richard Kagan's Chicago Bears Fan Profile

Bears Still In Hibernation posted on 09/02/2010

The Chicago Bears are 0-3 this pre-season.  Not that a record in pre-season means the regular season, but since they have not played well in the pre-season, one can make some assumptions:  The Bears will likely have a sub.500 season.

They won't make the playoffs.  That likely means say goodbye to Lovie Smith and GM Jerry Angelo.  The Bears need a Bill Cowher type coach to turn this team around.  I don't know if he is a screamer.  But they need someone to put some life in them.  Not fear.  They need a coach who sees what potential is not being utilized.  The seaon hasn't started yet but I will say it, The Bears are already underperforming.  They get this promising QB with a Jim Thorpe type arm, a guy who can zip the ball.  Elway had a great arm.  It is wierd that Cutler, who was to be the next Elway in Denver, can't bring out what he has in him.  I think it is a confidence factor and he doesn't seem suited for this team.

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Pierzynski's HR downs Tribe, 4-3 posted on 08/31/2010

Perhaps the Chicago White Sox will look back on their season and say that their 4-3 road win against the Indians was a big one.

Credit catcher A. J. Pierzynski with coming up with a clutch three run HR in the top of the 9th to break a 1-1 tie.  The Sox held on to top Cleveland 4-3.  Edwin Jackson pitched into the 9th to notch his 3rd win with Chicago since arriving from Arizona in a late summer trade.  The win puts the Sox 4 games behind first place Minnesota in the AL Central. 

In the top of the 9th, Alex Rios and Carlos Quinton walked and I had the thought that walking batters is going to come back to haunt you.  A.J. Pierzynski made sure of that.  He took an 0-1 pitch deep to right and Chicago took the lead.  Manny Ramirez was on deck when A. J. hit paydirt.  The Manny show will have to wait another day.  This was a big win on the road in the midst of a pennant race.  Jackson pitched strongly until the 9th inning when he got in a jam and gave up a 2 out single to which made the score 4-3 Sox.  Bobby Jenks gave up a base-hit and got the third out with the winning run in scoring position.  The Indians made it interesting in the 9th inning but the White Sox held on.

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Jenks is Jinxed But Sox Prevail, 10-6 over Indians posted on 08/30/2010

The White Sox pounded out 21 hits and scored 10 runs.  It could have been more like 15 runs, if the Sox made their hits count.  But backed by Alex Rios' strong night at the plate, going 5 for 6, including a home run, the Sox were able to withstand a 9th inning meltdown by closer Bobby Jenks. 

Jenks, it appears, has lost it.  He gave up 3 runs, 2 of them earned and the Indians tied it 6-6 in the last of fhe 9th.  But the Sox scored 4 runs in the top of the 11th to pull ahead 10-6.  The lineup is producing hits.  The Sox don't need a hit machine in Manny Ramirez, they need a closer.  Any takers?  It's going to be a wild stretch drive for the Sox...if they can get some outs, they might have a chance.

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Manny Headed to ChiSox posted on 08/29/2010

Manny Ramirez, who electrified the city of Los Angeles while a member of the Dodgers, was claimed off waivers and will be heading to the Chicago White Sox.  While this addition is going to add plenty of buzz in Chicagoland, and will make the lineup of the White Sox formidable, time will tell if this is the answer that Chicago needs.

It says here, that the Sox need relief pitching. You can't homer your way to the post-season.  But you can pitch your way into it.  And, the Sox sorely need a revamped BP.  Two pitcher are on the DL, and the closer, Bobby Jenks, has been shaky of late.  Jenks has talent.  But like all closers, he walks a tightrope and sometimes falls. 

Like in basketball, there was only one Michael Jordan.  In the relief pitching world, there is only one Mariano Rivera, and the NY Yankees have him.  Rivera is almost lights out every time he approaches the mound.  Sometimes he gets hit, but it is as rare as getting hit by lightning, perish the thought.

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Sox Lose A Tough Game, 2-1 to Yanks posted on 08/29/2010

It's getting toward crunch time and the Chicago White Sox wasted scoring chances only to fall 2-1 to the NY Yankees in Chicago before a sold-out crowd.  It was a picture perfect day for baseball and Gavin Floyd pitched well but not well enough for the win, in giving up 2 runs.  Rookie pitcher Ivan Nova did him better, going 5 2/3 innings while allowing a Juan Pierre single to drive in Gordon Beckham. 

The Sox hitters were shut down today and they just couldn't put the hits together when they needed them.  The Sox had the bases loaded with two outs in the 6th inning but failed to score.  Other opportunitiess were also wasted.  Good teams take advantage of their opportunities and the Sox failed to do that today.  Their loss was the 9th in their last 14 games.

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