Carson Kelly Attempts To Reinvigorate Stagnant Cubs

GOOD MORNING, CHICAGO FANS

We welcomed our 2nd child and 1st son into the world on Tuesday and could not feel more blessed! I hope this is an enjoyable newsletter despite its sleep deprived author 😂

My son will sleep through his first Bears game tonight, but I’m pumped like Carson Kelly after his walk-off! We’ve been waiting all year for Monday night!

CHICAGO CUBS

W - CUBS 7 BRAVES 6 (F/10)

THE CARSON KELLY COMEBACK

• Carson Kelly hit a 2-R HR in the 8th to tie the game and a walk-off single in extras as the Cubs came back from a 6-1 deficit

• Aaron Civale was filthy out of the pen in his Cubs debut (3.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 K)

W - CUBS 4 BRAVES 3

OPPO TACO TUCK

• Kyle Tucker’s opposite field 3-R HR gave the Cubs an early lead. Tucker ended up leaving the game early with a strained calf and missed the rest of the week.

• Shota Imanaga gave up 2 solo HRs but finished with a quality start (6.0 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K)

L - BRAVES 5 CUBS 1

WASTING NO-HIT CADE

• Cade Horton threw 5 no-hit innings before he was removed to monitor his workload

• Drew Pomeranz served up a 3-R HR to Ha-Seong Kim in the 7th

• Bryce Elder entered the game with a 5.85 ERA and held the Cubs to 4 hits and 0 ER in 7 innings

W - CUBS 11 NATIONALS 5

FOUR DINGER PARTY

• The Cubs exploded with 4 HRs (Happ, Hoerner, Swanson, McGuire)

• A 5-run 1st inning led to a much-needed, breathe-easy. blowout

L - NATIONALS 2 CUBS 1

NOT WHAT THEY KNEEDED

• The offense reverted back to lifelessness (3 H & 10 K)

• PCA left the game early after fouling a ball off his knee

L - NATIONALS 6 CUBS 3

DEAD GIVEAWAY

• Daniel Palencia coughed up a 3-1 9th inning lead before leaving with right shoulder tightness. Awful turn of events heading into the final stretch!

• Kelly homered twice and threw out a runner at 2nd!

STAR OF THE WEEK ⭐ Carson Kelly

4-for-15 (.267 AVG), 3 HR, 6 RBI, 1 walk-off

PLAY OF THE WEEK 🎥 PCA sliding catch

DFA’d INF Ben Cowles who was one of the two players the Cubs acquired from the Yankees for Mark Leiter Jr. last season. He’s staying in Chicago - he was claimed by the White Sox!

DIVISION RACE: 7.5 GB of the Brewers

WILD CARD RACE: 1st Wild Card spot (3.0 games ahead)

SCHEDULE 📅 M/T/W/F/SAT/SUN

CHICAGO BEARS

OFFSEASON

Week 1 vs. the Vikings TONIGHT!

• Braxton Jones will start at left tackle

• Tyrique Stevenson will start at CB2 opposite Jaylon Johnson who is hoping to play after his “freak accident” groin injury kept him out for the last few weeks

• Kyler Gordon was a last minute addition to the injury report and is questionable

• TJ Edwards is doubtful with a hamstring injury 😔

Season Prediction: 10-7

I’m not optimistic. Or confident. And I’m not accepting another disaster that would align with their track record. So where does that leave me?

Well, I’m sticking with my prediction from when the schedule was released in May (Game-By-Game Predictions here: Bulls Lose Out On Cooper Flagg By A Coin Flip).

This roster has underwhelmed since uniting their forces under Ryan Poles, Caleb Williams is only beginning his legitimate development, and the division will be a bloodbath again. I have no firm ground to stand on to expect a winning record. The only real, captivating, promising, organization altering difference? Ben Johnson and his coaching staff.

I believe we’re about to witness a serious football program for the first time in ages. Whatever may be lacking in talent can be covered up by the right coach and QB duo. I’m all in for the ride.

Captains were selected! It’s refreshing to be done with the 8 captains PLUS leadership committee in the Matt Eberflus era. A 6th captain will be selected on a weekly basis.

The players voted on captains, and they clearly love the vets! If Special Teams had to be represented, then the 3 spots up for grabs were all filled by long-time veterans. 2 of them (Thuney and Jarrett) are even new to the organization this year. A Bears team without Jaylon Johnson, DJ Moore, Tremaine Edmunds, TJ Edwards, and others as captains is strange to witness.

Released RB Ian Wheeler and G Bill Murray with injury settlements

SCHEDULE 📅 TONIGHT vs. Vikings, SUNDAY at Lions

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

OFFSEASON

The new Blackhawks Hall of Fame officially has its first inductees!

CHICAGO BULLS

OFFSEASON

Billy Donovan’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony was on Saturday and was well attended by current Bulls players! Watch his speech here.

SAY WHAT?

A CITYWIDE SALUTE

Carlos Santana

It only took a single day for the new Cub to make a big impression on the organization.

Pete Crow-Armstrong was in the midst of a 2-day reset out of the lineup, and Santana was there at his locker to impart some wisdom and encouragement. Read more here:

MILD TAKE

I’m not picking the Bears to beat the Vikings or Lions to start the season.

Two division clashes in a row is a brutal way to start a season. At least it’s better than lumping all the division games together at the end of the season…right?

On paper, I can buy into JJ McCarthy having no shot in his NFL debut, the Vikings being due for severe regression after a 14-win season, the Lions being a much worse team with a decimated coaching staff, and a Ben Johnson revenge game. Everything changes quickly in the NFL, so why couldn’t the Bears pull off two surprises in a row?

Well, I just said the Vikings won 14 games last season. The Lions won 15. These are juggernauts with 2 of the best head coaches in the NFL. Kevin O’Connell is a wizard with his offense, and Dan Campbell runs a physical outfit in Detroit. The Bears don’t yet have an identity.

I’ve seen too many flatlines in season openers and pre-snap penalties in training camp to expect much right out of the gate. Success takes time. Chemistry takes time. I just hope it’s not too long.

HITTING THE LINKS

Kevin Fishbain - How Bears QB Caleb Williams views rookie year as he starts anew with Ben Johnson (The Athletic)

Larry Mayer - Bears DT Grady Jarrett 'more excited than ever' for 11th season opener (chicagobears.com)

Scott Powers - Oliver Moore pleased with offseason, ready to make Blackhawks out of camp (The Athletic)

Chicago Cubs - Sammy Sosa's 61st and 62nd Home Run | The Breakdown (YouTube)

Chicago Bears - Earning your spot on the 53-man roster | 1920 Football Drive (YouTube)

TWO MINUTE WARNING

Thanks for reading! The Ben Johnson era starts NOW. Da Bears!