MENT LEAVEOrioles 3B Pedro Alvarez is heading to the Dominica

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Chicago Bears coach John Fox watched the NFC North race tighten during his teams bye week.Whether it means anything in the long run for the last-place Bears (2-6) depends largely on whether they healed enough during their time away, and can overcome several problems both on offense and defense to make a second-half run.Obviously we could use a little help, Fox said Monday at Halas Hall. Yesterday might have been some. I wont know until I kind of see what we do.The first-place Minnesota Vikings (5-3) lost their third straight, an overtime defeat by the Detroit Lions (5-4). Green Bay (4-4) also fell, and the Bears have games left with each division opponent.The Bears are haunted by games lost in the fourth quarter to Indianapolis and Jacksonville, or theyd be in the mix.Well I think again you can spend a lot of time looking in the rear view mirror, Fox said. Even driving your car, if you spend too much time looking back then you wreck.So our focus is in front of us now.The Bears are at Tampa Sunday and anticipate a handful of injured starters returning to the lineup. They wont know more on the injury front until Wednesday, but the possibility exists guards Josh Sitton (ankle) and Kyle Long (tricep), nose tackle Eddie Goldman (ankle) and cornerback Bryce Callahan will be able to start.I think its a huge boost, Fox said. As I mentioned before, if you look at whats happened to us in the first half, just at the quarterback position, its enough to cripple a lot of teams.Quarterback Jay Cutler returned after missing five starts to lead a victory over the Minnesota Vikings Oct. 31.They could also get back wide receiver Marquess Wilson. He has been on the physically unable to perform list since training camp with a foot injury. On Monday, his evaluation period for a return began.Obviously getting two Pro Bowl guards back is helpful, Fox said, referring to Sitton and Long. I think the receiver position gets a little deeper, as well as the punt returning. In the secondary, I think Bryce Callahans been kinda hit or miss through the first half, or part of the first half. That makes us healthier in a lot of spots.Long took note of all the players at practice who formerly had been populating the trainers room.A lot of people certainly took advantage of the break, Long said. They did what they needed to do to get their bodies right.It would be the first time for Goldman since Week 2, when he suffered a high ankle sprain against the Philadelphia Eagles.I know we havent won a lot, but the wins we did have, I sat out on, Goldman said. Thats the toughest part, is watching your team play and rally and youre just sitting on the sidelines watching.Fox pointed to other problems beyond injuries that need to be fixed.The offense struggled in the red zone and ranks 22nd at scoring touchdowns from inside the 20-yard line. The defense struggled on third downs early, but has since improved to eighth (36.7 percent).We are what we are and right now, Fox said. We could (finish) 10-6 or 2-14. Thats the reality math-wise. I hope were moving more toward the first one I mentioned.Weve got our whole half of a season left. Its like the second half of a game. A lot can happen. Cheap Jerseys From China . The scientists believe the small earthquake during a Marshawn Lynch touchdown was likely greater than Lynchs famous "beast quake" touchdown run three years ago, which also came against New Orleans during a playoff game. China Jerseys Wholesale . How great will be revealed in the next couple of days at the board of governors meeting in Pebble Beach, Calif. https://www.chinajerseyscheap.us/ .com) - The Chicago Blackhawks aim for their third three-game winning streak of the season when they host the struggling Edmonton Oilers in Sundays battle at the United Center. China Jerseys Stitched .ca look back at each of the Top 10 stories of 2013. Today, we look back at Boston Strong - a citys recovery from tragedy. Fake China Jerseys . - Levi Browns tenure at left tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers is over before it even began. SEATTLE -- Having lost six straight games and 10 of 12 before returning to Safeco Field, Mariners manager Scott Servais met with players in an attempt to get the team to play with better focus and intensity.The message was heard.Seth Smith hit his first career grand slam, homering for the fourth straight game and leading the Seattle Mariners over the Baltimore Orioles 9-4 Sunday for a four-game sweep. The Mariners won seven of nine on a homestand that included series against St. Louis and Pittsburgh.We didnt talk at all about wins and losses, Servais said. It was just about how we were playing. We werent playing well, and we needed to play better. Things happen in this game. You play so many games, but you can control how you play and how you prepare, and thats what we wanted to see.Seattle had 31 runs and 47 hits, including 23 for extra bases, in sweeping the AL East leaders. It was Seattles first four-game sweep since July 2012 against Kansas City.It seems like we should do it more often, Kyle Seager said of Servais talk. It worked pretty well.Seager felt the team was especially flat when it was swept four games at Detroit.Its up to us to understand that its not going to happen just by showing up, Smith added. Youve got to play with intensity, prepare yourself, and its got to show up through your effort on the field.Hisashi Iwakuma (8-6) limited Baltimore to four runs despite allowing 10 hits in six-plus innings. He struggled with command early and allowed baserunners in every inning except the third.Ubaldo Jimenez (5-8) gave up six runs and six hits in 4 1/3 innings with three walks and three strikeouts.With the game scoreless in the third, Chris Iannetta walked leading off, Ketel Marte blooped a single and Leonys Martin reached when he bunted, Jimenez picked up the ball and looked to throw to third, only to find Manny Machado had charged in as well and the base was uncovered. Jimenez had Smith in an 0-2 count before Smiths slam put the Mariners ahead 4-0.Thats the hardest part, Jimenez ssaid.dddddddddddd To have a hitter like him who is really hot and get ahead, then give up a homer, its tough.Mark Trumbos solo homer and J.J. Hardys two-run double pulled Baltimore to 4-3 in the fourth, but Ketel Marte had an RBI double in the bottom half and Jimenez balked with two outs and runners at the corners, breaking his hands and stopping his motion when Martin took off to steal second.Trumbo had an RBI single against Edwin Diaz in the seventh, cutting Seattles lead to 6-4. Kyle Seager hit a two-run double off Ariel Miranda in the bottom half and scored on Adam Linds double.STRIKEOUTSMariners RHP Edwin Diaz matched Randy Johnsons franchise record by recording 10 consecutive outs with strikeouts. In his last four appearances, Diaz has allowed three hits in four innings with 10 strikeouts. Johnson accomplished the feat over two starts in July 1997.BEREAVEMENT LEAVEOrioles 3B Pedro Alvarez is heading to the Dominican Republic after Sundays series finale in Seattle after his grandfathers death. Alvarez is expected to miss a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers before rejoining the team in Baltimore for Fridays game against the Los Angeles Angels.TRAINERS ROOMMariners: RHP Felix Hernandez had another bullpen session on Sunday and is to throw a simulated game on Tuesday in Houston. If all goes well, he is expected to throw two rehab starts beginning July 10 with Class A Everett. Hernandez has been on the disabled list since June 1 with a strained right calf.UP NEXTOrioles: RHP Yovani Gallardo (3-1) is to start Monday at the Dodgers. He is 2-0 with a 4.41 ERA in three starts since returning to the rotation on June 18 following a stint on the DL caused by right biceps tendinitis.Mariners: LHP Wade Miley (6-4) will start at Houston, his second outing since returning from the DL. Miley allowed five runs and seven hits in against Pittsburgh on Wednesday. ' ' '