Friend of Nordhagen

QUOTE (bschmaranz @ Dec 31, 2009 -> 11:35 AM) Cubs sign Marlon Byrd. 3 years/$15 mil http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/news/story?id=4785125 Looks like Soto again will have some company in the team pharmacy. I'm sure that he was pretty lonely after DeRosa left.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Dec 15, 2009 -> 12:08 PM) The Hawk eh roo You're right. I've just channeled Hawk, and I'm absolutely terrified.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Dec 15, 2009 -> 11:48 AM) I don't really care what his ISO will be at the top of the order. I care about the things he can do. Is he perfect, absolutely not. Ideal, no, but for the amount the Sox are paying him this is a solid move. Last season he was much much better than he had been the last couple of years and he did make some minor changes to his swing mechanics and approach and they apparently paid off big. The stat outlook on these type of guys are always much much more negative than the reality. He isn't an all star, nor is he one of the 10 or 15 best leadoff hitters, but he's adequate, and will be one of the few guys on the squad capable of hitting for a high average, which is a nice change. There are a lot of things Juan can do that won't show up on the stat sheet. On balance, I like the move. Nothing too studly, but it has its advantages -- and I give Williams credit for actually addressing his outfield this year, unlike past years when he's ignored it. Pierre is a remarkably consistent guy; some would say he's consistently mediocre, but he's decent in LF, a good hitter and he can run. On those nights when we're complaining about everyone swinging for the fences, he'll be trying to scratch out runs. I'd like his OBP and arm to be better, sure. But show me a guy who has holes in his game, and I'll show you every player in baseball. As for his SLG percentage, I simply don't care a whole lot. And the whole thing about him making a bunch of outs? Well, that will happen when you play every single game. Is he better than Pods? Yeah, I guess so, and that's even assuming Pods could stay healthy. Granted, Pods got some big hits last year, which was great, but I don't think I've ever seen a dumber player than Scotty -- and he compromised our defense every time he crossed the foul lines. With our pitching staff, that's not so swell.

QUOTE (DukeNukeEm @ Dec 15, 2009 -> 10:24 AM) Whoever said Pierre in LF, Rios in CF, Jones in RF and Quentin at DH is probably right. Minimize Quentin's injury risk and the defense is a pretty big improvement over that monstrosity we had last season. Except then Quentin has to sit on the bench and stew about his last at-bat. Oh, the intensity.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Nov 13, 2009 -> 07:56 AM) Ill take em. The are painful to watch, I think everyone knew that last night was going to be an ugly loss, we just didnt know how. I was at potbellys right before the game and there were several other bears fans and everyone had a look of concern on their faces. Alot different from the excitement several weeks ago. Maybe everyone was just unsure what they were going to order.

QUOTE (southsideirish71 @ Nov 12, 2009 -> 11:03 PM) I think actually most do. I think people jumping to his side is seeing how poor of a crappy team we have around him. Its sad to waste this talent on this crap. And is also a reaction to being hit with morons calling the radio station since the beginning of the season lamenting the all powerful Kyle "Where is my Beer" Orton. Like we would be superbowl bound if that guy was still around. Cutler is probably putting the entire thing on his back and trying to make it happen. He sees the crap we have on this team. A little more time with the line, and maybe a receiver or two that knows how to complete a route and I think things look better. Right on.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan99 @ Nov 12, 2009 -> 10:54 PM) Of course some of the turnovers are his fault. But he is also clearly forcing throws in part because the rest of the team is so bad that he feels he has to make big plays all the time. I agree. It would be great if we could all agree on that. But I don't think we do.

QUOTE (Jenksy Cat @ Nov 12, 2009 -> 10:38 PM) People can't seem to get past that unfortunately. The entire team sucks, yet it somehow all falls on Cutler. Sad stuff. No. That's just the point. It doesn't "all" fall on Cutler. But for some folks, none of it falls on Cutler. I GET that Cutler has talent. I GET that he's way down the list of problems. Turner is a dope. Angelo built the worst offensive line in the league. Forte looks slow. And the receivers are inexperienced and not so good. I don't even like Kyle Orton, unlike some wackos who make it all about him. What I'm pointing out is something different -- a very weird excuse-everything-Cutler-does mentality that has started to creep into these discussions about the Bears. He's the quarterback, and he's turned it over a lot. And some of those -- yes -- are his fault. His fault.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 12, 2009 -> 10:31 PM) With essentially no time on the clock, you try to make a play. It was a hail mary from 12 yards out. I said that. I'm talking about across the year, not the last 8 seconds tonight. (In the first half, for example. Throw the f***ing ball away down there.)

QUOTE (southsideirish71 @ Nov 12, 2009 -> 10:30 PM) The one where Hester fell down? I am sure he misses the line he had in Denver. And the receivers who actually can get open and run routes and catch the ball. But he's not quarterbacking Denver, is he? Deal with what you have in front of you. No question, this team sucks, and Cutler's about 46th on the list of what's wrong. But c'mon; let's not pretend he hasn't made some bad judgments, no matter what the reason.

QUOTE (southsideirish71 @ Nov 12, 2009 -> 10:28 PM) Its a combination of a few things. Tight area. Our receivers are horrible at making plays. Hit them in the break basket on a slant, sure. Make a decision on their own. f*** that. Olsen for all of his talent can't get open. Bad line puts lots of pressure on QB. Crappy Line + receivers who can't catch or run routes or get open + small area + QB who knows he is the only one that can make the play = bad red zone execution. + Bad decision-making by him. Sure, he's good and there's really nothing else to do end-of-game. But across the year, he's forced it down there in game situations where it wasn't necessary. Take the 3 sometimes.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Nov 12, 2009 -> 10:24 PM) The 5th INT was just a piss poor throw by Cutler. so 2 INTs on the night basically. Yeah. I feel for the guy because the team around him is miserable, and he obviously has a ton of talent. But he's had his moments of being point-blank awful. That can't be sugar-coated. Anyway, I have no idea how good or bad he is, because the team around him -- and his offensive coach -- are brutal.

QUOTE (southsideirish71 @ Nov 12, 2009 -> 10:22 PM) Dear Ron Shoop. The No Huddle seems to work. Maybe we should try it outside of when there is a minute left. No way. We're a running team.

Kreutz can suck it. Snap the ball, son. Snap it. Maybe after another 15 years in the league he'll get it all figured out . . .

QUOTE (BlackBetsy @ Nov 12, 2009 -> 10:16 PM) This is the worst exhibition of football I've seen in a long, long time. You'd have to go all the way back to last week to see something similar.

QUOTE (fathom @ Nov 12, 2009 -> 10:16 PM) That looked like one of those cheesy football parody movies where the fattest guy on the field jumps on the pile. Sadly, Williams is probably the best of the lineman. That says it all. Angelo=Failelo.

This team is one of the worst-assembled and worst-coached teams I've seen in a long time. Seriously, put Lovie and Angelo out of their misery. Just dumb-assed, stupid play by bad players who shouldn't have been drafted. Idiot 1 and Idiot 2 should be sent on their way. And take Idiot 3 (Turner) with them.

QUOTE (fathom @ Nov 7, 2009 -> 09:41 AM) Don't like to hear Beckham even mentioning something about the "politics involved with it". I can't wait for these veterans to leave, as there's no doubt the clubhouse will be better off for it. +1

QUOTE (beck72 @ Nov 6, 2009 -> 04:27 PM) I'm going by Kenny's comments late last year talking about guys who "quit". I bet Alexei was one of those guys he was talking about, as his body language and play in Aug. and Sept. certainly looked the part. There were few guys Kenny could be pointing the finger at and he certainly won't ruin a guy's trade value by berating beforehand. Teahen may be "penciled" in now at 3b, but I think a better glove man is out there, such as Beltre or Figgins so the sox can move Gordon to SS. I basically hated Alexei at shortstop for most of the year, but I did feel he got a lot better in the last 2 months. His range and awareness seemed to improve. I don't think you can do that if you've quit. If anything, he looked more focused, not less.

QUOTE (nitetrain8601 @ Nov 2, 2009 -> 08:12 PM) That's what I was saying in the Swisher Vazquez thread I believe a while back. This just confirms it basically that guys like Dye, Konerko, Thome didn't like guys who spoke up and tried to lead vocally. From what it sounds like, they're the ones led to Orlando Cabrera becoming an outcast and eventually off the team when he was providing the fire and being vocal about what this team was and needed. Were they right about Swisher? Most would say yes, and I'll probably now say yes considering Ken Griffey, whom Swisher said he was one of his biggest fans, tried to give him tips on his stance which Swisher just ignored. In the end, I think this confirms Cabrera got a raw deal, obviously, no one but Ozzie wants to speak up, and the Vets kind of are ruining the clubhouse like Everett alluded to when he was off the team in '06. Gonzales pins the most blame on the vets for last season. Well, I don't know if it's credible, but the Twins clubhouse apparently loved Cabrera. He was a winner in Boston, and Scioscia loved him in L.A. So, at some point, yeah, I've always wondered if he was the problem -- or if it was the clubhouse of set-in-their-ways guys who had gotten too comfortable. Those are the some of the same guys, by the way, who pretty much shut down in August of this year, and who Gonzalez is referring to in very, very direct terms as having no character. For a beat reporter to say that is unbelievable.

QUOTE (Brian @ Oct 25, 2009 -> 05:54 PM) P.S. If Benson wants to keep running out there when the game is in the bag, a helmet to the thigh could be in order. At least . . .

What a badly coached football team.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Oct 25, 2009 -> 05:47 PM) I don't think Olsen has ever really been "rated" since being in the NFL. He's never done anything that worthy of praise, really. But that didn't stop the Chicago sheep media from slobbering all over him during camp. I mean, hey, he went out Jay Cutler to some bars, didn't he?

QUOTE (whitesoxbrian @ Oct 25, 2009 -> 05:26 PM) When does JA get the blame? Honestly, it was great bringing in Cutler. But Omiyale is awful at his current position of RG, Kreutz is old, Pace is f***ing awful (I see why the Rams couldn't use him), Garza is average, and Williams isn't very good. Ron Turner is using Olsen like he's f***ing Alge Crumpler. Hey dips***, he's 6'6 and he runs like a deer. What about this f***ing DL? I thought Marinelli was supposed to be like the Holy Lord Savior? Harris is just as bad as last year, Ogunleye and Alex Brown have been MIA for the past 2 weeks, and we traded a 2nd round pick for Gaines Adams yet he doesn't see the field except to block opposing teams' extra points. Kevin Payne just blows a** and Bowman is getting toasted out there. Plenty of blame for Angelo; plenty of blame for Lovie Smith: Payne and Bowman are favorites; he's coddled Harris for 2 years; his Tampa 2 has been a welcome mat for running backs going back to the Super Bowl season. Oh - and his team looks heartless . . .

Hey, guess what? The Bears are terrible.