Chicago -
By Steve Rhodes
I didn’t think it would happen.
From The Cub Factor:
I find it hard to believe he’s being seriously considered, but that’s what reports say. Hey, Theo & Co. are far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far better talent evaluators than I am, and they have far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far more information than I do, but . . . really?
Posted on October 25, 2016
By Jim Coffman
The worst was 1984. The 2003 NLCS sucked as well but ’84 was the ultimate crusher. And that was despite the fact I never got anywhere near the action.
I will say this about the Cubs’ loss to the San Diego Padres in the “first-to-three” National League Championship Series that year: at least it was available on free TV. (Why do we say “best-of-five or best-of-seven” when these series often go less than five or seven games? It is past time to switch to first-to-three or first-to-four.”)
In 2016, the league championship series’ aren’t just on cable, they are on obscure cable. It’s as though someone said, “Let’s see if these fans are really fanatic and can find the games even if we put them on networks that most sports bars can’t even find!”
Posted on October 24, 2016
By Steve Rhodes
The seemingly perfect storybook ending that Cubs fans are waiting for is unlikely to occur. Why? This:
Sorry, Cubs fans. Your guys have to travel for Game 1 because a KC Royal hit a homer in a pretend game 3 months ago.
Cool system, @MLB
— Kyle Brandt (@KyleBrandt) October 23, 2016
The storybook ending, of course, would be, say, Kyle Schwarber with the pinch-hit home run in the bottom of the ninth at Wrigley Field in Game 7. But, really, any kind of World Series-ending win in Game 7 at Wrigley Field. Or even Game 6.
But no.
Posted on October 24, 2016
By Thomas Chambers
Ordinarily, these would be the dog days of Chicago sports.
It always happens at least twice a year. Now, and again in February.
Sometimes, our local dogs are such hounds, these days last from February through February.
The biggest offenders are the Chicago Bears, who are nothing more every year than the same old 1950 flathead four chassis and drivetrain – still recovering from the war, you know – with a new hood ornament and the revolutionary addition of cupholders, only because the league ordered them to add them to the list of options. It’s the Bears’ only acknowledgement that we are in a new-but-getting-older century. John Fox represents the ashtrays and cigarette lighters we miss so much.
Posted on October 23, 2016
By Jim Coffman and Steve Rhodes
Bringing it all back home. Including: The Bunt Is Back!; Keys To Kyle Vs. Clayton; Players Performing Playoffy; Problematic Pitching Problems; Jay Cutler’s Thumb Vs. Johnny Manziel’s Drinking Problem, and; Your World Champion LA Sparks.
Posted on October 21, 2016
By Steve Rhodes
Here we go, folks.
Baez clears the bases and Dodgers stadium (of Dodger fans). 8-1 now. Kershaw v Hendricks looms for WS appearance
— Jesse Rogers (@ESPNChiCubs) October 21, 2016
Posted on October 21, 2016
‘This Team Is Completely Broken’
The current back-up quarterback is Zach Miller, according to Thursday’s night’s broadcast crew. I would’ve sworn it would be Cam Meredith, but whatever. Just hike the ball to Ka’Deem Carey and run the read option without the option.
The Matt Barkley era is here pic.twitter.com/ogqLRYBhiz
— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) October 21, 2016
Posted on October 21, 2016
By Steve Rhodes
At least they were back for three innings.
Tonight we’ll see if they’re back for good.
Crazy series. Cubs scoring: 8, 0, 0, 10. Game 5 should be a good one.
— Jesse Rogers (@ESPNChiCubs) October 20, 2016
Posted on October 20, 2016
By Carl Mohrbacher
You can’t stop Arrelious Benn (I wish that would stop auto correcting to “Areolas Benn”), you can only hope to contain him . . . as well as his career has through Sunday. Benn’s fourth quarter TD reception was his seventh since 2012.
The late, demoralizing and ultimately deciding catch and (and run aaaaaand run) was a play that featured Tracy Porter falling down and the Bears safety help falling down on the job.
It shouldn’t have come to that.
What if I told you before this game that the Bears would dominate the time of possession, Brian Hoyer would throw for over 300 yards, Connor Barth would make all of his field goal attempts and the Chicago’s defense would hold the Jacksonville Jaguars scoreless through three quarters?
Posted on October 20, 2016
By Dan O’Shea
Random observations from a week in which Brian Hoyer threw for 300-plus yards for the fourth straight game, but was somehow a disappointment.
Brian Hoyer plays well, may lose job. Wait – what? Fantasy darling Hoyer threw for 302 yards, no TDs and no INTs in Week 6. Okay, could have been better, but it was his fourth straight 300-yard game, and he’s now tied with Matt Ryan, QB, ATL, for the most 300-yard games this season despite only starting four of six games. He also might have had a better game last week if his teammates hadn’t committed 10 penalties that repeatedly had him throwing out of a hole.
Posted on October 19, 2016
