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3 questions the Cubs need to answer before the trade deadlineRussell Dorseyon July 21, 2021 at 3:08 am

ST. LOUIS — Time is winding down before the trade deadline, and dealing Joc Pederson last week showed that team president Jed Hoyer and the Cubs are open for business.

A lot could happen between now and July 30 as the franchise’s future will be decided in the coming days.

Here are three questions the Cubs have to answer ahead of the deadline:

What happens with Kris Bryant?

It’s the question that has been asked the most the last few years, and those questions won’t stop. Bryant’s bounce-back season has been one of the Cubs’ bright spots, and his versatility has been on display. It all makes him their most valuable trade asset.

But Bryant left the game Tuesday against the Cardinals with right hamstring fatigue. He made a diving catch in the third inning and appeared to land awkwardly but stayed in the game before being taken out in the fifth. Ian Happ took over.

The Cubs need a healthy Bryant to maximize their return. At 29, he’s in the last year of club control and would be a rental for any team that acquires him at the deadline. He could be a fit for several contending teams.

Who else could be moved?

Like Bryant, shortstop Javy Baez and first baseman Anthony Rizzo will become free agents at the end of the season. Any player with an expiring deal could be dealt.

Hoyer said weeks ago that he’d sit down with Bryant, Baez and Rizzo before the deadline to discuss each player’s status. With the chances of extensions remote at this point, the discussions likely would focus on where they stand ahead of the team’s moves.

Reliever Craig Kimbrel is another potential trade piece. He has carried over his success from the end of 2020 and put together one of his best seasons in years, taking his place again among a select group of elite closers.

Kimbrel, who was named an All-Star for the first time since 2018, is not only an attractive player for a contender looking for a closer as the final piece to a championship-caliber team, but his contractual flexibility also could boost his value.

His $16 million team option might not have looked attractive to teams after he signed and struggled, but with the return of the Kimbrel of old, it could be a reasonable price to pay for a contender who wants more than a rental.

What will the rotation look like?

Kyle Hendricks has been terrific since May, Adbert Alzolay has held his own and Zach Davies has shown flashes of his old self, but the Cubs’ rotation has lacked cohesiveness and length.

The back of the rotation is the biggest question mark for the second half.

Jake Arrieta struggled mightily before landing on the injured list with hamstring tightness and has not had the look or production of a pitcher who was close to finding his way.

The Cubs have contingency plans when the time comes to move Arrieta out of the rotation. Young left-hander Justin Steele made a great impression when he was part of the team’s bullpen and is getting stretched out as a starter in Triple A before he gets some looks in the second half.

With right-hander Alec Mills throwing the ball well in his return to the rotation and stabilizing things, it isn’t hard to imagine what the team’s rotation will look like without Arrieta. And the last two weeks have provided a preview.

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3 questions the Cubs need to answer before the trade deadlineRussell Dorseyon July 21, 2021 at 3:08 am Read More »

Go For Moon Drop: Chicago Tribune Coverage of the Apollo 11 Missionon July 21, 2021 at 5:21 am

Cosmic Chicago

Go For Moon Drop: Chicago Tribune Coverage of the Apollo 11 Mission

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Go For Moon Drop: Chicago Tribune Coverage of the Apollo 11 Missionon July 21, 2021 at 5:21 am Read More »

Getaway driver sentenced to 42 years in prison for Hadiya Pendleton murderMatthew Hendricksonon July 21, 2021 at 1:58 am

A Cook County judge Tuesday handed down a 42-year prison sentence for the getaway driver who sped 15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton’s killer away from the South Side park where she was gunned down more than eight years ago.

Kenneth Williams, now 28, was convicted of Pendleton’s murder in 2018, but his sentencing was delayed for nearly three years in a case that became emblematic of Chicago’s gun violence.

On Tuesday, Judge Diana Kenworthy told Williams he would serve 35 years in prison for the honor student’s murder and an additional seven years on aggravated battery charges in the shooting that also wounded two other teenagers.

Williams was more than just a getaway driver, the judge said in her ruling.

“[Williams] was not taken by surprise,” Kenworthy said of testimony at Williams’ trial that the pair was hunting for members of a rival gang faction. “They were looking for people to shoot.”

Hadiya Pendleton's parents, Cleopatra Cowley (center) and Nathaniel Pendleton Sr. (left), walk with supporters Tuesday afternoon into the Leighton Criminal Courthouse.
Hadiya Pendleton’s parents, Cleopatra Cowley (center) and Nathaniel Pendleton Sr. (left), walk with supporters Tuesday afternoon into the Leighton Criminal Courthouse.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Pendleton was with a group of teenagers celebrating the end of finals on Jan. 20, 2013, in Harsh Park when gunman Micheail Ward opened fire, Assistant State’s Attorney Brian Holmes said at the sentencing hearing.

She was struck in the back less than a mile from President Barack Obama’s Kenwood home. The King College Prep High School student and majorette had preformed at Obama’s inauguration less than two weeks earlier.

Williams was behind the wheel of a white Nissan that drove Ward away from the scene and later told friends he and Ward had “done a drill” at the park, slang for a shooting, Holmes said. Williams hadn’t wanted to do the shooting himself because he was a former King College Prep student and was worried he’d be identified.

“He knew by his own statements that park was filled with King High school students,” the prosecutor said.

Both teens were arrested on the day of Pendleton’s funeral, which was nationally televised and attended by first lady Michelle Obama.

Ward was convicted and sentenced in 2019 to 84 years in prison, which he is currently serving downstate at the Pontiac Correctional Center, prison records show.

Nate Pendleton Jr., then 11 in 2014, stands next to a photograph of his late sister “Hadiya” who was killed in January 2013 from gun violence during the launching of “Hadiya’s Promise, a national, non-profit organization focused on the welfare of young people.
Michael Jarecki/File photo for Sun-Times

Cleopatra Cowley, Pendleton’s mother, recalled her daughter’s unlimited potential on the stand Tuesday, saying the girl had dreamed of being of journalist, going into politics or even becoming a veterinarian.

Nathaniel Pendleton Jr., said he would be “forever scarred by the loss of my sister.”

Williams presented himself confidently during the proceedings but also showed moments of vulnerability.

After taking the stand to make a statement to Pendleton’s family, the young man — who had never before been charged with a crime — teared up and said he needed time to collect himself.

When he took the stand again later, Williams’ comments danced between claims he had been “misjudged” and the frequency with which he dwelled on the pain Pendleton’s family has had to “endure.”

“Mrs. Cowley, I think about you every day, because the deepest bond I have is with my mother,” Williams said, without ever taking responsibility for the shooting.

Following the hearing, Cowley said she believed Williams had admitted his wrongdoing in his own way.

“He said he wasn’t going to take responsibility, but he thinks about us every day,” she said.

The family said that even though Williams will now start serving his sentence, they have been serving a type of life sentence of their own since the day Hadiya was killed.

“It ends court,” Cowley said of the hearing’s finality.

“Every day we are without the ability to speak with her, to hold her, to dream with her … there’s no off button, just the absence of the court system.”

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Getaway driver sentenced to 42 years in prison for Hadiya Pendleton murderMatthew Hendricksonon July 21, 2021 at 1:58 am Read More »

White Sox could ride out Grandal’s absence with inexperienced catching tandemDaryl Van Schouwenon July 21, 2021 at 2:15 am

Whether the White Sox choose to ride out out Yasmani Grandal’s knee injury without a veteran addition before the trade deadline will be decided between now and July 30. But manager Tony La Russa pointed to Sox pitching of late as a case for standing pat with Zack Collins and Seby Zavala.

“The record from the day Yas got hurt till today speaks for itself,” La Russa said. “Especially the quality of the pitching.”

Going into their game against the Twins Tuesday at Guaranteed Rate Field, the Sox have won eight of 10 games since Grandal’s injury. Pitchers ERAs are just one barometer of a catcher’s game calling and handling skill, especially over a small sample size, but it’s worth noting Sox pitchers have thrown to a 1.43 ERA over the light-hitting Zavala’s five starts through Monday.

Whether general manager Rick Hahn swings a deal for a veteran catcher remains to be seen. Just how long the Sox are expecting to wait for Grandal, who had knee surgery two weeks ago but is already throwing, hitting in the cage and doing other light work, might factor in the decision.

“He’s moving around real well,” said coach Jerry Narron, who oversees Sox catchers. “I’ve been really surprised how well Yas is moving. I don’t even know about the timetable. When they say he’s ready to do baseball activities, we’ll get after it.”

In the meantime, it’s Collins and Zavala at arguably the most important non-pitching defensive position on the field. Called up from Triple-A Charlotte when Grandal went down, Zavala caught left-hander Dallas Keuchel Tuesday while Collins, who was the DH, is slated to catch Dylan Cease Wednesday. Collins, who has caught 62 career games, has caught Sox pitchers to a 3.80 ERA (Grandal is at 3.54).

Lucas Giolito and Collins, who caught Rodon’s no-hitter, have both said they are comfortable throwing to Collins. Zavala caught the combined one-hitter of Rodon, Michael Kopech and Liam Hendriks Sunday.

“Zavala has a well deserved reputation for handling pitching,” La Russa said.

“He’s very, very prepared, he knows what a catcher’s job is — for us to get the most out of a pitcher that night,” Narron said. “He does a fantastic job. He takes a lot of pride in calling a good ballgame.”

Zavala caught five innings of two-run ball from left-hander Dallas Keuchel Tuesday. After Michael Kopech, working two innings of relief for the first time since May 24, allowed a homer to Josh Donaldson leading off the sixth that trimmed the Sox lead to 4-3, he struck out four straight batters. Kopech then walked two and had to be rescued by left fielder Brian Goodwin’s diving catch of Nelson Cruz’s sinking liner.

Keuchel allowed a homer to Max Kepler in the second and an RBI single to Andrelton Simmons in the fifth and exited after 89 pitches. The Sox scored two in the first on Jose Abreu’s RBI double and Yoan Moncada’s RBI single, and two in the third on Moncada’s two-run homer.

Narron doesn’t seem completely comfortable with two catchers with such limited experience, but knows “they’ll both be prepared. We’ll see what happens with them.”

Grandal is likely several weeks away from a return, but the Sox do have the luxury of an 8 1/2 game lead in the AL Central going into Tuesday.

“The catching position is like all 26 spots,” Narron said. “If the general manager thinks he can make a deal to make the club better he’s going to do that but if not, we’ll do everything we can with what we’ve got. I’m happy with them. They do a real good job.”

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White Sox could ride out Grandal’s absence with inexperienced catching tandemDaryl Van Schouwenon July 21, 2021 at 2:15 am Read More »

The Forge Lemont Quarry’s 1st Anniversary (yes, with beer)on July 21, 2021 at 1:02 am

The Beeronaut

The Forge Lemont Quarry’s 1st Anniversary (yes, with beer)

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The Forge Lemont Quarry’s 1st Anniversary (yes, with beer)on July 21, 2021 at 1:02 am Read More »

Parents Know Stuff: Trust Your Guton July 21, 2021 at 1:31 am

Parenting SOS

Parents Know Stuff: Trust Your Gut

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Parents Know Stuff: Trust Your Guton July 21, 2021 at 1:31 am Read More »

Chicago Hot Spots for Summer Travelerson July 21, 2021 at 1:48 am

All is Well

Chicago Hot Spots for Summer Travelers

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Chicago Hot Spots for Summer Travelerson July 21, 2021 at 1:48 am Read More »

Activist loses nephew to gun violence: ‘If you think this can’t happen to you, think again’Maudlyne Ihejirikaon July 21, 2021 at 12:37 am

It was the last meeting of our two-year journey as the Chicago Community, Media & Research Partnership — a task force of researchers, community groups and journalists discoursing best practices for disseminating research that can reduce health inequities.

Candace Henley, founder and executive director of the Blue Hat Foundation, a group promoting colorectal cancer awareness, stunned us at the start of the meeting.

Her 27-year-old nephew, Joseph Barbee, fell victim to Chicago’s 2021 gun violence bloodbath 2 1/2 hours earlier, killed in the middle of the street, at mid-afternoon, in the Auburn Gresham community, one of the deadliest in the city.

He was riding a Divvy bicycle in the 7700 block of South Seeley Avenue at 2:40 p.m. on July 15 when a gunman approached on foot and shot him in the head, Chicago police said.

It was Henley who got the phone call with the gut-wrenching wails of a mother who had just lost her son.

Henley was angry. At her family’s loss. At unfathomable gun violence that has claimed at least 388 lives in 2,273 shootings this year, according to statistics compiled by the Chicago Sun-Times.

More than anything, though, she was angry that no one, not one soul out there when the shooting happened, would tell police what they saw.

“Joseph’s sister was inside the house and heard gunshots, looked out the window and saw him on the ground. When she called my sister, she said paramedics were working on him, but he wasn’t moving. We high-tailed it to Christ Hospital,” said Henley.

The father of two sons, ages 1 and 5, was pronounced dead by the time the sisters got there.

Candace Henley, founder and executive director of the Blue Hat Foundation, lost her 27-year-old nephew, Joseph Barbee, to Chicago's 2021 gun violence bloodbath, and laments that no one will tell police what they saw, who did it. The father of two was killed at mid-afternoon July 15 in the 7700 block of South Seeley Avenue, as folks were out and about.
Candace Henley, founder and executive director of the Blue Hat Foundation
Provided

“My nephew was a loving soul. He was not perfect, and his mom will tell you that. She’s not one of those parents. But society has dehumanized our children in this violence,” she said.

“Joseph was loved. He was somebody’s child, somebody’s brother, somebody’s nephew.

“We still don’t know why this happened. The police haven’t told us much, but a neighborhood gossips. We’ve heard all kinds of stories, yet no one has told police that they saw anything. Let me say to any mother, ‘If you think this can’t happen to you, think again.’ “

It brought back memories of the murder of her own father, Joseph Barbee, for whom her nephew was named. Henley was 19 when her father was beaten to death in a street robbery on the West Side where she grew up.

A 19-year survivor of colon cancer, Henley has made it her life’s work to battle racial and socioeconomic health inequities characteristic of that disease and so many others.

“Joseph was somebody’s child, somebody’s brother, somebody’s nephew,” said Candace Henley of her nephew Joseph Barbee (far right). From left, his stepfather, James Tucker; mother, Nicole Barbee Tucker; grandmother Kathy Barbee Morris; sister Zoraya Logan; and aunt Sharon Porter.
Provided

Long recognized as a public health crisis, gun violence poses greater risk of mortality for low-income communities of color — fueled by the same structural racism that helped COVID-19 wreak disparate death and infection rates upon South and West Side communities held hostage to gangs and guns.

African Americans make up 82% of Chicago’s gun deaths; Hispanics, 12%; nine of every 10 killed are male.

“Joseph was very talented. My father was a wonderful artist, and my nephew was talented the same way. He could really draw. He was highly intelligent, especially in math. He could calculate numbers off the top of his head. A brilliant life that didn’t have a chance, because he didn’t have resources,” said Henley.

“The economic downfall perpetrated on our communities, the removal of community centers, arts and sports programs that were available when we were kids — when they removed those things, they got exactly what they knew they were going to get: chaos.

“You now have all these kids with all this talent and energy and nowhere to take it but the streets. And the streets will welcome them any day. This is not rocket science,” she lamented.

Joseph Barbee, 27, was killed July 15. The father of two is seen here with his son Javari and sister Zoraya Logan.
Provided

We spent a huge portion of that task force meeting reflecting on similar impacts of gun violence and COVID-19 on disadvantaged communities, and the need to ensure research with potential to reduce inequities gets to those communities via trusted communicators.

On Monday, when I checked in on her, Henley and her family were just returning from the morgue and the mournful task of identifying her nephew’s body. It was a difficult day.

“They showed her the original photos. So we saw the trauma he endured,” said Henley.

“We now begin funeral arrangements, and the wait for police to complete their investigation, hoping someone will come forward to share who did this,” Henley said.

“I’m angry, not just because gun violence has hit home, but because it’s another shooting in our community where no one saw or says anything. I’m sick of watching the news and seeing members of the community mad at the police, the mayor and everybody else.

“What are you doing? You can’t have it both ways,” she said. “If you want the violence to stop, we have to do our part. If you don’t step up and say what’s happening in the community, how can they help change it? We live here. They don’t. Tell what you know.”

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Activist loses nephew to gun violence: ‘If you think this can’t happen to you, think again’Maudlyne Ihejirikaon July 21, 2021 at 12:37 am Read More »

White Sox announce signing of first-round pick Colson MontgomeryDaryl Van Schouwenon July 20, 2021 at 10:57 pm

The White Sox announced the signing of first-round draft choice Colson Montgomery, a left-handed hitting high school shortstop from Southridge (Huntingburg, Ind.) High School.

Selected with the 22nd pick, the 6-4, 190-pounder was the first high school player taken by the Sox in the first round since the 2012 draft, when outfielder Courtney Hawkins was picked 13th.

A three-sport star, Montgomery had designs on playing baseball and basketball at Indiana but instead signed for a $3.027 million bonus, which is full slot value for the 22nd pick.

“Coming to the stadium, signing that contract and putting on a White Sox jersey is a dream come true,” said Montgomery, who signed at Guaranteed Rate Field before the Sox played the Twins Tuesday night.

Montgomery, 19, spoke to reporters about an hour before he was slated to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.

Montgomery batted .338 with seven homers, nine doubles, 23 RBI and 41 runs scored during his senior season, leading the Raiders to the IHSAA Class 3A state championship in 2021. He was an All-America Second Team selection by Baseball America and MaxPreps. He will attend a minicamp with other draftees soon before reporting to the Sox training complex in Glendale, Ariz.

“Baseball is my life right now,” Montgomery said. “I’m very excited to get after it and put all the work in for it.”

Montgomery is the first shortstop taken by the Sox since Tim Anderson in 2013. Twelve of the 26 players on the Sox’ active roster came through the farm system, including first-round picks Anderson, left-hander Carlos Rodon (’14), catcher Zack Collins (’16), third baseman Jake Burger (’17), left fielder Andrew Vaughn (’19) and left-hander Garrett Crochet (’20). First baseman-outfielder Gavin Sheets was picked in the second round in 2016.

Montgomery’s parents and four siblings were in attendance Tuesday.

“My parents raised me right, being humble and everything that,” he said. “I’m not worried about the money or fame getting to my head because I know I have people bringing me down to reality.”

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White Sox announce signing of first-round pick Colson MontgomeryDaryl Van Schouwenon July 20, 2021 at 10:57 pm Read More »