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I don’t necessarily believe Pace and Nagy are in the same “desperate situation” they faced entering the draft, when the quarterback depth chart had Andy Dalton, Nick Foles and no one else. They were challenged entering the draft, and pretty much everyone knew they had to make a move for a rookie quarterback. Now that they have Fields in place, I don’t know that you can completely remove them from the hot seat. I believe the McCaskeys understand the development of a young quarterback is a process that takes time. But the Bears still have to show progress this season, certainly some offensive growth. If they simply throw Fields out there in Week 1 without making him clearly outperform Dalton, they risk the chance of expectations quickly falling. Everyone is excited about Fields right now. There’s real energy at Halas Hall. There’s a belief they have a guy who finally could solve the riddle at the position. Push him on the field too soon, see him stumble and then what happens for Pace and Nagy? The chances are pretty good that Fields starts in the first half of the season, and if that doesn’t happen, it might be because the Bears are playing better than anyone would expect with Dalton. That wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing, right? As far as Jenkins goes, he looks like the Day 1 starter because the team really doesn’t have competition for him on the current roster. But the situation for Pace and Nagy could quickly become desperate if Fields is forced into action too soon, looks unprepared and struggles.
“And then today they throw at him when a position player’s on the mound (Monday) and it’s like, we’re trying to get the game over with, let’s swing and get things going. You’re damned if you do, damned if you don’t, it seems like. But I think everybody should just play the game as hard as they can and do all that, and don’t worry about anything else.”
“This is major-league baseball,” the former slugger said. “When you go up there, you’re here to do well. If you don’t do well, they will get rid of you. So, I’m sorry, the unwritten rules have changed a little — excuse me, not a little, a lot. … In the ’90s, when we played, (swinging at a 3-0 pitch in a rout) would never happen. But today? Everybody’s having fun.”
Photos of the Chicago Cubs’ matchup against the Washington Nationals on May 18, 2021, at Wrigley Field. (Chris Sweda) Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo (44) gestures toward the Nationals on May 18, 2021, at Wrigley Field. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune) Nationals pitcher Jon Lester blows a bubble while watching the first-inning action against the Cubs from the dugout on May 18, 2021, at Wrigley Field. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune) Nationals third baseman Starlin Castro catches a ball that went for an infield single for Cubs third baseman David Bote in the third inning on May 18, 2021, at Wrigley Field. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune) Cubs batter Willson Contreras drives in two runs with a single in the third inning against the Nationals on May 18, 2021, at Wrigley Field. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune) Nationals left fielder Kyle Schwarber stands beside Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo in the fourth inning on May 18, 2021, at Wrigley Field. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune) Nationals pitcher Jon Lester stands in the dugout during the national anthem before a game against the Cubs on May 18, 2021, at Wrigley Field. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune) Nationals pitcher Jon Lester gives a thumbs-up to fans before a game against the Cubs on May 18, 2021, at Wrigley Field. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)
Rizzo was seen stretching at his position as right-hander Zach Davies completed his warm-up pitches at the start of the fourth. The stretches seemingly prompted Cubs manager David Ross and a team trainer to check on Rizzo. He remained in the game after a brief conversation, but on the next ball in play, his awkward maneuvering to make the play resulted in an error.
“Just about the time the guy started making the pitch, I took several steps from the dugout onto the field, yelling, ‘Take, take, take,’ ” La Russa said. “Just the way he was set up, it looked to me like he was going to swing. And the whole time he was running the bases, I’m out there. I was upset because that’s not a time to swing 3-0. I happened to look over there, and I know the Twins knew that I was upset.
During a March 17 meeting with team personnel, Gaudio said he would expose alleged violations by the team “in its production of recruiting videos for prospective student-athletes and in the use of its graduate assistants in practices,” according to the document filed Tuesday in Louisville.
Three-time European Player of the Year Toni Kukoč, right, smiles during a news conference after signing with the Chicago Bulls on July 19, 1993. Bulls Vice President of Operations Jerry Krause, left, drafted the Croatian in 1990 while Kukoc was still under contract to an Italian team. (Brian BAHR / AFP)
“It’s really cool, especially for how much history this field has,” Schwarber said Monday. “I remember when they first asked about it, I was like, ‘If you guys don’t want to do anything with it, I’ll take it. If you guys want to leave it here and I can leave a little mark here on Wrigley Field with all the history here this field has.’
The Bears did win seven games as an underdog last season, and it’s important to realize all of the lines listed below can move significantly between now and game week. Any number of factors can swing the numbers and if the Bears get hot and Fields breaks through, they could find themselves favored several more times. Oddsmakers are in the business of making money for the house and they usually adjust quickly.