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It’s a horribly sad turn of events for a team that, after decades of futility, finally seemed on the verge of a real breakthrough.
This was a heartbreaking game to watch—devastatingly terrible football, followed by this injury. Luckily, it sounds like a minor hamstring injury. If that's the case, I bet they sit him for the next two games to make sure he's 110% and hopefully he makes a return without issue.
More importantly, there's really not a single trouble spot on the field, and the best way to show that is to take Crow-Armstrong out of the equation entirely. If we were to look at every team's defense this year excluding center field .. the Cubs would still be No. 1, narrowly over Toronto and St. Louis.
These stats are wild. A historically great defense and potentially the greatest hitting Cubs team in the history of the franchise??? And yet a league worst pitching staff... Imagine if the pitching staff could just be average, or even slightly below average, they'd be unstoppable. If Justin Steele can return and get himself back into the rotation, they'd at least have three reliable starters. It's too bad the two young guys with potential are both out for the year, but at least Swanson will be back soon.
Don’t go giving me hope now…
Could it be? Some actual good news for Chicago sports—even if it is just future potential that will probably be squandered away eventually anyway? Even better is this excludes the young established guys like Bedard, Nazar, and Levshunov.
The last thing I need right now is hope in the Cubs chances…
That Johnson eventually chose the Bears sent a clear signal: This is the job he wanted above all others, one that would allow him to prove himself against his old team and division rivals and establish himself as a top head coach in the league.
Anyone willingly choosing to coach the Bears is giving you a clear sign that something is not right between the ears… I lump myself in that category as someone who was excited for the season and expected things to improve from last year.
Tom Ley
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