough to let him spend big bucks when he’s had as many misses as hits in the past 10 years?  It’ll be curious to see if Papa George gives the green light to give out the green especially when he’ll likely have to shell out to keep guys on the current roster. 

 

The Forte-Briggs conundrum

 

Lance Briggs and Matt Forte are both bitterly displeased with their contract situations—rightfully or not.  Both pledged not to let it be a distraction this season and they didn’t.   But that will change next season.  Forte is all but guaranteed the Franchise tag which means he’ll likely hold out.  Briggs most definitely will sit if the Bears don’t tear up his deal which they feel is binding (which it is).  In the end, Briggs and the Bears will both have to compromise but it could get ugly with Briggs missing time on the field.  Forte I suspect though will eventually realize Chicago is a blue-collar town that won’t have patience for an athlete unhappy about making $8 million to play football part of the year and will show up by the season opener.  Briggs hopefully will too.

 

Is the defense on its last leg?

 

After watching Brian Urlacher’s knee collapse in the purple pain of the Metrodome, it’s hard not to wonder if the Bears defense might be limping next year.  Henry Melton and Stephen Paea show youthful promise on the D-Line.  But the Bears need another legitimate pass-rusher.  As great a teammate Israel Idonije is, he is not the answer opposite Julius Peppers.  Should Illinois’ Whitney Mercilus who leads the FBS in sacks fall to the Bears he seems like an ideal fit to rotate in with Idonije. 

 

At CB, Charles Tillman will turn 31 in February.   He’s still at the top of his game but he needs help.  The Bears are sure to let Tim Jennings and Zach Bowman go.  Another top CB opposite Tillman needs to come in through free agency.  Courtland Finnegan could be tagged by the Titans but he’s reportedly unhappy and looking for a change.  But that will cost them and after what happened with Nathan Vasher that is an area they’re gun shy about shelling out big bucks.  They have no choice this time.

 

Time to finally find a top WR

 

The last time the Bears made a “big-time” acquisition at WR was 32 year-old Muhsin Muhammad back in 2005.  Cutler needs a legitimate downfield threat.  Earlier this season he said, “This is an offense that doesn’t need a true number one receiver.”  He knows that’s not true now.   But this can be done in the draft.

 

Earl Bennett is a very good possession receiver.  The Bears probably overpaid for him but that was about keeping Cutler happy which made it worth every penny.  Now get someone who can stretch the field and let Devin Hester concentrate on returning kicks and punts.

 

If Notre Dame’s Michael Floyd is available to the Bears (which I don’t think he will be) they must grab him.  Unfortunately their “David Terrell” experience still has Angelo uptight about taking a receiver in the 1^st round even though he didn’t draft him.  Mark Hatley did.  Angelo just isn’t that confident drafting offense in the 1^st round given his other misses and the amount of money that comes with it (Cedric Benson, Rex Grossman).  But Floyd is a no-brainer and even worth trading up for.

 

Coaching staff?

 

With two years left on his contract, Lovie Smith also isn’t going anywhere.  I know fans are fed up with Lovie in many ways but Lovie does deserve credit for doing more with less than other coaches.  And the players love Lovie.   McCaskey will give him one last chance to make it happen.

 

The only change will be at offensive coordinator.  Martz is gone.  You can’t bring the “Greatest show on Turf” to Lake Michigan on a field with natural grass that often is in poor shape.  Lovie at times was fed up with him.  Cutler too.  To Martz’ credit Cutler was successful with him until he got hurt.  Mike Tice will likely take over the offense and Cutler will be given more free reign to run it, call plays, and even (gasp) audible. 

  

Get a Real Left Tackle 

 

Tice deserves an award for taking a group of guys playing out of position and molding them into a decent unit.  But the guy isn’t a miracle worker and no matter how hard he tries he can’t make J’Marcus Webb a left tackle.  Ideally, Gabe Carimi comes back healthy and Lance Louis moves over.  Louis’ athleticism and work ethic makes me believe he could start on the left side.  But he could have used a year staying entirely there.  This is a position the Bears must address in free agency and again, it will cost them.  I doubt they’ll pull the trigger here unless Cutler makes an issue of it.

 

The Good News

 

--The Bears most inconsistent position—safety—appears to be resolved.  I’m not saying Chris Conte and Craig Steltz are the second coming of “The Hit Men” Doug Plank and Gary Fencik but they are the best the Bears have.  Please give up on Major Wright (or relish him to backup duty) and realize you didn’t see what the Patriots saw in Brandon Meriweather.  Oh, and on that note, please stop digging through other teams trash-heaps!

 

--They have a backup QB in Josh McCown.  Whether they’re running Martz’ offense or not McCown is a great story and the guys really like him in the locker room.  Reward his hard work.  The team trusts him already.  Problem solved.  Maybe get another to compete with him in camp.  Obviously, Hanie doesn’t stay.

 

--Kahlil Bell is good enough to platoon with Forte.  He’s learned how to catch balls out of the backfield.  He just needs to improve his pass protection which he will.  He’s a restricted FA though and should get a few lucrative offers.  The Bears must match them.

 

 

Sam's Club conned everyone, including Angelo

Jerry Angelo looked like he half-expected Alan Funt to be waiting for him when he walked to the press podium at Halas Hall today.

 

 “This afternoon we are going to cut Sam Hurd.”

 

A seemingly shell-shocked Angelo put the Sam Hurd saga to a sudden end in a surprise news conference this afternoon in which he tried to make it clear to everyone there was no inkling of Hurd’s alleged double-life as a wanna-be drug kingpin.

 

“When we do our homework on players we have a sound and tested methodology that we go about…We spend an inordinate amount of time on character making sure we know the players as best we can but no system is full proof.  For me to sit here and say that we should have known something that we didn’t know, no I can’t say that in this case.”

 

And when it came to Hurd everyone was apparently conned in Sam’s club.

 

“95% of the time the agent knows everything.  I’m going say…he didn’t.  I know his agent very well and I’m going to say he did not have any knowledge of this.

 

“Very disturbing.  We’re all very shocked and very upset about it as well.”

 

This is one that Angelo can’t be blamed for.  Hurd didn’t have an arrest record and being investigated by the Feds isn’t exactly something you can find in a background search.  When they’re looking at somebody they tend not to make that public.  Hurd was only questioned but never booked so there was no trail on him.  Outside of asking for phone records there was nothing the Bears could have done.  Mr and Mrs. Smith’s identities were more obvious.

 

But unfortunately for Angelo the timing couldn’t have been worse.  A string of other bad choices—which has left the Bears very thin right now—will only make this ammunition for his detractors.  I for one believe if Jay Cutler and Matt Forte stay healthy the Bears had a legitimate shot to beat the Packers.  I wouldn't have have bet money it as I still contend Angelo could have stocked the offensive line and receiver corps better. Either way, injuries happen in the NFL and you need to be prepared which the Bears aren't as well as they could be. 

 

But while this thunder on Hurd can't be pinned on him, unfortunately for him it won’t bode well for his legacy.  Questions will arise about his future because of it, fair or not.

 

Which is why Angelo probably reacted the way he did when Mark Potash of the Sun-Times asked him “what does this do for your future?”  What Mark was trying to ask was whether it affected his desire to stay on when he does do his homework and something like this happens.  But Angelo heard it differently and piped back:

 

“Mark, you know, whistle Dixie.”  (Translation: go "eff" yourself).

 

The Bears dark day took yet another turn when they announced they could be without their last big-time playmaker, Devin Hester, who missed practice and is questionable for their battle with Seattle along with Henry Melton who actually leads the league in sacks for defensive tackles.  Really?!!

 

Should the Bears fall to the ground against the Seahawks which many now believe they will?  Well, to quote the song:

 

“Look away!  Look away!  Look away!  Dixie Land."

 

 

Hanie talking big even if Bears aren't playing big

The feeling around Halas Hall has become one of quiet desperation—a stark contrast to just four weeks ago when the Bears seemed like the only team in the NFC that could challenge the Packers.  But the Bears now seem bereft of their bravado.  The Halas Hall of Justice became the Legion of Doom with the flick of a thumb.  

 

This is a team in trouble slowly watching its season slip away.  They are helpless to do anything about it.  The only thing that can is for its two ailing stars on offense to get better.  Which doesn't seem like it'll happen in time.  Jay Cutler told ESPN 1000's Waddle and Silvie he's mostly pushing the ball as opposed to throwing it.  You don't suddenly get your touch back in two weeks which is when they'll need him back to matter.

 

And because of that there wasn't a lot jubilation at the Hall today. There wasn't a lot of players to talk to.  Most didn't make themselves available including Marion Barber who defies NFL policies by avoiding the media which is something he was apparently able to do without protest in Dallas.  

 

Caleb Hanie offered the only brash comment regarding their upcoming opponent—the Seahawks, “I feel like we match up well versus them, upfront and on the outside.  I’m confident we’ll handle these guys.”

 

But Hanie went on to add that the struggles are because the offense is still getting familiar with one another: “It’s not just the quarterback changing, it’s everybody getting used to everybody.  It’s playing an NFL game, four quarters getting used to that.  It’s a tough game and quarterback’s a tough position.”

 

Unfortunately the Bears situation falls at the feet of the men at the top—Jerry Angelo and Lovie Smith.  In the Bears blowout wins to Minnesota and the Lions instead of getting his backups some extra reps, Smith kept Cutler and Forte in the game.  Hanie barely saw the field prior to Cutler’s injury and Kahlil Bell’s picture could have been on a milk carton. 

 

Now these two have become the top playmakers on this Bears offense since Earl Bennett’s disappearance and Marion Barber’s bumbling and they’re still “getting used to everybody.”

 

The Bears did say they were going to address the absence of Bennett this week.  Him not catching passes isn’t his fault when none are thrown to him.  Hanie targeted Bennett once Sunday saying, “Defenses were keying on him more and on third down”.

 

Unfortunately, Angelo’s roster has been exposed for being, forgive the pun, painfully thin at most positions, except safety.  If you think this is bad, imagine if the Bears sustained an injury at linebacker.  Enter undrafted rookie Dom DeCicco and exit all hope.  Given Brian Urlacher and Charles Tillman’s age and coming off an NFC Title appearance this was supposed to be an “All In” type season for the Bears.  This is not how you stack the deck to improve your chances—especially with about 18 million in salary cap space.

 

But not having a quality backup QB doesn’t make the Bears unique (Indianapolis).  However Curtis Painter does seem like an upgrade right now.

 

You need depth at every position in the NFL.  The Packers proved that last year.  And now the lesson has literally been painfully proven to the Bears brass. 

 

Unfortunately it appears to be too late.