Is It Ever Too Early To Talk Football …………… I Mean It’s Baseball Season And Spring Training Is Almost Here ? Never Mind The Fact The NBA Goes On Hiatus ….
By tophatal …………..
It’s been quite a while since the Chicago Bulls’ owner Jerry Reinsdorf has had a great deal to be and feel happy out . Not since the days of Jordan and Pippen were driving the franchise to success with 6 NBA titles in a nine year span . Bulls’ coach Tom Thibodeau in conjunction with general manager John Paxson seems to have successfully aseembled a team that seems on the cusp of bringing this ball-club back to some semblance of success.
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Slide show for your perusal .
The roster has reigning league MVP …. Derrick Rose playing with the poise to suggest that he is the face and future of the franchise. And ever since his ascent into the league having been drafted number one overall in the 2008 NBA Draft the point guard seems to be putting up ever impressive numbers each season that he has been in the NBA . Already amongst his peers Rose’s offensive prowess placed him in the top five scorers earlier on in the season prior to him being sidelined due to injury ________ mind his defensive capabilities which makes him an added threat both ends of the floor.
As this season has progressed we’re now seeing what a condensed schedule has created by way of the new of injuries suffered . Rose and Manu Ginobli have themselves fallen afoul of this and I expect that tally to grow over the remainder of the season ! So much of this could hav been avoided the players and specifically the union and league hierarchy not sought to have a long and protracted negotiation process in light of the NBA mandated lockout. With an accord reached the season began on Christmas Day 2011 .
At 26-8 the Bulls are 3/100 of a percentage point behind the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference but they hold a comfortable over the nearest rivals the Indiana Pacers in the Central Division .
Rose is being ably supported by teammates Luol Deng , Taj Gibson , Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer showing why they are amongst the best teams within the conference and division from an offensive standpoint.
The Chicago Bulls will host the Milwaukee Bucks at the United Center in Chicago , Illinois on Wednesday having defeated the Atlanta Hawks easily this past Monday in rather lopsided game 90-79 . I’m sure at this juncture Thibodeau and his players would like nothing better than to mirror their results of last season in terms of their divisional standings but overall to go deeper into the playoffs this year. At this juncture , barring a colossal meltdown I cannot see this Bulls’ team failing to make the postseason !
Don’t look now but the Chicago Bears seems to be in the midst of so much internal turmoil that is far more than is being made public . With the departure of Jerry Angelo the front office now starts afresh , as they seek to right the ship after their seismic meltdown of their 2011 season . Head coach Lovie Smith and his coaching staff now have to deal with the impending free agency status of several players on the roster but most notably that of running back Matt Forte . The bone of contention is whether or not to franchise tag the player who happened to be their most important offensive weapon over the course of last season . Word of advice to the idiots inside the front office of Bears ………… pay Matt Forte or lose him to free agency ! I mean it’s not as if there’s anyone else on the roster who is as productive to begin with !
Given the issues of this team and the fact that they had a poor showing within the NFC and NFC North as a whole , it begs the question has Smith outlived his welcome within the city and amongst the fans ? Soldier Field in Chicago could very well become a barren venue should things continue to decline under the coach’s tenure.
With the upcoming NFL Draft it will be interesting to see what transpires concerning the choices made by the front office executives and coaching staff. Given the failures and successes over the years by the franchise in terms of the choices made , a lot will be riding upon the decisions of Lovie Smith and those front office executives . From my own perspective I firmly believe that if the Bears are not willing to extend Matt Forte’s existing contract and up the ante , then the best option would be to “franchise tag” the running back and pay him the average salary in terms of a one year contract , and then renegotiate a deal that is timely and rewarding in comparison Forte’s peers within the NFL . !
Another issue facing this organization may well be the continued belief that Jay Cutler can lead thi team with any degree of certainty to where they need to be . One failed season foray and after their infamous 2010 schedule is there really anyone who believes that Cutler does in deed have what it takes to lead the Bears to a Superbowl victory ? Injuries asides the makeup of this team seems to be one that’s lacking in heart and real leadership and that is in spite of seasoned veterans such as Brian Urlacher and Julius Peppers . I can categorically say this , Jay Cutler is not a leader and the claims that he’s amongst the elite quarterbacks in the NFL would be akin to describing feats of Joe Montana as simply being nothing more than average ! Cutler at best is nothing more than an everyday quarterback whose best moments NFL can be counted and placed on the back of a first class stamp to say the very least !
Coming into this season the expectations for the Chicago Cubs appear to be high . The firing of former GM Jim Hendry along with then manager Mike Quade leads me to believe that team owner Tom Ricketts is intent on starting afresh having hired Theo Epstein to oversee the Baseball Operations along with Jed Hoyer as the team’s general manager .
After years of complete ineptitude and albeit that the loyal Cubs’ fans have returned in throngs each season to Wrigley Field only to see the team repeatedly fall short each time . With Dale Sveum brought in to succeed Mike Quade with a new coaching staff one can only hope that the new manager can create an atmosphere where this team in its present guise can now be a success .
The struggles of the Cubs last season were monumental and could be seen in the lack of productivity in the team’s pitching and offense . The woes of this team and the fact that under Hendry’s tenure they were weighed down by all too burdensome contracts from a number of players on the roster who simply were not worth the salary they were being paid . In truth , it has been this sort of stupidity seen from the front office executives and team owners around MLB who’ve simply been too damn stupid for their own good ! As to the apathy of the fans and baseball analysts who seem oblivious to the financial morass that the game seems to be in but all the while seem to be singing the praises of the teams around the league. They should consider this , what happens when the next team goes under or just happens to be on the brink of bankruptcy and financial ruin ? There were many who felt that the banks and the auto industry were simply too big to fail .
The New York Mets are a mess and let’s just say the ignorance and stupidity of Peter Wilhelm , Tommy LaSorda and Ned Colletti in acquiescing to the demands of then Dodgers’ owner Frank McCourt , simply gives credence to the fact that the vast majority of owners in baseball simply are not that bright to begin with , as are the so-called MLB analysts who cover the sport on television and in the print media ! Stupid is as stupid does ! And nowhere has this been more apparent , than with the assholes who oversee the game of baseball , specifically Commissioner Bud Selig , whose business acumen can be best described as being a complete fuc##ing joke !
Waxing on lyrically about the bye-gone years of the game simply means nothing now when it is apparent the the game cannot sustain itself from a financial standpoint with some form equitable balance when it comes to the salary structure within baseball . I’d dare say that Hall of Famers such as Jackie Robinson , Ted Williams , Hank Aaron , Frank Robinson and Willie Mays were they playing today would be glad to be earning in excess of $15 million a year , when so many players at the top of the salary scale within the game today give a miserly return on that investment !
When I simply look down at the names on this current Chicago Cubs’ roster I’m not sure whether or not to laugh or cry ! Impressed ? Not damn likely , as I believe that this team is now further away from contending within the NL Central than at any other time in recent memory ! With the loss of Carlos Pena as a free agent and that player’s return to the Tampa Bay Rays , one could attest that there will be a drop-off in the offensive productivity of the team this season . So in essence , we should expect to see Starling Castro , Aramis Ramirez , Alfonso Soriano and Geovany Soto to show an uptick by way of run productivity .
In terms of the team’s pitching , well let’s just say if they cannot contend within the NL then their hopes of the Cubs could very well all for nothing . And leading the charge in that respect one would hope that Matt Garza will be able to be a productive player upon which the basis the rest of that pitching roster can follow and be relied upon to provide that lead .
For the moment Jerry Reinsdorf may well be riding high with the resurgence of the Chicago Bulls but I get the feeling that he wouldn’t mind seeing his other sporting concern the Chicago White Sox simply rise to the challenge and prove to be a worthy challenger to the Detroit Tigers within the AL Central . To put it plain and simply, since their triumph in the 2005 World Series , it has been something of a barren spell for the ball-club . And in terms their annual standings within the division , not since 2008 has team owner Jerry Reinsdorf and the rest of the front office had something to be entirely happy about . That being said their postseason foray was short-lived as they were taken apart by the Tampa Bay Rays 4-1 in the ALDS .
This season with a new manager in tow , succeeding the departed Ozzie Guillen . Former White Sox great Robin Ventura has now been entrusted to lead the coaching staff and this team . No doubt a great deal will be expected of the first year manager and I expect he will struggle in spite of experience of his assistants . But if can simply get through the first five or six weeks of the schedule without any major hiccups then it should augur well for Ventura .
As to this White Sox team , it’s hard to gauge their overall status as there has been so much inconsistency on their part over the last few years . It was felt that Ozzie Guillen allowed his players way too much latitude and the vast majority of the time simply took the blame upon himself when they were so inept . No real accountability and simply a complete lack of leadership from any the veterans on this roster has to be viewed as the primary reason why the Chicago White Sox were a miserable failure last season .
I doubt that there’s any need to tell you the main reason why the Detroit Tigers were the runaway winners of the AL Central and it was simply because of the pitching , the pitching of that roster led by AL MVP and Cy Young winner Justin Verlander . The player led the AL in wins , ERA , K’s and IP’s on his way to a now incredible double trophy accolade in 2011 . The White Sox’s pitching staff simply couldn’t match that prolific output simply was of no match for the Tigers in 2011. And given the fact that the offense of team again was woefully anemic for much of the season it has me wondering how they will contend their peers within the AL as well as the league as a whole !
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Picture gallery for your perusal .
What if anything , do you believe will take place as it regards the three professional sports’ franchises this upcoming season in terms of their respective schedules ? By all means to do take time to leave a comment as you see fit and thanks as always for the continued support as it is greatly appreciated ! Thank you !
Picture and slide show for your perusal .
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(1) CHICAGO, IL – FEBRUARY 22: Derrick Rose (1) of the Chicago Bulls chases down a loose ball against the Milwaukee Bucks at the United Center on February 22, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bulls defeated the Bucks 110-91 . Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images …
(2) Jimmy Butler (21) of the Chicago Bulls shoots against Luc Mbah a Moute (12) of the Milwaukee Bucks at the United Center on February 22, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bulls defeated the Bucks 110-91 . Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images ….
(3) CHICAGO, IL – FEBRUARY 22: Head coach Tom Thibodeau of the Chicago Bulls gives instructions to his team during a game against the Milwaukee Bucks at the United Center on February 22, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bulls defeated the Bucks 110-91. Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images …
(4) In this Jan. 13, 2012 file photo, Chicago Cubs president Theo Epstein speaks to reporters during the 27th annual Chicago Cubs baseball convention, in Chicago. Epstein was hired to fix the mess. He worked miracles in Boston and he’ll need a magic touch again with baseball’s “lovable losers” . AP photo/Nam Y. Huh ….
(5) Chicago Cubs manager Dale Sveum watches during a spring training baseball workout, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012, in Mesa, Ariz. AP Photo/Morry Gash …..
(6) Chicago Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster throws during a spring training baseball workout, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012, in Mesa, Ariz. AP Photo/Morry Gash ……..
(7) Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith speaks during a news conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012. AP Photo/Michael Conroy …….
(8) Matt Forte (22) of the Chicago Bears is hit by Donald Butler (56) of the San Diego Chargers at Soldier Field on November 20, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Chargers 31-20 . Getty Images North America /Johnathan Daniel ….
(9) Brian Urlacher (54) and Julius Peppers (90) of the Chicago Bears await player introductions before a game against the San Diego Chargers at Soldier Field on November 20, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Chargers 31-20.
Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images North ….
(10) Injured starting quarterback Jay Cutler walks the sideline to speak to his replacement Caleb Hanie (12) of the Chicago Bears during their game against the Oakland Raiders at O.co Coliseum on November 27, 2011 in Oakland, California. Ezra Shaw/Getty Images ….
(11) Chicago White Sox general manager Kenny Williams watches pitchers throw during a spring training baseball workout in Goodyear, Ariz., Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012. AP Photo/Jae C. Hong ……
(12) Robin Ventura, the new manager of the Chicago White Sox, poses with general manager Kenny Williams during an introductory press conference at U.S. Cellular Field on October 11, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. Getty Images / Johnathan Daniels ….
(13) Alexei Ramirez (10) of the Chicago White Sox high fives teammate Adam Dunn (32) after Ramirez hit a solo home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of the spring training game at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium on March 7, 2011 in Tucson, Arizona. The charity game is to benefit the 9-year-old Christina-Taylor Green Memorial Fund. Green was a victim of the Tucson shooting on January 8th. ……
(14) Chicago White Sox starting pitcher John Danks , center, throws during a spring training baseball workout in Goodyear, Ariz., Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012. AP Photo/Jae C. Hong …..
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http://facebook.com/tophatal-Alan
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Chicago Cubs Spring Training schedule
Chicago Cubs regular season schedule
Chicago Cubs’ roster & none roster invitees
Chicago White Sox Spring Training schedule
Chicago White Sox regular season schedule
Chicago White Sox roster & none roster invitees
Chicago White Sox coaching staff
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Back to the days of my youth ………. Dub step style of reggae …. Home T, Cocoa T & …. Shabba Ranks ____ ” Pirates’ Anthem”
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Shay Laren gives it to you straight one way or another !
tophatal
Alan Parkins
13 Comments
Well let’s just say in the Eastern Conference of the NBA it’s simply Bulls , Heat and then everyone else . As to where this leaves these two teams come the playoffs is anyone’s guess at the moment .
What’s the over /under that the Cubs will win more than 85 games this season and at the same time gain a playoff berth within the NL ?
As to the White Sox I think their troubles will be magnified even more so because the Tigers up and down has a better all-round roster than Ventura’s team .
The Cubs and White may well struggle within their respective divisions this upcoming season .
Wow !
“Pretty boy” with not that much talent ……… the Caucasian version of Vince Young and JaMarcus Russell all rolled into one perhaps ?
There’s a sense of self entitlement with Cutler that will lead and the Bears to simply underachieve as they have done ever since the quarterback joined the organization ! Jay Cutler at best , is a moderate quarterback within the NFL and nothing more than that ! He’s simply this generation’s answer to Jeff George !
Culter was drafted in 2006 by the Broncos and as we know his career has been filled with highs and lows . More often than not more lows than highs !
Top paid quarterbacks in the NFL & free agent qb’s this offseason .
tophatal ……….
I am from Chicago and am a huge White Sox, Bears, Bulls and Blackhawks fan.
As far as the Bulls go, I think this is their year. They were only two missed free throws away from beating the Heat in Miami without Luol Deng. They’ll get it done at full strength.
I believe that the Blackhawks are only a consistent goalie away from a championship.
The Bears were on absolute fire before the injuries to Cutler and Forte, and if they can keep that same mojo going this year, everyone had better watch out.
The White Sox are, well, very bad to
Say the least.
Sam Sports Brief
It’s imperative that Rose remains healthy over the remainder of the Bulls’ schedule because if there’s any hint of a lingering injury or recurrence then there’s no way that the team can contend in the postseason .
For me , with the Bears they either blow hot or cold and that’s what we saw with the team before their improbable meltdown . Injuries asides that team was nowhere as good as was being advertized ! Cutler isn’t a leader and he’s damn well overrated as a quarterback in this league !
The Bears are going to need a lot more than mojo , how ’bout a backbone to begin with ? Rather than seeing Urlacher bitch and whine like a kid who’s had his pacifier taken away from him !
I am not sure what to make of the White Sox this season ! On paper they look as if they could contend and until you remember that they have the Tigers within their division .
tophatal …..
I don’t see anyone stopping the Heat, but then again, I thought that last year…
It’s never too early to talk baseball! It’s hard to not like what Detroit did this off-season as long as Prince doesn’t hit the doughnut shop.
chappy81
The only thing that can stop the Heat is their own complacency and not much else but their defense isn’t as efficient as many believe it to be . They on average give up 94.5 ppg but what they have is the win points’ differential that favors them . At the same time the jury will still be out on LBJ because he’s yet to win the first of not one , not two , not three , not four , not five but six titles . Let’s hear it for LeBron once he wins that very first title that way the ass kissers can adore him ………. more so than they’re currently doing at present !
The Cubs will struggle this season in the NL Central as their pitching and offense still to my mind is suspect ! It’s the same way with the White Sox within the AL Central .
The longer the Bears continue to rely on Culter’s arm the more of a liability he’s going to be for organization !
The Cubs loss is the Rays gain. All the Rays fans are glad to have Pena back in town. His leadership and gold glove will definetly help the team when the going gets tough.
Have a great weekend my friend and cheers!
aero
I know that for Epstein and Hoyer gauging this Cubs’ team will be a work in progress never mind the money being paid to Alfonso Soriano and his inconsistent …… productivity .Damn for half the price I’m sure that the Cubs could do far better !
Pena rejoining the Cubs may well have been the smartest off-season move made by the organization . It adds immediate pop to the offense and as you said a legitimate Gold Glover at first base .
In the words of Frank Sinatra, Chicago is my kinda town… until it comes to facing the Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals this year.
Then I’ll take Miami.
Chris Humpherys(@SportsChump)
The trade deadline in the NBA is on 15th March and I expect that Reinsdorf in conjunction with GM John Paxson may well make a move to improve the team having consulted Rose and coach Tom Thibodeau . I’d agree that the Heat are in the driver’s seat now that they have the best record in the conference as well as in their division .
Should the Bulls meet the Heat in the conference finals I don’t believe it will be a be a foregone conclusion ! The Heat will be pressed hard and that defense that everyone speaks so highly about with the Miami Heat isn’t as good as advertized as the conference stats bear this out .
tophatal …………..
Football has passed… baseball is near. Let’s stick to baseball for now. hehe
You’re right… the Mets are not in good shape right now, but at least they are trying. The team probably won’t be contenders for another 3 years. Maybe more.
CDR /Blog Surface
Can you say … NFL Combine and ESPN’s 24 hour round the clock coverage of everything happening there ? I rest my case !
The Mets , those damn stinking New York Mets ! Three years is a conservative estimate to say the least . They’re a mess from top to bottom and JP Riccardi is not a guy I would want in the front office of any baseball organization under any circumstances ! He’d done nothing for the Blue Jays during his tenure there as a general manager and now he’s expected to bring some semblance of respectability to the Mets ? Team President Sandy Alderson must’ve been caught in an off moment when he decided to make Riccardi his second in command and de-facto general manager for the organization . ‘nough said on the matter !
tophatal ………….
Sory about not commenting but I was on the road broadcasting state hoops playoffs. Long days and short nights but that’s why they pay me the big bucks. The Bums- The Phillies have good pitching but our big bug a boois hitting. this killed us last year against the Cards. with Howard out lets hope we’ll have enough fire power to win it all.
Bobby Gee
Don’t worry about it . I only hope that it was an all expenses paid trip because I’d hate to think that you were splashing out money on wine women and other sundries ! LOL, LOL,LOL !!!
If the Phillies self implode this season then Amaro , Manuel and a large part of that roster should be sent packing considering the money that has been spent by the front office .