Chisoxfn

Any scenario they get one of qbs while only giving up next years first or an equivalent or better is a major win in my book

YES

I can't tell what is what at this point. I can't see how Washington passes on a QB....but really the key is the Broncos / Pats need to address QB via trade (Bridgewater / Jimmy G). If that is the direction those franchise go - than I legitimately see shot for the Bears...but do Lions/Eagles bite on a QB or someone else we aren't thinking...i don't know. Would be truly amazing to see Falson, Pats, Broncos all stand down on QB. No other teams jump up - which basically leaves Bears / Skins. I'll be honest - if I am Pace - I still think I'd move up and go secure the go at some point (vs. hoping they fall to 20).

Cole's transformation had more to do with increasing his spin rates and shifting from the Pirates pitch to contact/down in the zone philosphy vs. him shifting to max effort. Basically Cole stopped throwing his 2 seamer, which he threw a lot of down in the zone to get contact and reduce his pitch count. Now he throws his 4 seamer up - harder to hit - more swing and miss. So maybe part of your point is - more workload because you are throwing more pitches - but it wasn't like Houston asked him to pitch max velocity at all time.

I actualyl think all of those guys (Pat, Allen, Jackson, & Watson) have one thing in common - they are all tremendous athletes who can makes plays when things break down. I would tell you all of Watson's faults in college - still exist. He is not an overly decisive reader of defenses - but he overcomes it with his big play ability, his pure grit and leadership capabilities, and his ability to use his feet and other weapons to turn things. Josh Allen - he is probably an outlier - in the sense that his accuracy, which was his major flaw took noticeable steps forward. But he also makes a ton of big plays with his legs and uses those legs to create time and allow for the quick score. He is not the guy who is going to lead a ton of 15 play TD drives, but that is okay - cause he stretches the field and creates plays....just like he did in college and as he has done in the pro's. The accuracy was huge. Jackson - he is what he was in college - a spectacular athlete who creates plays and does enough with his arm to keep defenses honest. Nothing about him has flipped in the pro's or taken crazy steps forward. He didn't become some amazing pocket passer or anything like that. Mahomes - Hard for me to say - but he is still a gunslinger and it wasn't maybe until this past season where he become more of a reader of the defense. But he made plays in college and leveraged that crazy arm talent to his advantage and he's doing it at the NFL at prolific clips - but in general - its by extending plays and just throwing darts all over the field. Its why when I think of Fields - I kind of get a Watson type of comparison. People knock him for at times not being elite at reading defenses but ignore the fact that he's an accurate, extremely athletic, accomplishment leader who flat out makes great plays and delivered many times at the highest stage. Yes - he also lost at the highest stage - but you win some / you lose some. For those reasons - Fields feels like that guy. Wilson is Mahomes (not saying they will be the same player - but that construct - except Wilson did it against smaller school competition). Lance is hard to say - kind of like Josh Allen - I don't know if he's as easy of a guy to pinpoint or not. In Mitch's case - I think the Bears asked him to be what he wasn't and than injuries compounded that and it backfired and he kind of ended up being a better pocket passer than he was in college...but not good enough to be an above average NFL QB and he became too reserved to use his legs to his advantage...so that strength from college shrunk. End of the day - they ended up with a worse version of the college player. Part of it too was mental - imo. Too many things in his head, etc. But one constant - NFL can't get this stuff consistently right - so my view is - take your shot - more recently it hasn't been the top guy who ended up being the stud...but one of the not top guys - but still first rounders - who succeeded (Mahomes / Watson / Allen / Jackson). Note: I'm not big on Mayfield - although I shouldn't underrate Murray who I think is a very good NFL QB...although still not sure if his body will hold up to the regular beatings or not.

Kopech & the Bats - YESSSS

Hell of a start - guy is so nasty and his command was so crisp.

The worse case scenario for me is we draft a qb at 20 - cause I assume that means we are reaching for the 6th best qb.

I should add - when it came to the post-season - said 1 pitch pitcher - didn't get figured out. No - in fact - that one-pitch pitcher - was the all time greatest postseason closer EVER. Oh - and the 2011 season I am showing above - he was a very young 41 years old. So nah - I'm not worried about Liam - not with the stuff he showed tonight and I look forward to seeing him close out the World Series later this year!!!

Like you said - its a dominant pitch. I'm not comparing him to the all time greatest closer in baseball history - but this guy named Mariano Rivera threw 1 pitch - a cutter - which was AMAZING - and in 2011 - he threw the pitch 85.9% of the time - got 44 saves - and put up a sub 2 ERA.

Also - Madrigal with 2 hits and what would have been a 3rd hit - but instead served as an RBI groundout - but was a rocket down the first base line that is a double if the 1st baseman isn't holding Hamilton on.

Or - bullpen will start to gel and bats will start hitting in clutch and this team will climb to the top of the division, league and baseball!

I've said it before - he is the most physically gifted player I have ever seen on the Sox. I legitimately think he can win not just an MVP - but be a guy that wins multiple MVP's. Odds are I am wrong and it won't happen - but if you told me he de dethroned Trout as the best player in the game at some point in his career - I wouldn't be shocked.

I don't know how you walk away from this game questioning Hendricks. He struck out 5 of 6 batters and was dominant - despite some of the Rangers having some good ab's. Other than the HR - he didn't throw a pitch to any of the batters that was hittable. It was nasty.

Nice win - above .500 - now lets start getting more and more above .500

That is probably one of the more impressive 6 batter sequences I have seen out of a White Sox closer in a while - especially when I consider said pitcher gave up a HR too. 5 K's and he was nasty - including battling through a really impressive AB by Gallo (who fouled off a ton of good pitches and battling before finally striking out.

I go back to - Dalton is a 1 year deal - they have zero long term commitment at qb. How can they not take a swing at qb. I think it makes a Lance pick pretty realistic because you can sit him behind Foles/Dalton and give him time. Same with Fields. I would have a different view if this draft class was coming next year - ie you had a Fields/Lawrence class awaiting you in 22...but right now that qb class looks meh. It could become great - who knows - but if you don’t take a qb now - feels like you are punting until 23 and that is awful - that basically means 2 more years without having taken a swing at the most important position in sports.

If that is the case - it isn’t like next year you are picking a qb - sure one can pop out of nowhere but they won’t be that bad (barring a massive amount of injuries). So I see no reason not to move up now - if it doesn’t work - new regime cleans house and tanks in a year and you are trying again with another QB in 23. At least in that case you get 2 tries in 3 years - maybe one of those is the right guy for once.

Best case scenario - Pats decide they can get Jimmy G and therefor stay out of any bidding war and Denver actually isn't in love and is fine sticking with Lock and getting another weapon. But for ease - lets assume Denver still wants a QB - it still means they have their pick of one of Lance/Fields (assuming Niners take Jones) so maybe they won't bid much to move up. Basically means Bears bidding against Redskins and maybe Pats. It does show why if you are the Bears you preference is to get a bit higher - just to prevent you from acquiring the Panthers pick only to have someone move ahead and get Lions / Falcons pick. Bottom line - unless Bears grab Falcons pick (and I'd have to think the way things are playing - value of Falcons pick might be a little less today than it was 3 weeks ago) - I don't see them making a trade prior to the draft. Will be interesting to see how everything plays out as the picks unfold and whether Pace can get that QB.

https://www.espn.com/blog/new-orleans-saints/post/_/id/34139/why-its-so-hard-to-find-developmental-qbs-in-the-nfl-drafts-middle-rounds For whomever tells me - just draft a QB in rd 2 or 3 - I say forget that. I am okay with it - cause why not take a chance - but I'd rather we draft more first round QB's than just continue to ignore the position and say - we need to draft a bunch of olineman first or something else.

I really hope Lance and Fields are there when Panthers pick. If they are - feels like a great scenario for Bears to battle with Denver, Washington and New England for right to leap frog everyone else? Is there a team I am missing in the QB hunt or is it basically those teams after Jags, Jets and Niners pick. I am obviously assuming Falcons go a different direction. Maybe the Eagles is the other squad I am missing? But with them having moved around - seems like they arent jumping for a qb (yet)? I will go on record I would love getting Fields or Lance and at 8 I think you are to point you are talking 2 1sts and not much more than that. Probably can keep most other picks too. Take your shot at young qb - knowing next years class doesn’t look great - Plus the bears cap situation gets a ton better in a year. Cap naturally goes up - plus Dalton / Foles - full flexibility Graham - no cap hit Mack - better position if you want to move Robinson - extend or trade - either way cap benefit I am sure I am forgetting other things - but things would start looking a lot better even without a first round pick - especially if whomever they drafted showed promise (and would have 3-4 more cheap years left).

Awful.

Dick - I go to this thread hoping to see a positive update re: your wife....than see the start....and banner day...and felt relieved, only to end the post more mortified at just the most recent set back. So sorry you all are going through this and really really hope things are about to take a turn for the better!

It seems to me that it all has to be blown up... I am probably overreacting to an extent - but despite Lavine being awesome and getting a good but not elite player in Vuc (which is actually a problem - cause you should use your chips on elite guys and I do think in hindsight - this is a disaster move...maybe not in the sense of they overpaid...more the fact that we blew our chips on a good...not elite player and when the elite player comes around...maybe they won't have that same shot). At the very least - the urgency to make the move seemed unnecessary. I go back to...the move in isolation just wasn't enough (some of this is hindsight...some of it I said at the same of the deal). The good thing is - development and young teams take a long time - its part of why I have never loved the "blow it all up" and win through the draft scenario...it has to be a blow it all up...accumulate assets and find stars (not just draft picks). Lakers would still be in nowhere land if it weren't for LBJ coming and than they had the ability to give up a ton for Davis. They weren't going anywhere with their "haul" of picks.

I was enjoying the bulls up until trade deadline. Now - I literally can’t stand this team. I can’t watch more than a few minutes without turning the tv off because I get zero joy from watching the team.