Videos

Chicago Cubs: Tyler Chatwood shines as Cubs take series from MILon July 26, 2020 at 9:54 pm

Chicago Cubs (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)
Chicago Cubs (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)

Starting pitcher Tyler Chatwood took the mound as the Chicago Cubs wrapped up an Opening Weekend series.

Baseball is back, and Chicago Cubs fans wouldn’t have it any other way. The team opened up their 2020 campaign against arguably their most hated NL Central rival, the Milwaukee Brewers. After an Opening Day victory courtesy of a brilliant outing from Kyle Hendricks, the Cubs dropped Game 2 on Saturday.

Sunday afternoon, it was Tyler Chatwood who had the chance to tip the scale in favor of the Cubs in this year’s opening 3-game series.

Now in his third season with the Cubs, Chatwood has been hot and cold. He has struggled mightily over the last two seasons with his walk percentage. This is the main reason why Cubs fans have been frustrated with his overall performance.

Last year, he was better than in 2018. But, that could be attributed to his mostly coming out of the bullpen.

Now, the Cubs are depending on him as a starter once more.

More from Da Windy City

Sunday afternoon against Milwaukee, he started strong. In the first inning, Chatwood earned two strikeouts. He did walk a batter in that initial inning, which gave fans a little reason to worry. But, overall, it was a pleasant beginning.

RELATED PRODUCT
The Bryzzo Show T-Shirt by BreakingT
The Bryzzo Show T-Shirt by BreakingT

In the second, he followed it up with a 1-2-3 inning. He continued his strong play into the third inning, having retired nine of his first 10 batters. In the third, he showed the ability to battle back from a 3-0 count against Orlando Arcia. After pulling the count to 3-2, Arcia grounded out. It was an impressive part in Chatwood’s overall solid performance.

All in all, Chatwood struck out eight batters in six innings pitched, allowing just one run on three hits. He also walked just two batters, which fans (and the team) can definitely live with.

The Cubs gave their pitching staff plenty of run support, too, beating the Brewers 9-1. After Chatwood exited the game, Chicago’s bullpen took over and handled Milwaukee swimmingly. In fact, the pen didn’t give up a single hit in the final three innings.

If the Cubs are going to get the Chatwood they saw on Sunday on a more consistent basis, their playoff chances increase greatly. Actually, their chances at competing for more than just a playoff spot increase. Chatwood has always caused uncertainty, especially amongst fans.

But, if he can stay within the zone like he did Sunday afternoon, he’ll give these Cubs a solidified starter, just as they thought they’d have when they signed Chatwood back before the 2018 season.

Load Comments

Read More

Chicago Cubs: Tyler Chatwood shines as Cubs take series from MILon July 26, 2020 at 9:54 pm Read More »

Chicago Bears: Where does roster rank among NFL teams?on July 26, 2020 at 12:00 pm

(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Where does the Chicago Bears roster rank compared to the rest of the NFL?

All offseason, one of the biggest questions that’s been asked about the Chicago Bears is where the team’s roster ranks when compared to the rest of the NFL. It’s a difficult question to answer since the Bears have an elite defense, however, the offense has yet to realize its true potential.

On the defensive side of the ball, we all know what the Bears have with names like Khalil Mack, Roquan Smith, Eddie Jackson, Akiem Hicks, Kyle Fuller, and Danny Trevathan. An elite defensive core that’s been together since 2018, along with another year of Chuck Pagano’s system means the defense will be one of the best in the NFL heading into 2020.

The one area of concern on the defensive side of the ball, however, is depth at positions like middle and outside linebacker, as well as cornerback. Behind Trevathan and Smith, as well as Mack and Robert Quinn, the Bears need to hope that names like Keandre Jones, Trevis Gipson, and Rashad Smith are able to step up and fill the void left by guys like Kevin Pierre-Louis, Nick Kwiatkoski, and Aaron Lynch.

When it comes to the offensive side of the ball, outside of wide receiver Allen Robinson and center Cody Whitehair, the Bears have a lot of work to do. Quarterback is the biggest question mark on the roster, however, positions such as wide receiver, tight end, and running back have players like Anthony Miller, Cole Kmet, and David Montgomery, who have potential but have yet to realize it.

If there’s one thing that’s clear, the Bears believe that Miller, Kmet, and Montgomery are the future. Miller, despite struggling in 2019 managed to finish the season strong. Montgomery, despite a porous offensive line. Kmet, the Bears first pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, is expected to be the solution to the tight end position in Matt Nagy’s offense.

Overall, the Bears’ roster is one of the more difficult ones to analyze in the NFL. Right now, the roster isn’t necessarily in the bottom half of the NFL, but it’s not a top-ten roster either. The roster ranks anywhere between 14 and 21, putting it in the middle tier.

RELATED PRODUCT
Chicago Bears Printed Collection Mini Backpack
Chicago Bears Printed Collection Mini Backpack

The defense, which is as good as any in the NFL, ends up being held back due to the state of the offense. This means that the Bears aren’t exactly true Super Bowl but in order to be so, two things need to happen. First, the offense needs to turn things up a notch and become a true scoring machine. And second, the defense needs to produce more takeaways and sacks, the latter of which is expected to happen in 2020.

Next: Chicago Cubs: Kyle Hendricks has historic opening day

With the 2020 season approaching quickly, general manager Ryan Pace has to hope that the roster he’s spent constructing over the last six offseasons finally has what it takes to realize it’s true potential by being able win with both sides of the ball executing properly.

Load Comments

Read More

Chicago Bears: Where does roster rank among NFL teams?on July 26, 2020 at 12:00 pm Read More »

Chicago Bears: Of course there is no preseason in 2020on July 26, 2020 at 1:00 pm

(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

The Chicago Bears could have really used a preseason in 2020, but of course, it is canceled.

The Chicago Bears could have really used a preseason. They have been pretty useless in the preseason in Matt Nagy’s tenure with the team because he has refused to use his starters in most games. One year he ended up being the coach of the year so nobody questioned it and in year two he was awful so it looked bad in hindsight. This was probably going to be a year where he used that preseason time wisely.

It is especially tough because this is the first time in Matt Nagy’s Bears tenure that he has had to be a part of a quarterback competition. Mitchell Trubisky was the second overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft by the Bears but he is one bad year away from being cut by the team. They traded a fourth-round pick for former Super Bowl MVP, Nick Foles.

One of those guys is going to be under center if COVID-19 doesn’t cause any issues for the season. Neither of them is the true option that you want but with a defense like the Bears have, you need to have two options and go with the better player. Not having a preseason is going to make it difficult to decide who truly deserves to be the guy.

The coaching staff is going to have to use what they see in training camp to determine who deserves the Week 1 start. A lot of people think Trubisky has the edge in this situation but Foles is no stranger to the type of offense that Matt Nagy likes to run.

Hot: The Chicago Bears have a great group of linebackers

Outside of the quarterback competition, you can also argue that this is a benefit for the Bears. Nobody might buy the argument but it is true that most of the Bears players are used to barely playing in the preseason while some of their opponents might not be. Either way, it just seems to be so in line with Bears’ history for there not to be a preseason because of a health crisis in a year where they really could have used some exhibition games to sort a few things out.

Load Comments

Read More

Chicago Bears: Of course there is no preseason in 2020on July 26, 2020 at 1:00 pm Read More »

Morning Cubs Recap: It was just one losson July 26, 2020 at 1:21 pm

Cubs Den

Morning Cubs Recap: It was just one loss

Read More

Morning Cubs Recap: It was just one losson July 26, 2020 at 1:21 pm Read More »

Cubs Game Post 7/26on July 26, 2020 at 4:20 pm

Cubs Den

Cubs Game Post 7/26

Read More

Cubs Game Post 7/26on July 26, 2020 at 4:20 pm Read More »

A letter to my daughter: You probably won’t remember 2020, and I’m OK with that.on July 26, 2020 at 7:46 pm

Aspiring Dance Mom

A letter to my daughter: You probably won’t remember 2020, and I’m OK with that.

Read More

A letter to my daughter: You probably won’t remember 2020, and I’m OK with that.on July 26, 2020 at 7:46 pm Read More »

Chicago Week in Craft Beer, July 27-30on July 26, 2020 at 3:59 am

The Beeronaut

Chicago Week in Craft Beer, July 27-30

Read More

Chicago Week in Craft Beer, July 27-30on July 26, 2020 at 3:59 am Read More »

Chicago Cubs come out of the gate strongon July 25, 2020 at 1:00 pm

(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

The Chicago Cubs came out dealing.

On Friday night, baseball returned to the North Side as the Chicago Cubs took on division rival Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field. Cubs fans had to have been pleasantly surprised with what they saw.

After months of wondering whether we would have baseball this year, fans quickly settled into the familiar feeling of watching their favorite team. But after such a long layoff, fans had little idea what to expect. Though some fans were ready to sound the alarm after a couple of exhibition game losses to the Chicago White Sox.

However, the Cubs, at least for opening night, came out firing on all cylinders.

Ian Happ smacked a two-run home run in the bottom of the third inning to get the Cubs out to an early lead.

It turns out, that’s all the team would need. However, Anthony Rizzo, the team’s resident hand sanitizer dispenser, added an eighth-inning home run just for good measure.

Starter Kyle Hendricks pitched an absolute gem. He tossed a complete-game shutout, scattering three hits over nine innings while striking out nine without walking a batter. Hendricks needed only 103 pitches (74 of them were strikes) to dispense of the Brewers.

RELATED PRODUCT
Chicago Baseball Cotton Cap
Chicago Baseball Cotton Cap

It was a dazzling performance from the Cubs’ rock of the rotation and it is the kind of start that could set the tone for the entire season. The Cubs will certainly try to parlay this positive momentum into the second game of their series with the Brew Crew.

But for tonight, Cubs fans can sit back, relax, and enjoy a dominating performance from their team. It should also go a long way to assuage some of the concerns fans had heading into the season.

Granted, it’s just one game. However, with only a grand total of 60 of them, it is critical for the Cubs to get off to a strong start and it does not get any stronger than dominating your division rival in every facet of the game.

Next: Cubs have improved chances of making playoffs

Now they turn their attention to tomorrow night when Yu Darvish takes the hill for an afternoon tilt. Taking the first two against the Brewers would be a huge confidence booster, and the Cubs are halfway there.

Load Comments

Read More

Chicago Cubs come out of the gate strongon July 25, 2020 at 1:00 pm Read More »

Chicago White Sox stumble out of the gate in season debuton July 25, 2020 at 2:00 pm

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JUNE 18: Eloy Jimenez #74 of the Chicago White Sox hits the game-winning, two run home run in the 9th inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on June 18, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JUNE 18: Eloy Jimenez #74 of the Chicago White Sox hits the game-winning, two run home run in the 9th inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on June 18, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

The Chicago White Sox looked sloppy on Friday night.

It is hard to remember a time when Chicago White Sox fans were more optimistic and excited about the start of a season than they have been for the beginning of the 2020 season.

Since a flurry of free agent moves in the offseason, which included the additions of Dallas Keuchel, Yasmani Grandal, and Edwin Encarnacion, fans have been filled with anticipation.

For the first time in a while, there is a real sense of optimism, as an extremely talented youthful roster has been infused with just the right amount of veteran presence, which have fans legitimately hoping for a playoff run this year — which is an even greater possibility with the league expanded to 16 playoff teams.

Well, that quest kicked off in earnest on Friday night against the power-hitting Minnesota Twins, but the early returns were a disappointment.

Starter Lucas Giolito got scuffed up pretty hard in the first inning. He gave up a home run on his first pitch of the season, en route to a 30+ pitch inning. By the time the inning was over, the White Sox were down 4-0 before they came to bat.

The South Siders would tie things up 5-5 in the second inning on a three-run home run off the bat of Yoan Moncada but that’s as close as they would get. The Twins pulled away to eventually take the opener 10-5.

RELATED PRODUCT
Carlton Fisk Chicago White Sox Majestic Threads Softhand Cotton Cooperstown 3/4-Sleeve Raglan T-Shirt - Cream
Carlton Fisk Chicago White Sox Majestic Threads Softhand Cotton Cooperstown 3/4-Sleeve Raglan T-Shirt – Cream

Giolito lasted only 3.2 innings, giving up seven runs on six hits while striking out three and walking three. Moncada was the star of the game for the Sox, going 3-5 with his 3 RBI. Eloy Jimenez, Tim Anderson, and Luis Robert were also sharp in their season debut, each posting two hits.

But beyond that, there wasn’t much to get excited about in the opener. While it was only one game, it will certainly be interesting to see how the White Sox respond to a season where there are legitimate expectations. Pressure to meet those expectations is not something this team has had to deal with.

Next: Luis Robert deserves more attention

The Sox will look to get their first win today as Dallas Keuchel makes his White Sox debut at 2:10 EST, and we’ll all be watching.

Load Comments

Read More

Chicago White Sox stumble out of the gate in season debuton July 25, 2020 at 2:00 pm Read More »

Chicago Cubs: Yu Darvish only part of problem in loss to Brewerson July 25, 2020 at 9:31 pm

Chicago Cubs (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)
Chicago Cubs (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Yu Darvish had a tough time Saturday, but so did others.

Opening Day was a glistening bright spot for the Chicago Cubs during such a crazy year. Fans couldn’t have asked for better than beginning the shortened season against a divisional rival.

Game 1 saw the Cubs and Brewers sputter out to just a handful of runs total, but Chicago did enough behind homers from Ian Happ and Anthony Rizzo to win by a score of 3-0. The star of the show was Kyle Hendricks, who put on a dazzling, historic performance Friday night.

While Hendricks became the first Cubs pitcher to earn an Opening Day shutout via complete game since 1974, fellow starting pitcher Yu Darvish would struggle in the team’s second game of the season.

Saturday afternoon, Darvish started a bit slow out of the gate. Through the first two innings, he was already up to 46 pitches. Funny enough, Brewers starting pitcher Corbin Burnes was actually sitting at 47 pitches through the first two innings. It was a slow grind to begin the outing for each pitcher.

After seeing multiple base runners in both the first and second inning, though, Darvish settled down in the third when he struck out the side.

Once again in the fourth inning, we saw a shift from Darvish, and this time it was back the other way. Darvish unraveled in the fourth inning, giving up a 2-run triple to Ben Gamel with zero outs — this immediately after we saw him toss a wild pitch.

RELATED PRODUCT
Chicago Cubs Youth Family Holiday Pajamas - 10/12 (M)
Chicago Cubs Youth Family Holiday Pajamas – 10/12 (M)

Darvish was done after four, giving up three runs, and in came Duane Underwood Jr., who gave up a solo shot. Following Underwood, the Cubs brought in Brad Wieck. A familiar foe, Christian Yelich, took Wieck deep on a 2-run home run to make the score 6-3 in favor of Milwaukee.

Then, it was James Norwood who gave up three hits and two earned runs in the seventh inning, while failing to snag a single strikeout. Those two runs made it 8-3 Brewers, and the Cubs couldn’t rally beyond that point.

While it is fair to point the finger at Darvish for a sluggish first start, he also didn’t make it too far long into the game and David Ross was forced into going to the bullpen much earlier than he’d like to.

The bullpen — that’s going to be the Cubs’ Achilles heel this season. It’s a pen that looks much different than it did last year, since the team lost a few pieces via free agency and the Cubs brass decided not to spend.

Fans were frustrated over the lack of spending, especially when it came to relief pitching — and it looks like they will continue to be frustrated, if we’re going off what we saw Saturday. It is only one bullpen sighting, but it wasn’t pretty.

Darvish can very well be better than he was, but the pen has to follow suit. This is going to be the same old song and dance for the Cubs if they don’t improve.

Load Comments

Read More

Chicago Cubs: Yu Darvish only part of problem in loss to Brewerson July 25, 2020 at 9:31 pm Read More »