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Obama comes down from the hill to endorse Biden after the battle is overon April 14, 2020 at 4:50 pm

The Barbershop: Dennis Byrne, Proprietor

Obama comes down from the hill to endorse Biden after the battle is over

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Hey, Trump, you’re not the boss of meon April 14, 2020 at 5:16 pm

The Barbershop: Dennis Byrne, Proprietor

Hey, Trump, you’re not the boss of me

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Hey, Trump, you’re not the boss of meon April 14, 2020 at 5:16 pm Read More »

Small Projects For The Interrupted Business Owneron April 14, 2020 at 6:38 pm

Organizing With Erin

Small Projects For The Interrupted Business Owner

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Trump Still Expected to Win Re-Election, Despite Coronavirus Chaoson April 14, 2020 at 6:50 pm

The Patriotic Dissenter

Trump Still Expected to Win Re-Election, Despite Coronavirus Chaos

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Trump Still Expected to Win Re-Election, Despite Coronavirus Chaoson April 14, 2020 at 6:50 pm Read More »

An open letter to hoarding shopperson April 14, 2020 at 7:58 pm

Windy City Legal Geek

An open letter to hoarding shoppers

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NBA lookback: Michael Jordan’s ‘The Shot’ over Craig Ehloon April 14, 2020 at 9:46 pm

ChicagoNow Staff Blog

NBA lookback: Michael Jordan’s ‘The Shot’ over Craig Ehlo

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NBA lookback: Michael Jordan’s ‘The Shot’ over Craig Ehloon April 14, 2020 at 9:46 pm Read More »

Chicago Bears 2020 NFL Draft: 7th Round quarterback optionson April 14, 2020 at 11:00 am

Chicago Bears (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)

Chicago Bears (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)

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Chicago Bears, Mitchell Trubisky

Chicago Bears (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

As of now, the Chicago Bears have two selections in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft. We look at some quarterback prospects in that area.

This won’t be the most exciting draft for the Chicago Bears, but it’s going to be meaningful. Without a pick in the first, third or fourth rounds, general manager Ryan Pace is going to have to work his magic in those later rounds.

Could he find something he likes at the quarterback position by scooping one up in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft? He has two picks in the seventh, and going with a quarterback might make more sense than drafting one earlier, given how the Bears currently have two quarterbacks on the roster which aren’t going anywhere this season.

A lot of people out there will use an argument based on many of the later round quarterbacks being available as an undrafted free agent. However, to that argument I will ask this: How many recent 7th Round picks are still on the Bears’ roster?

Last year’s picks, Kerrith Whyte and Stephen Denmark didn’t exactly pan out. Whyte was cut during the season and Denmark never even saw the field. In 2018, the Bears found Javon Wims who is still hanging around the roster, but has yet to see meaningful playing time — and I am an advocate for Wims. He was a rare find that late.

The point is, if the Bears see even a little bit of potential in any of the following quarterback prospects, they should absolutely take their shot — barring the team taking one earlier in the draft, of course. Quarterback is the most important position in football, and if you can add value in some way, and in the very last round, you do it.

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With that said, let’s look at some of the quarterbacks currently projected to go around the seventh and final round, or even go undrafted.

Next: Steven Montez

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Chicago Cubs: Cole Wilcox is risky choice with 16th overall pickon April 14, 2020 at 12:00 pm

(Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Getty Images)

(Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Getty Images)

With the 16th overall pick in June’s draft, the Chicago Cubs need to take a college pitcher with a chance to make an immediate impact.

Beyond the 2020 season, the Chicago Cubs have just Kyle Hendricks and Yu Darvish in the rotation. And while Brailyn Marquez looks like the real deal, there is the strong chance that we don’t see him at Wrigley Field until 2022. That said, the Cubs don’t exactly have an overwhelming amount of pitching talent in their farm system.

While a few candidates could be considered future rotation pieces, I don’t see power pitchers that are going to become the ace or number two starter. That said, I think it’s critical for the Cubs’ brass to be top-heavy on pitching in the 2020 MLB Draft. Although the draft presents a unique challenge this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

With College Baseball being canceled for the 2020 season, MLB and the MLBPA have agreed to shorten the draft to at least five rounds. There is the potential for them to expand it to ten or more rounds in the future, but it’s going to impact how player’s approach the draft. For example, high school players on the fringe of being selected just outside the first five rounds are going to play collegiate baseball.

And likewise, upperclassmen with eligibility in the same position are going to return to school for another year. That said, the Cubs can still add tremendous value in the draft, and quite frankly, it’s time to fix the lack of pitching prospects in the farm. Depending on free agents to become assets, whether it be the rotation or the bullpen, has burned the Cubs in more ways than one.

So looking ahead to the 16th overall selection in the MLB Draft, the Cubs should take a long look at Cole Wilcox. At 6-foot-5, 232 pounds, Wilcox already has the prototypical number one starter size. The sophomore at the University of Georgia found something in the Cape Cod League between his first and second years.

Typically in this league, hitters prove to scouts they can translate their skillset to wood-bat leagues, and pitchers work on their mechanics. In 2019, Wilcox posted a 4.07 ERA in 19 appearances – including six starts – while striking out 64 batters in 59.2 innings. He had the propensity to be wild, allowing 38 walks but limited batters to a .216 average.

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He cleaned up his mechanics and looked strong before Georgia’s season was shutdown. In four starts, Wilcox posted a 1.57 ERA – along with a 3-0 record – while striking out 32 batters. More importantly, he allowed just two walks in 23.0 innings and a .209 average. I would have liked to see a more proven track record that he’s beyond his mechanical issues, but that’s where we are right now.

Next: Revisiting the Josh Donaldson trade

Still, his fastball reportedly touches 100 mph, and scouts rave about both his slider and changeup. He will likely need another pitch for sustained success in the majors, but with the support of the Cubs’ pitching lab, he should be able to develop one. He’d be a risky pick, but also one that could end providing the Cubs with a much-needed “ace” pitching prospect. And another one alongside Marquez doesn’t hurt either.

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Chicago Cubs: Cole Wilcox is risky choice with 16th overall pickon April 14, 2020 at 12:00 pm Read More »

Chicago Bears 2020 NFL Draft: 5 players to avoid at pick 43on April 14, 2020 at 1:00 pm

MOBILE, AL - JANUARY 25: Safety Kyle Dugger #23 from Lenoir Rhyne of the South Team runs back a punt return during the 2020 Resse's Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on January 25, 2020 in Mobile, Alabama. The Noth Team defeated the South Team 34 to 17. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)

MOBILE, AL – JANUARY 25: Safety Kyle Dugger #23 from Lenoir Rhyne of the South Team runs back a punt return during the 2020 Resse’s Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on January 25, 2020 in Mobile, Alabama. The Noth Team defeated the South Team 34 to 17. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)

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Chicago Bears (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

When the Chicago Bears are on the clock during the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, who are five players they should be avoiding?

With the 2020 NFL Draft quickly approaching, the Chicago Bears will have two second-round picks at 43rd and 50th overall. However, like any NFL Draft and any draft pick, there are always a handful of players to avoid for multiple reasons.

First, there are some players who may have a high boom-or-bust potential. Considering general manager Ryan Pace has selected a few of these kinds of players over the last few years, if he wants to keep his job with the Bears well beyond 2020, then drafting project players is something he needs to avoid.

Second, there are certain players who are simply overvalued. An example of this is Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm who many think could end up being a second-round player due to the physical characteristics he possesses that would make him an ideal fit in head coach Matt Nagy’s offense.

Over the last few years, in the second round, Pace has had his fair share of hits and misses. While he’s found gems like Eddie Goldman and Cody Whitehair, he’s also had some misses on guys like Adam Shaheen. Then there are players like Anthony Miller and James Daniels, both of whom are still developing into core pieces for the Bears.

Here’s what we know: The Bears could beef up competition on the roster by adding guys to positions such as wide receiver, cornerback, and middle linebacker. However, in what is considered to be a deep draft class, especially inside the top-100, the Bears have a chance to add two impact players. However, there’s also a high chance that they miss on players as well.

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Since we’ve already discussed five players that the Bears need to consider at 43rd overall, with the 2020 NFL Draft just over a week away, what are five players that the Chicago Bears should avoid at 43rd overall? Let’s break it all down.

Next: Number One

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Chicago Bears 2020 NFL Draft: 5 players to avoid at pick 43on April 14, 2020 at 1:00 pm Read More »

Chicago Blackhawks: Three trade packages for Dylan Stromeon April 14, 2020 at 2:00 pm

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - FEBRUARY 16: Dylan Strome #17 of the Chicago Blackhawks controls the puck under pressure from Scott Harrington #4 of the Columbus Blue Jackets at the United Center on February 16, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – FEBRUARY 16: Dylan Strome #17 of the Chicago Blackhawks controls the puck under pressure from Scott Harrington #4 of the Columbus Blue Jackets at the United Center on February 16, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

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Chicago Blackhawks Dylan Strome

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

The Chicago Blackhawks might see Dylan Strome as an expendable player so what would it take for another team to get him in a deal?

The Chicago Blackhawks have had Jonathan Toews as their number one center for a long time now. He has been everything they needed and more since being the third overall pick in the 2006 NHL Draft. Well, as he gets older the team will start to look for their future top-line center. It is going to be near impossible for whoever it is to live up to what Toews has done but they just need some good play from whoever assumes that role.

They drafted Kirby Dach with the third overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft and he might be the answer. It looked like they were going to have Dylan Strome in the mix for a while too. They still might keep Strome in the long term but drafting Dach would make it easier to trade Strome if they can get something for him.

Strome is a good hockey player. He was acquired by the Blackhawks in a trade that sent Nick Schmaltz to the Arizona Coyotes. In his first year with them, he was awesome. He had 17 goals and 34 assists for 51 points in 58 games after the trade. Well, in 2019-20 he wasn’t quite as productive but he was still good. He had 12 goals and 26 assists for 38 points in 58 games. That is decent production but you would like to see him get back to the level he was at before.

So if the Blackhawks were to trade Strome, which team would want him the most? He would be a great second-line center or even third-line center on most NHL teams. The Blackhawks can either sign him to an extension as he is about to be a restricted free agent or they can trade him to a team willing to do it. Here is a look at some trade packages that might get it done:

Next: New York Rangers

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