Chicago Sports

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The White Sox had lost four in a row and fallen four games below .500 before pulling out a needed 3-2 win against the Rays Saturday. For as bad as these underachievers have looked all season, they’d like to assure you they were not losing the faith.

“We’re not even a third of the way into the season,” said closer Liam Hendriks, who finished off the win with a perfect ninth inning with two strikeouts in his first appearance since Sunday. “If you worry about standings now it’s the same as if you are in first place, it’s a distraction from what you need to focus on which is the day to day.”

Hendriks said this before the Sox’ win.

The Sox are five games behind the Twins and a half game behind the Guardians in the AL Central. They are supposed to be winning the division comfortably.

“We’ve got a certain aura in this clubhouse where we won’t be overly threatened by any situation, any hill or mountain or however you want to describe it,” Hendriks said.

Sunday was the last time Hendriks had pitched, and he was getting rusty for lack of work. So it goes for the closer when there are no late leads to protect.

After three frustrating Sox losses in Toronto and one against the Rays Friday, Hendriks was warming up and going to get into this game even though the Sox were losing 2-0 and not hitting a lick against Drew Rasmussen (seven scoreless innings).

Hendricks got a save opportunity and 15th conversion, after all, after Kendall Graveman pitched out of an eighth inning bases loaded jam.

“This was a big one,” said shortstop Danny Mendick, the Tim Anderson fill-in while the All-Star is on the injury list made a tough play to get Graveman out of trouble.

Mendick also singled in the top of the Sox’ three-run eighth inning, after pinch hitter Adam Engel’s looping double off shortstop Vidal Brujan’s glove in short left and before Jake Burger’s pinch homer.

He turned around a smiled at Burger as they circled the bases.

“You could tell by the energy when we won, it was ‘all right, let’s take a breath, let’s get this, win a series tomorrow, go home and hopefully we can put a hurtin’ on some people.’

“Everyone was excited. Liam comes out and shoved it, that’s all you could ask for. A beautiful game for the White Sox.”

First baseman Jose Abreu, whose 12-game hitting streak was snapped and whose error on a spinning ground ball led to the Rays’ two runs – both unearned against Dylan Cease – nodded his head convincingly when asked if the team has been getting the right messages from manager Tony La Russa and the coaching staff.

“We’re not playing very good baseball right now and I think that overshadows what you do as an individual, but I’m proud of the effort we’re putting in the game,” Abreu said through translator Billy Russo. “Everyone is trying to do their best, we’re working to get out of this moment and I think we’re going to get out of it sooner rather than later.

“Keep grinding, keep working and trusting each other.”

Abreu agreed with Hendriks that it’s way too soon to panic.

“Of course. No doubt about it,” he said.

Of course. No doubt about it. The feeling in the clubhouse is get healthy, get key players back, piece enough wins together without Anderson, Lance Lynn and Eloy Jimenez to stay afloat and then take care of business.

“We’re haven’t passing through a very good moment, but we know the talent that we have,” Abreu said. “The clubhouse is really united. And that’s important. This is a very long season and I think at the end we’re going to be where we’re supposed to be.”

Read More

It’s easy to overlook Matt Swarmer.

The 28-year-old right-hander played for Division II Kutztown State in Pennsylvania, was a 19th-round draft pick and spent years in the minors before getting the call to the big club.

True, Swarmer was the Cubs’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2018. But even his second straight brilliant start was overshadowed by the impending MLB debut of much-hyped prospect Caleb Kilian.

Still, after Swarmer handcuffed the Cardinals for six innings Saturday in a 6-1 Cubs win in the opener of a split doubleheader, he’s getting harder to ignore.

“Very impressive, never really in trouble,” manager David Ross said after Swarmer limited St. Louis to two hits.

Juan Yepez doubled withone out in the fifth, Tommy Edman homered into the right-field basket with one out in the sixth — and that was it. Paul Goldschmidt, who came in on a 25-game hitting streak, was 0-for-2 with two walks.

Swarmer, whohad a no-decision in a Cubs loss to the Brewers on Monday, again leaned on his fastball and a sneaky slider.

“It’s just straight down,” Ross said. “The lefties read fastball out of the hand, it’s on the same plane as the fastball. And then it just kind of disappears. You get real fastball swings out of hitters, not like, ‘Oh, there’s a slider and I try to adjust my swing.’ They swing through it.”

Swarmer struck out five and walked two, giving him 11 strikeouts and three walks over 12 innings.

Not bad against the top two teams in the NL Central.

Swarmer seemed almost star-struck by the thought of facing some of the Cardinals’ heavy hitters.

“I always watch those guys on TV and now to have a chance to face them, it’s really special in that moment,” he said. “I have to soak it all in. Man, these are the big-name guys.”

Swarmer, who left after 86 pitches, gave credit to catcher Willson Contreras.

“He called a great game,” Swarmer said. “I didn’t have to think too much out there.”

It was almost like two years ago, when Swarmer resorted to playing in an adult league after the minors shut down because of the pandemic.

“I was facing guys that had no hair,” he said earlier in the week, recalling that experience. “I was just trying to find anywhere to play or find live hitters.”

He didn’t have to be anywhere near as sharp as he’s been in a small sample size of MLB action.

“Those guys, you can get away with so much more,” Swarmer said. “You could throw ones right down the middle and they’d miss. Here you have to be really selective with what you’re throwing, in which counts.”

So far, Swarmer is making the right choices.

Heating up

Frank Schwndel had three hits in the opener, including a 425-foot homer into the bleachers in left-center in the fifth and an RBI single in the sixth.

After that, Schwindel was hitting .298 since May 11 with seven doubles, six homers and 20 RBIs, raising his batting average from .200 to .249,

He also made his pro pitching debut on Friday, working the ninth inning in a 14-5 Cubs loss.

When was the last time he warmed up? “Probably sophomore year high school,” Schwindel said. “I was a catcher so my coach wouldn’t let me do both.”

Injury updates

Ross said outfielder Seiya Suzuki has “almost full range of motion in that finger, so it’s getting better every day. … It’s just a slow process.”

Lefty Wade Miley (shoulder) “played catch the other day,” Ross said. “Threw light, and feels really good. So that was great news.”

Read More

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Jake Burger’s pinch homer in the eighth inning woke up a listless White Sox lineup and gave a team starving for a win a 3-2 victory Saturday afternoon.

After losing the first four games of a road trip that started in Toronto, the Sox evened their series with the Rays by scoring three runs in the eighth on pinch hitter Adam Engel’s bloop double, Danny Mendick’s single and Burger’s fifth homer of the season.

With reliever Kendall Graveman pitching, Mendick made a good play on Isaac Paredes’ ground ball with the bases loaded in the Rays’ eight, getting the out on a close play challenged by the Rays.

Dylan Cease walked seven over 4 2/3 innings and allowed two unearned runs, the result of an error by first baseman Jose Abreu in the fifth.

Drew Rasmussen pitched seven innings of scoreless ball for the Rays (31-22).

Liam Hendriks pitched a perfect ninth for his 15th save.

The Sox (24-27) go for a series victory Sunday with Lucas Giolito pitching.

Read More

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — When he batted .250/.324/.506 with 11 homers in 54 games as a rookie last season, Gavin Sheets made an impression, enough of one for White Sox management to trust him as a needed left-handed power hitting piece in their 2022 lineup.

Sheets was supposed to blend in with the Sox lineup core of Tim Anderson, Yoan Moncada, Luis Robert, Jose Abreu, Yasmani Grandal and Eloy Jimenez, but the struggles or absence of four of them has cast a brighter glare on the .209/.277/.333. hitting line Sheets took into the Sox’ game against the Rays Saturday.

“I need to put some consistent at-bats together,” Sheets told the Sun-Times Saturday.

Sheets said made recent adjustments working in the hitting cage, studied video from last year when he was more productive and has detected a couple of differences in his setup and moves he was making. But the bottom line, he said, is how pitchers adjusted with expanded scouting reports on him this season.

“It’s tough, they’re pitching me a little differently, I have to adjust to that,” he said. “It’s a game of adjustments.”

The Sox were questioned for not going outside the organization for an impact left-handed bat in the offseason, and as the team slogs through a hitting drought, the questions still stand. Sheets’ showing in 2021, the depth of the Sox lineup around him and not impeding Sheets’ development were stated reasons why they didn’t.

Sheets’ .610 OPS is .220 points lower than last season.

“I proved I can do damage on the fastball last year,” he said. “Not getting as many fastballs, so it’s about picking out offspeed pitches you can do damage with. Just trying to be aggressive in the zone. I can get stuck sometimes when I get too passive.”

A first baseman by trade, Sheets played his 16th game in right field Saturday. He has played three in left field and nine at first base and DH’d 13 times.

Sheets popped up and struck out his first two at-bats Saturday. The Sox trailed the Rays 2-0 in the seventh, trying to avoid their fifth straight loss.

Velasquez injury is mild

Right-hander Vince Velasquez’ groin strain that landed him on the 15-day injured list Friday wasn’t bad enough to prevent him from playing catch the same day, and he expects to throw a bullpen “in a couple days.”

Velasquez (5.30 ERA in eight appearances including seven starts) was scheduled to start against the Rays Friday but was replaced by callup Davis Martin. He was hurt shagging fly balls in Toronto.

“Feeling good,” Velasquez said. “A little freak accident. I guess I kind of stepped in the wrong direction and kind of grabbed on. I had to make a decision for myself and for the team, do I want to go out with something that would probably linger all game and cause some compensation and put myself in a bad situation.”

Banks down, Crick up

Right-hander Kyle Crick was recalled from Triple-A Charlotte and lefty Tanner Banks was optioned to Charlotte. Crick, who pitched three scoreless innings over two appearances in Toronto, stayed with the team even though he was optioned to Charlotte Friday as room was made to reinstate Dylan Cease and Kendall Graveman to the roster.

He entered in the sixth inning against the Rays Saturday.

“He’s got stuff,” La Russa said. “I mean, he’s got playable, major league stuff. More than just a nice slider. He’s got movement in his fastball, nice pop to it.”

Read More

The Chicago Bulls season might be over but we know enter an exciting offseason for the franchise as they look to continue to go in the right direction.

To celebrate the past season and what’s coming up, our friends at FOCO have released special edition City jersey bobbleheads. Two Bulls bobbleheads just released that feature the players in the alternate City Jerseys. Check out the DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine City Jersey Bobbleheads from FOCO.

Check the bobbleheads out below:

Standing approximately eight inches tall and limited to just 221 individually numbered units, making them the perfect addition to any desk at school, work, or home. These officially licensed bobbleheads feature intricate handcrafted, hand painted designs that captures every detail of each player.

Each individual player bobblehead sits on a thematic base that features jersey accents, team championship banner displays, and an homage to the team’s arena. They each retail for $65 dollars and can be found online at FOCO’s website.

And while you’re online, check out the rest of the collectibles and merch available for you to collect and prove that you’re the number one fan around.

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

Read More

Frank Schwindel was looking forward more to Caleb Kilian’s next trip to the mound than to his own.

Schwindel had mop-up duty in the Cubs’ 14-5 loss to the Cardinals on Friday, making his first pitching appearance in more than a decade.

When was the last time he warmed up? “Probably sophomore year high school,” Schwindel said Saturday. “I was a catcher, so my coach wouldn’t let me do both.”

In the lineup as the DH on Friday, Schwindel was taking cuts in the batting cage between at-bats when bench coach Andy Green told him to get loose.

“He was like, ‘We [might] need you to throw the eighth but you’re definitely throwing the ninth,'” Schwindel said.

“It was one of those funny things. You’ve just got to make the best of a tough situation.”

Schwindel’s ERA is at 18.00 after allowing a couple runs in his pro pitching debut. He was expecting better from Kilian in the latter’s MLB debut in the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader.

“I’ve heard all good things,” Schwindel said of Kilian, who came to the Cubs from the Giants in last year’s Kris Bryant trade. “The young guys have come up and they’ve done great.

“That’s all you can ask, go out there and compete and have some fun.”

Afterdays of mounting speculation, the 25-year-old right-hander was selected from Triple-A Iowa before Saturday’s opener and slated to start the nightcap.

Ranked the Cubs’ No. 5 prospect by MLB Pipeline, Kilian was 9-4 with a 2.08 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 170 strikeouts in 155 2/3 innings over 35 career minor-league games.

Manager David Ross, who has been fielding daily questions about when Kilian would be called up, is as interested as anyone in seeing what the Cubs have in their highly touted prospect.

But Ross is trying to keep things in perspective.

“I try not to hype it up too much,”he said. “I don’t think any one player is ever like the savior, right? … He’s gonna come up, he’s gonna make a start and we’ll see how it goes. And we’ll analyze it afterwards.”

Kilian’s arrival was part of a flurry of moves before the opener. Right-hander Mark Leiter Jr, was optioned to Iowa, lefty Conner Menez was designated for assignment to make room for Kilian on the 40-man roster and righty Anderson Espinoza was added as the 27th man for the doubleheader.

Injury updates

Ross said outfielder Seiya Suzuki has “almost full range of motion in that finger, so it’s getting better every day. … It’s just a slow process.”

Lefty Wade Miley (shoulder) “played catch the other day,” Ross said. “Threw light, and feels really good. So that was great news.”

Read More

CHICAGO — The Cubs have called up their top pitching prospect, righty Caleb Kilian, to start Game 2 of their doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday evening.

Kilian, 25, will make his major league debut after being acquired by the team from the San Francisco Giants last July in exchange for former MVP Kris Bryant.

Kilian is 2-0 with a 2.06 ERA in nine starts for Triple-A Iowa this season. He had 41 strikeouts in 39.1 innings before being called up.

The Cubs are in the midst of a busy schedule, having to play two doubleheaders this week while veterans Wade Miley and Drew Smyly are both on the injured list.

Kilian was acquired with outfielder Alexander Canario last July 31 for Bryant as part of the Cubs roster tear down. He has a career 2.08 ERA in three minor league seasons after being drafted in the eighth round by the Giants in 2019.

To make room on the 40 man roster, the Cubs DFA’d pitcher Conner Menez. They also recalled righty Anderson Espinoza to serve as the team’s 27th man for the doubleheader. Killian will be the team’s eighth player to make his major league debut this season.

Read More

CHICAGO — The Cubs have called up their top pitching prospect, righty Caleb Kilian, to start Game 2 of their doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday evening.

Kilian, 25, will make his major league debut after being acquired by the team from the San Francisco Giants last July in exchange for former MVP Kris Bryant.

Kilian is 2-0 with a 2.06 ERA in nine starts for Triple-A Iowa this season. He had 41 strikeouts in 39.1 innings before being called up.

The Cubs are in the midst of a busy schedule, having to play two doubleheaders this week while veterans Wade Miley and Drew Smyly are both on the injured list.

Kilian was acquired with outfielder Alexander Canario last July 31 for Bryant as part of the Cubs roster tear down. He has a career 2.08 ERA in three minor league seasons after being drafted in the eighth round by the Giants in 2019.

To make room on the 40 man roster, the Cubs DFA’d pitcher Conner Menez. They also recalled righty Anderson Espinoza to serve as the team’s 27th man for the doubleheader. Killian will be the team’s eighth player to make his major league debut this season.

Read More

Winter, spring, summer or fall?

All you’ve got to do is make the call.

In this week’s “Polling Place,” your home for Sun-Times sports polls on Twitter, we wanted to know (with apologies to the great James Taylor) which is the best season for sports.

“Springtime,” @ChiTownSports commented, “when the pucks and baseballs are flying around.”

Basketballs, too. And footballs! You know, the USFL. OK, fine, never mind the “footballs” part.

“Fall,” @chris_burbano wrote, “because of NFL and college football, plus you get hockey and the MLB playoffs.”

October is when the NBA gets cracking, too. Undoubtedly because of football more than anything else, a majority of respondents went with fall.

But not @FatDudeRunning, who offered this in regard to Chicago’s sports scene: “Winning-it-all season would definitely be the best one. Can we get one of those?”

We also asked for your NBA Finals prediction — Celtics or Warriors? — and invited you to look at the four Stanley Cup playoff semifinalists and pick an eventual champ. On to the polls:

Poll No. 1: Which is the best season for sports?

Upshot: Do the Bears really bring you people this much joy? What about baseball’s spring training (winter) and football’s fall camps (summer)? What about the college basketball postseason (winter and spring) and all those summer sports we actually can — here’s a concept — go out and play ourselves? Come to think of it, @FatDudeRunning probably nailed it: The best season is whenever one of our teams is in the mix to win it all.

Poll No. 2: Who’s your pick to win the NBA Finals?

Upshot: You should know that some of the voting occurred before the Celtics shook up the basketball world with a 40-16 fourth quarter in Game 1. If you were rolling with the Dubs heading in, do you change picks now that they’re down 1-0? Most probably wouldn’t, and that’s because we all know Steph Curry and his pals can still outshoot anybody on any night, in any gym.

Poll No. 3: Which will be the last team standing in the NHL?

Upshot: When your backup goalie — in this case, the Avs’ Pavel Francouz — gets a start and shuts out an opponent as ridiculously talented at the offensive end as Edmonton is, you know you’ve got everything going. How strong are the Avs? Strong enough that their 2-0 series leads seems impenetrable and a first Cup title in over two decades seems almost inevitable.

Read More

The Chicago Bears have a ways to go before impressing national media

Another analyst is handing out a sour early prediction for the Chicago Bears. It seems to be a trend lately, as the Bears scramble to plug their talent gap under a new regime. With a new head coach and new faces all over the roster, most Bears fans know the team has a mountain to climb to prepare for this season.

Adam Schein, an NFL.com contributing columnist, thinks the Bears won’t conquer that mountain before the end of the season. In his “Bold predictions for 2022 NFL season”, Schein foretold that the Bears would finish with the league’s worst record.

Here’s what Schein wrote:

The Chicago Bears can beat the Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons receiving corps might have the edge, but the Bears will have an improved secondary this season. Marcus Mariota has been dismal since the 2016 season. It’s hard to imagine him reinventing his career with the Falcons enough to be a major factor, even with Pitts.

Schein is correct the Bears don’t have elite talent around Fields on offense. But if Fields leaps forward in his sophomore year with the Bears, the team should beat them in both the head-to-head game on Nov. 20th and the final wins column in week 18.

Bold predictions are well… bold

When reading his piece, it’s key to remember these are Schein’s “bold” predictions. Some of the other hot takes to intrigue readers include the Kansas City Cheifs being the worst team in their division was so obvious that it didn’t qualify as bold, among other facetious-seeming speculation. So take this hot air balloon ride for what you will.

This prediction shouldn’t alarm Bears fans as much as the ones from the people who crunch numbers for money in the desert do. The Bears have time to get better. Talent will change for the better and worse for most NFL teams. Injuries will also cause a lot of dominos to fall for every team’s final record.

The Bears just need to focus on improving this season and learning the new scheme. That should be the plan anyway. If they do, wins should follow.

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

Read More