ChicagoSportsBlogs : Non Compete

I rushed home tonight. Bears games will do that to a man in this town. Even for preseason games. Tonight's game was against the 49ers. Aaaah the Niners! They should have been an easy victory for us. But alas, the Bears lost this meaningless game 37-30. Don't let the score fool you. As I write this sentence, Hanie unloaded a hail mary that was actually caught to bring the Bears within 7 points. Too bad there is no more time on the clock.

There are some interesting comparisons between the beloved Bear and the Niners. Both teams are struggling to figure out which way is up. Both have quarterback issues. The 49ers, like the Bears, have decided to go away from their highly drafted (first round) QB. Alex Smith is the west coast version of Rex Grossman. Ok, that's not fair. Grossman is worse. Tonight proved that point. Smith and Grossman have amounted to pretty much nothing. (all you Grossman lovers who want to remind me that Alex Smith NEVER ONCE sniffed a Superbowl should just shut the F up already. Grossman COST US the Superbowl win.) Smith's best year was when Norv Turner was the offensive coordinator for the 49ers. Today, the offensive coordinator/ hired gun Mike Martz is in San Francisco and he wants no part of Alex Smith. It's so bad in Niners land that JT O'Sullivan is going to be named their starting quarterback. Remember him? O'Sullivan was once a Bears quarterback. He never really got a chance here, so I guess we shouldn't be too bitter if he turns out to be the next Tony Romo. (slow down, I know...)

The Bears looked like a completely different team when Grossman was at the helm. A bad team. Orton won this job with ease as far as I am concerned. I can't believe that this was even a true competition after watching Orton hit Davis for 2 nice touchdowns tonight. If you wanted to get picky, that first touchdown was all Rashied. Orton stepped into the pocket while feeling the rush (good), but he threw that pass into triple coverage (bad). I guess we'll have to take it.

So the good news is that Orton showed his potential tonight. The line held up much better, and Matt Forte actually moves FORWARD when he runs. I can't tell you the last time I saw a Bears quarterback actually gain 7 yards on a single carry. Neil Anderson maybe? Forte is going to be great, if we don't get him killed out there. He is another night and day difference when compared to last year's pathetic running back, Cedric Benson. So what did we learn from this preseason game against the Niners? Here is the list of takeaways:

• Alex Smith and Rex Grossman have to be traded. Their careers are over in each respective city. Perhaps we should do a "change of scenery" trade and swap the two for each other. (This is actually a CDub idea, I can't take credit)
• Orton isn't bad. He actually has a good looking arm on the short routes. Since that is all Ron Turner calls, we might as well go with Orton.
• Forte is an upgrade at running back. A dramatic upgrade. He needs to stay healthy. I consider him the only true bright spot on this offense
• Our offensive line is old. It shows. We need to plan accordingly.
• Rashied Davis is the best wide receiver on this team. Davis and Hester should start with Booker. We actually may be able to make some plays with these guys. (if we can protect Orton)
• The defense isn't as good as we think. Did you see the Pam Oliver, sideline interview of old # 54? He told the nation that the Bears defense just SUCKED tonight. And that was against the Niners and JT O'Freaking-Sullivan! If the defense is this bad, we are in serious, serious trouble this year.
• It is confirmed, no one is going to kick to Devin Hester
• Hanie came back down to earth tonight, but then again he still looked better than Grossman
• So Norv Turner made Alex Smith look good (even with a career best 16 TDs and 16 INTs) and Ron Turner made Grossman look like, well...me. What would happen if we swapped Turners?
• Does anyone have any idea why it took so long for Troy Aikman to find Wrigley field?

That does it for me. My nice extended summer break is over. It's time to get ready for football (both Northwestern and Bears) So Bear Down and spread the word.

I'm getting messages from SarahN about the Sox trading for Horatio Ramirez from the Royals tonight. The Royals continue to be a sort of breeding ground for Kenny Williams' plan-Bs. I'm not sure what they traded to get this guy, and I'm not sure I want to know. The Sox were doing fine thanks to DJ Carrasco who came in for Jose Contreras.

Contreras blew an achilles tendon and is most likely done for the remainder of the season. I'm not sure if this would have made a difference to the White Sox, IF they made the playoffs because Contreras was already falling apart enough to be left off of the playoff roster. More news on these White Sox developments as I get the info...

[Update]

It seems that Boone Logan and Josh Fields have been sent down. This means a couple of things. Uribe is handling third until Crede comes back. So Fields is odd man out. I guess keeping Wise and Anderson on the roster is a must, considering we have two old, and slow outfielders covering center and right. (sorry JD, but you aren't moving as well as you used to. Same goes for you Jr.) Logan has been sent down because his ERA has jumped over 5. He got himself into a jam today against the Red Sox. Entering the game with a 1-1 score, and not being able to get an out before they come and get you is BAD TIMES. The Red Sox pounded Logan and as a result the White Sox are now staring UP at the Twins.

Go-Go-White Sox!

I braved the humid Chicago summer night last night to see the White Sox scratch and crawl back into the game. I was seriously about to leave my seats behind SoxMan as the Tigers built a 6-1 lead. I wondered outloud if I was witnessing the withering of the Sox live and in person. The summer swoon is something I have been waiting for. The Sox have been an on again, off again team. The recent losses to both the Royals and the Twins last week had me confirming my worst fears. The Sox are done.

And then Kyle Farnsworth steps on the mound. I am happy to report that I didn't give up on the Sox on Tuesday night. I was anxious to see some fireworks, but the way that Robertson was pitching I'd have to wait till next July 4th. But then there's Kyle Farnsworth. This guy is a Tigers pitcher for the second time, and he just can't get over the hump in Chicago. The Sox tore him apart. Alexai Ramirez's homer to tie the game in the bottom of the 8th with 2 outs was amazing. Unexpected, but still great. 

I'm running out of steam here tonight, so here are a few random thoughts from the past 2 Sox games this week. (this includes tonight's win against the Tigers)

• Konerko woke up and brought his .212 batting average up to the plate in the bottom of the 6th and instead of striking out, he actually hit a 2 run home run! Sox down 1 at this point. I'm watching fireworks, finally, and the Tigers are watching their 6-1 lead slip through their fingers. 
• I don't like Uribe at 3rd. He can't hit, and he doesn't have any range . He plays entirely too far back, as if he is still playing short stop when in fact he is covering 3rd base while Crede recovers. I say this knowing full well that the 3 runs that scored because he couldn't get a few throws to first in time were cancelled out by some great, late inning heroics with his glove. He has this ability to rescue himself just as the thought creeps into your mind, that he just SUCKS.
• Griffey had a rough first game. He went 0-4 while I was still at the game. The standing ovation was nice. That's the closest I have ever been to a Hall of Famer. I hope he gets comfortable with the park soon.
• Carlos Quentin is a man amongst boys.
• I was disappointed that Gavin Floyd only went 4 innings.
• Ozzie was suspended for 2 games and it showed a little bit with some of the moved NOT made.
• I was not happy to see us not win the game in the bottom of the 9th. We had a runner in scoring position and all we needed was a single to bring him in. Little stuff like that needs to change, and fast.

That's it. I'm tired. I didn't get to bed until 1 am last night, and I'm doing that again tonight. Bad times, but it's all because I know both of my readers are really anxious to read what I think of the White Sox.

Another White Sox winner tonight. Thank you Danks and Jenks!

Go-Go-White-Sox!

So much for the early reports. Brett Favre was traded tonight to the Jets. This flies in the face of the early reports this morning of a trade to the Bucs. Sorry Goose, but you still need to sift through 8 quarterbacks in Tampa Bay! ESPN has been going insane with this report. I had to stop writing my White Sox  post. (sorry White Sox fans, but I needed to take a breather)  The Jets?! J-E-T-, Jets, Jets Jets!

Wow.

So what does this mean for the Packers and for the Jets?

Well, for the Packers the circus is over. We don't know what they got for the 38 year old quarterback but if anything they got piece of mind. Business as usual isn't really possible with the coverage this story has received over the past 2 weeks, but at least Aaron Rodgers can start to pick up the pieces of his fragmented confidence. Let's just hope he doesn't do it against the Bears. On a side note, I recommend the trash talking members of the Bears D start with taunts that remind Rodgers that Favre is his "daddy". Just a suggestion. If the Packers got the first round pick they were rumored to be demanding of the Bucs but from the Jets, then the Packers are smarter than they look.

As for the Jets, they have 2 quarterbacks that are known commodities. In other words, they shouldn't really be evaluating what they have. There isn't a quarterback controversey in Jets-land, is there? Chad Pennington still has only one good arm. Clemens is a 3rd year guy that reminds me too much of our 2 starting quarterbacks, Orton and Sexy Rexy. There is potential there, but also danger. He's only played in 10 games but he throws a lot more picks than touchdowns. Hey, they've got Erik Ainge from Tennessee (rookie)!

The Jets could use a veteran like Favre. It's a good fit regardless of the soap opera questions ESPN keeps asking its analysts. Things like, how Favre will adapt to playing and living in New Jersey. "He can still hunt in New Jersey! They have some nice areas to live in too. He won't have to live in New York" Huh?! A dude who makes that much money shouldn't be worrying about his comfort level. He can turn New Jersey into San Diego with the bag of cash they Jets are going to give him. Great reporting by ESPN. Simply. Crap.

Hold it for a second...now Chris Mortensen is reporting that there is still drama?!?!

He claims Brett is still leaning towards the Bucs?! Holy Shit. This guy is a one man wrecking crew. He is going to toy with the Jets and the Bucs? The Jets are putting the trade in, but he is more comfortable with the Bucs? I can't handle it any longer. I fully expect the Jets and the Bucs to be strung along like the Packers when I wake up in the morning. If anything, this is going to help the Bears....right?

Come back tomorrow for how this trade to the Jets/Bucs impacts the Bears. I promise it will be interesting watercooler chatter.

BEAR DOWN