Chicago Sports

The blend of plate discipline and taking advantage in hitters’ counts paid off Saturday for the White Sox.

It started with Luis Robert laying off a 3-2 sinker and Gavin Sheets whacking a 3-0 pitch for a three-run homer that set the tone for an 8-0 victory over the Tigers.

“We’re a different hitting team when we do that,” said Tony La Russa, referring to the offense tidying its strike zone.

The Sox entered Saturday’s game with a 35.9 percent rate of swinging at pitches outside the strike zone – highest in the American League, according to Fangraphs.

But Roberts didn’t chase, and Sheets reinforced La Russa’s faith by whacking a low pitch down the middle off Garrett Hill over the wall in right center.

La Russa said his batters have practiced batting with 3-0 counts, with the warning of getting an off-speed pitch in a fastball count.

“I knew that (Hill) wanted to come to me, he didn’t want to get the bases loaded for (Yoan) Moncada,” Sheets said.

The left-handed hitting Sheets has hit all six of his homers this season at home and against right-handed pitchers.

Jose Abreu extended his hitting streak to a season-high 14 games with a two-run double in the second. Abreu has seven hitting streaks of 14 games or longer. Only Hall-of-Famers Nellie Fox (nine), Luke Appling (eight) and Eddie Collins (eight) have more hitting streaks of 14 games or longer, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

New and improved Jimenez?

After returning Wednesday from his latest injury setback, Eloy Jim?nez has demonstrated his body might be able to withstand the rigors of the final 2 1/2 months of the regular season.

“He’s really in good shape,” La Russa said Saturday. “He’s paid his dues. Just make sure he stays on his program, which I think he will. He knows we’re better when he’s not hurt. He’s assuming responsibility.”

Jimenez, 25, went 3-for-13 with a home run and four RBIs, as well as making an impressive catch in foul territory, since returning from surgery to repair a torn hamstring tendon that sidelined him for 65 games.

Jimenez, under the advisement of team doctors and trainers, didn’t start Saturday and reported normal soreness after playing three consecutive games. That is encouraging news for Jimenez and the Sox, who play doubleheaders against the Guardians on Tuesday and July 23.

Jimenez missed the first 99 games of 2021 because of a left pectoral muscle tear.

“Sometimes when you’re younger, you get away with not crossing every t,” La Russa said. “And later on you realize how important it is to make sure you stretch. He’s learning early. It will help him.”

Rest for Anderson?

With nine games remaining in the next eight days, shortstop Tim Anderson will receive a rest before flying to Los Angeles to participate in All-Star Game festivities.

“We’re aware of that and know we’re going to have to give him some time,” La Russa said of Anderson, who will start for the American League. “Not sure we’ll give it to him this weekend or during the week. We’re going to have to give him a break some place.”

La Russa intimated that Davis Martin could start in one of the games in Tuesday’s doubleheader against the Guardians.

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In a span of less than two months, Johnny Cueto has developed into a jack-of-all trades starting pitcher who has prevented the White Sox from sinking further in the American League Central.

Cueto provided another example of his worth Saturday night as he scattered five hits over a season-high eight innings in leading the Sox to a cozy 8-0 victory over the Tigers.

Cueto’s performance kept the Sox (40-43) from falling to a season-high five games under the .500 mark while giving their bullpen much-welcomed rest as they play nine games in their final eight days until the All-Star break.

“He should have been in here since Opening Day, that’s what he’s meant,” manager Tony La Russa said of Cueto, 36, who signed a minor league contract on April 8. “He’s picked us up when we needed it. We were talking about it earlier. It still bothers a lot of us about the records of our starting rotation. Johnny is still an under .500 pitcher, and he’s pitched much better than that.”

Cueto (3-4) lowered his ERA to 2.91 in 66 innings. He pitched effectively and efficiently in throwing eight scoreless innings for the 17th time in his career and the first time since throwing a shutout against the Padres on May 23, 2016, while pitching for the Giants.

“You work for this,” said Cueto, who routine includes running the stadium steps the day after he pitches. “I was hoping to have a good performance and like Tony said, I felt like I still had something in the tank.”

Cueto struck out five and didn’t issue a walk as he snapped the Tigers’ six-game winning streak.

Cueto also continued his mastery of Tigers slugger Javier Baez, who went hitless in three at-bats and now has one hit in 17 career at-bats with six strikeouts against Cueto.

Cueto trusted his stuff enough to pitch inside effectively to Baez, who has been vulnerable to breaking pitches on the outside corner throughout most of the season.

Baez struck out on a 84 mph changeup that moved low and inside in the fourth.

“In that case, I was trying to throw that changeup outside and it ran in,” Cueto smiled. “I was lucky on that pitch.”

The Sox are more fortunate to have Cueto, who didn’t make his first appearance until May 16. Cueto has allowed three earned runs or fewer in nine of his 10 starts. Cueto also pitched five innings in an emergency relief role on June 12 when fellow starter Michael Kopech hurt his ankle.

“He’s a pitching artist,” said La Russa, describing Cueto’s ability to pitch to all four quadrants of the strike zone effectively. “All from a delivery that hides the ball well. He very rarely misses over the plate, just got the edges. That’s changing speeds.

“By the time you slow your bat, he throws it by you. You quicken it up and he gets you out in front. It’s just a beautiful thing to watch from our side.”

Among Cueto’s 101 pitches were 27 changesups, 27 cut fastballs, 26 sinkers, 12 four-seam fastballs and nine sliders.

La Russa believed Cueto would be effective once he joined the Sox because of the way he competed against his Cardinals from 2008 to 2011 as a member of the Reds, as well as his relationship with pitching coach Ethan Katz from their days with the Giants in 2020.

“Johnny and him were very honest with each other,” La Russa said. “I think that connection with Ethan really helped.But upstairs, they made the connection first. I give (general manager) Rick and his team the credit.”

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LOS ANGELES – Cubs rookie Christopher Morel placed the bunt perfectly, pushing it past the pitcher’s mound and into a gap on the right side of the field as the Dodgers scrambled to unwind their defensive shift.

“It created a big inning for us,” Cubs manager David Ross said Friday night, “so really nice job by him.”

Of course, that inning wasn’t enough to claim the win Friday, in a 4-3 10-inning loss to the Dodgers, as right fielder Seiya Suzuki’s error on a fly ball cost the Cubs a run and closer David Robertson’s command issues helped the Dodgers force extra innings. But it was an example of how this young team is establishing its identity and how small ball and aggressive base running fit into that approach.

“For me, it’s more fun having younger guys like this,” Cubs third base coach Willie Harris told the Sun-Times, “because they buy into what you’re bringing them. They’re hungry, they want to listen, they want to learn, they want to stay around here for a long time.”

Cubs hitting coach Greg Brown emphasizes the need for a multifaceted offense. But as the Cubs’ lineup has evolved over the past couple years to include more contact-oriented hitters, pushing the envelope on the base paths has become more important.

Including Morel’s push bunt, there are three plays on this road trip that stand out, each highlighting a different element of the Cubs’ plan of attack on the base paths.

Take Seiya Suzuki’s inside-the-park home run on Monday in Milwaukee as an example of taking the extra base. And there is no more satisfying extra base to take than home plate.

“When he hit the ball, I looked at him,” Harris said the next day. “He’s going to let me know right away. If he’s jogging, I can’t send him, right? Seiya was running from the very beginning. Then, when I saw the ball kick away from the outfielder, I’m like, … we’ve got a chance right here.”

In addition to Suzuki’s speed out of the batter’s box, Harris was weighing the likelihood of scoring again against the opposing pitcher – in this case, Brewers closer Josh Hader.

“I thought it was a great opportunity to take a chance,” Harris said, “because that guy’s been shutting everybody down all year.”

The risk paid off.

On the other end of the spectrum from reading and reacting are designed plays. Picture the double steal the Cubs pulled off against the Brewers on Tuesday.

“Some teams throw through, some don’t,” Ross said after the game. “When it works, I like insurance runs. Every run counts.”

The first-and-third play started with Ian Happ stealing second and drawing a throw from Brewers catcher Victor Caratini, which gave Rafael Ortega the chance to swipe home.

“Rafi’s so good at that,” Happ said. “When he gets that jump and does such a good job reading the catcher – it’s not an easy play at third base.”

In that case, the Cubs’ base runners tested the opponent’s defense. In other situations, picking apart holes in the defense falls on the hitter. Cue Morel’s bunt Friday.

David Bote, who led off the inning with a single, was standing on first. And Dodgers second baseman Max Muncy was shifted behind second base against right-handed Morel. So, the rookie squared around late and pushed the bunt halfway between first and second.

By the time Muncy made it there, both runners were safe, with no one manning second base.After Bote and Morel advanced on a wild pitch, Happ drove them both in with a double up the left-field line.

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Velus Jones Jr.  is not a young NFL rookie

Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver  Velus Jones Jr. turned 25 years old in May. That makes him about two years older than the Bears’ second-year quarterback Justin Fields who will be slinging the ball to him this season.

Being drafted at 25 in the NFL usually comes with question marks and red flags to both team organizations and fans. Questions like, ‘Why wasn’t he good enough to go by 22?’, or ‘how long can he last at his age?’ are typically followed.

This is especially true for Jones, as his position will be at wide receiver. The average NFL wide receiver peaks by age 27. That’s only two years away for Jones.

Velus Jones Jr. will bring speed to the Bears’ offense

Velus Jones Jr. spoke with NFL Network’s Adam Rank on “The Sick Podcast” this week. Jones told Rank that he doesn’t care if people talk about his age. Here are Jones’s quotes transcribed by Grant Gordon for NFL.com:

“I’m a baller at the end of the day. I know what I can do. Me being 25 years [old] is not going to stop me from running past people to score touchdowns and stuff like that. I’m going to be fast for a long time, strong for a long time and making plays for a long time. So, it’s really irrelevant.

I never did give up on myself, And it took me six years, red-shirted and then I took a COVID year. But through that process, it wasn’t for nothing. I got an undergrad at USC and I also got a Master’s. So I took, fully advantage. And also perfected my craft, also. If I can go back and do it over, I would change nothing.

So, with my situation and how I was raised, I grew up in a church and everything, God-timing is perfect timing. I went through a lot of obstacles, you know I had to beat a lot of odds, to get where I’m at to this day. Everything happens for a reason, I always say that in every interview. So how I feel about it is, if I was at a young age, Year 3, and I went to the league. I wasn’t as mature as I am now.

And I can also say I never had any major injuries in college. Only thing I had was like a boxing fracture and a high ankle sprain. Never broke a bone, never had surgery in my life. So, honestly, I have the body of like a 21 or 22-year-old. Then some guys that have a lot of injuries in college and that you know are going to take punishment in the NFL, but I’m healthy as, like a baby horse. I’m healthy as all get-outs. That really is irrelevant, you know people gonna talk about it. I only can control what I can control, so they can just stay tuned on that.”

Velus Jones Jr. will need to prove his age doesn’t matter in September

All of those quotes Velus Jones Jr. gave are great for the press. Jones shouldn’t be in the NFL if he lacks the confidence to think he belongs with the Bears. Players don’t get drafted into the NFL unless they’re physically gifted.

Jones will have every opportunity to prove his doubters wrong this fall. The Bears’ wide receiver room is a meal you’d make with the ingredients left in your refrigerator two days after you were supposed to go to the grocery store for the new week. If Jones can step up and fill the void the Bears need at wide receiver, fans will be sure to heap praise quickly.

The age concern for Jones will not vanish quickly. Especially with where Bears general manager Ryan Poles drafted Jones. Jones was rated as a 4th or 5th round draft pick. The Bears took him in the third round. It’s a terrible choice on paper. There’s no way to defend the value of taking a 25-year-old a round or two early. That’s called overcooking the board.

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The city of Chicago could have chosen better art

If Chicago wants to keep the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field, they’ll need to put a lot more thought into their negotiating process. Mock-up photos by the city are grabbing people’s attention on social media. And not for the right reason. They look like a troll job.

Chicago is trying to impress the Bears with what they can offer. Those plans include a dome. Recently, the city released new mock-ups for the project.

The new mock-up presents quarterback Justin Fields getting sacked by the Cleveland Browns defense.

Not a good look for Chicago PR. It’s possible Chicago doesn’t want to actually throw away $400 million of taxpayer money for a stupid dome. Lori Lightfoot and company might be just trying to make it look like they care, while not wasting time getting a deal done. (Sort of like what general manager Ryan Poles does with free agents.)

Chicago Bears fans react to the blunder on Twitter

Looks like Chicago did as good of a job presenting that as the Chicago Bears offensive line did keeping Fields up. The pictures aren’t going to sway the Bears’ ownership one way or the other. But the lack of preparation is just disappointing coming from one of the US’s most prestigious municipalities.

Or maybe that’s just what they think of the Bears.

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He’s an 18-year-old homegrown goalkeeper expected to have a big future. Despite his age, he’s a prospect for a European move and potentially might get some playing time for the U.S. national team when he’s older.

Of course, this refers to Chris Brady.

Like Fire teammate and fellow goalie Gabriel Slonina, Brady is building a strong reputation while he’s still a teenager. He recently backstopped the United States to the CONCACAF Under-20 Championship title and qualification for the Under-20 World Cup in 2023 and the Summer Olympics in 2024, winning the Golden Glove as the best goalkeeper in the tournament.

Yet it seems Brady, a Naperville native, is overshadowed by Slonina. While Slonina has seized the Fire’s starting job and has been linked to Real Madrid and Chelsea, Brady still is waiting to make his senior debut, though he was connected with a possible move to Belgian side Club Brugge earlier this year.

Despite the hype around Slonina and his role with the Fire, Brady doesn’t begrudge his friend, colleague and competitor. Training with Slonina has pushed Brady to get better, and he’s happy for Slonina’s success.

“[Slonina is] a great guy,” Brady said. ”Not a slight bit of resentment. I’m insanely happy for him, and hopefully that’s going to be me in a few years.”

Brady’s trajectory indicates that’s possible.

On loan with USL League One’s Forward Madison in 2020, Brady was named the circuit’s young player of the year. Now the starter for Fire II in MLS Next Pro, the 6-3 Brady has the physical attributes to be an upper-echelon performer once he gains more experience.

When he gets the chance to play for the Fire, Brady is confident he’ll be ready. And considering that he’s signed through 2026 with a club option for 2027 and a new rumor about Slonina pops up weekly, Brady’s tenure as the Fire’s No. 1 might start in the next couple of years.

Brady, however, wants to break through to the Fire soon.

“I can only do so much,” Brady said. “What I can control is my work ethic, and when I get back home [from the under-20 national team], I’m looking forward to getting back to things and grinding. I don’t really have a set timeline because it’s more up to the coaches. But especially this season, I’m looking forward to working my [butt] off to try and get into that starting 11. . . . Hopefully sometime by the end of this season, you’ll see me on the field.”

Regardless of when Brady makes his first appearance with the Fire, he’s part of a rare occurrence. Two goalkeeping prodigies were born in the Chicago suburbs within two months of each other in 2004 and grew up to sign with the same team.

“I don’t think you’re ever going to find that ever again — or even now — anywhere else in the world,” Brady said. “It’s insanely unique. Because I’m one of them, it’s kind of hard to believe. But I’m sure for people looking in from the outside, it’s even crazier.”

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It is most definitely July. You can tell by the combination of oppressive heat and huge thunderstorms. Can you tell I’m not a fan of this month? July was named after Julius Caesar in 44 B.C. Julius Caesar was a Roman general, statesman and historian. He did not, however, invent the Caesar salad, nor is it named after him. It was named after its creator, Caesar Cardini, a French-inspired Italian chef who immigrated to America before moving to Mexico to escape prohibition. Cardini’s daughter claimed July 4, 1924, was the day her father created the masterpiece. Running short of supplies, her father threw together lettuce, olive oil, raw egg, croutons, Parmesan cheese and Worcestershire sauce and served his concoction. All of this is just my way of saying, in the words of someone wise: ”Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad.”

Use your (Patrick) wisdom on this week’s quiz and don’t strike out.

1. The first time Tony La Russa was the manager of the White Sox, who immediately preceded him in that role?

a. Paul Richards

b. Don Kessinger

c. Larry Doby

d. Chuck Tanner

2. This is as close as I can get to a

geography question without a GPS: This coming week, the Sox are playing the Guardians. In 2021, which state’s major-league teams had more wins:

a. Illinois

b. Ohio

c. The same

3. Since 2000, the most victories in July for a Chicago team has been 18, achieved by both the Sox and Cubs. Who did it most recently? (Extra dressing if you know the year.)

a. Cubs

b. Sox

c. The same season

4. On June 30, Patrick Wisdom struck out for the 100th time this season. That doesn’t make him a bad person, just a guy who whiffs a lot. Paul Konerko played for the Sox for 18 wonderful seasons. How many seasons did Paulie have 100+ strikeouts?

a. 1

b. 18

c. 5

d. 9

5. While we’re on the subject of strikeouts, let’s give Wisdom something to shoot for or to avoid, depending on your point of view. Former Sox Pat Seerey holds the all-time Chicago record for whiffs in July with 48. Since 2000, who holds the Chicago record for most strikeouts in July? (Extra anchovies in your salad or on the side if you know the year or the total.)

a. Corey Patterson

b. Kris Bryant

c. Jim Thome

d. James McCann

6. Who holds the record for the most career saves in Chicago history? (Extra Parmesan cheese if you know the total.)

a. Lee Smith

b. Bruce Sutter

c. Bobby Thigpen

d. Bobby Jenks

7. On May 25, 2022, Josh Rojas of the Diamondbacks hit three home runs at Wrigley Field. Before that, who was the last visiting player to hit at least three homers in Chicago?

a. Nelson Cruz

b. Manny Machado

c. Brad Miller

d. Jose Abreu

8. By the time June ended, the Yankees had hit 58 homers in the month. By the time June ended, did the Cubs and Sox combined have more, fewer or the same number of homers as the Yankees?

9. Caesar Cardini recycled what was left in the kitchen to create his famous salad, which got me thinking about the cycle. Two players completed their cycle by slamming a walk-off homer against the Cubs. Who are they?

a. Ken Boyer

b. Nolan Arenado

c. Carlos Gonzalez

d. Babe Herman

ANSWERS

1. Player/manager Don Kessinger was at the helm for the first 106 games of 1979 and went 46-60. Tony La Russa, 34, took over, and the Sox went 27-27 the rest of the season.

2. The Cubs and Sox went 164-160. The Reds and Guardians went 163-161.

3. The Cubs went 18-9 in July 2009. The Sox went 18-8 in July 2010.

4. Paul Konerko had five seasons in which his strikeout total ranged from 102 to 110.

5. Kris Bryant had 37 whiffs in July 2015.

6. Lee Smith had 180 saves, but Bobby Thigpen had 201.

7. Nelson Cruz hit three at Comiskey (you can call it what you want) on July 25, 2019, but it was Brad Miller who did it on July 8, 2021, at Wrigley. Now before you get on my case about including Jose Abreu as a possible answer, I would like to remind you that on Aug. 22, 2020, Jose and his Sox were visiting Wrigley, and the big guy went deep three times.

8. The Cubs hit 27 homers and the Sox hit 20 in June for a combined total of 47. That would have put them behind the Yankees, the Braves (54 homers) and the Blue Jays (50 homers).

9. Ken Boyer of the Cardinals did it in the 11th inning of the second game of a doubleheader on Sept. 14, 1961, and Carlos Gonzalez of the Rockies did it on July 31, 2010.

Send your questions, ideas and compliments to [email protected]. See you next week!

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So, a dome atop Soldier Field: Love it or leave it?

In this week’s “Polling Place” — your home for Sun-Times sports polls on Twitter — we asked about this big, bulbous idea brought forth by a mayoral committee working on keeping the Bears in the city and overhauling the Museum Campus.

Most respondents weren’t digging it.

“Lipstick on a pig,” both @ChiTownSports and @FatDudeRunning commented.

“Should have done it 20 years ago when they did the renovations,” @Jmcdonnell1962 offered.

But there were some interesting points argued the other way, like this from @IAmSueSue2:

“People are focusing on how a dome would look; however, the marketing and revenue potential is a much-needed benefit. A domed stadium allows Chicago to host the Super Bowl and other major sporting and concert events.”

We also asked the obvious related question: Are you for or against a new Bears stadium in Arlington Heights? And — because sometimes we’re smart-alecky like that — we threw in a poll about the Bears and Packers. On to the polls:

Poll No. 1: A mayoral committee has suggested putting a dome on Soldier Field. Is this a good idea?

Upshot: The NFL’s oldest stadium is also, many would say, its strangest, and that has been the case since aliens landed their spaceship between the old colonnades and demanded the Bears install Rex Grossman at quarterback. Why not add a dome, essentially creating the effect of a stadium on top of a stadium on top of a stadium? It just makes so much sense. Or maybe not.

Poll No. 2: Asked before, but let’s do it again — are you for or against a new Bears stadium in Arlington Heights?

Upshot: There’s quite an appetite among respondents for state-of-the-art digs at Arlington Park. “A retractable roof, plus all the goodies that come with a new stadium, plus, hopefully, Final Fours and Super Bowls,” wrote @dailybread4you, ticking off items from the “pros” column. But @SHendrickson112 advised, “I’m for Arlington Heights only if the Bears pay for everything. There is absolutely no need to subsidize professional sports.” Hear, hear!

Poll No. 3: Will the Bears beat the Packers in any stadium this season?

Upshot: A confident @JBIRD1268 is a believer that it could happen, but only “in a parallel universe.” Let’s let that one breathe for a second, because it’s just plain funny. Really, though, beat the Packers? “They’ll be lucky to beat the Lions!” @JeffreyCanalia wrote. One of these years — decades? — things in this rivalry will be different.

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By all accounts — public and behind the scenes — Patrick Williams had an impressive week of practice and workouts with the Bulls’ Summer League team.

He should have, considering he’s entering his third season and was a No. 4 overall pick.

And he had better because he’s arguably the most important Bull in the starting lineup.

All-Stars Nikola Vucevic and DeMar DeRozan are hit-the-ceiling type of players at this point in their careers. Zach LaVine is now a max player, but pretty much is what he is, with the hope that his defense can become more consistent. Then there’s Lonzo Ball, who undoubtedly will miss at least 20 games for some injury or assortment of injuries but remains a point guard who can run the team at a high pace as well as give the Bulls a three-point threat from the corner.

Williams, however, is the enigma.

Will he be the power forward who scored 35 points in the season finale against the Timberwolves or the passive 19-year-old who played 26 minutes against the Celtics two games before that and scored only five points? Will he be the player who was basically a no-show for the first three games in the playoff series against the Bucks or the threat he was in Games 4 and 5 in which he scored 20 and 23 points, respectively?

His growth this summer and into fall camp in the mental-assertiveness department will be key.

If Williams remains at that nine-point, four-rebound level, the Bulls can pencil in reservations for the No. 5 or 6 seed in the Eastern Conference and surely will be headed for a one-and-done against the big four.

But if he can put up 15 points and grab 7.5 rebounds per game a la Raptors Rookie of the Year Scottie Barnes and develop into an elite wing defender, the Bulls have a chance to host a first-round playoff series rather than pack lightly for one.

That’s where rookie Dalen Terry just might come in.

Terry, who was selected 18th overall in the draft last month, made his Summer League debut Friday, scoring nine points, shooting 3-for-7 from the field and grabbing five rebounds in a 100-99 overtime victory against the Mavericks. He also had six assists.

But his real mark was felt in those practices leading up to Summer League in which Ayo Dosunmu and Williams participated.

Terry opened Williams’ eyes, earning “most competitive” votes from the Bulls starter, and made his presence felt in other ways. The two guarded each other at times throughout the week, with Terry pushing Williams into the art of trash-talking as they bantered frequently.

“I’m gonna compete, just like [Williams] said, so I’m not backing down,” Terry said when asked about the showdown.

It’s just what Williams might need.

Since being selected out of Florida State in the 2020 draft, Williams has been handed more than he has earned.

Terry is in no danger of stealing Williams’ starting spot just yet, but he is a threat to grab minutes. They are built differently, but the Bulls insisted on draft night that the Arizona product would be groomed to be a wing defender with the hope that he can become an irritant who can guard a Jaylen Brown or a Jimmy Butler, the types of players Williams has been assigned to when healthy.

So while watching Terry in Summer League the next week or so generates a bit of intrigue, his real impact might not be felt until the Bulls start voluntary scrimmages later this summer.

Let the trash-talking commence.

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Ryan Poles’ first six months as the Bears’ general manager have been marked by a down-to-the-studs roster clean-out that will give him what he arguably needs most — a fresh start.

Poles traded linebacker Khalil Mack, cut nose tackle Eddie Goldman and had little to no interest in free agents who could have been productive in 2022 — guard James Daniels, wide receiver Allen Robinson, defensive end Akiem Hicks and defensive tackle Bilal Nichols among them.

Poles still has a foundation of players he inherited from Ryan Pace, with linebacker Roquan Smith topping that list. But most of them are young players more likely to blossom in more effective offensive and defensive schemes — quarterback Justin Fields, tight end Cole Kmet, wide receiver Darnell Mooney and running back David Montgomery on offense; cornerback Jaylon Johnson, defensive end Trevis Gipson and defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga on defense.

In fact, only four Pace-era starters who are still around have played more than three years in the NFL — defensive end Robert Quinn (11), guard Cody Whitehair (six), safety Eddie Jackson (five) and Smith (four). And Quinn is not likely to stay for too much longer.

(Six months after Poles took over, the Bears have just 12 of the 23 players who started eight or more games last season — and 27 of the 63 players on the roster at the end of last season. At the same juncture of Pace’s tenure as GM in 2015, the Bears had 16 of 23 starters who had played eight games or more in 2014, and 42 of the 63 players on the roster at the end of the previous season.)

And then there’s Teven Jenkins. On the overall list of discards (Goldman, Daniels) and keepers (Smith, Mooney), the second-year offensive lineman looks like the ultimate ‘tweener. It’s hard to tell exactly what Poles thinks of him.

Jenkins epitomizes the transition the Bears are in. A projected first-round pick who surprisingly dropped to the Bears at No. 39 overall in the second round in 2021, he could blossom into a nice parting gift from the Pace regime. Or, after a difficult rookie season in which he played only five games on offense because of back surgery, he could be cast off if players drafted by Poles emerge quickly.

Had Pace survived the 2021 season, Jenkins would have been locked in as a foundation piece in 2022 at either right or left tackle. Under Poles, he’s already in limbo — demoted to second-team right tackle behind 2021 fifth-round pick Larry Borom in OTAs and veteran minicamp after opening the first practice of the Eberflus era as the starter.

Truth be told, it’s hard to tell exactly what’s what in the offseason. Eberflus made it clear that under offensive coordinator Luke Getsy and offensive line coach Chris Morgan, the Bears would mix-and-match players throughout the line to find the right combination. And he acknowledged that it’s hard to tell anything about any of them until they’re going full speed in pads in training camp and the preseason.

And Jenkins is even a bigger X-factor after losing 20 pounds — from 345 to 325 — to fit the “lighter, quicker” body type Poles wants in his offensive linemen. Jenkins said he dropped his body fat from 33% last season to 24% this season.

It remains to be seen if Jenkins will be better at the lighter weight. Even he doesn’t know. When you’re lighter, you’re quicker — but if you’re weaker, it might be a wash.

“That’s all to tell once we start putting on pads,” Jenkins said. “Everybody knows that.”

Training camp figures to tell the tale.But the reality is that every Pace holdover — including Fields and Smith — will have to prove themselves to the new regime. And there are other Pace-acquired players in the same position as Jenkins who are getting a chance to excel in a new scheme or will be quickly dismissed as a remnant of the Pace era and replaced by Poles acquisitions.

Here’s a look at four others:

DE Trevis Gipson

He has a golden opportunity to blossom, not only based on his production last season (seven sacks), but also because he’s returning to the position he mostly played at Tulsa.

RB Khalil Herbert

Not only was he productive in both starts in place of David Montgomery last year (37 carries, 197 yards, one touchdown), but he could excel in a Getsy offense that likely will rely more on two backs and be more of a true run-first attack.

OL Larry Borom

The 2021 fifth-round pick held his own in eight starts as a rookie and will open training camp as the starting right tackle. The Bears clearly like what they’ve seen so far. And Borom also can play right guard if others emerge at the tackle spots.

DT Khyiris Tonga

A seventh-round pick in 2021, Tonga played 216 snaps at nose tackle as a rookie, due in part to Eddie Goldman’s lackluster performance. He’s a dedicated nose tackle (in college and the NFL) who’s being given a chance at defensive tackle in Eberflus’ scheme. He’s a free roll of the dice for Eberflus and coordinator Alan Williams.

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