Chicago Sports

NEW YORK – The Cubs continue to juggle injuries to their rotation, a challenge highlighted Saturday as they placed veteran lefty Wade Miley on the 15-day injured list with a left shoulder strain.

It was the same injury that landed him on the IL less than two weeks ago, and they had just activated him to start Friday. But in the third inning, the shoulder issue cropped up again.

“It’s very frustrating,” Miley said Friday night, in a week with two off days after the Cubs had played 11 games in the nine days prior. ” … The bullpen was back set, and then three innings, and we’re right back in the same boat with 17 straight [games on the schedule.]”

In a corresponding move, the Cubs recalled reliever Michael Rucker from Triple-A.

The Cubs have three starting pitchers on the 15-day IL, with Miley joining Marcus Stroman (right shoulder inflammation) and Drew Smyly (right oblique strain). They also skipped Kyle Hendricks’ turn in the rotation to manage shoulder fatigue. The right-hander is scheduled to start on Tuesday against the Padres, nearly two weeks after his last start.

The Cubs have, by necessity, turned to some less experienced arms to fill the holes in the rotation. Rookie Matt Swarmer made his third major-league start Saturday against the Yankees. Right-hander Keegan Thompson, who the Cubs moved from a multi-inning relief role to a starting job, is scheduled to start Sunday. Lefty Justin Steele is penciled in for Monday.

Cubs top pitching prospect Caleb Kilian is a logical option to call up for another start, if not for this turn in the rotation, likely in the next couple weeks.

Suzuki’s progress slow

Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki was scheduled to throw and hit again Saturday, but his sprained left ring finger has made little progress healing in recent days. He’s been sidelined since injuring his finger while siding over two weeks ago.

“He wants to be back in there bad,” Cubs manager David Ross said, “but the finger doesn’t look great. And it’s really stayed almost status quo. So, we’ll continue to look at a lot of options.”

According to Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer, the Cubs have sought multiple opinions on Suzuki’s injury and sent him to the doctor in New York this week, while in town for the series. The doctors have not recommended surgery.

“Just nagging injuries,” Hoyer said. “The minute I saw him go down in Cincinnati, that was my biggest fear. … There’s also zero reason to come back if you’re either going to end up right back on the IL, or you’re going to swell up in game, or it’s going to be a constant nagging injury.”

Cubs break precedent

When it comes to salary arbitration, the Cubs are a “file and trial” team. But according to Hoyer, catcher Willson Contreras’ representation reached out to the club a few days before Contreras’ scheduled arbitration hearing.

“Once they did you, we definitely had a desire to reach a settlement,” Hoyer said. “We told them that at the time: this isn’t something we want, we don’t want to go to a hearing here. We’re willing to break precedent because of the nature of the season, and so it made a lot of sense.”

In a year with in-season hearings due to the lockout, the Cubs and Contreras agreed to a $9.625 million salary for 2022, the deal coming together the night before the hearing.

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Watching their defending American League Central champions blow a 5-0 lead before striking out 11 times in the final four innings of regulation Saturday was enough for a convincing contingent of White Sox fans.

Chants of “Fire Tony” resonated for 20 seconds after the Rangers’ Brad Miller drew a walk in the top of the 10th inning following a tie-breaking single by Ezequiel Duran and passed ball by Reese McGuire.

The chants turned to boos shortly after Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa pulled reliever Matt Foster and before Marcus Semien hit a two-run single for the clinching blow in an 11-9 loss that dropped the Sox six games behind the division-leading Twins.

The loss was the third in the last four games for the Sox, whose fans have become more restless with their sub-.500 performance and with La Russa, who is aware of the discontent.

“Well, I hear it with one ear, and I see it with one eye,” La Russa said. “I appreciate they want us to win, and when we don’t win they’re unhappy. I’m pleased that they are, you know?

“We have the team we have to win, and we’re losing games. Nobody in that clubhouse, including the manager and coaches, is happy. I like it when (the fans) care enough to be upset.”

La Russa, whose decision Thursday to intentionally walk Trea Turner with a 1-2 count was foiled when Max Muncy hit a three-run homer in an 11-9 loss to the Dodgers, accepted being the target of the fans’ ire.

“I’ve said before, I learned you’re accountable for everything, right?” La Russa said. “Anything that is happening with this team, in the end, I’m responsible for, so… and you figure that out.

“If you don’t like the record (27-30), it’s my responsibility. If you don’t like the moves? Whatever is it. I’ve never have dodged accountability, and I won’t start now.”

Two days after Dylan Cease blew a 4-0 lead, Lucas Giolito accepted blame for his fifth-inning meltdown in which Adolis Garcia hit a three-run homer to cap a four-run rally.

“I’m disgusted in myself,” said Giolito, who retired eight consecutive batters before his debacle started. “That’s all I can really say. I go out and perform like I know I can, and we’re talking a lot differently right now.”

To compound matters, catcher Yasmani Grandal left in the bottom of the third due to left hamstring tightness. Grandal will re-examined Sunday, but Carlos Perez is the leading candidate to be promoted from Triple-A Charlotte to at least provide insurance.

Another reliever might be promoted in the wake of Giolito’s five-inning stint. Jimmy Lambert pitched 2 2/3 innings of one-hit relief after Davis Martin and Kendall Graveman weren’t available after pitching Friday, and left-hander Aaron Bummer hasn’t pitched since Tuesday.

The loss overshadowed a 2-for-5 performance by Jake Burger, who hit a homer and is batting .346 over his last 14 games.

The Sox collected 12 hits in the first five innings off left-hander Martin Perez, who entered the game with a 1.56 ERA. But they couldn’t solve four Rangers relievers, led by left-hander Matt Moore, who struck out five in the eighth and ninth.

“(The fans) have a right to voice their opinion,” Burger said. “They are coming to the game, and they can say whatever they want. I know this clubhouse is a family and we are going to stick together no matter what.

“You can have outside opinions, but this clubhouse is tight and it’s a family.”

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CHICAGO — Loud chants of “Fire Tony!” broke out at Guaranteed Rate Field as manager Tony La Russa and the Chicago White Sox blew a five-run lead and lost to the Texas Rangers 11-9 in 10 innings on Saturday.

La Russa has been under increased scrutiny this week since ordering an unconventional intentional walk in a loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The White Sox won the AL Central last season, but now are just 27-30 under their 77-year-old Hall of Fame manager.

Chicago has lost three of four. Texas won for just the fourth time in its last 11 games.

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Jake Burger hit a three-run homer off AL ERA leader Martin Perez that helped the White Sox take a 5-0 lead into the fifth.

But the Rangers clawed back when Adolis Garcia hit a three-run homer off Lucas Giolito in the fifth, then tied it at 7 on Jonah Heim‘s sacrifice fly in the seventh as the crowd of 30,221 began chanting at La Russa.

Nathaniel Lowe put Texas ahead with his second double of the game, a drive that began a four-run burst in the 10th. A passed ball by Reese McGuire scored another run and Marcus Semien hit a two-run single.

Danny Mendick’s RBI single and Andrew Vaughn’s sacrifice fly pulled Chicago within two runs in the bottom half, but Joe Barlow retired Luis Robert and Jose Abreu to end it.

Texas reliever Matt Moore (3-0) fanned five in two scoreless innings.

Matt Foster (1-1) took the loss.

The White Sox tagged P?rez for 12 hits and six earned runs in five innings. He began the day with a 1.56 ERA.

Giolito was impressive through four innings before Garcia homered for the 12th time this year.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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NEW YORK — The Chicago Cubs placed pitcher Wade Miley on the injured list Saturday because of a left shoulder strain, one day after the veteran was activated.

Miley threw 30 of 42 pitches for strikes in three scoreless innings Friday night at Yankee Stadium. He was pulled after throwing a few warm-up pitches to start the fourth. Miley said he was injured throwing a pitch to Josh Donaldson in the second inning of a 2-1, 13-inning loss to New York.

“He’s dealing with some stuff,” Chicago manager David Ross said before Saturday’s game against the Yankees. “I think he’s pretty optimistic. We’ll see, give it some time to calm down. I think he’s a little sore today.”

The 35-year-old Miley exited early Friday after not pitching since May 22 because of a strained left shoulder. He also missed the first month because of left elbow inflammation before making his season debut May 10.

The Cubs claimed Miley off waivers from the Reds on Nov. 5 and picked up his $10 million contract option two days later. He is 1-0 with a 2.84 ERA in four starts this season.

To replace Miley on the roster, reliever Michael Rucker was recalled from Triple-A Iowa. Rucker was optioned to Iowa on Friday to make room for Miley and is 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA in 11 appearances.

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Five people were wounded in a drive-by shooting Saturday in Gresham on the Far South Side, according to Chicago police and fire officials.

The wounded were in an alley in the 8600 block of South Damen Avenue about 3:20 p.m. when a vehicle drove by and someone inside the vehicle opened fire, police said.

The victims were:

A male, whose age was unknown, who suffered gunshot wounds to his body and was listed in critical condition, officials said.A 42-year-old man shot multiple times in the body, who was in fair condition, police said.A third man, 24, shot in the left leg and foot, in good condition, police said. A fourth man, 39, shot in the foot and reportedly in good condition, authorities said.

Police say all four men were taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.

A fifth person, whose age and gender wasn’t immediately known, was taken to Little Company of Mary Hospital, according to fire officials. Their condition wasn’t immediately known.

Area detectives were investigating.

This is a developing story. Check back for details.

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It takes so much more than talent to win a state title.

Nazareth beat Glenwood 5-1 on Saturday at Duly Health and Care Field in Joliet. It’s the first baseball state title for the Roadrunners.

Sophomore starting pitcher Nick Drtina was the hero, pitching 5 1/3 innings to earn his school-record 12th win of the season. He allowed just three hits and one run.

The Roadrunners’ starting lineup features five sophomores and a freshman. Drtina and freshman Jaden Fauske are Louisville recruits. All the young players have bright futures in baseball, but that talent alone isn’t enough for a team to end the season hoisting a trophy.

The older teammates have to accept bench roles and create an environment that will allow the underclassmen to succeed. It’s one of the most difficult situations for coaches in any high school sport to navigate.

“This is a credit to the seniors,” Nazareth coach Lee Milano said. “They accepted their role. Things aren’t always going to go your way in life and you have to be a good teammate. It’s a really difficult thing to accept. But those kids accepted it and they are the reason why we won. It’s because they bought into what we were doing.”

Drtina held the Titans (27-7) scoreless for the first five innings, but Nazareth wasn’t able to get on the board either so the pressure was increasing.

“It was definitely building,” Drtina said. “But since I was a little kid I have worked to tune everything out, just block it out. I had faith I would get the job done.”

Milano didn’t have a heart-to-heart with Drtina to see if he was ready to start the state championship game. He had faith in the sophomore and simply texted him the news on Friday night after the semifinal win against Crystal Lake South.

“I got the text and was like ‘oh my God, here we go,'” Drtina said. “It was a little unexpected since I threw a lot of pitches a couple times throughout the week.”

Drtina is comfortable in the spotlight, which made Milano’s decision easier.

“It’s not as basd as you think,” Drtina said. “It’s nice to have the spotlight on you. It pushes you even harder to make sure you do well.”

The bottom of the lineup broke through for Nazareth (34-7) in the fifth inning. Freshman Jaden Fauske started it off with a single. Senior Sam Wampler walked. Sophomore Luca Fiore and sophomore Cole Reifsteck singled. The Roadrunners scored five in the inning.

“It’s just an awesome feeling to win a state title,” Reifsteck said. “Especially for [Milano] who has been coaching for so long and just hasn’t gotten one. We finally got the job done.”

Milano is in his 21st season as head coach at Nazareth. He led the Roadrunners to a third-place finish in 2018, 2012, and 2011 and second place in 2012.

With so many talented sophomores, the Roadrunners could be a regular fixture in Joliet the next few seasons.

“It’s an indescribable feeling to win with all these sophomores,” Drtina said. “We have two more years left and we can still just keep pushing forward.”

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At least four people were killed and seven others were wounded in shootings across Chicago since Friday, 5 p.m.

A man was shot to death Friday afternoon in Englewood on the South Side. Just after 5 p.m., Vaugh Sivels, 25, was outside in the 6800 block of South Justine Street when someone shot him in the head and torso, Chicago police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office said. He was transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center where he was pronounced dead, police said.Hours later, a passenger inside a car was fatally shot in East Pilsen on the Lower West Side. The man, 26, was a passenger in a car driving in the 400 block of West 18th Street about 11:05 p.m. when a black sedan pulled alongside them and someone inside opened fire, police said. He was taken to Stroger Hospital and died to his injuries, police said.A little over an hour later, a woman was shot and killed and while riding inside a car in East Garfield Park on the West Side. The woman, 37, was a passenger in a car in the first block of South Albany Avenue about 12:20 a.m. when someone outside shot into the car, striking her in the head and body, police said. She was taken to Stroger initially in critical condition, but died due to her injuries, police said.A couple of hours later, a man was found shot to death inside a car in South Commons on the South Side.The man, 34, was found in the driver’s side of a car in the 2800 block of South Indiana Avenue about 2:30 a.m. with gunshot wounds to the torso, police said. He was taken to Stroger initially in critical condition, but later died due to his injuries, police said.In nonfatal attacks, three men was shot while walking along the lakefront early Saturday near the Museum Campus on the Near South Side. The wounded were walking along the lakefront in the 1200 block of South Jean-Baptiste Pointe DuSable Lake Shore Drive about 1:30 a.m. when they by gunfire, police said. One man, 19, was shot in the face and taken to Stroger Hospital in critical condition, police said. Another man, 20, was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital with a gunshot wound to the chest, police said. His condition was stabilized. A third man, 18, was shot in the leg and was taken to Stroger in good condition, officials said.Another man, 21, was on the front porch of a house in the 7200 block of South Marshfield Avenue about 6:40 p.m. when two gunmen opened fire, striking him in the head, police said. He was taken to Christ in critical condition, officials said. Hours later, a third man, 19, was standing outside of a gas station in the 1400 block of West Division Street about 4:30 a.m. when he suffered multiple gunshot wounds throughout the body, police said. He went to St. Mary’s Hospital and was transferred to Stroger in fair condition, officials said.

At least two others were by gunfire in Chicago since Friday evening.

Six people were shot and killed in Chicago last weekend that also saw 27 others wounded, including two young girls, ages 3 and 6.

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The Chicago Blues Festival is underway at Millennium Park, and for the first time at select neighborhood locations. And you can take in all of the sights and sounds for free through Sunday night.

The music continues Saturday at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion and two additional stages in Millennium Park, in Bronzeville at Lillian Hardin Armstrong Park (4433 S. St. Lawrence Ave.) and in Austin (5720 W. Chicago Ave.).

The Saturday lineup at Millennium Park includes Melody Angel, Keith Johnson & The Big Muddy Band, Cedric Burnside, and Ronnie Baker Brooks, among many others.

The Sunday lineup at the Pritzker Pavilion boasts Lurie Bell, The Kinsey Report, and Eric Gales, among others. Also new this year is a “Women in Blues” showcase at 3 p.m. Sunday featuring a tribute to blues great Mary Lane.

On both days, catch a showcase (starting at noon) of Chicago artists that have played the iconic Rosa’s Lounge over the past 38 years, at the Chase Promenade South in Millennium Park.

For the complete schedule of entertainers at Millennium Park for Saturday and Sunday, visit chicago.gov.

The Saturday lineup of neighborhood concert artists in the Austin neighborhood (starting at noon) includes Tail Dragger, Demetria Taylor, and Lil’ Ed & the Blues Imperials, among others. On Sunday at the Bronzeville location (starting at noon) you can catch sets by Freddie Dixon’s Chicago Blues Allstars, and Joe Barr and the Platinum Band, among others. The full schedule of neighborhood concerts can be found here.

Chicago Sun-Times photographer Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere captured some of the moments from Friday night’s lineup at Millennium Park (below), which featured The Mike Wheeler Band and Billy Branch & The Sons of Blues, among others.

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LAS VEGAS — The Bears will again be up against some formidable odds this season, according to many sportsbooks and bettors who bolster their beliefs with their bankrolls.

Chicago’s victory total has been widely set at 6.5, so experts forecast a ninth non-winning campaign in 10 seasons.

In its preseason release of every lined 2021 NFL game, the Westgate SuperBook had the Bears favored just four times. They went 6-11, overall and against the spread.

In fact, according to TeamRankings.com, the Bears are 89-105-3 against the number since 2010 for a .459 winning percentage, fifth-worst in the league. Blindly betting against the Bears over that span has been profitable.

For ’22, the SuperBook has Chicago favored just twice.

On its NFL MVP odds sheet, Station Casinos lists 55 players. Not one is a Bear. Of 74 players, the SuperBook has quarterback Justin Fields 19th, at 80-to-1 odds and tailback David Montgomery 63rd at 500-1.

At Circa Sports, the Bears are +400 (risk $100 to win $400) to make the playoffs, -550 (wager $550 to win $100) to miss the postseason.

Rex Beyers, an industry veteran and head of wagering at PlayUp USA, envisions a six-win season as the Bears’ best-case scenario, 5-12 or 4-13 being more likely.

“That’s the worst team in a bad division,” he says. “And the quarterback can’t play, which we will find out most likely, once and for all, over the course of several long fall 2022 Sundays.”

Handicapper Bill Krackomberger relished finding a 7.5 total, very early, and hammered Under at -145. The consensus of his expert staff predicts “a tough season” for Chicago.

“I know it’s really popular to bet Bears futures every year, amongst gamblers. But that’s just it — they are gamblers rooting and betting with their hearts. Good people in Chicago. I love them and the city.

“[But] sorry, Bears fans. We need the ’85 Bears to return to their glory.”

He says something akin to, Where have you gone, Mike Ditka and Buddy Ryan?

SELLING IT

Some aren’t so sour on the Bears, or Fields. Without Andy Dalton over his shoulder, DraftKings sportsbook director Johnny Avello expects the 23-year-old quarterback to settle down.

“I liked him at Ohio State,” Avello says. “Thought he was terrific.”

About the axiom that Buckeyes quarterbacks don’t pan out in the NFL, Avello pauses.

“That might be true, but Ohio State is such a great collegiate program. People always have high expectations for them when they get to the next level. Sometimes it just doesn’t work out. Sometimes it’s about the right system.”

He mentions Tom Brady, who didn’t portend professional superstardom at Michigan but soared in New England to become the game’s most accomplished quarterback.

“Sometimes it’s about the right break, the right coaching, the right mentor,” Avello says. “So I don’t hold that against anybody.”

Long Island ‘capper Tom Barton concurs and considers this Fields’ second rookie season. Nathan Peterman and Trevor Siemian are Chicago’s reserve quarterbacks. A lifelong Bears fan who divorces his head from his heart in pursuit of profit, Barton likes what he has heard from Luke Getsy.

New coach Matt Eberflus hired Getsy from Green Bay, where he worked with quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Packers’ passing schemes, to be the Bears’ offensive coordinator.

Getsy champions a 1-2 running attack, with Montgomery and Khalil Herbert, and play-action wrinkles to allow the quarterback to hit a single option, highlighting tight end Cole Kmet or receiver Darnell Mooney.

“Fields can sell,” Barton says. “Watch his Ohio State tape, which I’ve done. He can sell that play-action.”

TOUGH SLATE

Barton has reviewed what Eberflus and Getsy have undoubtedly seen in last season’s video — that Fields doesn’t pick up blitzes well.

“Always been his problem,” Barton says. “He doesn’t have that sixth sense. He doesn’t feel the pressure. And it’s his perception … if he doesn’t trust they’re going to pick up the block, that’s going to be an issue.”

Chicago quarterbacks were sacked 3.4 times a game last season, tied for next-to-worst in the NFL. Barton says Fields would get hit early, question himself, dump it off or scamper.

Eberflus and Getsy have a remedy.

“They’re saying, ‘Do a lot of play-action. Someone will bite.’ Now all Fields has to worry about is, Who’s the [defender] biting?” Barton said. “Now you have one-on-one coverage, and you can take advantage.”

He pegs Week 5 at Minnesota, though, as Danger Week. He expects the Bears to be 1-4 after that Vikings game. Then comes Washington, at New England, at Dallas.

Said Barton: “They could be sitting there with one win going into Week 9.”

He recommends savvy fantasy players to consider key Bears, two months into the new system, at this point, with the Dolphins at home followed by the Lions, then at the Falcons and Jets.

Maybe four consecutive triumphs, Barton said. But he has the Bears winning only six or seven games, and he despises the late Week 14 bye, in the second week of December.

He hasn’t invested in Bears futures tickets and advises nobody to do so.

“No Super Bowl, no NFC championship,” Barton says. “I saw people take 100-to-1 on Fields to win MVP. ‘Dude, what are you doing?’ What does he have to do to win the MVP, win 12, 13, 14 games? Yeah, that’s not happening.

“To me, lay off, don’t go near and don’t touch.”

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The poor results of Fire sporting director Georg Heitz’s 2019-20 offseason are well known. And if the Fire can’t reverse this year’s slide, his moves last winter will face heavy scrutiny.

Perhaps overlooked is what Heitz did between the 2020 and ’21 seasons, a period that wasn’t as splashy but continues to haunt the Fire.

After the Fire narrowly missed the expanded 2020 playoffs, Heitz decreed that continuity would bring better results. Instead of making big additions, he added right back Jhon Espinoza, striker Chinonso Offor and winger Stanislav Ivanov before the 2021 season. He also signed prospect Jhon Duran, who wasn’t eligible to join until 2022. Meanwhile, Heitz sent Homegrown winger Djordje Mihailovic to Montreal for up to $1 million in allocation money and didn’t bring back veteran striker CJ Sapong.

Those decisions aren’t paying off.

Espinoza is still behind starter Boris Sekulic and has struggled defensively when he’s seen the field. Offor is the Fire’s third-choice striker, and Duran has shown some promise but his lack of polish has kept him from seriously challenging Kacper Przybylko.

Ivanov’s struggles are the most glaring.

After missing the first half of last season with a knee problem, Ivanov began this season as a starter. But with the additions of Chris Mueller and Jairo Torres, the emergence of Brian Gutierrez and coach Ezra Hendrickson’s trust in Fabian Herbers, Ivanov seems like the odd man out. He hasn’t played in the Fire’s last four matches, and Hendrickson has chosen to use the more defensive-minded Herbers instead even when the team has needed a goal.

On May 25, Hendrickson said Ivanov is “still in the mix” but then picked Herbers in the 75th minute of the Fire’s 3-2 loss to Toronto when the match was even at 2.

“Right now, we’re in a situation where we feel like we’re putting the best players that we have on the pitch,” Hendrickson said before the Toronto match. “He had a bad run of form right before we got the additions, so that didn’t help his cause. But we want to play the guys who are performing, and that goes from what they do in training, also from what they do when they get their opportunities in games.”

For whatever reasons, Ivanov, Espinoza and Offor haven’t improved since coming to Chicago. At best, the trio give the Fire some depth, but their bit parts and minimal impact make that a hard argument to win, stretching a top-heavy team even further.

Now in Nashville, Sapong remains a dependable scoring option. More painfully for the Fire, Mihailovic has become one of the league’s most dangerous attackers. Since the start of 2021, Mihailovic has 11 goals and 20 assists and recently earned a call-up to the U.S. national team before pulling himself off the squad because of injury.

While it’s unclear whether Mihailovic would’ve reached those heights in Chicago, his breakout is a stark reminder of Heitz wasting the 2020-21 offseason. Unfortunately for the Fire, seeing a former Homegrown player flourish elsewhere isn’t the only consequence of Heitz’s mistakes that winter.

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