CLEVELAND, OH – NOVEMBER 24: Odell Beckham Jr. #13 of the Cleveland Browns keeps loose on the sideline during the game against the Miami Dolphins at FirstEnergy Stadium on November 24, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland defeated Miami 41-24. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
The ChicagoBears would have a much easier time if they had a guy like Odell Beckham Jr. on their offense to compliment their great defense.
The Chicago Bears had a pitiful offense in 2019. It caused them to fall heavily below expectations from the beginning of the year. The defense was elite once again but they were only able to carry them so far. They were 8-8 but it honestly felt like they were 4-12. It was a tough year all around but the problems were very clear.
They went out and got a quarterback. They made a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars to acquire Nick Foles. He will compete with Mitchell Trubisky for the starting quarterback job. There are some weapons already there on offense but they could still use some help. The most important thing is an offensive line. It is likely that they use a good amount of draft capital on some help for that issue.
Well, if they are able to fix their offense it would go a long way in helping their defense. It is a defense that is a championship-caliber one so it is pivotal that they fix the offense. They might be wise to look to a certain star that is available via trade right now.
There have been rumors that the Cleveland Browns are going to trade Odell Beckham Jr. The Minnesota Vikings were the number one team to be involved in this rumor but they have been shutting the rumors down as an organization. Whether they shut it down or not, you can’t just believe them. He may or may not actually even be on the block but the Chicago Bears should go for him if he is for these three reasons:
Desperate for pitching, Chris McMahon has been climbing up draft boards. If the ChicagoCubs take him 16th overall, he would be well worth it.
To no one’s surprise, the Chicago Cubs were top-heavy selecting pitching talent in the 2019 MLB Draft. After all, they lose 60 percent of the rotation after this season and with the top pitching prospect at least two years away from seeing Wrigley Field, it makes sense to add as much talent as possible.
I expect Theo Epstein and company will have the same approach in this year’s draft. With the 16th overall pick, the Cubs have several directions they can go. There is a plethora of top pitching talent that will be available to them when they are officially on the clock. One guy that has recently been picking up steam has been University of Miami’s Chris McMahon.
Background
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 205 pounds
Throws: R
Bats: R
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McMahon was previously drafted in the 33rd round by the Atlanta Braves in the 2017 MLB Draft out of West Chester Rustin High School. However, the two sides failed to reach a deal, and the Pennsylvania native was headed off to the U. In his first season on campus, he made six appearances – including four starts – and struck out 18 batters in 26.1 innings.
The following year, McMahon had a breakout year as Miami’s Saturday starter. He posted a 3.73 ERA while striking out 67 in 60.1 innings. He made the start for the Hurricanes in the Starkville Regional Opener against Central Michigan, striking out five in 4.1 innings.
He likely could have gone longer in that game, but an error at first base kept the fifth inning alive for the Chippewas, and manager Gino DiMare ultimately opted for his bullpen in a close game. Prior to the shutdown, McMahon was off to a terrific start this year, striking out 38 in 25.2 innings while posting a 1.05 ERA.
Strengths
McMahon throws gas often touching the high 90s, but his fastball regularly sits in the mid-90s. He has an above-average slider – demonstrated in his 12K dominant performance against Towson earlier this year – and a changeup that has the deceptive appearance of his fastball.
He has all the makings of a front-end of the rotation pitcher and rarely gives up the long ball.
Weaknesses
He’ll likely need to develop another pitch, and he’s reportedly dabbled in learning a cutter. I’d like to see him reduce the number of walks. He has a simple delivery from the 3/4 arm slot, which makes it easy to repeat throughout a start and was on track to improve the number of free passes before the pandemic shut everything down.
Pro Comparison
McMahon reminds me a lot of Aaron Nola. The latter has a little bit of a higher leg kick, but there’s no denying the similarities in their stats from last season.
If the Miami product follows a similar path as Nola, the Cubs will be in a great position going forward with Kyle Hendricks, Yu Darvish, Brailyn Marquez, and McMahon as their top four starters in the rotation.
The ChicagoWhite Sox hold the 11th overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft. Here are three guys they should target in the first round.
While the future looks brighter than the first round of the 2020 MLB Draft may suggest, the Chicago White Sox will hold the 11th overall pick. Last year, the south siders selected the top first baseman in the class in Andrew Vaughn and followed that with three straight high school prospects.
As sights set on who the general manager Rick Hahn may select, there will be a plethora of talent available to him just outside the top ten. Let’s look at three players to consider with the first-round pick:
Widely considered to be the best college catcher in this draft, Bailey was originally selected by the Minnesota Twins in the 37th round of the 2017 MLB Draft. He chose to play collegiate baseball and hoped his draft stock would improve. Well, as it turns out, he was right, as he’s virtually a lock to go in the first round.
He posted remarkable numbers as a true freshman; .321/.419/.604 line with 13 home runs and 40 RBI with nearly a 1:1 BB/K ratio. Bailey participated in the Cape Cod League during the summer of 2018 and hit .235 in an eight-game sample size.
Back on campus for his sophomore year, he put up a .903 OPS in 60 games to go along with 17 doubles, ten home runs, and 43 RBI and, again, a 1:1 BB.K ratio. As a switch-hitter, he has fantastic discipline at the plate, and scouts love his abilities behind the plate as well.
Ranked as one of the best college pitchers in the class, Crochet got better each year for the Volunteers. He was originally drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 34th round of the 2017 MLB Draft but never signed. As a true freshman, he posted modest numbers with 17 appearances – including six starts – while displaying terrific command. He posted a 5.51 ERA but struck out 62 batters in 63.2 innings of work while allowing just 26 walks.
As a sophomore, he served in a similar role making 18 appearances – including six starts – and collected three saves as well. He posted a 4.02 ERA but struck out 81 batters in 65.0 innings (11.2 K/9). Crochet was set to transition to the rotation this year prior to the shutdown.
He made just one start but struck out six batters in 3.1 innings of work. His fastball touches 99 MPH and consistently sits in the mid-90s. Crochet complements his primary pitch with an above-average slider and changeup. He’ll likely need to develop another pitch to stick in a rotation. If not, he could be a deadly bullpen arm.
Ranked as the 26th best prospect in the class by Baseball America, Burns is going to be a name White Sox will want to remember. If Hahn reaches for him with the 11th overall pick, it will be for a good reason. He was originally drafted by the Yankees in the 2017 MLB Draft but ultimately chose to go with his verbal commitment to Auburn.
Burns was a starting pitcher from day one on campus, making 17 starts as a true freshman and posting a 3.01 ERA. He struck out 77 batters in 86.2 innings while limiting opponents to a .225 average. He followed that with 16 appearances – including 15 starts – while striking out 101 batters in 79.2 innings (11.4 K/9).
More importantly, he displayed terrific command, walking just 23 batters over that timeframe (2.6 BB/9) and limited opponents to a .218 average. Burns was off to a great start this year, posting a 2.42 ERA in four starts with 32 starts in 22.1 innings. He’s going to be one of the most underrated starting pitchers in the first round.
In the mid-2000s, local rapper Serengeti imagined rapping as a character named Kenny Dennis, a 50-something with a thick mustache and an even thicker Chicago accent. Ever since Kenny made his debut on the 2006 single “Dennehy,” he’s become the protagonist of a sprawling universe spread out among a panoply of albums, some credited to Serengeti and others supposedly made by figures in Kenny’s fictitious universe. In 2010, for example, Serengeti dropped There’s a Situation on the Homefront by Kenny’s golden-age group, Tha Grimm Teachaz, who were supposedly all set to release music on Jive during their early-90s heydey, only to have their recordings shelved after they beefed with Shaq at a label showcase. Thankfully, Kenny’s younger brother, Tanya, rediscovered the Homefront tapes nearly two decades later. Chopped Herring, a very real UK archival label that specializes in reissuing obscure hip-hop, is one of several imprints that played along with Serengeti to release Tha Grimm Teachaz material as a “reissue” in the 2010s, which demonstrates the lengths to which he’s gone to make Kenny’s world feel as genuine as our own. In 2018, Serengeti decided to wrap up Kenny’s story with 6e, in which the everyman Chicagoan mourned the loss of his wife, Jueles (she has an album too: 2017’s Butterflies). But Kenny wasn’t done with Serengeti. Last fall the Bulls commissioned Serengeti to make a remix of “Dennehy,” and just before Governor Pritzker issued the shelter-in-place order in March, Serengeti performed the song during halftime at a Bulls home game. Then one week into self-isolation, Serengeti wrote and recorded an epilogue to Kenny’s story, Ajai (released on his own Cohn Corporation label). Produced entirely by Los Angeles beat maker Kenny Segal, the album is front-loaded with densely detailed tales about a new character, the titular Ajai, a maladjusted hypebeast whose single-minded fashion addiction colors every facet of his life. Serengeti’s reflective performances and comforting vocals lend his immersive storytelling real-life gravitas and impart nuance to scenarios that otherwise might just feel sad. Though Ajai and Kenny Dennis are basically strangers, they exist in a world Serengeti has spent nearly 15 years animating down to the last particular. Near the end of the album, when Kenny receives some clothes from Ajai, the gesture carries the weight of Serengeti’s long songwriting journey–practically a lifetime–even though the fleeting moment is mostly transactional. Ajai makes me even more excited to see where Serengeti goes next with his idiosyncratic narrative raps. v
In glimpsing the Michigan and Ohio protesters on yesterday’s cable news, I failed to notice one head of dry gray hair, one stooped posture, one wrinkly face; in short, not one old fart like me.
What I did see was two naked enactments of unenlightened self-interest in the form of placard-wielding Trumpists not yet eligible for AARP membership, who may as well have been waving signs that read:
“We’re the low-risk demographic who will likely just get sick or turn up asymptomatic; SCREW THE DOOMED OLD GEEZERS”
Maybe they figured they’d get their gloveless, loveless paws on their estate inheritances faster than previously expected.
What I was witnessing was selfishness in the disguise of Love of Liberty, a posturing prevalent in the 20’s just before the stock market crash; resurrected in the 80’s by Reagan’s invoking his YOYO (You’re On Your Own) economic policies; and brought to a ponderously tragic climactic third act by Donald Trump’s self-absorbed moral bankruptcy and galling intellectual impoverishment .
My advice to all protesters: If you notice some old codger mingling in the crowd sans placard, keep your eyes peeled. He might be some old war veteran just pissed-off enough to pop you in the nose. And he’d feel at Liberty to do so.
At times like these it makes me proud to see Chicagoans stay strong and stay smart by observing the new way of life we have had to adjust to. It’s the best way and the fastest way to get back to some kind of normalcy again. Thanks to everyone in this great City for pitching in!
Having to spend so much time at home reminds me of just how much I love my neighborhood, the River North area of Chicago. I’m on the western edge of River North in a great loft building, and like you find all over Chicago, we have a distinct community and our own familiar way of life! Where would we be without Peet’s Coffee at Ontario and Kingsbury, and lovely Ward Park right next to it, which have quietly become mainstays of the area.
Another wonderful and dependable local gathering place is the Erie Café, which has been around for 26 years – coincidentally that’s how long I’ve been in Real Estate! There’s a lovely seating area there, looking out over the Chicago River. Here’s a photo from the riverside seating looking back to the restaurant hitself. The Erie Cafe was established by the Lenzi family, and has a pedigree going back to the famous Gene and Georgetti’s restaurant.
Down the street from the Erie Café is Tuxedo Park, a well-designed group of row houses that still have huge appeal to condo buyers – I should know, I’ve sold several units there and I lived there shortly after they were built!
Regarding the evolution of River North, Real Estate brokers don’t always get credit for being visionaries, that credit usually goes to the Developers. But I had a personal part in creating a special area of River North called Kingsbury Estates, where you’ll find the most elegant single family homes within walking distance of the Loop.
When that part of River North was just a big, open space, I went to key people in the Chicago Mayor’s Office with the idea to zone the area to have attractive, oversize lots. It would be a special lure, an appeal to luxury developers, to come in and build the biggest homes in the entire downtown area. The results are obvious – the block bounded by Kingsbury, Superior, Hudson, and Huron has a spectacular collection of High End homes!
Well, I’m still out there, selling Real Estate despite the challenges. The photo above is the location of one of my new Listings, 110 W. Superior, one of the sleekest buildings in the entire downtown Chicago area! I have the privilege to be selling a unique home in that building, where the floor-to-ceiling window walls give the clearest views you could ever imagine. My Listing, Unit 1100 of 110 W. Superior, takes up the entire 11th floor of the building, so stunning light and amazing views are found no matter where you turn!
Here’s a “Coming Soon” teaser – I have a huge, 1,400 sq ft, One BR condo that will come to market soon. It’s in the Residences of the Ritz Carlton, shown above, a luxury building positioned on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile. This unit faces West, so daytime sun and beautiful sunset views are in store for some lucky buyer!
We all have to persevere despite this unique period in American history that we are facing today. And I am so grateful that my clients still come to me, bestowing on me the honor of representing them and marketing their homes. It’s important to help out, and the Chicago Food Depository is more needed now than ever before. Here’s a link to their donations page, every little bit helps! Donate
I think of my father, who believed so strongly in our country that he enlisted to fight in World War II at 17 years old, fibbing about his age and eventually going ashore at Normandy on the second wave of landings on D-Day. Talk about faith and perseverance – we can and we will carry on, it’s what America has done over the centuries and will continue to do for centuries to come!
Hello, I’m Melinda Jakovich-Lagrange. I sell high end real estate and I love this city! I am a senior Broker with Compass Real Estate, covering all of the best neighborhoods in Chicago. I recently was named one of the Top 1% Brokers in Chicago by both Crains Chicago and the Chicago Association of Realtors, and continue to love my work after a successful 26 years in Real Estate! For any Real Estate questions feel free to call me at (312) 953-3425 and/or go to my website at melindajakovich.com!
It might feel like everything is grinding to a halt while we’re hunkering down in self-isolation, but there are plenty of local stores that are keeping business going! Browsing the home goods these 10 Chicago general stores sell online is sure to brighten your day (even if you’ve forgotten which day that is).
Keep your home life looking peachy with apparel, accessories, and home goods from this independent Oak Park boutique. Their online shop is worth browsing through.
Located in Hyde Park, this Chicago institution has been selling handmade art, jewelry, clothes, and more since 1997— and is continuing to do so online during the shelter-in-place order.
In addition to home goods and gifts, this store’s online shop features a selection of products made to reduce waste and support sustainable living. They also have care packages available that you can send to a loved one or healthcare worker.
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Photo Credit: Notice: Accessories for Living Facebook
The family-run store Notice is stocked with clothing and jewelry— your fresh new look is sure to get you noticed by someone on your daily quarantine walk (or maybe just by your cat).
This store in Ukrainian Village sells goods that are cruelty-free, fair trade, and often organic. What’s not to love about good-smelling soaps and bold cocktail bitters? Shop their online inventory for something new.
Find locally-sourced and handmade goods to make you smile at this Lincoln Square art gallery and gift boutique (or, rather, on their website). You can support local art while supporting the coziness of your own home!
Featuring a curated collection of clothing, accessories, and more online, Shop Small Chicago selects and sells brands and creations predominantly from women and minorities.
This Andersonville shop sells all-handmade designs, including note cards and other gifts to send to loved ones when you’re feeling particularly socially-distanced.
A women’s boutique in Andersonville, this spot features creations from independent local designers. The neutral Instagram aesthetic of their online shop is super satisfying.
The Bucktown shop specializes in household products meant to reduce waste and protect the environment. Chicago’s first! Shop online to start saving the earth and supporting a local business.
CHICAGO, IL – JUNE 15: Kris Versteeg #23 of the Chicago Blackhawks celebrates by hoisting the Stanley Cup after defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning by a score of 2-0 in Game Six to win the 2015 NHL Stanley Cup Final at the United Center on June 15, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
The ChicagoBlackhawks had many important role players during their dynasty. Kris Versteeg is certainly one of them during two Cup runs.
The Chicago Blackhawks have had some legendary players come through. The fact of the matter is those elite players are allowed to turn into legends thanks to the play of their teammates. Role players are very important to teams winning the Stanley Cup in the National Hockey League. The Hawks have certainly have had plenty of those types of players when they were a modern-day hockey dynasty.
Kris Versteeg was one of those integral parts of the Blackhawks’ very impressive run. He wasn’t a superstar player like Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, or Duncan Keith but he was still very important. He was a good player to have because of the fact that he could play anywhere in the lineup. He was best suited for a third-line role on any team he was on. He scored anywhere from 15-20 goals multiple times which is glorious for a role player.
Versteeg announced his retirement from the National Hockey League on Wednesday. It was a long time coming because he really wasn’t able to stick in the NHL anymore but while he was in his prime he was a great player. He won the Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010 and 2015. He was sent away for salary cap reasons in the middle but his re-acquisition went a long way in helping this team become a dynasty in 2015.
In his 11 year NHL career, five of them were spent with the Blackhawks. In 294 career games with Chicago, he had 68 goals and 96 assists for 164 points. Versteeg is one of those guys who will also be remembered for his play that doesn’t involve his numbers. He was one of those guys who played so hard despite being a little guy. He worked so hard every shift and it helped him make a great NHL career. He was there before they won any Cups so when you remember any of the days that made people have hope for the Hawks, Versteeg was apart of it.
Versteeg is also a sign of what you need on a hockey team. There are players on the Blackhawks right now that have much more size, speed, and skill than Versteeg but they are far less impactful because of their work ethic and toughness. They need to find themselves some players of that caliber for the modern-day team. Congrats to Kris Versteeg on an incredible career.
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