Chicago Sports

CLEVELAND — While the White Sox were getting postponed for a second consecutive day due to bad weather, the day was not a complete washout.

Right-hander Lucas Giolito tested his lower abdominal strain throwing a simulated game at the team’s training complex in Glendale, Ariz., on Tuesday, and assuming the Opening Day starter emerged from it feeling 100 percent, he stands a good chance of pitching for the Sox in another five days.

And one of the hitters who faced Giolito was outfielder AJ Pollock, who was giving his right hamstring a test. Pollock could be ready to rejoin the Sox Friday when they open a weekend series against the Twins in Minnesota, manager Tony La Russa said. Decide for yourself whether Pollock hitting a double against Giolito is an outcome that’s good for the Sox.

Either way, the best outcome is both players could be back soon for a team that has weathered an onslaught of injuries with a 6-3 record through its first three series.

“The thing that pleases me the most is that it’s clear we’re competing and the three games we lost we had a chance to win,” La Russa said.

“We were there. We play with our hearts and with our guts. And I always give credit to the other side, they’re trying to win, too. We’re like in a survivor mode without some of these guys, but we’re surviving.”

Giolito, who pitched four scoreless innings before leaving the Opener, was said to be throwing with his normal velocity and stuff Tuesday. He sustained the strain during the fourth inning of his start against the Tigers on Opening Day and landed on the 10-day injured list four days later. He was going to throw in Cleveland Tuesday but was coaxed into avoiding the cold and going to Glendale where it was 98 degrees. La Russa was “anxiously” awaiting word on how the outing went for Giolito, who got up for three innings.

“Depends on how he feels today,” said La Russa who was sounding an optimistic tone. “But he’s there. We’ve got quality guys watching him. He’s a veteran, he knows how he feels.”

The weather looks better Wednesday for a straight doubleheader (1:10 p.m., NBCSCH, 1000-AM) making up for Tuesday’s postponed game. Sox left-hander Dallas Keuchel will oppose Cleveland right-hander Shane Bieber in Game 1, and Lambert starts for the Sox against righty Triston McKenzie in Game 2. In the final game of the series Thursday, Zach Plesac pitches for the Guardians against Dylan Cease.

Monday’s game was called off because of snow and cold weather. There was no precipitation in the area Tuesday but temperatures were in the upper 30s with 20-30 mph winds off of Lake Erie Tuesday afternoon. The expected high was 42 degrees with much colder wind chills.

“And the field in places, the grass is a little insecure and as it gets colder with the wind here, it’s going to get slippery as heck, it’s going to be a little dangerous,” La Russa said. “[Cleveland manager] Terry [Francona] and I both agreed, it’s not smart and the umpire agreed.”

Outfielder Adam Haseley will arrive from Triple-A Charlotte as the extra, 29th player for the doubleheader. With 10 relief pitchers, all fully rested for at least two days, and with outfielder Eloy Jimenez still a bit sore from taking a pitch off his ankle last Wednesday, an extra outfielder made the most sense, La Russa said.

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New Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus is changing the team’s defensive scheme from the 3-4 defense to the 4-3, making some changes from the previous regime.

It’s a big change that has already had an impact on the roster and rotation. The most notable switch is that the Bears will have three linebackers and four defensive linemen. They have also moved on from Khalil Mack, trading him to Los Angeles. And that will provide a bigger opportunity for Trevis Gipson who is already more comfortable in this new system as he revealed to reporters before Tuesday’s voluntary minicamp:

Gipson also told reporters Tuesday he was happy to get back to the 4-3 scheme that he called “natural” for his playing style. New changes to the defense have brought “confidence” to the Bears, he said, which the third year is excited about

“They want us to play fast, physical, you know, have fun, so they took the thinking load off our plates, which is something that I’m sure every player would want. And I’m excited to play fast,” Gipson said.

It’ll be interesting to hear from the defensive linemen how they like the new defense, as there will be a lot more of them, eight or nine, going through rotations. Eberflus told the audience of the Chris Collinsworth Podcast on ChicagoBears.com, that he wanted his players to go as hard as they can.

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

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The Ayo Dosunmu, kid from Chicago, Cinderella story hasn’t ended now that the Bulls were knee-deep in the intensity of postseason basketball.

Call it taking a hiatus.

But for how long? That’s where it gets a bit tricky for coach Billy Donovan in this first round playoff series with the Bucks.

In Sunday’s Game 1 loss, the Morgan Park standout came off the bench and played just under nine minutes total. Veteran Tristan Thompson was the only regular rotation player that put in less time than Dosunmu, as Donovan pushed the eject button on Thompson when it became obvious that the center wouldn’t work in what he was looking to get out of his rotations.

The same could be said for Dosunmu. Sort of.

It wasn’t that Dosunmu didn’t work out there. The rookie actually was a plus-1 in the plus-minus category even with the short stints. He just might not be what the Bulls need from the bench against Milwaukee.

“In a playoff series you need to keep all the guys ready, and all the guys need to stay ready,” Donovan said, when discussing Dosunmu and his rotations. “I didn’t think for us the rotations were a problem or an issue. I think the guys that were out there did a pretty good job.

“I’ve got a lot of confidence in Ayo. But I think as you get to this point in time in the playoffs, especially having two days in between games … you’re gonna look at DeMar [DeRozan], you’re gonna look at Zach [LaVine] and their minutes are gonna be a lot higher.”

That’s the first part of why Dosunmu’s playing time was compromised

DeRozan played just under 43 minutes in that Game 1, and LaVine was at 36-plus minutes even in foul trouble. Considering Alex Caruso was back in the starting rotation after dealing with back issues, that three-guard attack gobbled up Dosunmu’s ability to grab impactful minutes.

Secondly, there’s the idea that styles make the fight, and what the Bucks do defensively just doesn’t play well with where the second-round pick’s game is right now. At least where his game was the last six weeks of the regular season.

Milwaukee will allow open threes to role players. What they don’t allow very often is opposing players driving to the hoop.

In his 15 games during the month of March, Dosunmu was playing 31 minutes per contest, but also shot a dismal 25.6% from three-point range. This from the same player that shot 40.7% from long range in his first 54 games going into the All-Star Break.

Enter Coby White.

While White isn’t the defender or playmaker that Dosunmu has proven to be, that second unit needs outside shooting. Reserves Javonte Green and Derrick Jones Jr. are forwards that Donovan can throw on all-world 2021 Finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, but won’t be counted on to score much. White can, and did.

In his 23 minutes of work, White scored 12 points, including two threes. Even his defense was serviceable.

“I thought I played solid, man,” White said. “To me I was focused on the defensive end. Just trying to bring the energy and help my teammates anyway I could.”

So what does this mean for Dosunmu in Game 2 and beyond? Unless there’s foul trouble or an injury, he might just have to wait his turn. A wait that could come in a lot of time sitting.

“It don’t really mean nothing,” White said of jumping Dosunmu in the rotation. “Ayo’s going to get an opportunity sometime in this series. I know he’s going to be ready for it. For both of us, we’re just staying ready and try and help the team with whatever we can.”

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CLEVELAND — The White Sox’ scheduled game against the Cleveland Guardians Tuesday night at Progressive Field has been postponed due to cold weather.

The game will be made up as part of a straight doubleheader Wednesday starting at 1:10 p.m. Chicago time.

It’s the second night in a row the Sox and Guardians have been postponed. Monday’s game was called off because of snow and cold weather. There was no precipitation in the area Tuesday but temperatures were in the upper 30s with 20-30 mph winds Tuesday afternoon. The expected high was 42 degrees with much colder wind chills.

Dallas Keuchel will oppose Cleveland’s Shane Bieber in Game 1 Wednesday. Jimmy Lambert starts for the Sox against Triston McKenzie in Game 2. In the final game of the series Thursday, Zach Plesac pitches for the Guardians against Dylan Cease.

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A fire that destroyed Englewood’s historic Antioch Missionary Baptist Church on Good Friday somehow left intact a wall with a mural depicting Jesus’ ascension.

The mural, on an inside wall of the church, appears to have been untouched by the flames despite several days of burning, according to the Chicago Fire Department.

“It’s just one of those things,” Fire Department spokesman Larry Merritt said Tuesday.

The colorful image shows Jesus ascending to the heavens, flanked by two angels as his disciples look on.

“While he blessed them he was parted from them and carried up into heaven” from Luke 24:51 is written above the scene.

It wasn’t long after the Rev. Gerald Dew presided over a Good Friday service Friday afternoon that fire tore through the historic structure at 6248 S. Stewart Ave., sparked by a propane torch that was being used to work on the church’s roof.

The fire appeared to begin in the upper rear area of the church and caused the roof to collapse.

The congregation gathered Sunday at a nearby funeral home for an Easter service.

Afterward, Dew said the service marked “a new beginning” for the church and even brought the church some new members, and he asked for donations to address the toll of the fire.

“I’ve seen resurrection in my own lifetime,” he said in an interview then. “And this church is gonna be bigger and stronger than ever.”

Click on the map below for a selection of Chicago-area murals

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After a fire destroyed Englewood’s historic Antioch Missionary Baptist Church on Good Friday, a wall depicting Jesus’ ascension was seemingly spared from the flames.

The mural, on an inside wall of the church, appeared to be untouched after several days of burning, according to the Chicago Fire Department.

“It’s just one of those things,” said Fire Department spokesman Larry Merritt, who could not say why the mural was spared.

The colorful image shows Jesus ascending to the heavens, flanked by two angels as his disciples look on. “While he blessed them he was parted from them and carried up into heaven” from Luke 24:51 is written above the scene.

Pastor Gerald Dew couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.

Not long after Pastor Dew held a Good Friday service Friday afternoon, a fire tore through the historic structure at 6248 S. Stewart Ave., caused by a propane torch being used to work on the church’s roof.

The fire appeared to begin in the upper rear area of the church and ultimately caused the roof to collapse. Around 150 fire personnel and 50 engines, trucks and ambulances responded to the scene and put out the fire in about two hours.

The church’s congregation gathered Sunday at a nearby funeral home for an Easter service. Afterward, Dew said the service marked “a new beginning” for the church and even brought new members.

He also called for donations to address the toll of the fire. “I’ve seen resurrection in my own lifetime,” he told the Sun-Times. “And this church is gonna be bigger and stronger than ever.”

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Heading into Game 2, the Chicago Bulls are coming off a competitive outing against the Milwaukee Bucks after a scary start to the first quarter that had them down 13 points. However, they were able to let the Bucks know they were not going to be an easy team to sweep in four games.

Despite a lot of isolation play on offense (only 17 team assists) and poor 32% field goal shooting in Game 1, Chicago was just down one point with 1:36 left in the game. In Game 2, we will see if Coach Billy Donovan and the Bulls can expand on some of the strategies that worked in Game 1 in order to steal a pivotal game in Milwaukee. Below are some of the keys that worked for Chicago during the course of Game 1 against the defending Champions:

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

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A man was shot while driving and crashed into a bus shelter in Lawndale on the West Side early Tuesday.

He was eastbound in the 3100 block of West Roosevelt Road when someone opened fire from a white Dodge Charger around 1 a.m., Chicago police said.

The man, 38, was struck in his chest and arm, and crashed into a bus shelter, police said. He exited his vehicle and entered a business, where someone applied a tourniquet, police said.

Paramedics responded and took the man to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was listed in critical condition.

The suspect’s vehicle was last seen going north on Kedzie Avenue.

Police reported no arrests.

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The Chicago White Sox face the Cleveland Guardians for the first time this season in a three-game series starting Tuesday. Cleveland is in a rebuild, of some sort, but early on in the season have looked promising and has put together a talented roster. This unique position the Guardians find themselves in entering the series makes the matchup with the White Sox all the more intriguing.

The White Sox are going to have their hands full despite odds being in their favor to win the series. While players like Shane Bieber, Jose Ramirez, and Steven Kwan will give the Sox problems, here are four things to watch out for ahead of the series opener with the Guardians.

Keuchel’s Start

Dallas Keuchel will start the first game of the series with an extra day of rest. The biggest question heading into Tuesday is how Keuchel will build off his first start of the season and if he can remain a valuable starter in the backend of the rotation.

Keuchel’s first start of the season was a mixed bag, pitching five innings and allowing three runs. However, Keuchel notably mixed in his off-speed pitches and forced a lot of weak contact off the bat. The 34-year-old left-handed starter relied on his sinker as his primary pitch to force multiple groundouts against the Mariners. As a result, he might go back to that formula and throw the pitch more often in this start.

The Guardians lineup isn’t one to take lightly but if Keuchel can locate his pitches, notably his cutter and sinker, he can put together another strong start. The series opener will be a test to see what the White Sox have in their rotation. Is Keuchel going to elevate the rotation this season or become a liability?

Cease vs. McKenzie

Dylan Cease, by default, has emerged as the White Sox ace. Lance Lynn and Lucas Giolito both went down with injuries early on in the season, but Cease has stepped up in their absence. The 26-year-old starter has pitched 10.2 innings in two starts and has only allowed two runs on the season.

Moreover, Cease has formed a lethal fastball-slider combo on the mound that has fueled his strong starts. The ability to successfully throw both have given Cease a .235 expected opponent Slugging Percentage (XSLG) which is one of the best in the MLB. With the weak contact from the White Sox ace, the next start is shaping up to be a pitching duel against the Guardians.

Tristan McKenzie has only started one game this season, a seven-inning start with two runs allowed and seven strikeouts. While McKenzie struggled last season, the 24-year-old right-hander has proven early on in his career that he has a high ceiling.

McKenzie looks poised to have a breakout year and will hope to silence the potent White Sox lineup while also outdueling Cease. As a result, the matchup on Wednesday is shaping up to be a pitcher’s duel between two young promising starters in the division.

Anderson’s Continued Leadoff Success

Tim Anderson continues to make his mark as the leadoff hitter for the White Sox. In 29 plate appearances, Anderson has 11 hits and a team-leading 17 total bases. Additionally, the White Sox leadoff hitter has a .414 On Base Percentage and a .442 expected weighted On Base Average, helping constantly set the table for the power hitters that follow.

Anderson’s value to the White Sox lineup is unprecedented and his ability to be on base allows the White Sox to easily pile on the runs at the top of their batting order. The White Sox hope to see the strong plate appearances from their leadoff batter continue against Cleveland, helping fuel the success of the lineup. Testing the Guardian pitching staff early and often will be key to controlling this series and the player to lead the way is Anderson.

Vaughn in the Lineup

Andrew Vaughn has been one of the pleasant surprises in the lineup early this season. The 24-year-old has 15 total bases in 25 plate appearances along with two home runs. The success of Vaughn makes his role in the lineup and the roster, interesting to say the least.

Vaughn wasn’t a starter to begin the year, coming off the bench for AJ Pollock. Vaughn also isn’t an everyday outfielder and when he has started, he slotted into the back half of the batting order. While he’s not a power hitter like Jose Abreu or Yasmani Grandal, the young outfielder could move up in the lineup and help an already good White Sox lineup look even better.

The upcoming series could be an ideal opportunity to see if Vaughn moves in the batting order. In addition, Vaughn continuing to add offense to the lineup will give Tony La Russa a clearer picture of what the young slugger could provide to the White Sox. At the moment, he is a super substitute who provides a spark off the bench, but the argument to make the 24-year-old an everyday player can be made already.

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

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Wide receiver will be one of the highest priorities for the Chicago Bears in the 2022 NFL Draft. While the Bears added two veteran receivers in free agency, neither are elite playmakers and are only under contract for a season.

David Bell, a wide receiver from Purdue, will be sure to catch the attention of the Bears’ front office in next week’s NFL Draft. If there’s one consensus about Bell from scouts, it’s that he models his craft after former Bear and current Los Angeles Rams receiver Allen Robinson.

Losing Robinson this off-season was a big blow to the wide receiver depth chart, as he lined up as both the x-receiver and in the slot. Bell also projects to bring this flexibility to the NFL, as he was used in both positions in college. Both Big Ten receivers have a similar frame at 6-foot-2 with Bell weighing in at 8 pounds lighter than Robinson. However, the Boilermaker will likely bulk up with professional conditioning once he gets into camp. Here’s a look at Bell’s draft profile following a successful collegiate career.

David Bell, WR, Purdue – 6’2″, 205 lbs

SCOUTING REPORT FROM LANCE ZIERLEIN

“Inside/outside target who is more smooth than sudden in uncovering over the first two levels of the field. Bell is like a crafty pitcher with a limited fastball but a variety of pitches to get hitters out. He wins with process over speed and has an ability to keep man coverage off-balance with rhythmic route-running and detailed footwork. While the tape has several elements to excite the viewer, the lack of functional explosiveness, speed and change of direction he showed at the NFL Scouting Combine simply can’t be ignored. He’s a willing worker in the middle of the field and has a savvy element to his game, but he’ll have to prove he’s better than his testing suggested as a Day 3 prospect.”

Bell made the most of his targets in big games in 2021, with receiving yards totaling 240 against then-undefeated Iowa and 214 against Michigan State. He also scored 103 yards versus Ohio State during a Junior campaign that saw him catch 93 balls for 1,286 yards. Bell’s skill to get open and find the football would be a big help for second-year quarterback Justin Fields.

Bell has a few traits to polish up for the NFL, per Zierlein, as he can be off-balance when running his routes. He also needs to be assertive when going for deep balls in coverage and could be faster after making the reception.

This isn’t anything Bears fans didn’t see with Robinson, who despite what Pro Football Focus would like to suggest, dropped numerous balls, albeit down the field that were contested. If Bell can come into Halas Hall with a better attitude about being in Chicago than Robinson had towards the end of his tenure, the Bears might find themselves a better receiver.

Film highlights show Bell consistently using his big frame to his advantage, securing 50-50 balls against smaller defenders, and a knack for fighting for extra yards after the reception. The Purdue product also has a nose for the endzone, scoring 21 touchdowns in his three seasons with the Boilermakers.

Here’s the film on Bell:

Draft Projection

According to NFL Mock Draft Database, Bell is projected as a Day 2 pick, ranked 69th overall with a 3rd round grade.

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

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