Bears Brain Trust will go over each position and see how the Bears did. We’ll look at how the Bears finished in 2009, what they tried to do during the offseason, and how well they executed — and if they should have done anything differently.
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Still here:

• Brian Urlacher, injured in the first half of week one; missed the rest of the season
• Tim Shaw, special teams player who has found himself a place in Bears lore because of one excellent game
• Kevin Malast, finished last season on the Bears practice squad

In:

• Matt Mayberry, undrafted free agent

It’s Urlacher or a outside linebacker sub. We all saw what that looks like last season.

2009 review: Things were OK for about two quarters

Brian Urlacher injured his right wrist in the first quarter of the first game last season. He played with the injury in the second quarter; the next day he had surgery; and that was the end of that. The Bears spent the rest of the 2009 season scrambling to find someone both physically and mentally capable of stepping in at middle linebacker.

The next-most experienced middle linebacker on the Bears roster, Hunter Hillenmeyer, took over for a couple weeks. Let’s just say he struggled.

Hillenmeyer was responsible for the deep middle — the middle linebacker’s main responsibility in the Tampa 2 — but he lacked the Urlacher-like athletic ability to do it. It wasn’t long before he was replaced by a more athletic option.

The better athlete was Nick Roach. But in his starts, he struggled to make the proper checks, and otherwise be the “quarterback” of the defense. So the Bears had no other choice but to go back to Hillenmeyer. But like I said, he struggled.
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Welcome: Post-trade deadline thoughts

If anything and everything has to have winners and losers then both the Cubs and the White Sox lost the trade deadline. The Sox more than the Cubs because what the White Sox were hoping to do matters a whole hell of a lot more.

The Cubs’ only deadline deal can be broken down into two separate deal. Break it down and the Cubs traded Ryan Theriot for Blake DeWitt; also, they traded Ted Lilly and $2.5 million for a decent prospect (Brett Wallach) and a low prospect (Kyle Smit).

In DeWitt, the Cubs got younger at the scrappy, over-loved (and he will be over-loved) infielder position. But to get anything decent, the Cubs basically had to buy him. Wallach isn’t a member of the Cubs without the $2.5 million; Lilly himself didn’t bring back much in return. I’m not saying the Cubs screwed up; I guess I just thought Ted Lilly was more valuable. Apparently, he wasn’t. (More on this later today).

On the South Side, Kenny Williams and company can spin that they’re happy to have Edwin Jackson. Maybe to some degree they would prefer to have Jackson over Daniel Hudson. But Williams can’t even fake his excitement as well as this guy holding a fish (photo via thecip at South Side Sox)

There are too many reports that say Williams and the Sox are upset with the Nationals for changing their minds at the last minute regarding Jackson. When the Nationals had the chance to get Jackson from the White Sox, they suddenly decided they preferred what they were already playing with.

That’s the Nationals’ prerogative. But when Dunn no longer seemed like he was a possibility, Williams definitely moved on to Lance Berkman and reportedly looked at Manny Ramirez. He even had a deal in place for Berkman, but the former Astro decided he rather play for the Yankees.

The White Sox lost at the deadline because I think Williams thinks they lost.

For more headlines and news from non-Chicago teams that matter, continue reading.
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Welcome: Derrek Lee

Not that it matters, but Derrek Lee says he had his reasons for refusing a trade to the Angels. From the Tribune:

“I didn’t just say no right away. … You’re not the only one moving. It affects other people in your life. You have to discuss it with them, take it all into consideration.”

Lee’s decision may make you wonder why he’d want to stick around this crappy team for the next few months. The situation won’t be any better when Carlos Zambrano returns and demands people call him “Drew.” Nobody likes that guy.

People do like Lee though. Some Cubs fans have turned on him this season because Lee has been admittedly awful at the plate. And here he had a far different way to help the Cubs, but passed on it. Instead, he’ll play out the season in Chicago, leave at the end of the year and the Cubs will probably get nothing for him.

At the end of the season, the Cubs can offer him arbitration. Lee is currently considered a “Type B” free agent, so receiving a supplemental pick between the first and second round in the draft is a possibility. However, The Cubs are usually cautious of offering arbitration, afraid the player will just sign the one-year deal.

They’ll probably be cautious with Lee, too. Right now, at least, Lee is telling us he doesn’t want to leave. I don’t usually agree with Phil Rogers, but I don’t think it takes a great mind to read between the lines and see Lee is hinting that he wants to remain a Cub — even if he won’t say so.

And the way he’s hitting right now (and he’ll be 35 next season) he isn’t a priority.

Headlines with a Chicago slant

Cubs 1, Astros 8:Carlos Lee joined Lance Berkman and Hunter Pence as a respectable hitter, at least for one game. But even with the three of them raking, why is no one raking Bud Norris. Norris is young; maybe one day he’ll be good. But now, he’s not.

Mariners 5, White Sox 6: Bobby Jenks dominated the same team who just last week started the Sox-need-a-closer-panic. I don’t think the White Sox need to be looking outside their clubhouse for a closer. The bullpen, in general, has been great.

Niemi day has come: Later today, the Blackhawks, Antti Niemi and an arbiter will meet. I don’t think anyone believes this will end up in the Hawks’ favor.

Thibodeau cleans house: Until last night, Pete Myers remained the lone holdover from Vinny Del Negro’s coaching staff. Now he’s gone, too.

For a brief roundup of scores and news from the non-Chicago teams that matter, continue reading.
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With the help of FanGraphs and Win Probability Added (WPA), a sentence-long recap of the night’s White Sox and/or Cubs game. Sometimes longer … but usually not.
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With NBA free agency winding down, grading and ranking team’s free agent hauls are common. What’s also common among those grading: the Bulls did as good as anyone besides the Heat.

One grader, David Aldridge, like everyone else, put the Heat miles ahead of the rest of the league. Unlike most he says the Bulls, at least in one way, may be better off without one, two or three of the now Miami Thrice.
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Headlines with a Chicago slant

Dunn deal: If it’s Daniel Hudson and Brent Morel, Tyler Flowers or Jordan Danks, I say do it. That’s what Bruce Levine says the Nationals want.

Mariners 0, White Sox 11: Ryan Rowland-Smith said after the game that he was leaving the ball up and it cost him. You can say that again.

Cubs 1, Astros 6: Goodbye, Ted Lilly.

Bulls apparently move past T-Mac: The addition of Tracy McGrady no longer appears likely. Instead, the Bulls have moved to other available guards: Roger Mason, Keith Bogans, or my personal favorite, Eddie House. With any of those instead of T-Mac, the roster wouldn’t look as pretty, but I think it’s better.

Hawks sign Leddy: Nick Leddy, who was acquired from Minnesota in the Cam Barker deal, signed a three-year, $2.7 million deal with the Blackhawks. He’ll leave the U of Minnesota after his freshman season and try to make the Hawks’ roster. He’s one to watch; some compared his play in prospect camp to Brian Campbell.

For a brief roundup of scores and news from the non-Chicago teams that matter, continue reading.
Continue reading …

With the help of FanGraphs and Win Probability Added (WPA), a sentence-long recap of the night’s White Sox and/or Cubs game. Sometimes longer … but usually not.
Continue reading …

There are conflicting reports on whether Tracy McGrady intends to pout like this on the bench, should the Bulls sign him.

Headlines with a Chicago slant

T-Mac works out; runs his mouth: After the workout, Tracy McGrady used “we” a lot when talking about the Bulls’ plans this season. “We” may be a bit premature, especially if he can’t accept a reserve role, which he doesn’t seem ready to do. McGrady said last season he would have accepted a bench role based on how he played; this season’s version, however, thinks he may be good enough to start.

Mariners 1, White Sox 6: In less than a week’s time, the White Sox figured out Felix Hernandez. In seven innings, the White Sox scored four runs on nine hits. A much-improved showing from last week’s two hits in eight innings. The Mariners, on the other hand, have not figured out John Danks. In three starts, Danks has given up only three runs on 15 hits.

Cubs 5, Astros 2: This is what’s supposed to happen against the Astros. The Cubs were 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position; they left a ton of men on base; still, they won because the ’stros are awful.

Z apologizes: In an interview with ESPN’s Pedro Gomez, Carlos Zambrano apologized to everyone. We’ve all heard Zambrano’s apologies before, however, I don’t know we’ve heard him acknowledge his poor performance. “If I play better and do the right things, everything will be fine in Chicago,” he said.

He also said he hopes to stay with the Cubs. Whether the Cubs agree with this or not, the rest of Major League Baseball is going to keep Zambrano in Chicago.

For a brief roundup of scores and news from the non-Chicago teams that matter, continue reading.
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