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On the heels of Justin Fields’ debut, the guys debate whether he has time to become the starter — of if Matt Nagy has the inkling to make a move — before Week 1.

New episodes of “Halas Intrigue” will be published regularly with accompanying stories collected on the podcast’s hub page. You can also listen to “Halas Intrigue” wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Luminary, Spotify, and Stitcher.

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by Russell Dorsey

If there has been one common theme for the Cubs this season, it’s relatively unknown players coming up and making an impact on the major league roster. First, it was Patrick Wisdom’s insane power surge that started the trend and most recently Rafael Ortega’s post All-Star break offensive breakout. But there’s another veteran trying to make a name for himself.

Frank Schwindel had the tall task of being the player to replace longtime first baseman Anthony Rizzo after the trade deadline. Schwindel, who was claimed off waivers from the A’s on July 18, hasn’t looked fazed in his brief stint with the Cubs and has started to show something.

“Obviously, nobody can replace him,” Schwindel said before Saturday’s 5-4 loss to the Marlins. “He’s obviously an unbelievable player. Gold Glove, All-Star and obviously, he’s one of the most liked guys in the city.

Schwindel has had high-level success at the plate since joining the Cubs and over the last week has had a strong approach at the plate. The Cubs’ first baseman is slashing .381/.422/.714 with three homers and 12 RBIs in 13 games with the Cubs.

The Cubs’ first baseman was back in the spotlight in the eighth inning on Saturday and with the bases loaded, two outs and the team down by two runs, he continued his red-hot stretch. Schwindel lined a bases-clearing double into the left-field corner to give the Cubs a late 4-3 lead. Miami would score two unearned runs in the eighth to take a 5-4 lead.

“He’s put the barrel on the ball,” manager David Ross said. “I thought he’s done a really nice job of knowing what he does well. Being ready to hit. … I think he’s been a real bright spot since he’s come up. Pretty consistent at-bat of being able to touch the baseball.”

Davies strong despite three-run sixth inning

Starter Zach Davies struggled mightily in his start against the White Sox last week and coming off one of his worst performances of the season, he had a strong performance against the Marlins. Davies worked quickly, controlled both sides of the plate and was able to get quick outs as he rolled through Miami’s lineup.

The Cubs right-hander got through 5 2/3 innings without allowing virtually any damage and leading 1-0, but after a two-out walk to Jesus Aguilar, the game changed.

Davies got the two-out ground ball that he needed to get out of the inning, but after shortstop Sergio Alcantara fielded the ball in the hole, he tossed the ball into right field attempting to get the force at second base. It was the first of three Alcantara errors on the night – accounting for all five unearned runs in the game.

Next batter, Brian Anderson launched a towering three-run homer to give the Marlins a 3-1 lead before Schwindel’s late heroics. All three runs were unearned. Davies struck out seven over six innings of work.

“Knowing how aggressive this team is going through the gameplan meeting before the game, the idea was to get strike one,” Davies said. “They’re gonna swing. They’re gonna put the ball in play.[Wanted to] get ahead of guys so you’re not in hitters’ counts and throwing the ball where I want to and getting ground balls.

This was really a game based off last night where I knew that I needed at least those six innings. Came out of the game down, but trying to be out there as deep as possible.”

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A 59-year-old man was fatally shot Saturday afternoon while driving in West Humboldt Park.

About 12:40 p.m., the man was driving in the 1200 block of North Pulaski Road when someone in another vehicle fired shots, striking him in the upper back and right arm, Chicago police said.

The man was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said. He has not yet been identified.

There was no one in custody as Area Five detectives investigate.

Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.

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A 15-year-old boy was hurt in a drive-by shooting Saturday afternoon in Calumet Heights on the South Side.

The boy was sitting in a park just after 4:30 p.m. in the 1400 block of East 89th Street when someone in a gray-colored Chrysler drove by and fired shots, Chicago police said.

The boy was struck in the right arm, thigh and hip, police said. He was taken to Comer Children’s Hospital in good condition, police said.

No one was in custody.

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SOUTH BEND, Ind. — When Brandon Collier and his fourth annual Dreamchasers bus tour pulled into Notre Dame’s campus a couple of weeks ago, there was no doubting the main attraction.

It wasn’t Touchdown Jesus or even Fighting Irish coach Brian Kelly, who would give a 30-minute talk to the group of 30 European high school hopefuls from Premier Players International.

Instead, it was redshirt freshman defensive lineman Alexander Ehrensberger, the pride of Dusseldorf, Germany, and a 2020 signee out of the rapidly growing football recruiting service Collier, a former CFL defensive tackle, founded in 2017.

“They came this summer and watched us work out one day,” said Drew White, Notre Dame’s senior middle linebacker. “All of those kids that were out there were looking at Alex as a guy who made it, and it was so cool to see.”

Ehrensberger, who spent six months as a high school sophomore at Maine’s Fryeburg Academy, had two tackles for loss, including a sack, in the 2020 opener against South Florida. Rated by ESPN as the No. 1 European prospect in his recruiting class, Ehrensberger is listed at only 255 pounds as he continues to pack muscle onto his 6-7 frame.

A former Dreamchaser himself, Ehrensberger already has made an impact with his all-out style and infectious personality.

“Oh, he’s great, man,” new defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman said. “Gosh, he’s a high-effort guy. He’s an energy-provider. He just goes hard and is a yes-sir, no-sir kid. Sometimes he can be methodical because he’s such a pleaser, but he’s done a great job, and he’s getting a lot more reps.”

The defensive meeting room has become accustomed to seeing Ehrensberger and his non-stop motor highlighted during post-practice cutups. White and senior safety Houston Griffith noted the way Ehrensberger will chase Irish receivers until the whistle blows.

“You continue rolling the clip, and he’s running 50 yards down the field, trying to catch Avery Davis after he caught a pass,” White said. “He brings absolutely full, 100% effort to every play. Everyone respects that. That’s the fastest way to gain respect around a program like this.”

Nicknamed “The German” — what else? — Ehrensberger hasn’t taken long to incorporate certain American lingo into his daily discourse. For instance, he’s fond of saying “hella” when special emphasis is required.

“He says ‘hella’ a lot,” White said. ” ‘We’re running hella.’ I’m like, ‘I know you got that from here.’ Everyone loves Alex. It’s an amazing story, and he’s an amazing teammate.”

Ehrensberger showed enough potential at PPI’s European camp circuit that Mike Elston, Notre Dame’s defensive line coach and assistant head coach, made a special trip there in the spring of 2019. Recently elevated to recruiting coordinator, Elston made an early connection with Collier and his skeleton staff that should open the door to future signings.

“I already had a prior relationship with coach Elston when he came to Germany to visit, not even to visit Ehrensberger but to check out our workouts,” said Collier, 35. “That relationship has grown, and he trusts me and trusts my opinion.”

Freeman, during his four-year run as defensive coordinator at Cincinnati, saw 6-9 PPI product Lorenz Metz sign as a defensive lineman out of Germany in 2018 and later become a starting offensive tackle for the Bearcats.

“I met coach Freeman a few years back,” Collier said. “Overall Notre Dame is a great fit for most of these European guys because they value education just as much as football. That’s kind of what Notre Dame preaches.”

Since debuting in 2017 with 13 hopefuls visiting 10 schools in nine days, the Dreamchasers Tour has grown exponentially. This summer, Collier and two former teammates took turns driving two separate groups of 30 European prospects to most of the top college football programs.

The first batch of hopefuls was here in June, followed by another group in July.

“There’s a lot of kids,” Freeman said. “I remember at Cincinnati, they came around, and it wasn’t as many kids as now. It’s a credit to that entire program for the way they’re building these young guys and finding them.”

As Ehrensberger might say, American football in Europe seems to be growing hella fast.

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Though he couldn’t attend the Field of Dreams Game on Thursday in Dyersville, Iowa, manager Tony La Russa was still able to watch with family. La Russa’s feelings about the event matched the sentiment across the rest of the country.

“Baseball really hit a grand slam,” La Russa said. “It turned out to be a game that you think would have been scripted on a Hollywood movie lot or something, it was amazing.”

The Field of Dreams game garnered close to 6 million television viewers, the highest for a regular season baseball game since 2005.

The dramatic finish with Tim Anderson’s walk-off home run into the corn and general energy at the game in Iowa provided a temporary shot of energy to the players. La Russa said they were overwhelmed by the excitement and buzz at the ballpark Thursday.

But coming back from that, La Russa wants his guys focusing on the rest of the series against the Yankees.

“It’s not going to help us today. If we’re still celebrating, we’ll probably lose an edge,” La Russa said. “Enjoy the moment and understand the goal is to win a series and we’re up one. Concentrate.”

Thursday night was not all positive. Liam Hendriks blew his sixth save of the season, giving up a pair of two-run homers to Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. Those brought his season total to 10 home runs allowed.

Hendriks has not given up 10 home runs in a season since 2013 with the Twins, but La Russa said the extra longballs are not a cause for concern.

“The facts are the facts, 10 home runs are 10 home runs, but usually there are times when he is challenging and the hitter won,” La Russa said. “The bigger the challenge, the more focused he is. Once in a while, maybe [he tries] to do too much, but he’s proven in clutch time he rises to the occasion.”

Vaughn handling full season

Andrew Vaughn was not in Saturday’s lineup, but his next appearance in a game will be his 100th of the season. That’s nearly twice as many as he played in 2019 in the minor leagues.

At the University of California, Vaughn played a total of 160 games across three seasons, so his workload this year is already far beyond anything he has done in college or the minors.

“He shows no signs of wearing down,” La Russa said. “His conditioning and his mind are so strong that he looks to me like opening day.”

La Russa said the decision to sit Vaughn Saturday was based on the fact that the Yankees had Jameson Taillon, a right-hander, on the mound Saturday. Vaughn has a 1.041 OPS against left-handed pitchers and a .679 against right-handers.

Sox homer leaders

Luis Robert’s first at-bat at Guaranteed Rate Field since his hip injury on May 2 came in the second inning Saturday, and he hit a 438 foot, game-tying blast to center field. That home run gave the White Sox 66 home runs since June 30, which leads baseball.

That’s a reversal from where they were the first three months of the season. From opening day to June 29, they had 72 home runs as a team, good for 28th in the league.

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Justin Fields was trending on Twitter the other day, and my duty as a Chicago sports columnist and as someone concerned with topics that most affect mankind compelled me to investigate further.

The first tweet, which included a video, read: Justin Fields completes a 5-yard out route. Bears fans: The footage was a riotous scene of fans storming a basketball court and mobbing the guy who had just hit a game-winning shot.

Nicely played. Possibly even totally accurate. But it’s very difficult to blame Bears fans for being out of control over the mere prospect of a talented rookie quarterback actually turning out to be, you know, good. And, truth be told, if there were a few media members rushing the court in our tweeter’s mocking video, it would have added further realism. There isn’t enough money in the world to make up for the pain and suffering sportswriters have endured while covering the Bears’ quarterback follies for the past 70 years.

So Saturday arrived, and to pretend that it was a day like any other would be silly. And I kind of feel silly writing that. But Fields, the Bears’ 2021 first-round draft pick, was making his NFL preseason debut. Would jubilant fans rush onto the Soldier Field grass to carry him off the field afterward?

It would have been hopeless. They never would have caught him.

The promise of Fields was on full display Saturday afternoon, even if it took awhile to arrive. One long run by the former Ohio State star was enough to further excite a fan base that, trust me, didn’t need any more caffeine. That run, a 21-yarder in the third quarter, had the effect of making the Dolphins’ defense very, very conscious of Fields’ ridiculous speed. And that awareness opened up the Bears’ pass game. Let him out the pocket at your own peril. Two plays later, Fields connected with a wide-open Jesse James on a 30-yard touchdown play.

And there it was. Everything every Bears fan had been living for since the April draft was right there. Two plays. It was more than enough.

Did it come against Miami’s second- and third-stringers? Listen, I know when to seek shelter from a tornado of hype and hope. What I can tell you, from the safety of my basement and far away from any windows, is that Fields looked good against the people on the other side of the line Saturday in a 20-13 victory.

By the way, putative Bears starting quarterback Andy Dalton also played in the game.

Fields completed 14 of 20 passes for 142 yards and a touchdown. He averaged 7.1 yards an attempt. He had a passer rating of 106.7. He scrambled for a touchdown. He had no interceptions but he did fumble once. All of that might strike some as being reminiscent of a good Mitch Trubisky outing but … that third-quarter run. Fields made Miami defenders look like they were standing still, and he didn’t seem to be running all that hard. Trubisky couldn’t do that, nor could many other human beings.

What was the speed of an NFL game like, Justin?

“It was actually kind of slow to me, to be honest,” he said.

That sound? It’s the rest of the league gulping.

It’s only a matter of time before Fields is the starter. The question is when coach Matt Nagy caves in to the inevitable. I can’t explain why every national TV analyst so very much wants Fields to start the Bears’ first regular-season game. I only know that they do and that, if Nagy doesn’t have the kid in the lineup against the Rams on Sept. 12, there’s a good chance he’ll be relieved of a limb, possibly two.

“I totally, totally understand all the buzz, all the excitement, and we feel it, too,” Nagy said.

Just know that there could be rocky moments ahead. There certainly were in the first half Saturday. When Fields went into the game with 12 minutes, 11 seconds left in the second quarter, Bears fans gave him a standing ovation. Let the record show that his first completion was for 1 yard to Damiere Byrd. That was followed by two false starts by teammates, a 9-yard completion and a punt. If you were looking for rhythm, you were in for a tough slog.

On Fields’ second series, he had a pass batted down at the line of scrimmage and two others deflected by defenders.

The third series started with a botched snap out of the shotgun, a near interception after a receiver tripped and a Fields fumble out of bounds after a 6-yard scramble.

Right after that, I tweeted a very solemn um, which, translated, meant, Haven’t we seen this before? You know, nudge, nudge, from Trubisky? But that was negative thinking, perhaps brought on by the lugging of the past.

The fourth series was a hint of things to come. The Bears got the ball back with 40 seconds left in the first half, meaning Fields would be able to work on his two-minute skills. A pass completion got the Bears a first down on second-and-3, which is noteworthy only if you think an offense getting its initial first down of the game just before halftime is noteworthy. But Fields had two more completions, including a 15-yarder, to help set up a field goal. Pretty good stuff. And he seemed profoundly calm, probably because he was.

“I was calm as can be,” he said.

Eventually, there was a seven-play, 70-yard touchdown drive, which included the 21-yard run that carried so much freight.

If star-struck fans thought they were gazing upon the Second Coming of John Elway, it’s understandable and predictable. Historically, the Bears and quarterbacks haven’t been what would be called “a good match.” Maybe things are changing.

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If there has been one common theme for the Cubs this season, it’s relatively unknown players coming up and making an impact on the major league roster. First, it was Patrick Wisdom’s insane power surge that started the trend and most recently Rafael Ortega’s post All-Star break offensive breakout. But there’s another veteran trying to make a name for himself.

Frank Schwindel had the tall task of being the player to replace longtime first baseman Anthony Rizzo after the trade deadline. Schwindel, who was claimed off waivers from the A’s on July 18, hasn’t looked fazed in his brief stint with the Cubs and has started to show something.

“Obviously, nobody can replace him,” Schwindel said before Saturday’s game. “He’s obviously an unbelievable player. Gold Glove, All-Star and obviously, he’s one of the most liked guys in the city.

“I wouldn’t say I’m necessarily replacing him by any means. But I’m here and they’re putting me in the lineup. So I’m gonna do the best I can and hopefully the fans like me even half as much as him someday.”

Schwindel has had high-level success at the plate since joining the Cubs and over the last week has had a strong approach at the plate. The Cubs’ first baseman is slashing .395/.439/.737 with three homers and nine RBIs in 13 games with the Cubs. Two of his homers have come in two of his last three games.

“He’s put the barrel on the ball, which is definitely been an emphasis for me and things that we’re going to try to continue to grow at,” manager David Ross said. “I thought he’s done a really nice job of knowing what he does well. Being ready to hit. Playing an ok first base and fitting right in. He’s been in the middle of the order and come off the bench to pinch-hit.

“I think he’s been a real bright spot since he’s come up. Pretty consistent at-bat of being able to touch the baseball.”

Alzolay out, Megill in

The Cubs recalled right-hander Trevor Megill from Triple-A Iowa as right-hander Adbert Alzolay went on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain. Megill has a 13.50 ERA in 12 games this season.

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The Bud Billiken Parade, a beloved end of summer and back-to-school tradition, returned to Bronzeville Saturday after one-year hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Thousands of Black Chicagoans of all ages lined a shortened parade route through the South Side neighborhood to watch the city’s youth put their talents on display under a scorching sun.

Adults tried to beat the summer heat by lounging in lawn chairs under shady trees, umbrellas and tents, while children slurped their snow cones out of styrofoam cups as the sound of drums, music and the crowd’s cheers echoed down the streets.

“For me, it’s just the music, the bands, the groove,” Stephanie Hall said as she bounced to the beat. “… [Some people] might be from 79th [street], they might be from 87th, from 51st — we don’t know each other. We all are here to have a good time. That’s what I like.”

The Bud Billiken Parade, the oldest and largest African American parade in the nation which has been going on for more than 90 years, is a must-attend event for many Black Chicagoans, who have passed the tradition down from generation to generation.

“I’ve been coming here since I was a baby, and I just keep the family tradition going,” Tiny Reed said. “This means a lot to me.”

Similar to Reed, Darren Mayo said he’s been coming to the annual parade for as long as he can remember.

“I still try to come for my nephew to try to show them the tradition that my grandparents showed me,” Mayo said.

His favorite “Bud” memory took place in the 1980s as a kid living in the nearby Robert Taylor Homes, a former public housing project. He recalled seeing then-Mayor Harold Washington waving, smiling and pointing while sitting in a convertible.

“As a young kid, we very rarely got to see certain people until things like this, and that’s what made it very special,” Mayo said. “That’s why I still come now today… I’m glad they still do it as well, ’cause without this, there wouldn’t be nothing.”

On his 15th year attending the parade, Michael Strong said “the environment, the music, the dancing, and the kids” is what keeps him coming back.

“Everybody’s happy out here it seems,” he said alongside his 3-year-old son. “It’s beautiful, it’s a good thing.”

Some people staked out their spots more than five hours before the event, with several groups using paper streamers or string to rope off their space out of an abundance of caution with the Delta variant of the coronavirus raging on.

Parade goers cheer during the Bud Billiken Parade in the Bronzeville neighborhood, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021. Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

Even with the social distancing, many still felt an overwhelming sense of community.

“I’m just happy to see everybody together like this and it’s all love, with no drama — that’s what it’s all about,” said Keke Burch, who came from Lake County with Strong and their son. “When everybody comes together like this, and it’s all love, good vibes, good energy, everyone vibrating at a great, higher frequency.”

Chicago Sky forward Candace Parker, the grand marshal of this year’s parade and festival, rode on a Wintrust Bank float for most of the parade, though she had to duck out early for practice, parade president and CEO Myiti Sengstacke-Rice said.

Other notable attendees included Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx, U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth and U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Illinois.

The 74-year-old congressman, who first marched in the “Bud” as part of the Boy Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps when he was 11, said the parade remains as exciting as it was when he was a youngster.

“I’m just as thrilled to be a part of Bud Billiken today as I was then,” Rush said.

Everyone rejoiced for the parade and festival’s return after the pandemic canceled it last year, though some were disappointed in the decision to shorten the route, with some putting the blame on Lightfoot.

“They cut it 10 blocks, but they didn’t cut Lollapalooza,” Reed said. “They let it go for [four] damn days.”

Sengstacke-Rice said she understood the frustrations over the condensed event by some, but chose to look at the bright side: “At least we had an event because a lot of people had to cancel, but we were able to still have an event,” she said.

Overall, she considered the day a success.

“We had a great time, I’m OK with it,” Sengstacke-Rice said. “And we’ll come back bigger and better next year.”

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