Chitown Diehards

I’m about to do something evil, given how much I like the discussed player, and how much I’ve enjoyed this past week of baseball:

Jorge Soler’s first 7 big league games: .462/.500/1.000, .633 wOBA, 315 wRC+, .529 BABIP, 21.4% K rate, 7.1% BB rate. Truly fantastic.

But did you remember this? Junior Lake’s first 7 big league games: .484/.500/.774, .550 wOBA, 260 wRC+, .542 BABIP, 15.2% K rate, 3.0% BB rate.

Last night’s was Javier Baez’s first no K game in his last 14. He also walked for the second straight game after going 13 games without a walk. Baby steps.

Questions for Bears Camp by Dr. Hauser

Note: This was actually written on July 17th, but I'm a slacker... good stuff still, especially for pregame tonight.

On offense there are just a few things to watch, but could ultimately be quite important:

1) Back up QB situation. With the Cutlet's string of bad luck/getting drilled for the last few years, his durability is definitely a concern. Will Jimmy or Jordan be able to step in McCown-style?

2) Depth at WR. While everyone was saying that Marquess Wilson is ready to step up, what happens if either of the Big 2 go down? I'm not enamored with WRs 4-6.

3) Back up RB. I like the Carey draft pick and I think that Lynch is very intriguing, but that is a very inexperienced group behind the coming off of a career high 363 touches last year Forte.

Defense, is of course, going to be the focus heading into and through the season. 

Things I'm looking at early:

1) Does the depth on paper truly reflect an improvement on the defensive line? By adding 3 guys to replace Wooten and Peppers and drafting 2 guys to replace Melton it looks as though the line should play better. However, how much reliance is there on a 33 year old J Ratlilff and is that a good thing? Collins is coming off an ACL tear and Paea has not consistently stayed healthy, will the rookies be able to step up when they are inevitably needed? Will Houston be the run stuffing, olineman off the linebacker keeping DE consistently? Will Jared Allen keep the calf roping, and how many times will he do it? 

2) The linebackers were terrible last year, will Bostic make a big jump in year 2 helping to solidify the crew across the board? Will Briggs weigh less than 280? How much of an impact can Shea have as an outside linebacker, particularly as a quasi-pass rushing 'specialist'? Does DJ Williams have anything left in the tank, and is there depth to fill in when needed?

3) The corners are actually a strong unit, especially with the addition of Fuller and re-signing of the starters. Having versatility between those 3 will help the entire coverage unit with Peanut being able to line up against bigger guys whether that is a WR or TE. This can allow HennorJenn and Fuller to move around and provide favorable matchups. There's very good depth there as well with Hayden, McMannis and Frey all with great experience.

4) The safeties, oh the safeties. Basically, the worst unit out of every single individual units in the entire NFL last year. The theory goes that the improvement on the d-line will automatically improve the safety play, and I can agree to that to an extent. However, when the d-line is getting run over it gives the safeties a chance to step up and make a play and they definitely didn't do that last year. They signed a couple of backups from other teams who may actually step in and already be better than the incumbent Conte (how Lovie of Major to end up in TB). Vereen may very well be the best right now, but once again, relying on a rookie to make a significant impact is always risky (although I'm expecting Fuller to get a lot of PT and play well). 

5) Mel Tucker, will he reward Tresticles' trust with a remarkably improved system? I think Tucker was in a very tough spot last year having to be the next defensive coach after Lovie, but the entire defensive roster has essentially been purged of the old guard and those things shouldn't get in the way this year. I am very interested to see if there are different looks and blitzes based off matchups something we really haven't seen for a long time.  

Javy Got the Call! The Chitown Diehards Respond to Ednel Javier Baez's Promotion Up to the Majors.

Jt: I hate to jump on the over hype boat, but that's all we're going to have until all the hyped prospects are pros. As awful as the Cubs have been during the rebuild, this is really the first time I've paid so much attention to our minor league system and it's fun to follow these players' journeys.

Javy hit 10 homers in July for the I-Cubs. From what I've heard he's been really streaky in his adjustments to promotions. Can we set the over under on homers for the rest of the season at 6.5? Is that a naked streak onto the over hype boat?

Regardless, even though this is a Hendry pick, I kinda feel like it symbolizes the first step of tangible pro-level results of the rebuild.

Hauser: I really wish I could be down at Coors tonight. Maybe the early callup is to try to get him through the slump at the end of this year rather than the beginning of next. But definitely agree that with Javy, Mendy, and most likely Soler up this year that there is much reason to follow and get excited for next year. I really like Arrieta and Hendricks and hopefully Doubront can turn it around and that's a pretty good 3-5 starters, now if we can add a legit 1 and 2 should be poised for 2017.

Krob: I think that the slump and acclamation factor is exactly why they’re bringing Javy up right now. He’s been hot, he’s confident right now and at every stop along the way when he’s moved up he’s struggled a bit at the beginning. Give him a taste, let him soak in that atmosphere and learn on the job when there’s nothing really on the line. You look at a lot of young teams that have had success and it seems like a lot of them come up pretty close together and bond on the big stage. Mendy’s up, Javy’s now up and Soler should be right behind them come September once the AAA season is done if not right away in Septemeber.

I’m right there with you JT, I’ve spent quite a bit of time looking at the minor league clubs stats and records this year and last. I’ve actually paid far more attention to some of the details that they’ve talked about as bench marks for some of the young players to hit to earn promotions and looks like Javy has done a really nice job cutting down on the strikeout rate over the last few weeks and while still not walking a lot, he’s at least walking more than he did. Bryant too has actually done a better job as of late of taking more walks and cutting down on his strikeouts. And while I’m at it, Mike Olt is tearing up AAA right now as well. He’s hitting like .350 and has struck out in under 30% of his at bats which seems to be about the benchmark for mashers who have some swing and miss to their games. He’s only got one homer so far but hitting for a much better average and has more hits than K’s which is a marked improvement from where he was at. 

I’m going over on the 6.5 HRs for Javy. I think a better number might even be 10 as an over/under depending on how much or if he does indeed struggle. Granted he’s playing against better competition in the majors but he should have more protection in the lineup and he’s got almost two full months in the majors. I’m totally stoked to see what he does!

The Arrieta/Strop trade was clearly grand theft by Thesus and co. even if Strop just ends up being what he is now which is a pretty darn good late inning guy. Have to see what Hendricks can do long term but I’ve liked what I’ve seen from him so far. I think there’s plenty of examples in the league for guys who didn’t overpower hitters but just used pin point accuracy to get people out. Even The Shark was throwing softer this year and not trying to blow as many people away this year. Sure he still had the 97/98 mph fastball if he wanted it but he had more control and pitched to get guys out and get deeper into games which has lead to the best season he’s had as a started in the bigs. If either Doubront or Strailly can figure it out and the other or Travis Wood can be serviceable then give me a Lester, Scherzer or someone else along those lines (both of those guys are FA this offseason) to top out the rotation and away we go.

NFL Draft Day 2 - How'd the Bears Do and What Should We Do Next?

Me: looks like you guys & phil were n'sync on round 1... from the trib today:

"Emery acknowledged last week he had circled six players as prime options at No.14. And after the first 13 picks were made, with Pitt All-America defensive tackle Aaron Donald going to the Rams directly ahead of the Bears, Emery said he still had three of his targets available.

Presumably, that short list included at least one of the top two safeties — Louisville's Calvin Pryor and Alabama's Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. But the Bears were instead magnetized to Fuller, not lured into making a cornerback vs. safety decision."

@dlc_three... no talk of his sexual assault history, but it sounds like it was the intangibles that made the difference

@krob0907: Day one in the books!

Sucks that Donald went one pick before us and I was hoping that they’d grab one of the safeties, but I do like the pick of Fuller. Fills a need with Peanut and Jennings both being 30+ and he’s good in run support as well as being a good cover guy. Don’t think it was a reach at all drafting him and I’m glad that Emery didn’t get cute and just went with the best player available on their board at a position of need. Think they had a bigger immediate need at Safety but they’ve added a number of guys there in the offseason so they can either draft one in the next round or two or wait til next year to get one and hope that what they have on the roster ends up being adequate with a better DL. Most of the “experts” liked the Bears pick.

All of the top safeties came off the board in round one so that kind of sucks. After they went corner in round one I was praying that Buchanon or Ward would make it back to us in the second but that was a long shot. Still lots of value at DT still available though so look for either Nix or Jernigan in round 2. Both of those guys had been linked to the Bears as possible first round selections earlier in the offseason, especially Jernigan who I saw to the Bears in lots of mocks about a month ago. Nix more of a big body space eater NT and Jernigan more of the 3 tech type guy. Seems to me the bigger need would be the 3 tech with what they’ve already got on the roster, but I’d be happy either way.

Breathed a sigh of relief when the Bears didn’t take Manziel although I never really thought that that was anywhere in the realm of possibility.  Want to see at least two more D players today, assuming they don’t trade back and pick up an extra pick, with at least one DT and another DB whether that be a CB or S.

@WYO_NickHauser: I think Fuller was leader the entire time, and from the evals I've read he's the best football player at the position in the class. Gilbert would've been nice with his returning ability, and Mosley would've helped right away, but I won't complain about the pick at all.

Unfortunately, the rest of the division seemed to have gotten better as well yesterday so it will come down to injuries and depth when the actual season comes around. Although Safety was clearly a very weak point last year, I think that by proxy the secondary as a whole will be much improved if all of the money spent on the d-line comes to fruition.

We're very excited about the NFL Draft Chicago Bears Draft Diagnosis

@WYO_NickHauser: Extensive research performed, my perfect 3 rounds:

DT Aaron Donald, DB Stanlye Jean-Baptise, DT Caraun Reid

But most likely Donald is gone by 14, so hopefully the Jets get real desperate as WR's fly off the board and offer an extra 3rd and Phil moves back to 18. At 18, I like CJ Mosley, Pryor, or Kyle Fuller. I'd still like Jean-Babtise in the 2nd regardless, but a DT would be more likely in that scenario. Probably Easley from FLA as a high risk/high reward pick. 

@krob0907: Donald would also be my first choice at this point although as you mention, he’s mostly likely not going to be there when the Bears pick. I’d like to go with one of the S in the first round, either Pryor or Ha Ha.

John the Baptist in the 2nd would be a nice pick and wouldn’t mind McGill or Desir either as all are on the taller side with McGill and Jean-Batiste around 6’ 3” and Desir at 6’ 1”.

There’s a chance, albeit a slim one, that Easley (DT) falls all the way to us in the third which would be magical as the value there is way better with a guy coming off an ACL than in the second. If he doesn’t make it all the way to our pick Reid, Crichton or another CB like say Roberson would be my desir(e). 

Kiper has us taking Dri Archer, RB from Kent St in the third.  Be a quicker scat back type (fastest player in the draft with sub 4.3 speed) and a possible replacement for the flier at KR.

Rosenbloom 16-0 & a Superbowl for the Bears! LOL.