Olin Kreutz Is The Greatest Leader In The History Of Leaders

The Bears effectively said goodbye to Olin Kreutz on Sunday when they signed center Chris Spencer after refusing to budge on what they said would be their best offer to Kreutz, a decision that now has Kreutz reportedly considering retirement. Or has him considering a play to get San Francisco to increase their offer to him since he no longer has the Bears around for them to bid against.

Who knows? We'll have to wait and see.

Either way, what we've learned since Kreutz was shown the door is that he was not only the leader of the Bears locker room, but the greatest leader in the history of the entire world. It's possible that without Kreutz around, players won't even remember how to put on pads, or which cleat goes on which foot.

The Olin Kreutz Era Comes To An End

It's official, Olin Kreutz's days as a Chicago Bear are over. The Bears announced the signing of center Chris Spencer to a two-year deal on Sunday, which means that they're done negotiating with Kreutz and he'll leave Chicago second on the all-time list in starts as a Bear with 183.

One start behind Walter Payton's mark of 184.

It's a move that a lot of people may question, but to be honest, I'm not going to shed any tears about Kreutz leaving.

I'm Willing To Give Roy Williams A Chance

The news became official this morning that the Bears had signed wide receiver Roy Williams, who was just recently released by the Cowboys and spent a few years with the Lions before that. There still hasn't been any word on what the Bears will be paying Williams, but I highly doubt the deal is long-term or that he's getting a lot of money.

This news did not please me too much, because make no mistake about it, I do not like Roy Williams. Like, at all. He's annoyed me since he was still playing college ball at Texas, and that only grew once he became a Detroit Lion (Examples here and here).

Still, he's a Bear now, and I'm going to give him a chance.

Greg Olsen Shipped To Carolina

It's been a bad week for Jay Cutler. First he loses his fiance, and now he loses his best friend as the trade trend continues to sweep Chicago.

After hearing rumblings about it for the last few days, followed by an email from Drew Rosenhaus to all 32 teams on Wednesday night saying TIGHT END FOR SALE, the Bears have traded Greg Olsen to the Carolina Panthers.

Kosuke Fukudome Is Going To Cleveland

Mike Quade may have him on the lineup card for Thursday's game against the Brewers, but that's just because Mike Quade is trying to win this division, damn it. Still, it looks like Kosuke Fukudome won't be around to play for the Cubs today because he's about to be traded to Cleveland.

As I wrote about this weekend, Cleveland was one of a few teams who had an interest in Fukudome, and even though it's not official just yet, according to just about everybody, the Cubs have sent him to the Indians for a couple of prospects.

MLB Power Rankings - Week 17

Change! Change is afoot!

Last week I pointed out how closely all the teams in the rankings had started to become and hinted that we could start seeing some changes in the coming weeks. A couple bad games or good games here and there for any team could see a change, and since I'm so smart and psychic, that's what has happened this week.

Most notably, the return of a certain team to the top of the rankings. Yes, the Phillies once again rule MLB.

Edwin Jackson And Mark Teahen Traded To Toronto

Kenny Williams has started the wheeling and dealing, though after his first trade it's still somewhat difficult to discern whether the team is in buying or selling mode. All I can tell for sure is that the White Sox are in contract shedding mode.

The Sox sent both Edwin Jackson and Mark Teahen to Toronto on Wednesday morning for reliever Jason Frasor -- a local kid -- and pitching prospect Zach Stewart. It's believed that the Blue Jays will be sending Jackson to St. Louis for Colby Rasmus.

I'll Have Some Of Whatever Mike Quade Is Having

Given the results that they've seen on the field this season and some of the decisions that Mike Quade has made as manager, it's hard to blame Cubs fans for wanting somebody else to run this club next season.

Still, there could be some out there who don't feel that Quade needs to go, but with what Quade said on Tuesday, those holdouts will likely change their minds.

It's rather obvious that Quade is either really high, or just completely out of his mind. Possibly both.

Bears Interested In Brad Smith

Depending on whether or not you want to believe everybody this time, the NFL lockout could be over any minute now. In fact, it may have ended by the time you finish reading this sentence. It's also possible that teams will be able to begin signing free agents today as well, and the top names are bound to fly off the shelves like a new Twilight novel in a bookstore full of 13-year old girls and bored housewives.

Obviously most Bears fans would like to see the Bears sign a wide receiver, and there are plenty of big names available on the free agent market. So of course the only receiver that the Bears are tied to at the moment is the one who isn't actually a wide receiver.

Kosuke Fukudome Garnering Interest

For the most part any trade rumors we've been hearing about the Cubs the last few weeks involve Aramis Ramirez not wanting to go anywhere and how the Cubs would be willing to eat Soriano's contract. The Cubs do have some assets that they could move before the deadline this week in Marlon Byrd and Carlos Pena, though.

Another player who may be of interest to other teams is Kosuke Fukudome, and according to Bruce Miles at ESPN Chicago, there are at least four teams who have expressed an interest in the Cubs outfielder.

White Sox Talking To Cardinals About Rasmus

It's been an odd July for the White Sox. Not the fact that they continue to lose in frustrating fashion, as we've all grown used to that, but the fact that we're only a week away from the trade deadline and we haven't heard many rumors about the White Sox making a trade.

Well it looks like we finally have our trade rumor to think about. According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch the White Sox and Cardinals are talking about a trade that could end up bringing St. Louis' Colby Rasmus to Chicago.

The Legos Make More Contact

Adam Dunn's season has been absolutely terrible, but things are going to change now. I can feel it. I mean, the boost he's likely to get after receiving this Lego portrait of himself he bought from the clubhouse attendant in Cleveland this weekend is going to be huge.

Also, let's try and remember, this is Cleveland we're dealing with. Legos are fine art.

Life Is A Lot Like Baseball

I remember one night while I was still living down in Champaign four friends and I went out to a bar as we did on so many nights. The difference was, this night was going to be one of those guy's nights. We were just going to hang out, get trashed, play darts and talk shit all night. There was to be no women, nor the pursuit of any women.

MLB Power Rankings - Week 16

There weren't a whole lot of changes to the rankings this week. What is evident when looking at the numbers, though, is that the teams are getting a lot closer together. The gap between 7th through 20th really isn't very big at all. We even have a tie this week, which I  believe is only the second time that's happened this season. Which means that we could see some big changes coming in the next few weeks.

And the proximity isn't just restricted to that area, either. Only 10 points separate 1st from 4th in the rankings this week, and we do have a new team in the top four. If you can't guess who it is, let me give you a hint.

There's a picture of them up top and they just had a 12-game win streak snapped on Wednesday night. Still can't figure it out? Then find out after the jump.

Adam Dunn Contemplates Quitting

Here's something you want to hear from the guy you signed to a four-year $65 million last winter who is currently hitting .158 with with 9 home runs and 124 strikeouts in 82 games: Adam Dunn has thought about quitting baseball.

In an interview with Yahoo's Jeff Passan, Dunn talks rather candidly about his thoughts of quitting the game altogether, which is just further proof that this horrid slump is so deep in his head that he may never get out of it.

Matt Forte Will Cite This Story While Negotiating A New Contract

Two weeks ago I wrote about how Matt Forte wanted a new contract, and while I compared him favorably to the rest of the NFL's better running backs, I was still a bit reserved in my opinion of what the Bears should do for him. Yes, I'd like to see Forte get a new deal, one he deserves, but I don't want the Bears to spend too much on him and handcuff themselves when it comes to the rest of the roster.

Well, it's safe to say that if Forte is in the habit of printing out blog posts and bringing them to contract negotiations, he's not likely going to bring in mind. He may want to bring in ESPN's K.C. Joyner's, though.

John Harbaugh Is Still Mad At The Bears

Not a Bears fan

In case you don't remember, the Baltimore Ravens and the Chicago Bears aren't exactly best friends these days. Both teams had apparently agreed to a trade during the NFL draft that the Bears seemingly backed out of in a less than ideal manner, and it ticked the Ravens off.

Apparently the Ravens are still pretty pissed about the whole thing. Specifically head coach John Harbaugh, who was on ESPN Radio's Waddle and Silvy this morning, and he sure didn't sound like a man who had gotten over the situation and moved past it.

Aramis Ramirez Is Totally Cool With Losing

I understand why players have no-trade clauses and don't want to leave the city that they play in. It makes perfect sense to me. A great job could come along for me and make an offer, but if it requires me to pack up and move my entire life across the country with little notice, it would make me think twice before accepting it.

As for athletes, though, some parts I don't understand. I'm a pretty competitive person, and though I'm nowhere near talented enough to compete on a professional sports level, even when I'm just playing basketball with friends, I want to win.

Video games, poker, fantasy leagues, staring contests, whatever it is, I want to win it.

Good News: The White Sox And Cubs Aren't The Most Dysfunctional Baseball Team In The Area

As if it isn't already hard enough to watch the White Sox and Cubs play baseball, neither team does itself any favors with the dysfunction that seems to permeate from each organization. Whether Ryan Dempster is yelling at Mike Quade in the dugout, or there's some behind the scenes back-stabbing going on between Kenny Williams and Ozzie Guillen, it just feels like nobody can get along in this city.

Still, as messed up as both teams seem to be, they appear to have things in order compared to another team in the area. The soap opera that is the Cubs and White Sox doesn't come close to what's going on with the Lake County Fielders.

The Next Week Could Decide The White Sox Season

How much longer will CQ be silently raging in the White Sox dugout?

The White Sox teased us a bit this weekend. Following the All-Star break in which we all heard the familiar refrains about having to play better baseball, and that the team wasn't out of the race just yet, they actually seemed to back up the talk on Friday and Saturday.

There were timely hits with runners in scoring position, and instead of scoring a run or two and shutting down for the rest of the day, the White Sox came through early and often. Even Gavin Floyd and Edwin Jackson showed up to shut down the Tigers as the Sox outscored Detroit 13-2 in the first two games of the series to pick up two big wins.

MLB Power Rankings - Week 15

We've reached the All-Star break so with the last three days off there weren't a lot of games played since last Thursday. Which means that there weren't all that many changes to the rankings this week, as the Yankees were able to hold on to the top spot. No doubt all thanks to Derek Jeter and his intangibles.

Also, while the National League may have won the All Star Game, the American League still seems to hold the edge in the power rankings. The top two teams in the rankings are from the AL, though the top ten is split with each league getting five teams. Who are those teams and where do they land?

Find out after the jump.

Ryne Sandberg Would Still Manage The Cubs

Good news, Cubs fans. You have something to dream about while watching the three-month death march to the end of the Cubs season.

Even though he was shunned by the Cubs last offseason, Ryne Sandberg still wants to manage in the Major Leagues one day and on Wednesday he told ESPN Radio's Waddle and Silvy that he'd still be interested in managing the Cubs.

The White Sox Are Pretty Much Screwed

Friday night's loss to the Minnesota Twins was painful, but, really, no more painful than any loss to the Twins ever is. Sure, blowing a 5-1 lead after the first inning is somewhat sadistic, but I think most of us saw it coming.

What makes matters worse, though, is how the White Sox are going to get things on track. Or more importantly, who is planning on putting the White Sox on track. Yep, it's all riding on the shoulders of Adam Dunn and Alex Rios apparently.

Matt Forte Would Be Cool With A New Contract

We don't know if there will even be an NFL season in 2011, but most signs indicate that the owners and players are going to come to an agreement at some point, even if we don't know when. It could be in time to play an entire season, or maybe a few games will be missed, nobody knows.

So, considering that we don't know what the future holds for the NFL, or what any new collective bargaining agreement will bring, it does seem like an odd time for Matt Forte to be talking about a new contract.

MLB Power Rankings - Week 14

Derek Jeter may still be chasing 3,000, but the Yankees have already reached first place

There are changes to the rankings this week, but only because I made one rather significant change to my formula. See, defense is a very important part of the game, but the fact is that we really don't have a statistic out there that I feel can accurately measure defense. So while I'm still using defense in my formula, I'm not giving it the same amount of weight that it had in my original formula.

For the most part, this didn't have a huge impact on the overall rankings, but it did make a big one at the top. Yep, it appears that the only thing that could knock the Phillies off the top spot was changing my formula.

Let's get to the rankings.

Jose Canseco Knows How To Fix Adam Dunn

So what happened? I thought Adam Dunn was supposed to be fixed? I mean, on Monday night we didn't just celebrate the birthday of this grand old bitch we call America, but also the rebirth of Adam Dunn.

Dunn got a hit off of a left-handed pitcher and then later hit a two-run homer to give the White Sox a lead late. Dunn was then at the plate ready to put an exclamation mark on things in the ninth inning when Kansas City's Aaron Crow balked in the winning run.

Could Carlos Quentin Be Moving To Atlanta?

The two favorite words in the lexicon of most White Sox fans this season seem to be "Dayan Viciedo." Viciedo has been crushing the ball all season at Charlotte, and with just about everybody in the White Sox lineup aside from Paul Konerko, Carlos Quentin and Alexei Ramirez being terrible for most of the season, it would only make sense that the White Sox would bring Viciedo to Chicago.

First the team should have swapped him out for Juan Pierre, and then it was Adam Dunn. Well, then Pierre had a couple huge hits last week and bought himself some time with fans, and we all know Adam Dunn is cured because he hit a home run and forced Aaron Crow to balk in the game-winning run last night with his mind.

So now who are the White Sox to replace with Dayan Viciedo? Well, according to a report from the Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo -- via CSNChicago -- it could be the team's lone All Star.

Meet Your Chicago All Stars

Not an All Star

Yes, the man pictured above is the man who deserves to be on the All Star team more than any other player in this city, but he didn't make the cut. Though Paul Konerko is on the final ballot in the American League, so you can still vote for him to get in.

As for the players who did make it, congratulations to Starlin Castro and Carlos Quentin. I'm not upset that either player made the team, as Castro deserves to make the team even without the dumb "one player per team" rule. Quentin is having a strong year for the White Sox, but I feel like he was an All Star in April, and has only been slightly above average since.

Blackhawks Open Free Agency With Four Signings

What's a better way to introduce Jamal Mayers to Blackhawks fans than a photo of him punching a Canuck?

The Blackhawks signed defenseman Steve Montador to a new deal earlier this week after getting him in a trade from the Buffalo Sabres, but with the NHL's free agency period officially beginning today, Stan Bowman started spending all that newfound money he has after trading Brian Campbell and Troy Brouwer.

Bowman also raised the average age of the Blackhawks roster, as all four signings are veteran players who are currently north of 30 in age: forwards Andrew Brunette, Jamal Mayers, and Brett McLean along with defenseman Sean O'Donnell.

All four were signed to one-year deals.