Even in a shortened season, the hiring of David Ross by the Chicago Cubs is clearly paying off.
As soon as the Chicago Cubs fired Joe Maddon before the conclusion of the 2019 MLB regular season, many wondered who the Cubs next manager would be. After multiple names were floated around, Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer settled on David Ross, who had won a world series with the team back in 2016.
All throughout the offseason, many wondered whether hiring Ross was a good idea. One of the main reasons that was cited was the fact that Ross would now be responsible for overseeing guys like Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant, his former teammates whom he won a world series with.
However, in a 60-game season, hiring Ross is clearly paying off. The Cubs comfortably sit in first place in the NL Central and should be strengthening their lead but are unable to do so since the St.Louis Cardinals are dealing with COVID-19 in their clubhouse.
While Ross will need to figure out the Cubs bullpen issues, it’s clear that he was the right hire for the job. If there is one thing that’s hard to disagree on, it’s that the best players often end up becoming the best coaches and managers once their career is over.
One of the many things that Ross has clearly done upon arriving in Chicago is creating a unique culture that was sorely missing after the Cubs won with World Series with Maddon. A culture change, for any locker room, can do wonders in the long-term.
With Ross now running the show, you have to wonder what will happen with Bryant, who’s set to hit free agency during the 2022 MLB offseason. If Ross continues to help the club win, will that potentially have an impact on Bryant’s future with the Cubs, especially considering he’s been involved in trade rumors.
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Additionally, another thing to keep in mind is that while Ross and the Cubs continue to win games, it’s also worth noting that these excellent results are coming during a unique and shortened season. This should further provide the Cubs fanbase, as well as front office hope that when a 162-game season does eventually return for the MLB, Ross and the Cubs can continue to deliver.
It may just be a small sample size, however, so far, the Cubs hiring of grandpa Rossy is one that’s paying early dividends. How far Ross can take the Cubs in 2020 is yet to be determined, however, the early signs have been encouraging.
Chicago Cubs (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images)
The Chicago Cubs clearly need to make a move in order to address the bullpen.
So far, the Chicago Cubs have been arguably the best team in baseball. Over the first 20 percent of the season, the Cubs sit atop the Majors in terms of overall record. In his first season as manager, David Ross has made the best of what this year has given him.
Ross and the Cubs have prided themselves on ensuring the safety protocols are met with complete certainty, and all the while, it has brought them closer together. And that’s just it: They are winning together.
The starting pitching rotation is arguably the best in baseball right now, finding themselves in the top three of every major category: Wins, ERA, strikeout vs. walk and batting average.
The Cubs have also continued to hit the ball out of the park, homering in all except for one game thus far. Chicago is scoring enough runs to get the job done while the starting pitching has been stellar.
One particular caveat to their season, though, has been the fact that the bullpen is as inconsistent as we thought they would be. To be fair, they did go through a nice 8-inning stretch where they allowed zero runs scored.
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Up to date stats you prob don’t see every day.
The Cubs are first in baseball in starter’s ERA (1.95) and last in bullpen ERA (7.55).
Overall, though, the bullpen has been the one thing fans are fearful of in each game. It seems they have followed a pattern in the majority of their games thus far: Earn a lead while the starting pitcher holds the opposition in check, enter the later innings, and then watch the bullpen nearly give the game away in the ninth inning.
Craig Kimbrel has been one of the main culprits, but Kyle Ryan has been nearly just as bad on some occasions. The Cubs have a couple of strong relievers who have helped tremendously, like Jeremy Jeffress and Rowan Wick. But, they need help.
With a trade deadline that could look much different this year, we examine a few pitchers the Cubs could go after to help fill the void in the bullpen.
The Chicago Cubs might be in the market to trade Jose Quintana back to the Chicago White Sox.
The Chicago Cubs made a terrible trade back in 2017 when they sent Eloy Jimenez, Dylan Cease, and two other prospects to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for Jose Quintana. It is one of the worst trades in the history of the Chicago Cubs because Jimenez is a superstar while Cease has the potential to be a stud pitcher. Meanwhile, Quintana has been very average and now he is injured because he doesn’t know how to wash dishes.
Well, there are rumors out there from reliable sources inside Major League Baseball that he might be on the block again. There is a word that a team that has depleted pitching depth because of injury might be looking to add him. One team that fits that profile is the previously mentioned Chicago White Sox. They could absolutely benefit by adding Jose Quintana back into the mix to be their number five guy.
The Cubs wanted Quintana in 2017 because he was coming off an all-star season and was a cost-controlled pitcher with term left on his contract. That is why they paid so much to acquire him from the White Sox as they were looking to repeat as World Series champions after going 108 years without one.
The Cubs aren’t going to be getting a “Jimenez/Cease like” return for Quintana this time around but a fair deal would be something in the short term to help them with their depth in a few key areas. These three trade packages might get it done between the Cubs and White Sox one more time:
Why is the NFC North wide open in 2020 for the Chicago Bears?
Right now, the Chicago Bears aren’t exactly being labeled as a team that can win the NFC North in 2020. The biggest reason? The question marks that exist at positions such as quarterback, defensive tackle, right guard, and tight end.
Besides the question marks above, many simply believe that the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings are better suited to win the NFC North in 2020. And why? Both teams seem to have an answer to the quarterback position, something that the Bears don’t have right now.
However, if we look at the division in general, it’s clear that no team made any division-altering moves in 2020. Neither Green Bay nor Minnesota did enough to significantly separate from the competition.
Then there’s the Detroit Lions, who’ll hope that quarterback Matthew Stafford is healthy and ready to go. And let’s be honest: Detroit hasn’t exactly made any moves that will allow for them to overtake Chicago, Green Bay or Minnesota.
In previous years, the NFC North has come down to two or three teams. Last offseason. it was a three-way race between the Bears, Packers, and Vikings. In 2018, many thought that it would be a two-way race between the Vikings and Packers. Throughout the earlier portions of the 2010s, it was the Packers who’d dominate the division.
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With the NFL season just over five weeks away, why exactly is the NFC North wide open? And what does this mean for a Chicago Bears team that’s hungry and ready to win the division for the second time in three years in the Matt Nagy era? Let’s break it all down and find out.
The ChicagoBlackhawks could use this series to keep an eye on pending Golden Knights free agents.
The Chicago Blackhawks have a date with the Vegas Golden Knights. They actually were able to defeat the Edmonton Oilers in the play-in round to advance to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2017. That was the first time they won a series of any kind since winning the Stanley Cup in 2015. It has been a brilliant run for the Hawks since hockey came back but Vegas is going to be really difficult to beat.
Well, this could also be a time to scout the team for the future. They are a good team because they have great players. They also have some players that are going to be unrestricted free agents after this year. They all make up the team and make it great but the Hawks could be looking to add some of them once the season is officially over for everyone.
Every team in the league loses a few players to the free agency every offseason and the Golden Knights will be no different. They have a lot of money taking up cap space so they won’t be bringing everyone back. The Blackhawks’ front office can use this opportunity to watch some of these guys up close so they can see what they can do.
The Hawks have needs at every position no matter what you think of the way they played during this past week. The Golden Knights pending free agents all fit the need for what this team is going to need going forward. Maybe they can add one of these three players if the price is right:
Groups of people broke store windows and looted stores in Chicago starting on Sunday, Aug. 9, and into Monday, Aug. 10. (Terrence Antonio James and Jose M. Osorio/Chicago Tribune)
Momma Jingle and Baby Belle are two female guinea pigs looking for a loving guardian together.
Momma Jingle had a litter of babies who were adopted. Baby Belle came in to Friends of Petraits with a colony of five guinea pigs. When Jingle was lonely Baby Belle came to comfort her. And, she is a hilarious baby … she jumps high in the air and runs circles around her large enclosure.
Jingle is missing one of her rear feet, but she doesn’t let that slow her down!
They are smooth-coated, very healthy and sweet. They are easy to hold and let you trim their nails.
They are talkative and make adorable whistles, squeals, chirps, squeaks and purring noises-especially when they hear their food coming.
Guinea pigs eat a diet of unlimited Timothy and Orchard hays, limited pellets, and fresh vegetables including romaine, red leaf and green leaf lettuces, cilantro, etc. Guinea pigs, like humans, can’t manufacture their own vitamin C, so they need to supplement with red pepper or other vitamin C rich foods.
Please read up on guinea pig care and diet before adopting by visiting this excellent web site http://www.guinealynx.info/.
They would love a home with people who will handle them daily, keep them well fed, and keep their habitat nice and clean.
If you’re interested in possibly adopting Jingle and Belle, please contact [email protected] for an adoption application.
They are being fostered in Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood.
Their adoption fee of $70 as a pair benefits the Friends of Petraits Rescue. For an additional $100, we’ll include a package of absolutely everything you need to care for them including a large cage, pellets, hay, litter, hidey huts and water bottles.
This 4,700-square-foot Schaumburg home has five bedrooms and 4½ bathrooms. The home has been renovated throughout and features hardwood floors, multiple fireplaces and tray ceilings. Custom cabinetry and quartz countertops make for a sleek kitchen, which is outfitted with appliances by Viking, Wolf, Sub-Zero and Miele. Along with a custom staircase, the home includes multiple family rooms, a skylight, and a walk-out mudroom. Two walk-in closets allow for ample storage in the primary bedroom, and custom bathrooms tout rain shower heads. Outside, the backyard is enhanced with a brick paver patio, and the attached garage is large enough for 3½ vehicles.
Agent: Lauren Dayton of Jameson Sotheby’s International Realty, 312-859-0071
The Chicago real estate market showed some strong signs of making a comeback in July
As expected the Chicago real estate market began to make up for a lot of lost time in July. Not only did sales (closings) come back to more normal levels but the stage is set for even stronger growth in August.
The graph below shows Chicago monthly home sales going back to 1997 with all the July values flagged in red and a light blue moving average line. Last month was up 2.7% from last year, though in two weeks the Illinois Association of Realtors will tell you it was only up 0.6% due to some flawed math. But we’re still operating at the lower end of the range over the last 8 years. Given how strong contract activity was in June I was actually surprised that July closings weren’t stronger also – but more on that later.
The moving average line (look closely) shows just how dramatically sales have been impacted by the Covid 19 retrenchment. Although the market is coming back I don’t think we will be able to fully make up for the losses this year.
Chicago home sales have been declining now for several years but the Coronavirus really tanked the market in May and June. July returned to more normal levels.
Chicago Home Contract Activity
July home contract activity was actually the big news because it was up 30.6% from last year, which is the biggest year over year increase in almost 8 years. Both condos and single family homes put in a strong showing but single family homes contributed more to this increase than condos. Given this activity, August – and maybe even September – closings should be much higher than last year.
Chicago home sale contract activity hit another record high for this time of year after plummeting to record lows because of Coronavirus issues.
Pending Home Sales
July’s huge increase in contract activity on top of June’s 14.4% increase haven’t yet flown through to closings. Consequently, July pending home sales have reached higher levels than 5 of the last 6 years. That’s an 828 unit increase over last year which is totally out of character with the long term downward trend we have been on. Eventually these pending deals will feed future closings which is why I expect big increases in August and even September closings.
After hitting historic lows the backlog of homes likely to close in the next 1 – 2 months has reached the highest levels in 4 years.
Distressed Home Sales
The percentage of Chicago home sales that are distressed somehow managed to eek out another decline to 3.3% from 4.7% a year ago. This was another record low despite the fact that we are approaching a limit to how low this percentage can go.
Since the housing crisis the percentage of home sales that are distressed has steadily declined.
Chicago Home Inventory
If you will recall I switched to my own measure of home inventory in order to more accurately reflect the dynamic Chicago real estate market conditions. My months of supply calculation is based upon each month’s contract activity instead of the annualized closings used in the standard MLS tools. As the real estate market normalizes I may be switching back to the standard tools for next month’s update.
Using my calculation I came up with a record low in detached inventory of only a 1.7 month supply. Attached inventory was lower than last year with a 3.6 month supply but we’ve seen lower than that in the past. These levels followed the huge spike that occurred in April when contract activity ground to a halt.
After a big Coronavirus induced spike in April the inventory of homes for sale dropped back down. Detached inventory hit a record low in July while attached inventory returned to normal levels.
Chicago Home Sale Market Times
The length of time that it took to sell a home in Chicago during July was largely unchanged from a year ago. Detached homes went under contract in an average of 70 days which is up from 68 days last July. Attached homes also took longer than last year, rising to 68 days from 64.
We can look to the median statistics for additional insight on how fast homes are selling. It’s interesting to note that the median market time for detached homes was actually down slightly to 27 days from 28 days last year but the median market time for attached homes was down a lot more. That fell from 31 days to 23 days.
So detached homes are taking about the same amount of time to sell as last year but half of attached homes are selling faster than last year. Since the average market time for attached homes is actually up from last year that means that the other half are essentially taking longer to go under contract. So stories of a hot Chicago real estate market are greatly exaggerated. If it were true all these properties would be going under contract a lot faster.
When the pandemic first hit Chicago market times rose but now they are close to being where they were last year.
Gary Lucido is the President of Lucid Realty, the Chicago area’s full service real estate brokerage that offers home buyer rebates and discount commissions. If you want to keep up to date on the Chicago real estate market or get an insider’s view of the seamy underbelly of the real estate industry you can Subscribe to Getting Real by Email using the form below. Please be sure to verify your email address when you receive the verification notice.
After 20 years in the corporate world and running an Internet company, Gary started Lucid Realty with his partner, Sari. The company provides full service, while discounting commissions for sellers and giving buyers rebates.
Donald Trump is obsessive. Once he gets started on something, he doesn’t let up…no matter how ridiculous it is. Hydroxychloroquine?
He likes to talk about becoming the fifth face on Mount Rushmore. It’s always said in a joking manner, but you know deep inside his head, he’s trying to find a way to make it happen.
The Rushmore thing came up again this weekend. There was a New York Times report that the White House inquired of South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem if it was possible to add Don to the mountain. Naturally, Trump said that it was fake news, but…in a tweet said:
“This is Fake News by the failing @nytimes & bad ratings @CNN. Never suggested it although, based on all of the many things accomplished during the first 3 1/2 years, perhaps more than any other Presidency, sounds like a good idea to me!”
Just another facepalm moment in the daily world of Trump, right? But, what if it could actually be done? What if Trump was on Mount Rushmore? What would that look like? How would he pose? Here are a few ideas:
My so called friends think it’s time to edit this section. After four years, they may be right, but don’t tell them that. I’ll deny it until they die!
I can’t believe I’ve been writing this blog for four years.
It started as a health/wellness thing and over the years has morphed to include so many things that I don’t know how to describe it anymore.
I really thought this was going to be the final year of the blog but then Donald Trump came along. It looks like we’re good for four more years..God help us all!
Oh yeah…the biographical stuff. I’m not 60 anymore. The rest you can read about in the blog.
