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REPORT: A New Team Joins The David Robertson Pursuit

By
Dan Fappiano
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The role of closer has drastically changed since the 2016 World Series. The Indians use of Andrew Miller and the Cubs use of Aroldis Chapman proved just how important relief pitching is.

The revolution of the relief pitcher was proven when Chapman, Kenley Jansen and Mark Melancon all shattered the record for most money given to a closer. All three signed to deals well over $50 million with Chapman and Jansen breaking $80 million.

Teams in the playoff hunt now understand how important it is to have a lights-out closer. With the game on the line in the ninth inning, a team would rather have their $80 million dollar man on the mount rather than just the average pitcher.

However only three teams were able to sign one of the top closers in free agency. While the Yankees (Chapman), Dodgers (Jansen) and Giants (Melancon) lucked out, not every team was as lucky.

Greg Holland was considered the fourth best option at closer. But coming off of an injury riddled season, teams were reluctant to sign him. Regardless, the Colorado Rockies shocked the baseball world by bringing signing Holland to a one year deal.

With the top four closers now off the board, teams will have to start looking towards the trade market to add their ninth inning pitcher. One of the those teams is the Washington Nationals.

The Nats were connected to all four closers prior to their signings. Washington is a perennial playoff team, but they need a dominant closer to help put them over the top. Currently, Shawn Kelley is slated to be their closer.

With all of the top free agent closers now off the board, it appears as if Washington could set their sites on White Sox closer David Robertson.

Robertson is arguably the best closer available on the trade market. He holds a career 2.97 ERA with a 685/211 K/BB ratio. Robertson also has 118 career saves including atleast 34 the past three seasons. The White Sox closer is being paid just $25 million over the next two seasons, a completely modest amount compared to the contracts of Chapman/Jansen/Melancon.

The Nats and White Sox have already matched up on a deal with Adam Eaton heading to the nation’s capital. With both front offices comfortable with each other, the Washington Nationals seem like the most likely landing spot for David Robertson.

For what it’s worth, one American League scout has already predicted that Robertson will be the Nationals Opening Day closer.

While the Nationals seem like Robertson’s likely trade destination, it doesn’t mean they’re the only team interested in the White Sox closer. A new report states that another has joined the David Robertson pursuit.

Anthony Rizzo Enrages Some Fans After Latest Tweet

By
Aldo Soto
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There’s no doubt what the most controversial and decisive question in the United States is right now and Chicago Cubs star Anthony Rizzo made his opinion loud and clear on social media.

It started in Baltimore, where the Orioles are hosting their fan fest this weekend and one tough question was asked to pitcher Brad Brach. However, Brach didn’t take the bait, declined to answer and passed the onus to Rizzo, who earlier this week touched upon the subject on Twitter.

So, what say you Anthony Rizzo, is a hot dog a sandwich?

Cue the angry the mob.

Well, angry in terms of Cubs fans who are still on the high over winning the World Series and having arguments on Twitter about a hot dog.

Another important question emerged. Where does it end?

However, the World Series champion did have his supporters.

Let’s go to the dictionary.


The debate can finally end……OR keep the debate going!

I wonder if Rizzo puts ketchup on his sandwiches?

Chicago Bears Met With “The Next Matt Forte” At The Senior Bowl

By
Erik Lambert
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chicago bears jamaal williams

The Chicago Bears have a boatload of work to do. That’s if they plan to make a quick turnaround from one of the worst seasons the team has ever had. Going 3-13 was a record franchise-low. Something GM Ryan Pace and head coach John Fox both deemed “unacceptable.” They also vowed it would never happen again.

Since then they’ve taken steps to prepare for what they know is a critical 2017 off-season. It started by accepting the invitation to coach the North squad for the Senior Bowl. It was felt the opportunity was ideal for them to get an inside look at some of the top prospects in the upcoming draft. Not only could they interview them, but also see how they practiced and prepared under NFL-style conditions.

It seems they’ve already zeroed in on a few players. Three of them are safeties. That shouldn’t be any big surprise given the state of their secondary. No the intriguing surprise came when they chose to meet with a young offensive player. One that might conjure up feelings of deja vu for some in the organization.

Blackhawks Land Nine Players In The NHL’s All-Time Top 100

By
Marc-Louis Paprzyca
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Since the NHL began its centennial anniversary this year they have been naming players to the top 100 of all time. At the Centennial Classic they released the first 33 players with the final 67 being revealed All-Star weekend.

Of the first 33, the Chicago Blackhawks had two players named to the list. Mr. Goalie Glenn Hall and Max Bentley.

Where the Blackhawks really made their mark was in the final 67 when they had six more players named to the list. Tony Esposito, Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita, Denis Savard, Duncan Keith, Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane.

They joined players like Gordie Howe, Wayne Gretzky and Maurice “Rocket” Richard as all-time greats. There were also many other players who wore the Blackhawks crest like Chris Chelios and Bobby Orr but made their mark with other teams.

This monumental event brought most of these players together in the same room for the first time ever. Everyone of these players have made a major impact on the game of hockey and fans alike.

You can see the full gallery of Blackhawks players and their accomplishments here.

RUMOR: Chicago Bears Free Agency Plan Involves These Key Names

By
Erik Lambert
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chicago bears free agency

The Chicago Bears free agency plans to this point is a mystery. GM Ryan Pace and head coach John Fox have been too busy soaking up the action at the Senior Bowl down in Mobile, Alabama. People don’t know what fates awaits the teams’ own free agents like Alshon Jeffery. So it’s naturally impossible to know what they might have planned for bringing in outside help.

Here’s what is known. The Bears will have upwards of $54 million to spend according to overthecap.com. Removing the contracts of Jay Cutler, Lamarr Houston and Eddie Royal would push that to over $77 million. Suffice to say they have more than enough room to spend big if that is their wish.

Given the fact this team just finished 2016 with a 3-13 record, it wouldn’t be the least bit surprising. Pace has thus far built a reputation on careful spending. Whether that will stay the same in such a pivotal off-season is difficult to determine. The question is if they’re planning any big pushes, who will they focus on?

The Chicago Bears Senior Bowl Inside Edge Goes Deeper Than You Think

By
Erik Lambert
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chicago bears senior bowl

The Senior Bowl is just one of several key events leading up to the NFL draft this April. That being said, most agree it might be the most important. It’s the only time teams get to see top prospects up close operate in a simulated pro-style game setting. Those players who excel in such conditions can really give their draft stocks a boost while tipping teams off to who might be more inclined to make the success jump to the next level. The Chicago Bears understand this like everybody else.

The difference this year is they are allowed to get a little more hands-on. For the first time since 1996, Bears coaches will staff the event. Meaning they will run the North team in the upcoming game. That means they are able to set their types of practices and run their type of game plans. Finding players who thrive under both could be a signal for who they might look to draft in a couple months.

The amazing thing is there is much more that this benefit lending to their inside edge with this game. One people might find hard to believe.

Gar Forman Cowardly Refuses To Take Questions After Scolding His Players

By
Sean Sears
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gar forman

The Bulls held an impromptu team meeting today before their scheduled 10 am shootaround, with Bulls GM Gar Forman expected to hold a press conference with the media prior to the shootaround.

Well, according to KC Johnson, the Bulls were over an hour late to their shootaround and Gar Forman made a statement and dismissed the media before allowing anyone to ask questions.

Here’s the video from the interview, courtesy of Cody Westerlund.

Forman not answering any question was unbelievable spineless, even for a guy who refuses to admit when he is wrong. But the craziest part about the whole thing is he made his players speak to the media and explain what happened and where they were at with the entire situation. I’m sorry but who is the person that is supposed to be in charge?

I’m sorry but who is the person that is supposed to be in charge? Are you not the General Manager of this team, therefore the person who should be talking to the media and explaining how things were handled with your players? But instead, he sends his players, who he just reprimanded for speaking inappropriately to the media, to explain why they were wrong and how Forman and the Bulls punished them.

After all this, the trio of Dwyane Wade, Jimmy Butler, and Rajon Rondo was made available to the media, with all three producing some seriously tasty nuggets of shade-tastic comments.

Here’s the video from Wade speaking to the media.

Wade implied being a leader doesn’t always mean people like you when asked about his and Rondo’s relationship.

There was no video of Butler speaking to the media, but his comments were easily the most confusing out of the three, saying things like “He likes controversy” and that he didn’t read Rondo’s Instagram post. Ahh yeah, ok sure, Jimmy.

Both he and Wade were asked about Hoiberg’s coaching, each with some slightly different answers, with Butler admitting he influences coaching decisions while Wade refused to get into Hoiberg’s grasp of the locker room.

Jimmy Butler and Dwyane Wade were asked who the players they ranted about were with both giving no answer, but Michael Carter-Williams did say he has spoken to both Wade and Butler about his work ethic.

Both Butler and Wade also implied they were fined, while Rondo let it be known he was definitely fine by the Bulls.

While Rondo explained his Instagram post, saying he wasn’t trying to be the ‘bad guy’ but more venting his frustrations on the whole situation, it seems like the Bulls front office was more upset with the post than either Butler or Wade were. This also brings into questions what Forman would have done had the outburst just come from his two superstars, but regardless of that, Rondo had a lot to say to the media today.

Rondo was also in contact with former teammate and friend Kevin Garnett during the whole fiasco.

And this quote from Rondo really made me start to get a feeling of how awkward the Bulls, as an organization, must be like to play for.

Nobody is talking or expressing how they are feeling in the locker room, as everyone is keeping their emotions and thoughts to themselves, leading to outbursts the team has had the last two days.

Here’s Rondo’s full interview.

Then, head coach Fred Hoiberg stepped up to the mics and gave somewhat of an expected response to all the obvious questions, while also saying he was going to refuse to accept players acting as they did after their loss to the Hawks.

And this was probably the most interesting Hoiberg comment, completely voiding out what Butler had said about 20 minutes prior.

However, this tweet perfectly sums up the issue I have with today’s press conferences.

He gave them a minute and a half explanation of what had transpired in the last two days and then threw his players and head coach to the media to try and explain why he did that. It just makes no sense, but nothing outside of Jimmy Butler does with the Bulls anymore.

However, Wade did come to the defense of his GM saying he has “Nothing but respect for him, ” I just don’t see how anyone in his position can refuse responsibility for this whole situation. At this point, I don’t care who gets traded, fired, released, etc. the Bulls are going to be a dysfunctional mess until management changes, which makes you feel bad for players like Butler or Denzel Valentine or even head coach Fred Hoiberg who were just never given a real chance to succeed with such a toxic front office refusing to allow people with different viewpoints to make decisions in their organization.

I’m sorry Chicago, you don’t deserve a basketball team this stupidly pathetic.

CBS Sports Predicts A Breakout Season From This White Sox Pitcher

By
Dan Fappiano
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NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 25: Carlos Rodon #55 of the Chicago White Sox in action against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on September 25, 2015 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The White Sox defeated the Yankees 5-2. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

The 2017 Chicago White Sox pitching rotation is not a unit that will excite fans and strike fear in their opponents. The team is likely going to to trade Jose Quintana before the end of the year, leaving a group of uninspiring candidates to fill the rotation.

Miguel Gonzalez, James Shields and Derek Holland have all had flashes of greatness before, but are not pitchers you’d expect to see on a playoff team. If the team trades Quintana, Rule 5 Draft pick Dylan Covey would likely take his spot. Covey has never appeared above Double A.

Keeping Quintana would make the White Sox pitching rotation much more bearable to watch. However as the team rebuilds, it appears as if the team’s ace is a goner. Luckily the South Side has a rising star amongst the pitching ranks.

Carlos Rodon has been in the MLB for the past two seasons, appearing in 54 games and 304.1 innings. He holds a career 18-16 record with a 3.90 ERA and a 307/125 K/BB ratio.

Rodon was the White Sox first pick, third overall, in the 2014 MLB Draft. While he hasn’t necessarily failed, he hasn’t lived up to the lofty expectations of being the third overall pick.

The 2017 season will be make or break for Rodon. Regardless of if the team has Quintana or not, Rodon needs to prove that he could lead a rotation. The team brought in an influx of pitching talent in Lucas Giolito, Michael Kopech and Reynaldo Lopez. Chicago is expected to have a rotation full of aces, 2017 will give Rodon a chance to prove he belongs.

Rodon will have his work cut out for him, but atleast one MLB Analyst thinks he won’t just succeed, but thrive.

Chicago Bears Insider Believes This Fate Awaits Alshon Jeffery

By
Erik Lambert
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alshon jeffery
ARLINGTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 25: Alshon Jeffery #17 of the Chicago Bears at AT&T Stadium on September 25, 2016 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

The two biggest dilemmas of 2017 for the Chicago Bears are unenviable. Topping the list is what they plan to do at quarterback. Their trio of Jay Cutler, Brian Hoyer and Matt Barkley didn’t get the job done this past year. Filling that gigantic void is incredibly important. Then there is the other elephant in the room. What in the world are they going to do about wide receiver Alshon Jeffery?

He is widely considered to be one of the three or four best potential free agents available this coming March. One would think that would make him a prime target for other teams. Thus increasing the urgency to sign him to a long-term extension, right? Well it seems the Bears brass still aren’t sure about that.

Though they did use the franchise tag on him in 2016, it was done to see if the 26-year old would answer the challenge in another contract year. For the second-straight time he failed to crack 1, 000 yards. First because of injuries and this time a suspension. If anything his situation is cloudier than ever. So what fate awaits him in two months?

WATCH: NHL Referee Yells Profanities Into A Live Mic, Twice

By
Marc-Louis Paprzyca
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Thursday night in the Columbus Blue Jackets vs Nashville Predators game, Referee Frederick L’Ecuyer made a huge mistake. He turned on his microphone before he announced the penalty on Ryan Murray and yelled, “Fuck you. Fuck you.” You can watch to see it all unfold.

He’ll surely see some kind of disciplinary action from the NHL for this but I’m sure it’s not the worst thing he’s ever said on the ice.

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