Chicago Sports

ST. LOUIS – A common refrain among Cubs hitters, through the ups and downs of the season, has been how much fun this group has been to battle with.

Earlier this year, shortstop Nico Hoerner described to the Sun-Times as “a group of guys that enjoys hitting together and talking about the game. That’s what makes the easy stuff, the hard stuff, all of it just that much more enjoyable. It’s fun when you’re really rooting for the guys around you.”

The group could look very different soon.

That’s the reality this 28-45 Cubs team is playing under about five weeks out from the trade deadline.

“We saw it last year,” Hoerner said over the weekend. “Obviously that was an extreme one. Very extreme one. But this game is constantly changing.”

He pointed to the turnover since he debuted in 2019. Only seven other players from that season remain on the active roster.

“It’s just part of this game,” Hoerner continued, “and trusting that the Cubs continue to bring in good people, something they’ve always done a really good job of. It’s out of your control, and just make the most of what’s around you.”

Last season’s dramatic selloff sent out one-third of their Opening Day roster. This year at least won’t include the shock factor of trading three core offensive members of the 2016 World Series. But catcher Willson Contreras’ contract situation, as he plays his last year of club control apparently without an imminent extension offer, is reminiscent of that of Javy B?ez, Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo before the deadline last year.

“I’m trying to be the same person every single day for my teammates,” Contreras said Sunday, after driving in the Cubs’ winning run against the Cardinals in extra innings, “and do the best job I can do to help this team to win.”

While the Cubs have plenty of pitchers on short-term deals whose first-half performances have established them as the kind of players a contending team might pursue – think de facto closer David Robertson, for example – those veterans came in without long-term expectations.

Most of the Cubs’ hitters took a different route onto this roster.

Supplementing homegrown players like Contreras, Ian Happ and Hoerner, last year’s trade deadline cleared room for the call-ups of players like Frank Schwindel and larger roles for Patrick Wisdom and Rafael Ortega.

Look at Ortega’s case now.

He hit .321 against right-handed pitchers last year, but the Cubs’ outfield picture has been crowded. Cubs manager David Ross has used the designated hitter spot to get Ortega more at-bats while he’s been stuck behind fellow left-handed hitter Jason Heyward on the depth chart.

In the last three games he’s started, Ortega has recorded five hits, including a game-tying home run against the Cardinals on Saturday, and six RBI. Ortega’s performance in the Cubs’ last road trip brought his season batting average and on-base percentage up to .269 and .359, respectively.

“I don’t just play for my team, I also play for the other 30 teams that are here that are looking,” Ortega said through team interpreter Will Nadal when asked about the trade deadline. “They might have scouts, people observing. Just controlling what I can. I’ve seen it before with other players.

“If another team might be interested in me, it would be an honor for me, it’d be something that I would be excited about. But I’m just taking care of my business, controlling things that I can day in and day out.”

In a season like this, as the Cubs sit at No. 4 in the National League Central, Ortega isn’t the only one.

The players who fit into the Cubs’ vision for their next championship window aren’t going anywhere. For everyone else, the Cubs’ familiar refrain from the last few years remains true: no one is untouchable.

All-Star update

MLB announced All-Star coaches and trainers on Monday, including Cubs head athletic trainer PJ Mainville.

As for the players, Cubs catcher Willson Contreras still led NL catchers in the latest All-Star balloting update, released Monday. No other Cubs player was in the top two in their position group, or top six among outfielders. The top two advance to the next stage after Phase 1 voting ends Thursday at 1 p.m.

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Three days after his hiring was widely reported, Luke Richardson was officially named the Blackhawks’ new head coach Monday.

“Iam honored to be trusted with this opportunity to coach an Original Six franchise,” Richardson said in a statement. “Together, we will work to direct the team on a journey that we believe will achieve success. Clear communication, a plan, hard work and execution will lead us to that success.

“I plan tocreate an environment of trust with our team. With trust, relationships will form and grow, thus allowing everyone to blossom and execute their role. My philosophy is to be better today than we were yesterday, and to achieve that, we will need commitment and consistency.”

General manager Kyle Davidson wrote in an email to fans that the Hawks’ coaching search sought a person with several specific characteristics: high character, a strong understanding of the modern game and experience both developing young players and working with veteran players.

“We feel we have found all of that and more with Luke,” Davidson wrote in the email. “He shares our vision; he knows the way we want to play and the type of players we want on our team. We look forward to him building an environment and culture within our team that will help develop talent within our system to win consistently.”

Richardson, who comes to Chicago after four years as a Canadiens assistant, and Davidson will hopefully deliver less canned comments and updates at an introductory news conference Wednesday. Richardson will then make his first on-ice appearances during development camp at Fifth Third Arena from July 11 to 15, which more than 35 Hawks prospects are expected to attend.

Davidson can nonetheless now check off the first box of his lengthy offseason to-do list — hire a coach — and turn toward the lengthy list of items beneath it.

After all, very little has yet been set in stone when it comes to the team Richardson will coach next season.

The Hawks still have five notable restricted free agents — Dylan Strome, Dominik Kubalik, Kirby Dach, Philipp Kurashev and Caleb Jones — to, first, decide if they want to bring back and, second, negotiate new contracts with.

They still have zero NHL goalies under contract, with both Kevin Lankinen and Collin Delia being pending unrestricted free agents. They still don’t know what Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews want their futures to look like. And they still haven’t made any trades, despite rampant rumors regarding Alex DeBrincat and several defensemen (Connor Murphy, Jake McCabe, even Riley Stillman) who could also conceivably be shopped this summer.

Draft week in Montreal next week could be an explosive period for trades all around the league, with GMs and executives gathered in-person for the draft for the first time since 2019. It’ll be a big test for Davidson, as a rookie GM, to extract the most value possible for his trade bait — while also overseeing the Hawks’ actual drafting.

The following week will be just as eventful, too, with free agency opening July 13 (during development camp) and more trade negotiations inevitable during that period. Richardson’s hiring realistically marks just the beginning of a busy and crucial stretch for the Hawks organization.

This and that

No Hawks players received any votes for any of the NHL’s major awards for 2021-22, but Patrick Kane did finish fourth among right wings in end-of-year All-Star Team voting. Maple Leafs right wing Mitch Marner and Flames right wing Matthew Tkachuk finished first and second, respectively.The Avalanche’s Stanley Cup title Sunday made Northbrook native J.T. Compher and Hinsdale native Josh Manson the seventh and eighth Illinoisans to ever win the Cup, joining Chris Chelios, Eddie Olczyk, Lee Fogolin, Harry Mummery, Blake Sloan and Brett Lebda.Read More

Chicago Bears need to upgrade the talent on the defensive line

It’s understandable why Chicago Bears fans would want a wide receiver taken in the first round of next year’s NFL Draft. Bears Twitter has been popping up footage of Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and arguing why he’d be a great fit with Justin Fields. But the Bears should and will likely be looking into fixing their depleted defensive line next offseason.

Smith-Njigba would make a great fit on a team lacking a “Y” or “Z” receiver. But the Bears’ hands are currently all but thumbs having those two positions in tact while lacking the “X” receiver. More than that, the Bears usually can’t have nice things like skilled offensive players (Kevin White) in the first round of the draft.  Not that they usually target those positions. They typically go after a defensive player or the offensive line.

Going to the Bears scouting department for advice on offensive players in college is a lot like going to your local archdiocese for advice on sex, it’s outside of their expertise. When they do have nice things (Greg Olsen) the Bears can’t keep said nice things. What the Bears can nab you is a talented defensive roster that can work to dull the team’s spectator’s imaginations as to what a modern NFL game looks like on offense by keeping the opposition’s skilled players in check.

The top of the 2023 draft will have lots of defensive line options for the Chicago Bears

The Bears lost a lot of elite talent this offseason at the defensive line. Akiem Hicks and Khalil Mack are gone. Robert Quinn, who broke the Bears franchise record for sacks in a season, 18.5, will likely be gone before the end of this season. This will leave them with a defensive line unit that could rival the Chicago Bears’ offensive line’s starters in an exhibition contest but would struggle to get to the quarterback in a quarter of a minute versus any other league opponent in the regular season.

Fortunately for the Bears, there will be plenty of beefy talent at the defensive line position in the 2023 draft. Multiple draft websites have four defensive linemen in the top ten prospects for 2023. If the Bears’ final record matches most national expectations, general manager Ryan Poles should be drafting in the top ten easily.

Four defensive linemen that would fit for the Chicago Bears in 2023

Here’s a list of four exciting defensive linemen that are commonly found on 2023 draft boards in the top ten that the Chicago Bears should consider:

Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Alabama

The 6-foot-4, 243-pound Anderson would be a perfect addition to a unit that lost Mack. Anderson racked up 17.5 sacks last season for the Crimson Tide. He also registered 101 total tackles. Anderson will be a force in the NFL and could bring the Chicago Bears’ defense back to life in 2023.

Myles Murphy, defensive end, Clemson

Murphy, using his colossal 6-foot-5, 275-pound frame, has registered 12 sacks in the last two seasons at Clemson. He had 10.5 tackles for loss and 3 forced fumbles in 2021. The Bears could use acumen for the ball to create turnovers in Matt Eberflus aggressive defensive scheme.

Jalen Carter, defensive tackle, Georgia

Carter was amazing for Georgia on their way to winning the 2021 National Championship. The 6-foot-3, 310-pound sophomore was a force on the interior defensive line. Carter accumulated 37 total tackles and 3 sacks last season. He could help to shore up a nose tackle position the Bears will struggle most of 2022 with.

Bryan Bresee, defensive tackle, Clemson

Bresee is coming off a torn ACL that cut short his 2021 season. The 6-foot-5, 300-pound Sophmore gave major contributions to Clemson in 2020. He registered 4 sacks and 23 total tackles and had 1 forced fumble. If he can keep healthy, Bresee could bring a nasty pass rush back to the Bears’ defense.

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Five mayoral challengers pounced on Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Monday for making an obscene reference to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas for suggesting that last week’s landmark decision overturning Roe v. Wade should be a prelude to overturning gay marriage.

“If you read Clarence Thomas’ concurrence,” a fired-up Lightfoot shouts from the stage.

Someone from the audience shouts back at the mayor and Lightfoot says, “Thank you. F- – – Clarence Thomas.”

Some in the audience appeared shocked by the mayor’s use of vulgarity in public. Others seemed delighted and repeated it.

Lightfoot appeared undaunted as she continued her attack on Thomas. “He thinks that we are going to stand idly by while they take our rights,” the mayor said.

By 1:30 p.m. Monday, more than 775,000 people had viewed the video of the mayor, including five of the seven mayoral challengers. The mayor’s office refused to comment.

Former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas said no matter how incensed the city’s first openly gay mayor is about the suggestion made in Thomas’ concurring opinion, she owes it to the office she holds and the constituents she represents to conduct herself with decorum.

“It’s pretty embarrassing. There’s ways to criticize without inciting people to mob action,” Vallas said.

“Even if you were echoing what somebody else said in the crowd, it’s dangerous and totally inappropriate,” he said. “You’re almost trying to agitate people to violence when you think about it. … If that’s not an invitation — if that’s not sanctioning it through your rhetoric — I don’t know what does.”

Millionaire businessman Willie Wilson wholeheartedly agreed. “Using that kind of language just, in my opinion, encourages violence. I condemn all things that would make anybody feel or give the impression of violence. That just ain’t the way to go.”

Mayoral challenger Kam Buckner said he, too is “clearly nervous about what the slippery slope” might be. But Buckner said that doesn’t excuse the mayor’s language.

“It’s not something that I would say. It’s not something that I would expect from the person who is representing this city on the public stage. We’ve got to be mindful that our young people are watching. Our young people are listening,” Buckner said.

“We’ve got to be smart about our rhetoric and about making sure we bring down the temperature and adding more humanity and more thoughtfulness into our politics,” he said.

Mayoral challenger Ray Lopez said Lightfoot’s vulgar language is more evidence that she lacks the temperament to serve as an effective mayor of Chicago.

“Either you’re pandering just to get votes or you have no respect for the office you hold,” said Lopez, one of the mayor’s most outspoken City Council critics. “It’s undignified and it’s beneath the city of Chicago to act in this manner — especially in public. It takes vulgarity to a whole new level and further diminishes the office and the respect we hope people have for it.

“She needs to apologize,” he added. “Our youth, our future leaders watch her actions. To normalize this kind of vitriol response when you don’t get your way is just bad leadership, albeit a hallmark of her administration.”

Mayoral challenger Ja’Mal Green had a different take. He accused Lightfoot of brazenly using the Supreme Court ruling to “lure voters” while saying nothing at all about the fatal shooting of a 5-month-old baby girl.”

“We need solutions right now to what’s going on … right here at home. But instead, she would rather grandstand on stage using this language because she knew it would get a certain reaction so she can get her approval numbers up. But, our babies are dying still right now,” Green said.

It’s not the first time Lightfoot has been accused of using profanity.

During the civil unrest triggered by the death of George Floyd that devolved into two devastating rounds of looting in the summer of 2020, Lightfoot unleashed a profanity-laced tirade against Lopez.

It happened when Lopez accused the mayor of being caught flat-footed after the first round of looting that spread into South and West side neighborhoods after downtown was belatedly sealed off.

Lightfoot famously warned members of the Black Caucus who dared to vote against her 2021 budget, “Don’t ask me for s–t” when it comes to choosing projects for her five-year, $3.7 billion capital plan.

And most recently, Lightfoot branded as “deeply offensive,” “ridiculous” and “wholly lacking in merit” the claim that she made an obscene and derogatory remark against Italian Americans during a call to discuss the statue of Christopher Columbus removed from Arrigo Park.

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CHICAGO — The Chicago Bulls remain hopeful All-Star guard Zach LaVine will choose to re-sign with them rather than join another team as an unrestricted free agent.

Arturas Karnisovas, the Bulls’ executive vice president of basketball operations, said Monday the team has been very open with LaVine.

“We hope Zach is here for a long time, and nothing changed,” Karnisovas said at a news conference to introduce first-round draft pick Dalen Terry.

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LaVine’s situation is obviously the biggest story hovering over the Bulls, with the free-agent negotiating period opening Thursday evening.

Karnisovas wants to keep intact a core that helped Chicago reach the playoffs for the first time in five years.

LaVine averaged 24.4 points and made his second straight All-Star team last season. It ended with his first trip to the playoffs in his eighth year as a pro. The Bulls lost in the first round to Milwaukee in five games.

LaVine’s four-year, $78 million contract is up, and he said after the season that he plans to explore the market as an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career after five years in Chicago. He did not rule out returning to the Bulls, who can offer a max contract worth about $212 million. The most he can get from another team is approximately $157 million over four years.

How comfortable the Bulls are about offering a five-year deal is another question. Karnisovas played it coy when asked.

“I’m confident. I’m confident in approaching this free agency the next couple days, sitting down with our group, looking at a lot of things,” he said.

The past season wasn’t exactly an easy one for LaVine. He dealt with a thumb injury early and was in and out of the lineup the final few months because of a left knee injury.

LaVine had platelet-rich plasma therapy, a cortisone injection and fluid drained from the knee in Los Angeles before the All-Star break. He had arthroscopic surgery on it last month.

“I think he’s gonna be healthy,” Karnisovas said. “I think he’s now progressing great.”

The Bulls went 46-36 and made the playoffs for the first time since 2017 following a major makeover, with DeMar DeRozan and LaVine leading the way. Chicago got off to a big start and finished with its best record since the 2014-15 team went 50-32 in former coach Tom Thibodeau’s final season.

The Bulls also went from leading the Eastern Conference to finishing sixth, losing 15 of their final 22 regular-season games. They dealt with a long list of injuries, making it tough for them to develop continuity and compete with the best teams.

“This group has been here only since October,” Karnisovas said. “We’re still trying to get used to how to play with each other.”

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The purpose of the press conference at the Advocate Center on Monday was to officially introduce No. 18 overall draft pick Dalen Terry.

It didn’t take long for Zach LaVine free agency talk to hijack the afternoon, however.

And it isn’t going away for the Bulls anytime soon.

Yes, there was a lot to like about Terry and his excitable personality since the team selected the Arizona product in the first round last week, but this remains the “Summer of Zach” and the decision that the two-time All-Star guard can make about his future as early as 5 p.m. this Thursday, when teams can begin negotiating free-agent deals.

Executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas has been very consistent in taking the stance for the organization that they do in fact want to keep LaVine in Chicago, even if that takes the five-year, nearly $215 million max deal to do.

He tripled down on that stance Monday.

“We’ve been very open that we hope Zach is here for a long time, and nothing has changed,” Karnisovas said.

When pressed about the confidence in LaVine’s left knee holding up after he had a clean-up surgery on it a few months back, Karnisovas responded, “I think he’s going to be healthy and he’s now progressing great. Like I said, looking forward to free agency.

“I’m confident. I’m confident in approaching this free agency, you know the next couple of days sitting down with our group, looking at a lot of things. And June 30, 6 p.m. Eastern Time, that’s when the conversations start.”

They already have amongst LaVine’s teammates, who remained confident that he would be re-signing with the Bulls, according to a source.

That doesn’t mean LaVine won’t go through the process of listening to other teams and being wined and dined, but in conversations with teammates recently LaVine has insisted the Bulls were his first choice.

If LaVine doesn’t have a change of heart, that would mean a core of LaVine, Nikola Vucevic, and DeMar DeRozan for at least the start of the 2022-23 season.

“I think the last two years we’ve built – the way you can build your roster is three ways, right? Through your trades, through free agency and the draft,” Karnisovas said, when asked about keeping the core intact. “We’re tapping into all three of them. Continuity? Yes, because this group has been here only since October, so we’re still trying to get used to how to play with each other. The start of the season last year was really, really positive and how exactly we want to play.”

That’s where Terry comes in. The defensive-minded wing isn’t necessarily a game-changer for the starting unit, as much as another piece to building a foundation of a collection of competitive players.

“The one thing that I respect that AK and [general manager] Marc [Eversley] and his staff are doing is it’s like the same situation with Ayo [Dosunmu] last year with the competitive mentality,” coach Billy Donovan said, when discussing Terry’s role. “And I think the one thing that stood out with people you speak to [about Terry] is just his energy, his enthusiasm, his eagerness to get better and grow.

“It’s hard to say right now what his role would be because we’ve got to get the whole group together, but like we’ve spoken a couple times – draft night and over the weekend – I think he’s very eager to learn and to improve, and as long as he keeps that mentality than his talent level will continue to get better. That’s what we want to continue to do here is bring in guys like that, that have that same spirit and mentality. [Terry] has a great deal of that.”

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A five-month-old girl was among at least five people killed in shootings across Chicago over the weekend. At least 28 other people were wounded.

The infant, Cecilia Thomas, was shot just after 6 p.m. Friday in the 7700 block of South Shore Drive, police said. She was inside a car when another car approached and someone inside opened fire, striking her in the head, police said. The girl’s father pulled over near 71st Street and Crandon Avenue after she began crying, a witness said. The girl was taken to Comer Children’s Hospital, where she later died, officials said. A man in another car was shot near his eye, police said. He went to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was reported in good condition.One person was killed and another wounded after gunmen opened fire on a CTA bus Sunday afternoon in West Garfield Park. About 1:20 p.m., two gunmen entered the bus in the 300 block of South Pulaski Road, walked to the back and began shooting at two people on board, police said. A male, whose age was unknown, was shot in the head and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said. A man, 24, suffered a graze wound to the head and refused medical attention, police said.A man was found shot to death Friday night in Longwood Manor — the second person found fatally shot in an hour. Amad Martin, 23, was found with gunshot wounds to his back and left shoulder in the 9600 block of South Princeton Avenue about 11:35 p.m., police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office said. He was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he later died, police said. Less than an hour earlier, a man was found fatally shot less than three miles away in Pullman. Edward L. Gholston, 45, was found by officers with multiple gunshot wounds in the 10700 block of South Champlain Avenue about 11 p.m., police and the medical examiner’s office said. He was also taken to Christ, where he later died, police said.A man was shot to death early Sunday while leaving his car in the Little Italy neighborhood on the Near West Side. The man, 32, was leaving his car in the 1300 block of West Roosevelt Road about 4:30 a.m. when he was shot twice in the chest, police said. He was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he later died.A 16-year-old girl was wounded by gunfire Saturday afternoon in Grand Crossing on the South Side. The teen was on a sidewalk in the 1500 block of East 75th Street about 4:30 p.m. when someone inside a car fired shots, striking her in the arm, police said. She was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where she was in good condition.About an hour earlier, three people were wounded in a shooting at a courtyard in Parkway Gardens on the South Side. Three men, between 18 and 20, were at the courtyard in the 6400 block of South King Drive about 3:20 p.m. when at least one person opened fire, police said. An 18-year-old man was shot in the leg and a 20-year-old man in the left arm. Both were taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition. A third man, 19, was grazed in the right leg and refused medical attention.About 1:30 a.m. Monday, three people were standing outside in the 3100 block of North Clark Street when they were struck by gunfire, police said. A 46-year-old woman was shot in the abdomen and taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where she was in critical condition. A man, 30, was shot in the knee and was taken to the same hospital in good condition. Another man, 37, was shot in the leg and was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he was in good condition.A couple of hours later, two men were shot in River North on the Near North Side. The men were in the 400 block of North State Street about 3:40 a.m. when someone in a black Jeep going north opened fire, striking them both, police said. A 29-year-old man was shot in the thigh and taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital. He was in serious condition. The second man, believed to be 20, was grazed in the thigh and treated at the scene.

At least 17 others were wounded by gunfire in Chicago from Friday, 5 p.m. to Monday, 5 a.m.

At least 47 people were shot in Chicago last weekend, 13 of them in just five hours late Sunday and early Monday.

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A five-month-old girl was among at least five people killed and 28 others wounded in shootings across Chicago over the weekend.

The infant was shot just after 6 p.m. Friday in the 7700 block of South Shore Drive, Chicago police said. Cecilia Thomas was inside a car when another car approached and someone inside that second car opened fire, striking her in the head, police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office said. The girl’s father pulled over near 71st Street and Crandon Avenue after she began crying, according to a nearby business owner. The infant was taken to Comer Children’s Hospital, where she later died from her injuries, officials said. A man who was in a separate car was shot around the eye, police said. He went to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was reported in good condition. At least a dozen of the girl’s family members gathered outside Comer following the shooting. “All we heard was baby got shot in the car,” said one relative, who declined to give their name. “She got shot in the head,” a woman screamed at an officer near the emergency room entrance of the hospital. “I hope y’all catch whoever did this,” a woman screamed through tears at her phone. “Took that damn baby’s life.”One person was killed and another wounded after gunmen opened fire on a CTA bus Sunday afternoon in West Garfield Park. About 1:20 p.m., two armed males entered the bus in the 300 block of South Pulaski Road, walked to the back and began shooting at two people on board, police said. A male, whose age was unknown, was shot in the head and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said. A man, 24, suffered a graze wound to the head and refused medical attention, police said.A man was found shot to death Friday night in Longwood Manor — the second person found fatally shot in an hour. Amad Martin, 23, was found with gunshot wounds to his back and left shoulder in the 9600 block of South Princeton Avenue about 11:35 p.m., police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office said. He was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he later died from his injuries, police said. Less than an hour earlier, a man was found fatally shot less than three miles away in Pullman. Edward L. Gholston, 45, was found by officers with multiple gunshot wounds in the 10700 block of South Champlain Avenue about 11 p.m., police and the medical examiner’s office said. He was also taken to Christ, where he later died, police said.A man was shot to death early Sunday while leaving his car in the city’s Little Italy neighborhood on the Near West Side. The man, 32, was leaving his car in the 1300 block of West Roosevelt Road about 4:30 a.m. when he was shot twice in the chest, police said. He was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he later died, police said.A 16-year-old girl was wounded by gunfire Saturday afternoon in Grand Crossing on the South Side. The teen was on a sidewalk in the 1500 block of East 75th Street about 4:30 p.m. when someone inside a car fired shots, striking her in the arm, police said. She was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where she was reportedly in good condition, officials said.About an hour earlier, three people were wounded in a shooting at a courtyard in Parkway Gardens on the South Side. Three men, between 18 and 20, were at the courtyard in the 6400 block of South King Drive about 3:20 p.m. when at least one person opened fire, Chicago police said. An 18-year-old man was shot in the leg and a 20-year-old man in the left arm, police said. Both were taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition, officials said. A third man, 19, was grazed in the right leg and refused medical attention, police said.About 1:30 a.m. Monday, three people were standing outside in the 3100 block of North Clark Street when they were struck by gunfire, police said. A 46-year-old woman was shot in the abdomen and taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where she was in critical condition, officials said. A man, 30, was shot in the knee and was taken to the same hospital in good condition. Another man, 37, was shot in the leg and was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he was in good condition.

At least 19 others were wounded by gunfire in Chicago from Friday, 5 p.m. to Monday, 5 a.m.

At least 47 people were shot in Chicago last weekend, 13 of them in just five hours late Sunday and early Monday.

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ST. LOUIS — Cubs catcher Willson Contreras had a simple goal when he stepped to the plate in the 10th inning Sunday against the Cardinals with the go-ahead run in scoring position.

”I was trying to hit a ground ball to second base,” he said.

He did more than that. His RBI single through the right side of the infield was the difference in the Cubs’ 6-5 victory at Busch Stadium.

”Willson’s been in a really good place, I think,” manager David Ross said before the game. ”[He has] just mentally been the same guy every single day. I almost think he’s more relaxed this year than I’ve seen him.”

Sunday was a perfect example, as Contreras drove in the tying and winning runs in separate at-bats.

Contreras has spoken plenty this season about compartmentalizing on the field as outside distractions, such as questions about his contract and the trade deadline, have mounted. The deadline is about five weeks away.

”That has nothing to do with the person that I want to be in the clubhouse,” he reiterated Sunday. ”I know those types of things are right there, but I’m not letting them bother me. I’m trying to be the same person every single day for my teammates and do the best job I can do to help this team to win.”

Contreras already has honed that skill on the field, compartmentalizing each at-bat. He entered the day in a 2-for-21 slump on the road trip.

“It’s just called baseball,” Contreras said. “I’m human.”

On Sunday, he struck out in his first two at-bats. First he was punched out on a fastball off the inside of the plate, then he chased two outside pitches to go down in three.

”I didn’t let that bother me for my third at-bat,” Contreras said. ”It was a big situation for us to tie the game.”

The Cubs had rallied back from a 5-0 deficit to cut the Cardinals’ lead to 5-3 with one out in the fourth inning. Contreras worked a 3-2 count as Cardinals reliever Johan Oviedo nibbled around the edges of the strike zone.

Then a fastball leaked over the middle of the plate, and Contreras hit it on the ground up the middle to knot the score at 5-5.

The Cubs’ bullpen held the Cardinals scoreless the rest of the way to give Contreras a chance to put his team ahead in extra innings.

He led off the 10th, but — thanks to the extra-innings rule — the Cubs had automatic runner Nelson Velazquez standing on second base for him.

Contreras fouled off a changeup and a curve, then got a high fastball out of the zone but on the outer half of the plate so he could drive it the other way.

”I’m lucky that I made contact with a pitch that high,” he said with a chuckle.

Contreras got on top of the pitch to send it through the gap on the right side, giving Velazquez just enough time to dive across home plate safely.

The Cubs claimed the series with their seventh comeback victory of the season.

”It feels good,” Contreras said, ”especially against a great team like the Cardinals.”

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It’s hard to know for sure just how angry and outraged fans would’ve been had the White Sox blown a three-run ninth-inning lead against the Orioles on Sunday and lost — again — for a four-game sweep. But as reliever Kendall Graveman walked the high wire in the ninth, it was easy to imagine every Sox fan who has yet to call for manager Tony La Russa’s dismissal joining the chorus of those who’ve been doing just that.

Graveman and the Sox survived 4-3, but let’s face it: As they hit the West Coast for series against the Angels and Giants, the Sox are still a mess. It might take a miracle for them to avoid digging an even deeper hole in the division before the All-Star break. The chorus? It’s just warming up.

Yet there’s a widespread belief among those close to the game that Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf won’t stand for the removal of La Russa during the season. Why is that? The men are close friends. More than that, Reinsdorf’s reputation and ego are on the line considering he wanted La Russa to come back at 76 after 10 seasons away from the dugout. And an even bigger factor, many say: Reinsdorf doesn’t believe in changing managers during the season.

But keep these names in mind: Tim Floyd, Bill Cartwright, Scott Skiles and Fred Hoiberg. Each of those Bulls coaches was treated to an in-season kicking to the curb. We’re pretty sure Reinsdorf owns that team, too.

And La Russa was fired by Reinsdorf’s Sox once before, of course. It was in 1986 — June of, to be more precise. Here’s what’s happening:

MON 27

White Sox at Angels (8:38 p.m., NBCSCH)

Lucas Giolito has allowed more than an earned run per inning over his last five starts, which he describes as “brutal” — and which Sox fans describe as “fire Tony!”

TUE 28

Astros at Mets (6:10 p.m., TBS)

Somebody forgot to tell the Astros — 4-2 against the Yankees and Mets over the last week — that this season is supposed to be all about the New York teams.

Lightning at Avalanche, Game 7, if necessary (7 p.m., Ch. 7)

The Bolts are trying to become the first team since 1942 to rally from a 3-1 series deficit to win the Stanley Cup. That’s so long ago, Tampa hadn’t even welcomed babies Louis Victor Piniella and Anthony La Russa Jr. yet.

Reds at Cubs (7:05 p.m., Marquee)

The Battle for the Basement is here, and we can tell by the looks on your faces that you’re less than riveted. Look, it’s either this or “America’s Got Talent.”

White Sox at Angels (8:38 p.m., NBCSCH)

The Angels have gone from a 27-17 start to a colossal losing streak to firing Joe Maddon to all-too-familiar “How can a team with Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout be this bad?” territory. We probably should’ve seen it coming.

USWNT vs. Colombia (9 p.m., ESPN)

One last friendly for the U.S. before qualifying for the 2023 Women’s World Cup and the 2024 Paris Olympics begins.

WED 29

Sun at Sky (11 a.m., Marquee, NBA TV)

A morning start? What is this, college? The game plan for both teams: Nobody oversleep!

Union at Fire (7 p.m.,Ch. 9)

How many times has Philly lost this season? Try once. Believe it or not, it wasn’t against the Fire.

White Sox at Angels (8:30 p.m., NBCSCH)

Nothing to see here, folks — just the best baseball player on the planet throwing smoke from the mound and taking monster cuts at the plate. We’re talking about Ohtani, in case that needed clearing up.

THU 30

Padres at Dodgers (9:10 p.m., FS1)

Let’s see, Yu Darvish isn’t pitching. Fernando Tatis Jr. isn’t playing. What the heck are we supposed to get aggravated about?

FRI 1

White Sox at Giants (9:15 p.m., NBCSCH)

Neither of these teams is anywhere close to as good as it was in 2021, but at least the Giants have yet to spend a single day below .500 this season. What do they know about suffering?

SAT 2

Mercury at Sky (noon, ESPN)

The Mercury officially labeled their recent breakup with star Tina Charles a “contract divorce,” but it could have been worse — at least they got to keep the arena.

Red Sox at Cubs (6:15 p.m., Fox-32)

The Red Sox aren’t bad at all, but they have no shot whatsoever to catch the Yankees. As opposed to the Cubs, who have no shot whatsoever to catch anybody.

SUN 3

Red Sox at Cubs (1:20 p.m., Marquee)

Combined, Fenway Park and Wrigley Field are a whopping 218 years old. That’s nearly as old as long-ago Cub Rich Hill, who’s lined up to start for the visitors.

White Sox at Giants (3:05 p.m., NBCSCH)

Savor every moment of this one, Sox fans, because what’s coming next is just plain terrifying: another homestand.

USFL championship (6:30 p.m., Fox-32)

Does it get any better than the Philadelphia Stars against the Birmingham Stallions in Canton, Ohio, for all the marbles? Don’t answer that.

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