Chicago Sports

It didn’t come as some subtle warning that Billy Donovan said to his team in passing.

No, the Bulls coach spent a good portion of the 24 hours leading into Game 3 reminding his players that Milwaukee was not only the defending champions, but was most dangerous when fighting off the ropes.

Even in last season’s title run, they won key playoff games with all-world forward Giannis Antetokounmpo sidelined, started the Eastern Conference Semifinals against Brooklyn down 0-2, and then in the Finals against the Phoenix Suns also dropped the first two games.

So the idea that the Bucks would somehow blink Friday night against the No. 6 seeded Bulls with the series tied 1-1 and without All-Star Khris Middleton (MCL sprain) in the lineup?

That just wasn’t reality.

The Bulls found that out, and then some, getting completely embarrassed 111-81 at the United Center, suffering the worst home playoff loss in team history.

Lesson hopefully learned.

“They responded the way they should have,” Bulls veteran DeMar DeRozan said. “That’s a lesson on us. The best learning tool is to go through a situation. They came out and whipped our butt and now it’s up to us on how we want to respond.”

It will have to be a quick response, with Game 4 coming at noon on Sunday, and the Bucks retaking control of the best-of-seven series with a 2-1 lead.

“I don’t think there’s anything these guys haven’t seen,” Donovan said of Milwaukee. “They’ve been down in playoff series, they’ve been tied in playoff series, they’ve been up in playoff series. They’ve dealt with different challenges over the course of their run the last several years. Khris Middleton is a great player, but they obviously have a lot of other players around him that are really, really special.”

And one the Bulls were very familiar with.

That Bucks resiliency was on full display right from the tip, as former Bull Bobby Portis was given the starting nod in place of Middleton and instantly played a factor.

Within the first four minutes of the Game 3 showdown, Portis had eight points, including two three pointers, and was another rim protector causing the Bulls to get stagnant on the perimeter as they fell behind 15-6.

That stagnant offense was a theme most of the first half, as the Bulls ended the quarter down 33-17, and were down 22 after a Portis layup with 7:39 left in the second.

A deficit that the home team found hard to chip away at.

“Without question they were the aggressor,” Donovan said. “[Friday] was a night they shot the ball a lot better than we did and then I thought we lost our way when we struggled to make shots. That’s what I talk about with teams that have won championships. They know how to respond. They went to another level and we did not.”

Case in point was not only the scoreboard, but the box score.

The Bucks shot 36.6% from three-point range and had 46 points in the paint, while the Bulls shot 26.5% from three and had 30 points in the paint.

And as far as DeRozan and his 41-point Game 2? How about Milwaukee handcuffing him all night, holding him to 11 points on 4-for-9 shooting?

“I knew they were going to make adjustments,” DeRozan said. “Got a feel for it throughout the game, but by the time I got a feel they had already made a run. Now I’ve got to take advantage of how they’re going to guard me and Zach [LaVine] for sure.”

LaVine finished with 15 on 6-for-13 shooting.

“Us respond,” LaVine said, when asked what he wanted to see from his team in Game 4. “They came out and hit us in the mouth and we didn’t respond the right way.”

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The Cubs were stymied by former Cub left-hander Jose Quintana and four relievers as their hitting funk continued in a 4-2 loss to the Pirates on Friday night at Wrigley Field. It was the Cubs’ fourth consecutive loss.

Michael Hermosillo hit a two-run double in the second inning for a 2-2 tie — his first hit of the season after an 0-for-12 start. The Cubs (6-8) had seven hits — six of them singles.

“Just couldn’t really get much going,” manager David Ross said. “We had some good at-bats there early on. Big hit from Mike to kind of get us back to tied. They got two solo shots and we couldn’t get much going.”

With the Cubs trailing 4-2 in the eighth, Seiya Suzuki ended an 0-for-10 skein with a sharp lead-off single to right-center off hard-throwing reliever David Bednar. But Bednar struck out Willson Contreras, Frank Schwindel and pinch-hitter Rafael Ortega to end the inning.

Nico Hoerner’s infield single in the ninth put runners on first and third with two outs against Chris Stratton. But Nick Madrigal grounded out to second to end the game.

Cubs starter Drew Smyly (1-1), who had not allowed a run in his first two starts (9 2/3 innings), allowed four runs on six hits in five-plus innings, including home runs to catcher Roberto Perez and first baseman Michael Chavis.

“I thought I threw the ball pretty well,” Smyly said. “This game is hard to get results, game-in and game-out. I thought I made some good pitches. They hit a couple homers. One to Chavis, I probably just kind of went to the curveball one too many times. He’s probably sitting on it. I threw it a lot to him. And he put a good swing on it.

“The one to Perez, I’m pretty sure I broke his bat and it just went out, so sometimes crazy thinks like that happen. I thought I was making good pitches overall.”

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MINNEAPOLIS — Catcher Reese McGuire prides himself on throwing out would-be base stealers. And helping a pitcher stealing a pitch whenever he can.

McGuire helped right-hander Michael Kopech, who threw five scoreless innings in the White Sox’ game against the Twins Friday at Target Field, by catching Jorge Polanco trying to steal second, ending the first.

He also helped by hustling outside the first base line to make a sliding stop of second baseman Leury Garcia’s errant throw headed for the Twins dugout on what looked like a routine double play, keeping Miguel Sano out of scoring position in a one-run game.

McGuire also likes stealing a pitch for his pitchers, not only with good framing but having a sense for when a hitter might be taking all the way on the first pitch.

“I feel like I have a great game plan going into a game,” McGuire said, “and when hitters come into the box whether we know they’re aggressive or patient, I’ve developed over the years – call it baseball IQ — sensing a little tendency like, ‘OK this guy is aggressive but I think we can steal a strike right here, he’s taking the first pitch.’ ”

As McGuire says, the difference in hitting ahead or behind in the count is significant. Throwing the first pitch for a strike is first on any pitcher’s priority list.

It’s one small thing McGuire has added to the Sox catching tandem with No. 1 Yasmani Grandal, who rates among baseball’s best pitch framers per Statcast. McGuire ranks above average, and his acquisition in a trade with the Blue Jays for Zack Collins at the end of spring training significantly upgraded a spot that needed it.

“For me to add my value here in game calling and blocking balls and throwing guys out I definitely am excited to have a new start here,” said McGuire, who threw out a solid 11 of 31 with the Jays last season.

McGuire was 2-for-6 throwing out runners this season after he nailed Polanco. Kopech made his third start of the season, and McGuire has caught them all.

In this one, Kopech was excellent again, striking out seven, walking one and allowing three hits while lowering his ERA to 0.64 as the light-hitting Sox tried to snap a four-game losing streak. Andrew Vaughn hit his third homer against Bailey Ober leading off the fifth for a 1-0 lead. McGuire followed with a double but Jake Burger (strikeout), Tim Anderson (tap to the mound) and Garcia (0-for-4, three strikeouts) struck out, leaving McGuire stranded.

Manager Tony La Russa said Sox coach Shelley Duncan, who knew McGuire while he was a Blue Jays coach, described the catcher as “awesome” when the Sox looked into acquiring him. And coach Jerry Narron, who works with catchers, said similar things.

“And that’s what he is — awesome,” La Russa said. “He’s sharp back there, he moves great, he has a good throwing arm. See him making adjustments with guys he’s barely caught, so we’re really pleased. And he takes a swing, too. He’ll get hits.”

McGuire caught six of the Sox’ first 13 games, an indication of the workload lying ahead. Sliding his left-handed bat with a .246/.297/.382 career slash line into the lineup and allowing Grandal to keep his legs fresh while DH-ing or sitting out as he did Friday is a plus.

McGuire hasn’t had much time to become acclimated to the pitching staff, but that’s “not as hard as people think,” he said.

“Moving forward it’s now that I know what your pitch looks like and what you like to throw, now how can I address with my setup and things like that,” he said. “It’s an ongoing thing.

“The game behind the dish is my thing, navigating a pitcher, the sequencing, framing different pitches and communicating.”

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MINNEAPOLIS — Shortstop Tim Anderson was suspended one game and fined an undisclosed amount by Major League Baseball Friday for his inappropriate actions towards fans during the White Sox’ game on Wednesday against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field.

The suspension had been scheduled to be served Friday when the White Sox opened a three-game series at Target Field in Minnesota, but Anderson has elected to appeal.

During the eighth inning Wednesday, Anderson appeared to let a heckler get the best of him and was seen on the TV broadcast raising a middle finger toward the stands on the third base side. Anderson made three errors during the first two innings.

He declined comment when approached about that Thursday.

“Move forward, flush it, keep growing and learning and try to make today better than yesterday,” Anderson said.

Anderson made five errors in the two games he played in during the three-game series. The fifth error was added Friday after a scoring change on a play in which Josh Naylor reached third base on a ground ball to Anderson. It was originally ruled a fielder’s choice.

It would be Anderson’s third career suspension. He served two games the first two games of the season for bumping an umpire late last season.

Robert avoids IL

AJ Pollock returned to the lineup, taking the place of center fielder Luis Robert, who will likely miss the Twins series but could return to the lineup early next week, manager Tony La Russa said.

Pollock was reinstated from the injured list after suffering a hamstring strain during the Sox’ opening series against the Tigers.

Robert pulled up after running out a ground ball in the eighth inning Thursday in Cleveland.

“I would think he won’t play these three [in Minnesota] La Russa said. “Off day Monday [when the Sox open a home stand against the Royals]. If we can play him Tuesday and not lose him for 10 days, it’s huge.

“He did the MRI and that’s what we hoped for — it looked minor. He felt a little tug and he stopped, so he didn’t run through it.”

Pollock, acquired from the Dodgers on April 1 in a trade for right-hander Craig Kimbrel, landed on the IL on April 12 (retroactive to April 10) with a strained right hamstring. He got his rehab at-bats at the spring training complex in Glendale, Ariz.

Foster on family leave list

Right-hander Matt Foster was placed on the family medical leave list, making room on the roster for Pollock. Foster owns a 1.42 ERA with five strikeouts in five relief appearances covering 5 1/3 innings. Foster has contributed to a bullpen that has allowed four runs on 12 hits over 23 innings (1.57 ERA) in the Sox’ last five road games through Thursday.

Harrison “thankful”

Josh Harrison (shoulder) continues to get treatment and said he was hopeful of playing Saturday. Harrison said the ‘snow angel’ he did in the outfield grass after an acrobatic tumble over Andrew Vaughn and a running catch in short left field in Cleveland Wednesday was a “sigh of relief, a thank God.”

“I envisioned myself or Vaughn or both of us getting carted off,” he said. “It could have been worse.”

*Yoan Moncada (oblique) worked up a sweat taking a healthy amount of swings in the cage, then fielded ground balls.

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Asked about .143-hitting reserve outfielder Clint Frazier prior to Thursday night’s game against the Pirates, Cubs manager David Ross took the opportunity to politely express his disdain for one of the inherent evils of early season baseball — the small sample size.

“We want to put all these labels on — whether it’s our offense, our defense or our pitching –and we’re still only 11 or 12 games in. I just think that’s unhealthy,” Ross said during the pre-game press conference he holds prior to virtually every game of the 162-game season.

“I’m here to talk about anything you guys [reporters] want to talk about. But just letting these guys continue to figure out roles and figure out how they’re gonna be used … especially guys that have [hit] in the minor leagues pretty consistently like Mike [Hermosillo] or [Frazier], who is used to normal at-bats. It’s an adjustment.But we have to be patient and give them some time, too.”

Preaching patience is a tough chore in a big-league city when every game is analyzed and over-analyzed –by fans, the media and also the team’s own broadcast network.

It’s early. It’s April. The weather in Chicago has been mostly miserable since the start of the season — including Friday night’s game against the Pirates, which was pushed back from a 1:20 p.m. start to 7:05 because of inclement weather. The short spring training after the lockout has put starting pitchers on the shortest leash ever (only once in 13 games has a Cubs starter thrown a pitch in the sixth inning — Kyle Hendricks against the Brewers on Opening Day).

Progress is hard to see on the rebuilding Cubs. On back-to-back nights against the Pirates, they started 31-year-old Mark Leiter, Jr. and 32-year-old Drew Smyly. Their closer is 37-year-old David Robertson. While players Seiya Suzuki (27) and Ian Happ (27) are young, productive players, the Cubs have just two players younger than them — shortstop Nico Hoerner (24) and second baseman Nick Madrigal (25). How many players on the current roster will be on the next Cubs playoff team? “That’s a good question” is the most popular answer.

In a 162-game season, progress is so incremental it’s often hard to identify. But Ross says he sees it.

“A vision is different than what reality is, right?” Ross said. “Can you envision what things will look like? Sure. My mind works in a positive light, too. Things don’t always happen and there’s a lot of adversity that comes in our game. Can I see where things are headed here? Sure. Is that reality? Not yet.”

A rebuild isn’t quite what Ross signed up for when he succeeded Joe Maddon in 2020. But he seems to enjoy the process of managing a developing team. But some of the progress is not visible to the naked eye.

“I get satisfaction out of guys getting better,” Ross said, “whether it’s a skill set, whether they get stronger, faster, the instincts grow. The things we want done around here start to show their face.

I thought last year, just [the] base-running mindset the second half of last year, guys got a lot better on the bases and did a nice job of paying attention. Some guys that were not as good got better.

“I get satisfaction out of guys rootin’ for one another.The vibe in the clubhouse. The vibe in the dugout. Satisfaction from our coaches growing. There’s a lot of satisfaction to be had. At the end of the day it comes down to wins and ultimately how that contributes to wins is what makes me satisfied.”

In that respect, there is still a long way to go. But Ross sees where this team is headed, and believes it’s in the right direction.

“I hope so,” he said. ‘I’m the one leading this group, right?”

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There will probably only be one Jake Arrieta in Cubs history. But Arrieta’s success as a struggling pitcher whose career flourished with a “change of scenery” breathes life into every hopeful who follows him on the North Side.

Left-hander Sean Newcomb is the latest hopeful to take that path to success with the Cubs. A 2014 first-round draft pick who once was a promising starter on the Braves — one strike from a no-hitter against the Dodgers in 2018. But he grew stale in the Braves organization as he struggled in recent years and is looking to recapture that lost form with the Cubs after being traded for Jesse Chavez.

Newcomb had a 6.45 ERA in three appearances (five innings) through the Braves’ first 13 games this season — allowing a run or more in each appearance.

“I was not pitching as much as I wanted to,” Newcomb said Friday. “I guess I’d say there’s a bunch of talent there, a bunch of good arms. This new opportunity, kind of just a new perspective from the coaching staff [could make a difference]. Just a bunch of little things.”

Newcomb said his demise with the Braves was not a physical issue. His stuff is just as good as it was when he was 8-2 with a 2.71 ERA in the first half of 2018 and 6-3 with a 3.16. ERA as primarily a reliever in 2019.

“I feel physically as good as I ever have,” Newcomb said. “It’s just getting my confidence and feel back. Pitching a lot helps that. I was kind of trapped [with the Braves]. I’d throw once a series, throw an inning or so. If I can hopefully get more innings, just get my confidence and feel back and get back to where I was a few years ago, I’d be happy with that.”

Frazier out with appendicitis

Outfielder Clint Frazier, the former Yankee signed as a free agent in the offseason, was put on the 10-day injured list with appendicitis.

The Cubs called up outfielder Alfonso Rivas from Iowa. Rivas made the team out of spring training and went 2-for-4 in two games — after hitting .314 (14-for-44) in 18 games last season.

Mills on the rebound

Right-hander Alec Mills (lower back strain) is schedule for a rehab start for Class AAA Iowa against Louisville on Saturday. Mills, who was 6-7 with 5.07 ERA in 32 games (20 starts) last season, has not pitched this season. He was put on the injured list April 7 (retroactive to April 4).

In other injury updates … Pitcher Wade Miley (elbow) threw a bullpen session Friday. Shortstop Andrelton Simmons (shoulder) is throwing and hitting in Arizona.

Caught napping

Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds took advantage of a Cubs defensive shift in the seventh inning Thursday night against Rowan Wick when he not only hit the ball to vacated third base area, but alertly kept on going after beating the throw to second base because no one was covering third base.

“I think the pitcher needs to head over there,” manager David Ross said. “That’s usually the first thing you tell them with that shift on. We got caught “watching the paint dry” as they would say in ‘Hoosiers.'”

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Chicago Bears safety Eddie Jackson told media Thursday that he was ready to put last season behind him and start fresh with the franchise. The 6-year veteran posted one of his worst seasons statistically in 2021, registering only 49 solo tackles and no interceptions.

The former Alabama product had productive numbers as a rookie in 2017. Jackson put up stellar numbers in 2018 as a turnover machine, with 6 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, and scored 3 total touchdowns.

2021 was a struggle for the Bears defense overall, including veterans like Jackson.

“It wasn’t the best at all. You know, I think that was probably one of my worst seasons,” Jackson told the media following the Bears’ last day of voluntary minicamp Thursday. “I gave up too many deep balls”

This year he is working to control what he can, Jackson said, and is improving by buying into the current Bears system and showing up to meetings. Per multiple reports, Jackson missed voluntary practice on Tuesday but was present on Wednesday and Thursday.

Little fixes like attention to detail, breaking on the ball, and paying attention to where his eyes are looking will help, Jackson said.

New head coach Matt Eberflus’s defensive scheme is helping to ease complications on defense compared to last year, Jackson said. He feels like he’s a good fit in the Bears’ plans at the secondary position. “It’s a lot simpler,” he said.

Eberflus told reporters he can see changes in the two-time pro bowl safety.

Let’s hope Jackson returns to his pro bowl form in 2022, that man was a BEAST.

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

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MINNEAPOLIS — AJ Pollock returned to the White Sox lineup Friday, taking the place of center fielder Luis Robert as the team was set to open a three-game series against the Twins in Minneapolis.

Pollock was reinstated from the injured list after suffering a hamstring strain during the Sox’ opening series against the Tigers. Luis Robert suffered a groin pull in the Sox’ 6-3 loss at Cleveland Thursday, the team’s fourth straight defeat, and was unavailable.

Right-hander Matt Foster was placed on the family medical leave list, making room on the roster for Pollock. Foster owns a 1.42 ERA with five strikeouts in five relief appearances covering 5 1/3 innings. Foster has contributed to a bullpen that has allowed four runs on 12 hits over 23 innings (1.57 ERA) in the Sox’ last five road games.

The Sox acquired Pollock from the Dodgers on April 1 in a trade for right-hander Craig Kimbrel. He landed on the IL on April 12 (retroactive to April 10) with a strained right hamstring.He is is 4-for-7 with with a double, RBI and run scored in two games.

Right-hander Michael Kopech (0-0, 1.00) will oppose Twins righty Bailey Ober (1-1, 3.27) in tonight’s game. First pitch is 7:10 p.m.

The Sox lineup:

Anderson ss

Garcia 2b

Abreu 1b

Jimenez dh

Sheets rf

Pollock cf

Vaughn lf

McGuire c

Burger 3b

Kopech p

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With less than a week to go until the NFL Draft kicks off from the bright lights of Las Vegas, reports have run rampant from the Chicago Bears’ voluntary minicamp about the offense’s struggles. Could the difficulties convince GM Ryan Poles to bring some receiving weapons to help second year QB Justin Fields? NFL.com draft analyst Chad Reuter seems to believe so in his 7-round mock draft that brings a big SEC weapon to the Bears at the 39th pick of the second round: Arkansas wide receiver Treylon Burks.

Burks’ arrival in Chicago would all but insert him into a starting role in the offense, as his 6-foot-2, 225-pound frame would bring a much-needed physical threat to offensive coordinator Luke Getsy’s scheme. Here’s what NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein has to say about the talented Burks:

Big, smooth and natural, Burks possesses the versatility to operate from wherever you want and get to wherever you need no matter the competition. He’s a mismatch receiver combining size, strength and competitiveness similar to the Titans’ A.J. Brown, but his speed testing at the NFL Scouting Combine did not meet expectations. Arkansas benefitted by putting the ball in his hands from a variety of alignments and there is no reason to believe NFL play-callers won’t benefit from doing the same. The tape is extremely exciting with real NFL skills jumping off the screen, but his potential to become a high-volume, three-level target is a little more cloudy after a relatively disappointing showing at the combine.

On top of the glowing review that Zierlein has said about Burks, he likens him to “A.J. Brown (with more wiggle)”. Considering the leaps and bounds that Brown has made in Tennessee, it’s a very appealing comparison for a team that hasn’t done a ton to fix the wide receiver position this offseason.

Coming off his junior season with the Razorbacks, Burks compiled a 66-catch season, recording 1,104 yards and 11 touchdowns in 12 games. As Zierlein mentioned, the NFL Combine was rough for Burks as he ran a 4.55 40-yard dash which may have dashed his own hopes of going in the first round on Thursday night. If that ends up being the case, the Bears may luck out with getting one of the most talented receivers in the 2022 class.

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

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The Zach LaVine knee issue isn’t going away anytime soon.

Sure, the off-week leading into the first round playoff series helped, and the spacing between Games 1 and 2 was a temporary life preserver, but the Bulls guard admitted on Friday that there are still mornings he wakes up and the left knee is swollen.

That was his reality back in December when the knee first started getting ornery, and that’s his reality now.

“The extra rest definitely does help because you’re not going into back-to-backs, practice is more walk-throughs and mental days, so that helps with treatment,” LaVine said. “But there’s some days it’s swollen and it’s gonna be swollen.”

And while LaVine’s offensive numbers were down across the board from the regular season through the first two playoff games, what has been noticeable was his defense seemed to be back.

Not to the level it was last summer for Team USA and then the first month for the Bulls, but definitely better than it was back in March and April, when LaVine was seemingly trying to find his way with the knee discomfort and only willing to do that on the offensive side of the ball on too many nights.

“I think for a player like Zach who is so athletic and fast, and has really relied on that for both ends of the court, when you’re not quite where you need to be there’s a period of time that he’s had to go through where he’s had to learn one: ‘How do I actually get my speed and quickness into the game on both ends of the floor?’ ” coach Billy Donovan said of his improved defense through the early playoff games. “And I think for him probably not dealing with this before in his career where he’s had to play through it, I think there’s been a figuring-out part too.

“He understands you put the jersey on, you put the shoes on, you get across the line, everybody has a job to do, and I do think he’s trying to do it to the very best of his abilities and give us everything he has.”

Which will remain LaVine’s mentality.

First, he knows the magnitude of playing in his first-ever playoff series, and secondly, when he has a teammate like Alex Caruso, who is willing to jump in front of a truck on the defensive end — bad back and all — how could LaVine not want to try and match that energy?

“I mean there’s limitations you’re gonna have, but at this point I’m just trying to throw my eggs in one basket,” LaVine said of his defense. “We’re going out here trying to win a series and you can’t think about yourself or what you’re dealing with. You pretty much gotta suck it up.”

The next test for LaVine and the knee, however, comes this weekend. Just one day off after Game 3, and then a noon start for Sunday’s Game 4 could be an issue.

“Listen, sometimes he’s had heavy loads and he’s come back and felt pretty good, and then there’s been some times where we’ve actually given him a little bit of extra time and he still didn’t feel right,” Donovan said. “So I think a lot it is going to be how he responds coming off [Friday’s] game and then obviously a quick turnaround on Sunday.”

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