Chicago Sports

SEATTLE — Johnny Cueto did what he could.

It just wasn’t enough against Mariners right-hander Logan Gilbert, and the White Sox fell back to three games behind the Cleveland Guardians in the American League Central standings after a 3-0 loss Tuesday night.

Gilbert (12-5, 3.23 ERA) was a handful, striking out nine and walking one over six innings of five-hit ball as Seattle (77-59) evened the three-game series which concludes Wednesday afternoon.

Cueto was right there battling Gilbert, allowing one run over six-plus innings, his team-high 16th start of six or more innings. Cueto lowered his ERA to 2.87, allowing five hits, three walks and striking out three. It was a 1-0 game until Cal Raleigh’s two-run homer in the eighth against Reynaldo Lopez with two outs.

The Sox (68-68) were 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and left nine runners on base.

The Mariners got their run in the fourth when Ty France led off with a double, took third on Mitch Haniger’s fly ball and was awarded home when right fielder Gavin Sheets’ throw to third got past third baseman Yoan Moncada and went beyong Cueto’s reach backing up and out of play off a TV camera.

Moncada tried to make a swipe tag but probably had no play and haphazardly let the ball get by him.

Matt Brash, Andres Munoz and Paul Sewald finished up with scoreless relief as the Mariners (77-59) won after having a seven-game winning streak snapped Monday. The Sox lost for the second time in seven games.

Luis Robert was struck by a pitch from Gilbert on his left hand during his first at-bat and left the game after his second at-bat. X-rays were negative, Robert has a bruise, and he’s day-to-day.

Robert has been dealing with a sore left wrist which, along with a brief paternity leave, kept him out of the lineup for two weeks. When he took his left hand off the bat on a swing, it appeared he might be dealing with the same issue, but the hit by pitch only complicated things.

He was replaced by Adam Engel, who led off the seventh against Brash with a single but was promptly thrown out stealing for the first out.

Moncada had two singles in his first two at-bats after coming off the injured list.

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SEATTLE — The White Sox likely will get a key piece of their starting rotation back for their series finale Wednesday against the Mariners. And now that right-hander Michael Kopech is ”rejuvenated” after a stint on the injured list with knee soreness, the hope is that he will be ready for the rest of the season.

Kopech’s return will come at a good time, with the Sox trailing the first-place Guardians by two games in the American League Central entering play Tuesday. Kopech said he expects to be reinstated from the IL and start Wednesday.

Kopech has been sidelined since he left his start Aug. 22 against the Royals in Kansas City with a strained left knee. He had been dealing with soreness in his right knee, too, but ”is feeling quite a bit better” and is ”ready to go.”

”Giving myself a chance to get rested and recovered,” Kopech said Tuesday. ”Hopefully I can come in this last month or so with a rejuvenated body and mind.”

Kopech (4-9, 3.58 ERA) has pitched a career high 110? innings, so the break for his arm and body came at a good time. He said that the knee felt good a few days after the injury and that he has ”really cleaned up some things mechanically.”

Kopech pitched a simulated game Friday and a bullpen session Sunday, shaking off some rust. His pitch count will be watched as he builds back up toward deeper starts.

”I’d imagine it would be shortened,” he said. ”I’m going to go out there and give it what I’ve got [Wednesday], and they’ll probably come get me when they feel it’s ready.”

Moncada returns to lineup

Third baseman Yoan Moncada, who came off the IL on Monday after dealing with a strained hamstring, returned to the lineup batting second and lined a single to center against right-hander Logan Gilbert in the first inning. Moncada has struggled, batting .197/.269/.313 with a .581 OPS and seven home runs in his first 80 games.

He started the season on the IL with a strained oblique and never has found a rhythm.

”Those are things that you can’t control,” he said of the injuries. ”You prepare and you try to do your best and try to stay on the field as much as you can, but injuries are there. Now I’m feeling good. I’m just trying to stay healthy and help the team as much as I can in this final stretch.”

Robert update

Outfielder Luis Robert insisted his wrist felt ”100%” when he returned to the lineup Monday, but acting manager Miguel Cairo exercised some caution, keeping him in the seventh spot for a second consecutive day.

”He told me that he was fine, so I’m going to listen to what he says,” Cairo said. ”We’re going to take it day by day. He says he wants to play, so I’m going to put him in to play. But I’m going to be smart, too. If he’s hurting or if he’s got something that he can take a day, we’re going to give him a day.”

It didn’t help that Robert was hit by a pitch on the left wrist in the second inning. Robert was checked by trainer James Kruk and stayed in the game.

”Of course, I want to contribute to what the team is doing here, and I know the way to contribute is being in the lineup,” Robert said. ”That’s what we want to do, to make the playoffs.”

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SEATTLE — When he was managing, Tony La Russa said it over and over again: August and September are where the real fun is.

September is here, but La Russa isn’t because of health issues. Are the White Sox having fun yet?

They finally are, although they know the good times can be fleeting, as they’ve proved time and again during a sloppy, offensively challenged season that saw them take a 68-67 record into their game Tuesday against the Mariners.

The Sox had won five of their last six games and five of seven since bench coach Miguel Cairo assumed acting-manager duties after La Russa left the team last week to undergo medical tests. They say they are having more fun, and whether it’s simply because they’re winning or because of a change of leadership is impossible to know.

We do know this: Sox fans who booed La Russa and called for his firing from the home seats this season weren’t having a good time. Same for those guys holding the SELL THE TEAM sign at Guaranteed Rate Field.

The coaches, broadcasters and blue- and white-collar workers at 35th and Shields all have had more enjoyable seasons. As one team source told the Sun-Times recently, everyone from the players to the coaching staff to the front office felt ”drained” by the climate surrounding a team that had World Series aspirations in spring training, as well as its record.

In the last seven days, however, things have turned for the better, and everyone is asking about a different vibe around the clubhouse.

”We’re having fun,” said veteran shortstop Elvis Andrus, who was acquired Aug. 19. ”The first week that I was here, it was a lot of tense, a lot of guys trying to make things happen. Lately, we’ve been able to just let our talent go out there and compete.”

To say the absence of La Russa, 77, has allowed for that doesn’t seem to correlate. Players have spoken affectionately of him during his absence, complete with ”Win for Tony” talk.

They also talked among themselves, sorted some things out and challenged each other in a players-only meeting Thursday.

”There’s some strong leadership presence in this locker room,” pitcher Michael Kopech said, citing pitchers Lance Lynn and Johnny Cueto, outfielder AJ Pollock and infielder Josh Harrison, among others.

With La Russa not present, Kopech said: ”It made us want to work for him, but we also realized it’s our clubhouse now, and we have to do what’s necessary to get the work done. And we’ve done a good job of that.”

”The energy has been good,” Pollock said. ”Baseball is day-to-day, though. You don’t want to start analyzing four or five games. But it’s been good. If you can do it for a game or two, you keep at it. The good teams get after it every single day, so that’s the goal.”

For most of the season, almost every day has been fraught with some or all of the following: a lack of power, bad baserunning, poor defense, injuries and moments of poor effort. None of it looks good on the players, manager or coaches.

Despite all of it, the Sox had gone from six games out of first place in the American League Central on Aug. 30 to two games out Tuesday. They have four games left against the first-place Guardians, including three at home Sept. 20-22, and nine left against the second-place Twins, including six of their last nine.

And they might make the final push with La Russa back in charge, although the Sox remain mum about the possibility of him returning or when that might happen.

After the series against the Mariners, the Sox have a four-game series against the Athletics in Oakland. Dave Stewart, who pitched for La Russa during their heyday with the A’s and partnered with him and Dave Dombrowski in an effort to bring a major-league team to Nashville, Tennessee, will have his number retired.

La Russa will want to be there, so stay tuned. And keep your eyes on these Sox.

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Mitch Trubisky is a likely starter in Week One for the Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers were keeping the status of their Week One starting quarterback a secret. Reports came out this week that the starter will be former Chicago Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky. Trubisky recently received a significant honor from his teammates.

Trubisky was the Bears’ quarterback from 2017-2020 after the team traded up to draft him as the second overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft. He struggled in John Fox’s and Matt Nagy’s systems before he spent 2021 as Josh Allen’s backup with the Buffalo Bills.

Trubisky signed a two-year deal with the Steelers this offseason. Not long after Trubisky was signed, the Steelers took quarterback Kenny Pickett in the first round of the 2022 draft. The two were competing for the starting job in the preseason. Trubisky beat the rookie out for now. We’ll see how long as Steelers fans were already impatient with Trubisky at the start of training camp.

However, it appears Trubisky has won over the support of his teammates. According to Brooke Pryor of ESPN, Trubisky was named a team captain for the Steelers. Trubisky was honored to be named a captain:

“It’s a tremendous honor,” Trubisky said of being named a captain. “Anytime you’re voted by your peers and your teammates, it obviously means a lot. I just come in here, try to lead by example, earn the trust of my teammates, and for them to vote me captain, it definitely means a lot.”

Trubisky could have a good season with the Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers offense has a chance to be highly successful with Trubisky as the starter. The team has the talented wide receiver Diontae Johnson and a potential young star in rookie George Pickens. Pickens had an amazing preseason. If Trubisky can master the offense this season, we might not see Pickett for a while. Pickett was overrated coming out of college.

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A week ago in Toronto, Cubs catcher Willson Contreras was introspective about the ankle injury he’d been pushing through for weeks.

“At some point, you have to just take it easy, and don’t hurt the team, don’t hurt yourself, and do what’s best for the team,” he said then.

It is officially that point. The Cubs announced Tuesday that they’d put Contreras on the 10-day IL, retroactive to Saturday, with a left ankle sprain.

The team also activated outfielder Michael Hermosillo from the 60-day IL and designated right-hander Nicholas Padilla for assignment. Hermosillo has been on the IL with strained left quadriceps since May 10.

Contreras is set to undergo imaging on his ankle, and the Cubs hope rest this week will help him bounce back.

“It’s a one step forward, two steps back kind of thing,” manager David Ross said. “Feels better each and every day with rest, test it out, sore again the next day. … Just get him back completely healthy. It’s hard to play at 70, 80% on something like that.”

Contreras originally hurt his ankle in the Field of Dreams game nearly four weeks ago. The soreness progressed to his foot. He hasn’t played since last Tuesday in Toronto, when he hit a fourth-inning home run and exited after the fifth inning.

In other roster news

The Cubs also activated left-hander Wade Miley from the 60-day IL (left shoulder strain) to start against the Reds in Tuesday’s series opener. In a corresponding move, they designated right-handed pitcher Luke Farrell for assignment.

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Most NFL power rankings have the Chicago Bears ranked near the bottom to start the season

With the NFL season officially kicking off this Thursday, many sports publications have published their initial power rankings for the 2022 season. With how vocal many have been about the lack of talent the Chicago Bears have this season, it’s no surprise that many of these power-ranking articles have the team extremely low.

NFL.com released their week 1 power rankings today, and they had the Chicago Bears as the absolute worst team in the league to start the year.

Although they believe the Bears have some nice offensive pieces, a potential league-worst o-line, and questions about Justin Fields’ development lead them to this ranking. It is also worth noting that they are not the first publication to give the Bears a last-place ranking as Sports Illustrated gave them this same ranking last week.

Football analytics website Pro Football Focus (PFF) gave the Bears a similarly harsh ranking by having them as the 31st-ranked team. Only the Seattle Seahawks rank lowered than the Bears in this one, but PFF still noted many of the same issues that NFL.com did. One interesting note is that PFF also said the Bears have one of the worst receiving corps in the NFL despite having Darnell Mooney and exciting rookie Velus Jones Jr.

By far the most generous power ranking that has been released comes from ESPN who have the Bears at number 25 in their preseason poll. While the Bears have overhauled their roster significantly this season, ESPN acknowledges they still have young talent and veterans that will make an impact. This ranking specifically highlighted safety Eddie Jackson as someone that could make a major impact this year, or lose his spot on the team entirely.

While sports outlets differ on where exactly the Bears rank, they all still agree that the team is likely to experience a lot of losing this year. This is the first season for general manager Ryan Poles’ rebuild, so losing many games will be beneficial if it can net the Bears a higher pick in the next year’s draft. Bears fans will still have plenty to look forward to this season as seeing this young Bears team develop will be more important than winning games.

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Good afternoon. Here’s the latest news you need to know in Chicago. It’s about a 5-minute read that will brief you on today’s biggest stories.

This afternoon will be partly sunny with some sprinkles and a high near 78 degrees. Tonight will be partly cloudy with a low near 63. Tomorrow will be mostly sunny with a high near 79.

Bears release details on Arlington Heights site, make case for public subsidy

The Chicago Bears will “seek no public funding for direct stadium structure construction” on the site of the Arlington International racecourse, but the team will seek “additional funding and assistance” for the broader, mixed-use development it called one of the largest in Illinois history.

The Bears laid the groundwork for a tax increment financing subsidy or some other form of state or local assistance for the broader development on the 326-acre site in an open letter released just two days before a community meeting at which conceptual plans are expected to be released.

If the Bears exercise their option to purchase the property for $197.2 million and proceed with the broader development, it will be “one of the largest development projects in Illinois state history,” the letter states.

The “multi-purpose entertainment district” will be “anchored by a “best-in-class, enclosed stadium … worthy of hosting global events” such as the Super Bowl, college football playoffs and the NCAA’s Final Four basketball championships.

“Make no mistake. This is much more than a stadium project. Any development of Arlington Park will propose to include a multi-purpose entertainment, commercial/retail and housing district that will provide considerable economic benefits to Cook County, the surrounding region and the state of Illinois,” the letter states.

“The long-term vision for the entire project is an ongoing work in progress, but could include: restaurants, office space, hotel, fitness center, new parks and open spaces and other improvements for the community to enjoy.”

Fran Spielman has more on the Bears’ plan here.

More news you need

Deaths on Illinois roads jumped by about 24% in the first quarter of this year compared to the same time last year. Experts say the pandemic forces driving a nationwide increase aren’t showing signs of slowing down soon.The city this week is rolling out two updated vaccines for COVID-19, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced today. Both are designed specifically to target the Omicron subvariants, and have received final approval from the CDC and emergency use authorization from the FDA.Jim Derogatis, the former Sun-Times reporter whose work first drew national attention to allegations of sexual abuse of minors by R. Kelly, is seeking to avoid becoming a witness in Kelly’s federal child-pornography trial. Our Andy Grimm has more on DeRogatis’ attempt to quash a subpoena from lawyers for Kelly’s co-defendant and former business manager, Derrel McDavid, here.Ald. Susan Sadlowski Garza (10th) is joining the growing list of Chicago City Council members calling it quits as she announced yesterday that she will not be seeking a third term. Our Manny Ramos has more on Sadlowski Garza’s exit and what it means for City Council here.

A bright one

‘South Side’ to showcase locations throughout the city in new season

While the HBO Max series “South Side” is set in Englewood, the characters often venture outside the confining walls of the Rent-T-Own and into the wider, stranger-than-fiction, joyful and complicated world that is Chicago. This doesn’t mean they’re necessarily beloved or glamorous sights.

One episode in Season Three — out later this year on the streaming platform — will show what co-creator Bashir Salahuddin dubs “Chicago’s Mordor”: the Central Auto Pound on Lower Wacker. Salahuddin and co-creator Diallo Riddle joke the underground facility was created to get unsuspecting victims lost while trying to retrieve a towed car.

“You can’t find it,” Salahuddin laughs. “You gotta look at these magenta signs, and if you don’t you’re just going to be down on Lower Wacker forever.”

An unpleasant experience attempting to get his car back led Salahuddin to a realization.

“I was like, ‘This place is really aesthetically kind of wild,'” he remembers. “We kind of push towards that and we shot a variety of scenes down there and it’s actually kind of hauntingly beautiful.”

Viewers can also expect an episode shot at this year’s Lollapalooza.

Details of why and how “South Side” characters end up at the main stage of the festival are being carefully guarded, but Riddle and Salahuddin promise even more surprises that a Chicago resident and obsessive will recognize. The two co-creators let slip that a Kwanzaa holiday special will land characters at the beautiful and historic South Shore Cultural Center.

“I think we’re giving Chicago the spotlight,” Salahuddin teased. “That’s the most important character.”

Mariah Rushhas more with Salahuddin and Riddle here.

From the press box

Your daily question?

What’s something that isn’t an official Chicago landmark but should be? Explain.

Send us an email at [email protected] and we might feature your answer in the next Afternoon Edition.

Yesterday, we asked you: What’s the best way to bid summer goodbye in Chicago?

Here’s what some of you said…

“A good old fashioned family barbeque, like we had growing up, we would go to the forest preserve, there would be softball, ribs, hamburgers, etc. That is how you end a summer in Chicago.” –Rob Lopez

“Catching some weekend fireworks at Navy Pier.” — Maurice Snell

“Attend an outdoor concert and afterward go shopping for some winter apparel.” –James Hawkins

“Jazzfest is great!” — Lisa Duncan

“Take a water taxi to the Riverwalk. Check out the Bridgehouse Museum, rent a kayak and finish the day dining at City Winery with a river view.” –Mary Ann O’Rourke

“A barbecue, good music and a fire pit.” –Ray Keaton

“Go to the Bears’ first home game.” –Charlotte Abel

“A street fest.” –Myrna Kar

Thanks for reading the Chicago Sun-Times Afternoon Edition.Got a story you think we missed?Email us here.

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Chicago Bears release letter about the future development of a stadium and entertainment district on the Arlington Heights property.

The Chicago Bears today released a letter about the future plans for developing the Arlington Heights property they are under a purchase agreement for.  The plans not only include a proposed stadium complex for the team to play their games in but also include many businesses, retail, and housing development ideas to serve the people within Cook County.

We envision a multi-purpose entertainment district anchored by a new, best-in-class enclosed stadium, providing Chicagoland with a new home worthy of hosting global events such as the Super Bowl, College Football Playoffs, and Final Four.

‎‏‏‎ ‎Make no mistake, this is much more than a stadium project. Any development of Arlington Park will propose to include a multi-purpose entertainment, commercial/retail, and housing district that will provide considerable economic benefits to Cook County, the surrounding region and State of Illinois. The long-term project vision for the entire property is an ongoing work-in-progress, but could include: restaurants, office space, hotel, fitness center, new parks and open spaces, and other improvements for the community to enjoy.

The Chicago Bears seem likely to finally want to generate new streams of revenue for the team and the McCaskey family that exist outside of the football team.  The main goal appears to be a small community development that expands the Bears’ reach within the Chicagoland area, much like the Ricketts did when they bought the Cubs and developed Wrigleyville.  

The economic impact in this area is quoted as:

Construction of the proposed project is projected to create more than 48,000 jobs, result in $9.4 billion in economic impact for Chicagoland, and provide $3.9 billion in labor income to workers across the region, while the completed project will create more than 9,750 long-term jobs, result in $1.4 billion in annual economic impact for Chicagoland and provide $601 million in annual labor income to workers across Chicagoland. We also anticipate that the development will generate $16 million in annual tax revenue in addition to property taxes for Arlington Heights, $9.8 million for Cook County, and $51.3 million for the State of Illinois.

Also of note, the Chicago Bears do not plan to seek public funding for the proposed stadium and entertainment district.  The development of this property seems to be in line with a vision to host many events in an indoor capacity that would make hosting a Super Bowl in February more feasible.  If the Bears develop the infrastructure to host a Super Bowl it wouldn’t be long before Chicago could host the greatest event in sports.

The Bears in turn are doing everything correctly in their decision to develop the property and in doing so, will hopefully land the rights to proceed with their vision.

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The Chicago Bears will “seek no public funding for direct stadium structure construction” on the site of the Arlington International Racecourse, but the team will seek “additional funding and assistance” for the broader, mixed-use development it called one of the largest in Illinois history.

The Bears laid the groundwork for a tax increment financing subsidy or some other form of state or local assistance for the broader development on the 326-acre site in an open letter released just two days before a community meeting at which conceptual plans are expected to be released.

If the Bears exercise their option to purchase the property for $197.2 million and proceed with the broader development, it will be “one of the largest development projects in Illinois state history,” the letter states.

The “multi-purpose entertainment district” will be “anchored by a “best-in-class, enclosed stadium … worthy of hosting global events” such as the Super Bowl, college football playoffs and the NCAA’s Final Four basketball championships.

“Make no mistake. This is much more than a stadium project. Any development of Arlington Park will propose to include a multi-purpose entertainment, commercial/retail and housing district that will provide considerable economic benefits to Cook County, the surrounding region and the state of Illinois,” the letter states.

“The long-term vision for the entire project is an ongoing work in progress, but could include: restaurants, office space, hotel, fitness center, new parks and open spaces and other improvements for the community to enjoy.”

In an apparent attempt to justify public help for the broader development amid local resistance, the Bears rolled out a series of tantalizing numbers to describe the potential economic impact of the project.

The numbers include: a $9.4 billion impact for “Chicagoland”; $3.9 billion in overall “labor income” at $601 million a year; 48,000 jobs, 9,750 of them “long-term” positions; $16 million in annual tax revenue, in addition to property taxes for Arlington Heights.

The project will also generate $51.3 million in tax revenue for the state of Illinois and $9.8 million for Cook County, according to the economic impact study done for the Bears.

“While the Bears will seek no public funding for direct stadium structure construction, given the broad, long-term public benefits of this project, we look forward to partnering with the various governmental bodies to secure additional funding and assistance needed to support the feasibility of the remainder of the development,” the team wrote.

The letter goes on to state the Bears “remain committed to Soldier Field and will honor the terms of its lease” even if a departure earlier than the 2033 expiration date of the lease requires a cash buyout.

“While the prospect of atransit-oriented, mixed-use and entertainment district anchored by a new enclosed stadium is exciting for the Bears and the entire state, there is much more to be done before we can close on the property,” the letter states.

“We remain under contract to purchase the property, but there are conditions that must be met in order to be in a position to close. If we do close on the property, it does not guarantee we will develop it. While under contract with the seller of Arlington Park, we will not be discussing or exploring any other alternative stadium sites or opportunities, including renovations of Soldier Field.”

The letter was accompanied by a map and two conceptual drawings showing an aerial view of the broader development.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot has offered a Hail Mary, $2.2 billion plan to put a dome on Soldier Field in a desperate attempt to keep the Bears in Chicago or at least look like she tried her best to keep them if they leave.

Lightfoot said Thursday’s community meeting does nothing to change the dynamic of her efforts to keep the Bears at Soldier Field.

“As I said months ago, we were gonna make a very compelling case for them to stay in the city of Chicago, and I think that we’ve done that,” she said at a Tuesday morning news conference.

“We’re gonna continue our discussions [with the Bears]. We’re gonna continue our discussions with the league. As you know, I’m somebody who likes to plan. So, we’ve got Plan B, Plan C and others in the works as well, if the Bears decide they’re gonna abandon the city of Chicago. I hope they don’t. We’re gonna keep fighting that fight as long as we possibly can.”

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