Chicago Sports

Cubs left-hander Drew Smyly is still hopeful that he could return from the injured list before the All-Star break.

“I think I’m ahead of schedule, honestly,” he told the Sun-Times on Tuesday. “But they’re trying to tame me. I’m like, ‘Let’s go, I’m ready.'”

That’s part of the job for any club’s medical team, to make sure enthusiastic players don’t rush back and re-injure themselves, especially for injuries like Smyly’s right oblique strain.He went on the IL two weeks ago.

Tuesday was Smyly’s fourth day of throwing, and he stretched out to 100 feet. He also started cardio work.

Next, Smyly’s throwing program will build out to 120-150 feet on flat ground, he said. He’ll go through tests in the weight room before eventually throwing off a mound.

“It feels really good,” he said. “All the activity we’re doing doesn’t really make it too sore. Everything’s been really positive.”

As much as the Cubs could use another starter, pushing Smyly’s recovery timeline isn’t worth the risk of a setback. Smyly, Marcus Stroman (right shoulder inflammation) and Wade Miley (left shoulder strain) are all on the 15-day IL, leaving the rotation shorthanded.

Stroman, who is eligible to come off the IL as soon as next week, seems to be the Cubs’ safest bet to return first. Miley was evaluated on Monday and prescribed rest and recovery for now.

Cubs manager David Ross declined before the game to reveal the team’s probable starter for Wednesday. But when asked specifically about the Cubs’ top pitching prospect Caleb Kilian this week, Ross didn’t rule out the possibility of him starting.

The Cubs optioned Kilian to Triple-A after his major-league debut a week and a half ago, and pitchers generally have to remain in the minor leagues for 15 days after being optioned. If the optioned player is replacing a player who is going on the IL, however, he can be recalled early.

“He’s not eligible to come back yet from a roster-move standpoint,” Ross said Monday, “but that also doesn’t mean that he won’t pitch.”

Sky honored

A group of Chicago Sky players carried the WNBA Championship trophy to the Wrigley Field mound before throwing out a pair of ceremonial first pitches Thursday. Sky coach James Wade and forward Azur? Stevens did the honors.

The Cubs recognized the Sky’s 2021 championship season with a video presentation before the game. Sky players including Stevens, Allie Quigley, Courtney Vandersloot, Emma Meesseman, Li Yueru and Julie Allemand hung out on the field during batting practice.

The Sky’s championship run last season was the first in franchise history.

Bote back on assignment

Cubs infielder David Bote returned to Triple-A Iowa and could re-start his rehab assignment as soon as this weekend, the team announced.

The Cubs pulled Bote, who is on the 60-day IL after undergoing left shoulder surgery in the offseason, from his rehab assignment last week for what they called bouts of dizziness. Those have subsided.

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Chicago Bears’ offensive line did not impress reporters at Tuesday’s practice

The offensive line for the Chicago Bears already had negative headlines coming into mandatory minicamp this week. Reports from today’s practice weren’t reassuring. The unit was ranked 31st by PFF this week. If today was any indication of where the Bears’ offensive line will be in 2022, they might drop that one more spot.

The Bears’ offensive coaches kept Larry Borom and Braxton Jones with the first team. This is big news because Teven Jenkins was still getting reps with the second team, as he did during last week’s OTA. It appeared like the slimmed-down Jenkins struggled Tuesday with his assignment.

Not a great report on Jenkins, but good for Carson Taylor. Being beaten by an undrafted rookie is a bad look. Jenkins looks like he has a lot to work on before he’ll be ready to start with the Bears. The second-year tackle needs to be picking the bones off of undrafted rookies during minicamp. Jenkins battled through injury to play late last season, but he has the talent to be a starter in the NFL.

More changes on the offensive line will be coming for Chicago Bears

Speaking of injuries, Dakota Dozier went down at practice. The whole tweet is sad (and if you look at the next tweet in @BradBiggs thread, it’s even sadder.) as the Bears will need more help with depth at guard if he’s seriously injured. The second-team offensive line appeared to get bullied by the green defensive line. The current setup isn’t permanent.

Sooner would certainly be better. And better, if sooner came before training camp begins.

Make sure to check out our Bears forum for the latest on the team.

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Matt Eberflus has avoiding being heavy-handed about the defense he will be rebuilding as head coach of the Bears. It’ll have his stamp on it, but he has all but handed over the day-to-day reins to defensive coordinator Alan Williams.

Eberflus turned to another former coach this week to help point that defense in the right direction and he couldn’t have picked a much better one — former Bears defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli, who was a guest at veteran mini-camp Tuesday and will speak to the team Wednesday.

Marinelli’s credentials as one of the best defensive line coaches in the NFL over the last two decades are well-established — with the Buccaneers (1996-2005), the Bears (2009-12) and the Cowboys (2013-19). He and Eberflus overlapped as Cowboys position coaches from 2013-17. As was evident with the Bears, there might not be an NFL position coach whose players swear by him more than Marinelli’s players have had a Yoda-like reverence for him.

“I spent five years with him in Dallas and I cannot say enough good things about Rod Marinelli,” Eberflus said. “What he taught me with the player-coach relationship –to be able to show the player that you care through action. And to prepare the player to play his best on Sunday.

“And then you’re able to challenge them and push them past the point they can’t take themselves, and that’s what I learned from Rod. Everybody who talks about him just loves him to death. I know when he was [with the Bears] he pushed the guys past the point they couldn’t take themselves and that’s what I learned from him. He’s a diamond in the rough, Rod Marinelli.”

Hold that line

Rookie left tackle Braxton Jones remained with the first team in Tuesday’s practice, next to left guard Cody Whitehair, center Lucas Patrick, right guard Sam Mustipher and right tackle Larry Borom.

Teven Jenkins, the 2021 second-round draft pick expected to start at either tackle position, remained with the second team. But Eberflus said the offensive line in general remains a fluid situation.

“We’re going to finish camp with this alignment,” Eberflus said, “and then we’ll decided, ‘We like this alignment, that alignment or [we] don’t like either one — let’s go with a new one.”

Asked if Jenkins or Borom could move to right guard, Eberflus said, “All combinations are open. We’re just trying to find the best five.”

Dozier injured

Guard Dakota Dozier left the field on a cart after suffering an injury late in practice at Tuesday’s mini camp. Per his offseason policy, Eberflus did not comment on the extent of the injury.

Hype machine

The Bears’ wide receiver room statistically is the least accomplished group in the NFL. But the leader of that group, third-year wideout Darnell Mooney, gave a ringing endorsement of rookie Velus Jones, the speedster from Tennessee who was drafted in the third round (71st overall).

“I love the room,” Mooney said. “There are a lot of guys that are going to bring some good things to the table. Velus, man –when he gets the ball, y’all are going to see. He can fly. He can be a playmaker for sure for us.”

Gordon out

Rookie cornerback Kyler Gordon, the Bears’ first-round draft pick, did not participate in Tuesday’s practice –though he was in attendance and working on an exercise bike. Eberflus did not appear concerned about the undisclosed injury.

“He’s doing great, “Eberflus said. “He’s doing awesome.”

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DETROIT — Closer Liam Hendriks is the latest White Sox to land on the injured list. The American League reliever of the year the last two seasons went on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with a right forearm strain.

Hendriks, 33, has 16 saves and a 2.81 ERA in 25 appearances this season. He is tied for the American League lead in saves after leading the AL in 2021 with 38.

Hendriks has made 10 straight scoreless outings, but he has not pitched since Friday’s game against the Rangers and only once since last Tuesday. Manager Tony La Russa on Monday said Hendriks was dealing with arm “stiffness.”

Joe Kelly, who has recovered from left hamstring strain, was reinstated from the IL. Kelly, who agreed to terms on a two-year, $17 million contract in March, has appeared in only seven games, allowing six earned runs on eight hits and six walks over 5 2/3 innings.

The Sox also recalled Davis Martin from Charlotte and optioned lefty Bennett Sousa to Charlotte.Martin, 25, is 0-2 with a 4.11 ERA in three games (two starts).

Sousa, 27, is 3-0 with an 8.41 and one save in 25 relief appearances. He earned the victory in the Sox’ 9-5 win over the Tigers Monday.

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DETROIT — Closer Liam Hendriks is the latest White Sox to land on the injured list. The American League reliever of the year the last two seasons went on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with a right forearm strain.

Hendriks, 33, has 16 saves and a 2.81 ERA in 25 appearances this season. He is tied for the American League lead in saves after leading the AL in 2021 with 38.

Hendriks has made 10 straight scoreless outings, but he has not pitched since Friday’s game against the Rangers and only once since last Tuesday. Manager Tony La Russa on Monday said Hendriks was dealing with arm “stiffness.”

Joe Kelly, who has recovered from left hamstring strain, was reinstated from the IL. Kelly, who agreed to terms on a two-year, $17 million contract in March, has appeared in only seven games, allowing six earned runs on eight hits and six walks over 5 2/3 innings.

The Sox also recalled Davis Martin from Charlotte and optioned lefty Bennett Sousa to Charlotte.Martin, 25, is 0-2 with a 4.11 ERA in three games (two starts).

Sousa, 27, is 3-0 with an 8.41 and one save in 25 relief appearances. He earned the victory in the Sox’ 9-5 win over the Tigers Monday.

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New Bears general manager Ryan Poles and coach Matt Eberflus have run into their first big problem: Defensive end Robert Quinn, their most accomplished and highest-paid player, no-showed for mandatory minicamp Tuesday.

Eberflus didn’t make it a big issue, but he also didn’t brush it aside.

“We hoped he would be here,” he said. “He’s not. Ryan and his staff are gonna work through that.”

When asked whether the absence was excused, Eberflus said flatly, “No, it’s mandatory minicamp.”

Quinn did not report for voluntary Organized Team Activities over the past few months, but everyone seemed reasonably fine with that. At 32 years old and 11 seasons into his career, he said in April he was confident his own offseason workout program would be best, saying, “This is not my first rodeo.”

Eberflus responded in May by acknowledging Quinn’s r?sum?, but adding he wished he’d opted in for OTAs.

He has been enigmatic throughout his career, so it’s not immediately clear why Quinn would skip minicamp. He has been rumored in trade talks since January, but Poles has indicated he is part of the team’s plan for this season.

Quinn set the franchise record with 18.5 sacks last season and earned his third Pro Bowl selection.

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DETROIT — Closer Liam Hendriks was the latest White Sox to land on the injured list Tuesday. The American League reliever of the year the last two seasons went on the 15-day injured list with a right forearm strain.

Hendriks, 33, has 16 saves and a 2.81 ERA in 25 appearances this season. Hendriks is tied for the American League lead in saves after leading the AL in 2021 with 38. Hendriks has made 10 straight scoreless outings.

JoeKelly, who has recovered from left hamstring strain, was reinstated from the IL. Kelly, who agreed to terms on a two-year, $17 million contract in March, has appeared in only seven games, allowing six earned runs on eight hits and six walks over 5 2/3 innings.

The Sox also recalled Davis Martin from Charlotte and optioned lefty Bennett Sousa to Charlotte.Martin, 25, is 0-2 with a 4.11 ERA in three games (two starts).

Sousa, 27, is 3-0 with an 8.41 and one save in 25 relief appearances. He earned the victory in the Sox’ 9-5 win over the Tigers Monday.

The Sox

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A Chicago firefighter who was wounded in a mass shooting in West Pullman after a birthday party last year has died.

Timothy Eiland, 33, a father of five, was pronounced dead Monday at South Suburban Hospital, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Fire officials confirmed Eiland’s passing, saying “this senseless act has changed the fabric of Tim Eiland’s family, our department and our city.”

Eiland was walking with his sister Elishama Wright joking and laughing after a surprise birthday party on Sept. 11 when gunfire broke out. As people started to scramble, Wright found him “on the ground with blood squirting from his face,” she told the Chicago Sun-Times at the time.

She ducked back into the building in the 300 block of East Kensington Avenue until the shooting stopped, then rushed outside to see about her brother and daughter, who were two of six people shot in the attack.

Eiland was shot in the face and initially taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition.

Also killed was Schenia Smith, 42, a mother from Dolton, who was shot in an arm and armpit.

Wright’s 15-year-old daughter, Divine O’Neal, was wounded in an arm. Three men were also wounded.

In September, Wright described her brother as “an awesome fireman, an awesome husband, an awesome friend” and was known for his sense of humor. His father was a firefighter, too.

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Returning from break, we look at the MLS schedule for the Chicago Fire

Despite a new head coach in Ezra Hendrickson and high-priced additions in Xherdan Shaqiri and Kacper Przybylko, the Chicago Fire find themselves at risk of allowing this season to slip away. They currently sit in last place in the Eastern Conference with a league-worst 11 points.

Though the Fire have played long stretches like a much better club than the standings reflect, Chicago hasn’t been able to stay out of their own way, seemingly inventing new ways to blow results in the final minutes. There must be a sense of urgency coming out of the international break, which hopefully allowed the club to reset and refresh, if they’re going to make the MLS Playoffs.

Upcoming Chicago Fire schedule

It starts this Saturday, June 18 as the Fire host D.C. United at 7:00pm. Chicago went on the road to Washington on March 12, earning a 2-0 victory in frigid conditions for their first win of the season. After consecutive 0-0 draws against Inter Miami and Orlando City to open the 2022 campaign, Stanislav Ivanov scored the club’s first goal of the season in the 32nd minute. Jonathan Bornstein was subbed on in the 71st minute and scored a goal 10 minutes later, sealing the result for the Fire.

D.C. United sits just one spot above Chicago in the Eastern Conference standings and represents a winnable game for the Fire. D.C. United has not won a match since a May 7 home contest against the Houston Dynamo, who Chicago will play on June 25.

Houston is currently in 7th place in the Western Conference with 18 points and an even goal differential (17 scored, 17 allowed). FiveThirtyEight projects just a 13% probability that Houston makes the postseason, even lower than the Fire’s current mark of 16%.

They dropped a 3-0 match at Real Salt Lake on May 28, their final MLS appearance before the international break. Paraguayan Designated Player Sebastian Ferriera has had a succesful transition to MLS, notching give goals and three assists in 12 matches. That said, this is another contest in which Chicago should be able to find at least one point.

The Fire will return to Soldier Field to close out the month of June, hosting Philadelphia Union for a 7:00pm kickoff on the 29th. Philadelphia will provide quite the challenge for Chicago as one of the stingiest defenses in MLS, allowing a league-low 10 goals through 14 matches.

Philadelphia is just one point behind NYCFC for the top spot in the Eastern Conference standings. They played a 1-1 draw at New England in their final match before the international break and will host FC Cincinnati this Saturday.

Postseason hopes are slim for Chicago Fire

Although the odds of making the postseason are currently slim, the Fire can completely change the outlook of their season with a strong month of June. Seven points in these three matches is not unrealistic and, at this point, is probably necessary. Due to the slow start to the season, each match from this point will take on increased significance as Chicago attempts to get back into the postseason picture.

Make sure to check out our Fire forum for the latest on the team.

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Justin Fields has limited options with the Chicago Bears receiving corps

Wide receiver is a huge question mark for the Chicago Bears heading into the 2022 season and one analyst thinks the group is the worst in the NFL. After losing Allen Robinson in free agency this offseason, the Bears are lacking a true “X” receiver. Second-year quarterback Justin Fields gave a subtle non-answer that the Bears receiving unit would be “good enough” a few weeks ago. Good enough for what?

The Bears made a few moves in free agency, acquiring Byron Pringle and a host of others. The wide receiver room has 12 Bears currently, with the best player being Darnell Mooney. General manager Ryan Poles drafted Velus Jones Jr. in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Jones has his question marks, as the 25-year-old rookie played more as a quick returner in college than at wide receiver.

Analysts have issues with the Bears’ wide receivers

It’s not surprising many national analysts aren’t high on the Bears’ offense or their overall winning prospects this season. Ben Linsey, with Pro Football Focus, wrote the Bears’ wide receivers corps is the worst in the NFL heading into this season.

Here’s what Linsey wrote:

It’s not difficult to see what new general manager Ryan Poles’ strategy is. He wants to build the “right way,” and that means not overspending in free agency or reaching in the draft. The unfortunate side effect of that plan this offseason is that Justin Fields is in the midst of one of the worst offensive situations in the NFL entering a pivotal second season.

Darnell Mooney is the lone established option in the receiving corps after earning a 74.9 PFF receiving grade in his second season out of Tulane. He’s still better suited as a No. 2, which is a title currently held by free agent acquisition Byron Pringle. Leaning heavily on Pringle, Tajae Sharpe, Velus Jones Jr. and Equanimeous St. Brown isn’t where you want to be as an offense.

Unfortunately, this looks spot on…

Bears wide receivers have a lot to prove to the doubters

Mooney is a bright spot, and even he said he has a chip on his shoulder heading into this season, as a former fifth-round pick. Jones, Mooney, and Pringle will bring speed, but everything else is unclear. Fields will also need skills with receivers at route running and catching, something that isn’t certain with that trio. Poles is toying with the line of delaying or flat out destroying the development of Fields with this group.

This group might do something special in training camp. But currently, the offense seems at best inconsistent, according to reports at practice. In my head, reading Mooney, Jones, St. Brown, and Pringle just brings images of a Marx Brothers routine. Poles needs to be more proactive in free agency this summer and sign a truly elite receiver. One who can grow with Fields into a lethal combination in the next few years.

Make sure to check out our Bears forum for the latest on the team.

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