As a Cubs fan, I went in person to see the Cards-Reds game and witnessed the last game (potentially) of two of my favorite players: Wainwright and Votto. My main goal was to get a giveaway mini guitar as a Christmas present for my daughter… but a side benefit was it made it impossible for me to see the Cubs play an uninspired meaningless game with Iowa players and also avoid Da Bears collapse against a similarly-pitiful “NFL” team. The Sox can’t give away tickets.
There is no joy in Mudville.
- Stuck in Celliniland - Monday, Oct 2, 23 @ 12:33 pm:
Can we petition to start the Bulls, Blackhawks, and Blues seasons tomorrow? Even preseason games would be more entertaining than enduring more of the Bears.
At least the season is over for all of these teams.
Eberflus played to lose on Sunday. Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. The team is in disarray with no end to the losing in sight. Had they told us in the beginning that they were planning to use the season to secure the highest possible draft pick, I wouldn’t be as disappointed. But they told us instead that with a revamped O-line, and seven new starters on defense, with DJ Moore and more offensive options for Fields…they were poised to be better this year.
They aren’t. And the chaos swirling around the team is like the water in the toilet, spiraling down and taking everything with it except the stench.
- Joe Bidenopolous - Monday, Oct 2, 23 @ 12:37 pm:
The Bears currently own the top two picks in the draft. Excited to see how they eventually ruin Caleb Williams.
The line at one point was Broncos -3.5. If you took those points and the Bears, you won yesterday.
- lake county democrat - Monday, Oct 2, 23 @ 12:41 pm:
Forget the Cubs’ collapse and consider that they were poised to get a tremendous haul of tallent for Stroman (who was highly prized at the trade deadline) and Bellinger. Just look what the White Sox got for considerably less talented players. They traded it for the hope of…what exactly? Beating Atlanta and Los Angeles for the pennant? They have a very good farm system, but had they been more patient they could have been set-up Tampa Bay/Baltimore style.
Clearly the McCaskey Magic was at work — again. Let’s hope our friends in Arlington Heights don’t fall for their mumbo jumbo and wreck the community with a huge give away for a new forest of empty offices, apartments and retail stores.
A true expression of feelings about the Bears would result in lifetime banishment. The spirit of the Lions has left it and entered the Bears, a team with a terrible reputation for losing now. Bring out the paper bags.
Eberflus should not be employed by the Chicago Bears anymore.
- Friendly Bob Adams - Monday, Oct 2, 23 @ 1:05 pm:
The Bears not taking the easy field goal with 3 minutes left was a historically stupid sports decision. Not running a quarterback sneak in that situation may be even stupider.
I tried listening to Eberflus on the radio this morning but concluded he’s just completely divorced from reality.
There’s a lot wrong with the Bears, but I don’t think Justin Fields is the weak link. He may not be a world-beater, but he’s hampered by coaching and management decisions. It’d be inetresting to see how he’d fare as the centerpiece of a more competent team.
My Cards have to change their pitching philosophy. The pitch to contact concept does not work in 2023. They have tons of bats though so it is fixable with an open wallet. The Sox, yeesh. They need to change the attitude in the locker room. No discipline at the plate, iffy pitching and acting like they can turn it on or off at will. They never really turned it on. I wish Reinsdorf would hand it over to his kid. Fixing the Sox could take a while.
The Sox have been such a disappointment the last few years. They’ve squandered the best years of players like Tim Anderson and Jose Abreu and have resorted to selling the better players off for parts and replacing them with no-name AAAA players. This is no way to manage or coach a team.
As a Sox, Bears and Fighting Illini fan football fan, 2023 has been a sports calamity.
My youngest son attended Ohio State, hence, am holding on to the coattail rooting interest for any possibility of a meaningful victory. Their W over Notre Dame eclipsing all three of my other teams combined.
Hey at least they kept it interesting. I prefer having my hopes ripped away from me at the end, than them abandoning the season and trading everyone for prospects, even if in retrospect it would have been the better long term play.
They were never consistently good, but they sure weren’t boring and they gave us a lot of great moments this season.
=== There’s a lot wrong with the Bears, but I don’t think Justin Fields is the weak link. He may not be a world-beater, but he’s hampered by coaching and management decisions. It’d be inetresting to see how he’d fare as the centerpiece of a more competent team. ===
You may very well have that opportunity. I don’t think Fields gets his fifth year option picked up and I definitely don’t think he gets resigned.
=I don’t think Fields gets his fifth year option picked up and I definitely don’t think he gets resigned.=
You may be right. Blaming Field’s would be the easy way out for the organization. But it was clear yesterday that solely blaming the quarterback is ignoring much larger problems. For the life of me I still can’t understand why the Bears wasted a timeout only to run the exact play they could have run on 4th down. That falls solely on the coaching. Field’s had one of the best games of his career despite the odds being against him.
The Bears are 62-101 over the last baseball season’s worth of games. Only the Jags have a worse record. It’s a disaster of an organization. That was the worst coaching decision I think I’ve ever seen in a game. I would have fired Eberflus on the spot except that we’re already without a defensive coordinator so the the OC can’t do both jobs.
As for the Cubs, I thoroughly enjoyed most of the season. They are building something with some very exciting rookies (oh, if PCA could ever hit…). They wildly exceeded expectations on the season and made September interesting. Frankly, they just seemed to run out of gas. Can’t get too upset about that and I’m a season ticket holder. Excited for next year, unlike the Bears, Bulls, White Sox. So there’s that.
I am a long-time Cards fan, and not making it actually has occurred more than making the playoffs and winning.
I think the biggest trend I saw this year was the loss of any contenders in the Midwest region writ-large, save for Milwaukee and Houston. I hope that trend reverts soon.
As to the Bears, what’s different? Losers gonna lose.
Bears. I don’t care what the coaching staff thinks. Does upper management think Fields can make it? Yes…. change coaching. No… change coaching anyway, that crew is a disaster. Also consider that your pr on the coach gone is terrible. White Sox. analyze each player. Hearing that LuRob figured out how to manage himself to make injuries less likely cannot possibly be the whole story. if it is there is a serious lack of management on the strength/conditioning/training/medical side. Figure out Moncada cause when he is well he is awesome. what about motivation? Don’t know why that is an issue but it is and should not be. Not convinced that I would Vote Pedro so take a long look at that Getz. what actually happened with the shootings? On the subject of the properties around Comiskey/Cell/The Rate, understand that a tailgate culture has developed for Sox fans. don’t eliminate without taking that into consideration for pre game gatherings. And promotion wise, I heard that there was an analysis of White Sox podcasts by one media source. that there are 10 Sox podcasts for every one Cubs. rational is the lack of media coverage for Sox but also that Sox fans are more into stats. from my review they are also more into crazy fun. honor and promote that at every turn. Wish I had gone to Whiskey at Comiskey on Saturday.
I think the Cardinals did a good job with their fire sale and bringing in some good arms. There’s still work to be done, but I’m very hopeful that this year is just a one-off and not the beginning of a trend. Jury is still out on Oli.
Sure, we could fire Smith/Trestman/Fox/Nagy/Eberflus but they’re going to hire someone just as bad (see the list of coaches, starting with Trestman). It’s their cycle and Bears fans never learn:
Fire the coach. Hope the new guy is better. See that the new guy isn’t any better. Fire the coach.
Along the way, ruin talent.
- Stuck in Celliniland - Monday, Oct 2, 23 @ 12:26 pm:
Fire Eberflus Pronto
- Vote Quimby - Monday, Oct 2, 23 @ 12:33 pm:
As a Cubs fan, I went in person to see the Cards-Reds game and witnessed the last game (potentially) of two of my favorite players: Wainwright and Votto. My main goal was to get a giveaway mini guitar as a Christmas present for my daughter… but a side benefit was it made it impossible for me to see the Cubs play an uninspired meaningless game with Iowa players and also avoid Da Bears collapse against a similarly-pitiful “NFL” team. The Sox can’t give away tickets.
There is no joy in Mudville.
- Stuck in Celliniland - Monday, Oct 2, 23 @ 12:33 pm:
Can we petition to start the Bulls, Blackhawks, and Blues seasons tomorrow? Even preseason games would be more entertaining than enduring more of the Bears.
- 47th Ward - Monday, Oct 2, 23 @ 12:34 pm:
At least the season is over for all of these teams.
Eberflus played to lose on Sunday. Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. The team is in disarray with no end to the losing in sight. Had they told us in the beginning that they were planning to use the season to secure the highest possible draft pick, I wouldn’t be as disappointed. But they told us instead that with a revamped O-line, and seven new starters on defense, with DJ Moore and more offensive options for Fields…they were poised to be better this year.
They aren’t. And the chaos swirling around the team is like the water in the toilet, spiraling down and taking everything with it except the stench.
- Joe Bidenopolous - Monday, Oct 2, 23 @ 12:37 pm:
The Bears currently own the top two picks in the draft. Excited to see how they eventually ruin Caleb Williams.
- thisjustinagain - Monday, Oct 2, 23 @ 12:37 pm:
“The Bears are who we though they were.” And Fields cannot bear the blame for an entire team’s failure to win the game.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Oct 2, 23 @ 12:38 pm:
The folks in the desert chose a team that lost by 50 and gave up 70 points as favorites over the Bears. They were right.
Let that really-really sink in.
The money folks in the desert know how bad the Bears are. It’s not even a question of context.
- 47th Ward - Monday, Oct 2, 23 @ 12:40 pm:
===They were right.===
The line at one point was Broncos -3.5. If you took those points and the Bears, you won yesterday.
- lake county democrat - Monday, Oct 2, 23 @ 12:41 pm:
Forget the Cubs’ collapse and consider that they were poised to get a tremendous haul of tallent for Stroman (who was highly prized at the trade deadline) and Bellinger. Just look what the White Sox got for considerably less talented players. They traded it for the hope of…what exactly? Beating Atlanta and Los Angeles for the pennant? They have a very good farm system, but had they been more patient they could have been set-up Tampa Bay/Baltimore style.
- Annonin' - Monday, Oct 2, 23 @ 12:43 pm:
Clearly the McCaskey Magic was at work — again. Let’s hope our friends in Arlington Heights don’t fall for their mumbo jumbo and wreck the community with a huge give away for a new forest of empty offices, apartments and retail stores.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Oct 2, 23 @ 12:47 pm:
===Broncos -3.5. If you took those points and the Bears, you won yesterday.===
The Bears were the ‘dog, what was the moneyline?
- oifredleg - Monday, Oct 2, 23 @ 12:47 pm:
If I was told the Cubs would have a winning season after Spring Training, I’d have called that person a liar. “Wait until next year.”
- 10th Ward - Monday, Oct 2, 23 @ 12:49 pm:
101 losses for the Pale Hose?
Unacceptable! Cmon Jerry- Sell the darn team.
- Anyone Remember - Monday, Oct 2, 23 @ 12:49 pm:
The quartet. Perhaps they could invite the Red Sox and Yankees to their Pity Party?
- fs - Monday, Oct 2, 23 @ 12:51 pm:
The best I can say about any of those teams is…hockey season starts soon.
- Grandson of Man - Monday, Oct 2, 23 @ 12:53 pm:
A true expression of feelings about the Bears would result in lifetime banishment. The spirit of the Lions has left it and entered the Bears, a team with a terrible reputation for losing now. Bring out the paper bags.
https://amp.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/new-orleans-saints-the-aints-and-the-origin-of-the-bagheads
- DuPage Saint - Monday, Oct 2, 23 @ 12:53 pm:
At least I have the Illini. O wait never mind
- Rudy’s teeth - Monday, Oct 2, 23 @ 12:56 pm:
Matt Eberflus is the worst coach in the NFL. His decision not to use Cairo Santos to kick for a field goal cost the Bears the game.
Eberflus should stay in his mansion in Lake Bluff and never set foot in the city of Chicago again. The loyal fans deserve better than this.
Virginia, I’m talking to you.
- OneMan - Monday, Oct 2, 23 @ 1:04 pm:
Eberflus should not be employed by the Chicago Bears anymore.
- Friendly Bob Adams - Monday, Oct 2, 23 @ 1:05 pm:
The Bears not taking the easy field goal with 3 minutes left was a historically stupid sports decision. Not running a quarterback sneak in that situation may be even stupider.
I tried listening to Eberflus on the radio this morning but concluded he’s just completely divorced from reality.
- Benjamin - Monday, Oct 2, 23 @ 1:15 pm:
There’s a lot wrong with the Bears, but I don’t think Justin Fields is the weak link. He may not be a world-beater, but he’s hampered by coaching and management decisions. It’d be inetresting to see how he’d fare as the centerpiece of a more competent team.
- levivotedforjudy - Monday, Oct 2, 23 @ 1:17 pm:
My Cards have to change their pitching philosophy. The pitch to contact concept does not work in 2023. They have tons of bats though so it is fixable with an open wallet. The Sox, yeesh. They need to change the attitude in the locker room. No discipline at the plate, iffy pitching and acting like they can turn it on or off at will. They never really turned it on. I wish Reinsdorf would hand it over to his kid. Fixing the Sox could take a while.
- Benjamin - Monday, Oct 2, 23 @ 1:17 pm:
The Sox have been such a disappointment the last few years. They’ve squandered the best years of players like Tim Anderson and Jose Abreu and have resorted to selling the better players off for parts and replacing them with no-name AAAA players. This is no way to manage or coach a team.
- DS - Monday, Oct 2, 23 @ 1:20 pm:
Arlington Heights isn’t far enough away.
- Fire Mo - Monday, Oct 2, 23 @ 1:28 pm:
Nothing lasts forever. Great run for Waino and El Birdos.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Oct 2, 23 @ 1:30 pm:
This Cubs ball club will be remembered as 162 missed opportunities.
Never owned this season. Too streaking to be solid, too streaking to be merely bad. Not a complete ball club
- Annonin' - Monday, Oct 2, 23 @ 1:31 pm:
Speaking of winners SIUC football is 4-0. Most IL media keeping it a secret.
- Chad Hays - Monday, Oct 2, 23 @ 1:33 pm:
As a Sox, Bears and Fighting Illini fan football fan, 2023 has been a sports calamity.
My youngest son attended Ohio State, hence, am holding on to the coattail rooting interest for any possibility of a meaningful victory. Their W over Notre Dame eclipsing all three of my other teams combined.
- ZC - Monday, Oct 2, 23 @ 1:41 pm:
Cubs win these matchups … by default.
Hey at least they kept it interesting. I prefer having my hopes ripped away from me at the end, than them abandoning the season and trading everyone for prospects, even if in retrospect it would have been the better long term play.
They were never consistently good, but they sure weren’t boring and they gave us a lot of great moments this season.
- Hannibal Lecter - Monday, Oct 2, 23 @ 1:48 pm:
=== There’s a lot wrong with the Bears, but I don’t think Justin Fields is the weak link. He may not be a world-beater, but he’s hampered by coaching and management decisions. It’d be inetresting to see how he’d fare as the centerpiece of a more competent team. ===
You may very well have that opportunity. I don’t think Fields gets his fifth year option picked up and I definitely don’t think he gets resigned.
- workingfromhome - Monday, Oct 2, 23 @ 1:58 pm:
Will look forward to Jason and Steve next April. They were the only good things about the Sox this year. Or any previous ones.
- Bogey Golfer - Monday, Oct 2, 23 @ 2:06 pm:
As a Bradley grad, single game tix go on sale this week. Need to know the time of the games before I buy.
Would love to see Eberflus gone ASAP, but they can’t promote within, so we are stuck until January.
- Pundent - Monday, Oct 2, 23 @ 2:14 pm:
=I don’t think Fields gets his fifth year option picked up and I definitely don’t think he gets resigned.=
You may be right. Blaming Field’s would be the easy way out for the organization. But it was clear yesterday that solely blaming the quarterback is ignoring much larger problems. For the life of me I still can’t understand why the Bears wasted a timeout only to run the exact play they could have run on 4th down. That falls solely on the coaching. Field’s had one of the best games of his career despite the odds being against him.
- New Day - Monday, Oct 2, 23 @ 2:17 pm:
The Bears are 62-101 over the last baseball season’s worth of games. Only the Jags have a worse record. It’s a disaster of an organization. That was the worst coaching decision I think I’ve ever seen in a game. I would have fired Eberflus on the spot except that we’re already without a defensive coordinator so the the OC can’t do both jobs.
As for the Cubs, I thoroughly enjoyed most of the season. They are building something with some very exciting rookies (oh, if PCA could ever hit…). They wildly exceeded expectations on the season and made September interesting. Frankly, they just seemed to run out of gas. Can’t get too upset about that and I’m a season ticket holder. Excited for next year, unlike the Bears, Bulls, White Sox. So there’s that.
- H-W - Monday, Oct 2, 23 @ 2:20 pm:
Happy for the Cubs almost making it.
I am a long-time Cards fan, and not making it actually has occurred more than making the playoffs and winning.
I think the biggest trend I saw this year was the loss of any contenders in the Midwest region writ-large, save for Milwaukee and Houston. I hope that trend reverts soon.
As to the Bears, what’s different? Losers gonna lose.
- Amalia - Monday, Oct 2, 23 @ 2:30 pm:
Bears. I don’t care what the coaching staff thinks. Does upper management think Fields can make it? Yes…. change coaching. No… change coaching anyway, that crew is a disaster. Also consider that your pr on the coach gone is terrible. White Sox. analyze each player. Hearing that LuRob figured out how to manage himself to make injuries less likely cannot possibly be the whole story. if it is there is a serious lack of management on the strength/conditioning/training/medical side. Figure out Moncada cause when he is well he is awesome. what about motivation? Don’t know why that is an issue but it is and should not be. Not convinced that I would Vote Pedro so take a long look at that Getz. what actually happened with the shootings? On the subject of the properties around Comiskey/Cell/The Rate, understand that a tailgate culture has developed for Sox fans. don’t eliminate without taking that into consideration for pre game gatherings. And promotion wise, I heard that there was an analysis of White Sox podcasts by one media source. that there are 10 Sox podcasts for every one Cubs. rational is the lack of media coverage for Sox but also that Sox fans are more into stats. from my review they are also more into crazy fun. honor and promote that at every turn. Wish I had gone to Whiskey at Comiskey on Saturday.
- Steve Rogers - Monday, Oct 2, 23 @ 2:42 pm:
I think the Cardinals did a good job with their fire sale and bringing in some good arms. There’s still work to be done, but I’m very hopeful that this year is just a one-off and not the beginning of a trend. Jury is still out on Oli.
- Langhorne - Monday, Oct 2, 23 @ 4:04 pm:
Eberflus should have been fired after yesterday’s game.
We don’t have a time machine to go back and fire him any earlier, or that would be highly recommended.
- effillus - Monday, Oct 2, 23 @ 4:30 pm:
A tough year to be a Chicago sports fan. And not an easy one to be a St. Louis fan, either.
- Proud Papa Bear - Monday, Oct 2, 23 @ 5:03 pm:
Sure, we could fire Smith/Trestman/Fox/Nagy/Eberflus but they’re going to hire someone just as bad (see the list of coaches, starting with Trestman). It’s their cycle and Bears fans never learn:
Fire the coach. Hope the new guy is better. See that the new guy isn’t any better. Fire the coach.
Along the way, ruin talent.
- Hank sauer - Monday, Oct 2, 23 @ 6:20 pm:
Illinois