The Chicago Bears are in the midst of their offseason activities and currently working their way through a voluntary minicamp. On Day 1, head coach Matt Eberflus noted one of the only players not present was safety Eddie Jackson.
However, Jackson has been there since Day 2 and is seemingly more motivated and committed than ever before.
With just 4.9 seconds left in the game, the Chicago Bulls were up 114-109 and could taste a Game 2 victory. As Giannis Antetokounmpo drove the lane, one particular player was awaiting him.
The Bucks needed a basket, and in a hurry, so everybody knew what the plan was going to be. It was going to be Giannis and he was going to drive hard.
Nelson Velázquez (photo by Rikk Carlson)
MLB
Injuries, Updates, and Trends
Cubs dealt Jesse Chavez and cash to the Braves for lefty Sean Newcomb. With Brad Wieck’s injury, Justin Steele securing a rotation spot this spring, and Wade Miley’s injury forcing Drew Smyly into the rotation as well, the Cubs ended up a little short of lefties for the pen. Newcomb was a pretty good prospect last decade and then had a solid, if unspectacular run, with the Braves as a backend starter/swingman from 2017-19. The COVID shortened 2020 season was not kind to him (11.20 ERA in 4 games). He bounced back a bit last year while being used exclusively as a short reliever, setting a career high K rate, but also saw his BB rate spike.
He throws his 4-seamer around 95, almost exclusively up in the zone. His two secondaries, a cutter and curve, are both effective offerings which generate good whiff rates. Despite seeing a slight velo increase from shorter outings, it seems like his fastball is what has gotten hit over the past couple of seasons. I wonder if the Cubs see an opportunity to tweak his pitch profile a bit by introducing a 2-seamer or simply by getting Newcomb to use more of the zone than the upper third.
Newcomb (28) is in his first year of arbitration ($900K), with two years of team control remaining.
AAA
Game Recap
This was a close game throughout. The two teams traded runs in the 3rd. The game remained 1-1 until Louisville broke through with two runs in the bottom of the 7th. P.J. Higgins drove in a run in the 8th to narrow the deficit to one, and then Ildemaro Vargas tripled with one out in the 9th to put the tying run in scoring position but the Cubs were unable to drive him in.
Top Performers
Adrian Sampson: 5 IP, 5 H, R, 2 BB, 3 K (4.09)Alfonso Rivas: 2-4, RBI (.375)P.J. Higgins: 1-3, RBI, BB (.200)Brennen Davis: 1-3, 2 R, BB (.222)Ildemaro Vargas: 2-5, 3B (.225)Esteban Quiroz: 2-5 (.107)
Injuries, Updates, and Trends
Since opening the year 0-for-his-first-16 over his first four games, Brennen Davis is slashing .345/.441/.621 with 5 BB and 9 K over his last nine games (34 PA).
AA
Game Recap
What a game for Nelson Velázquez. He entered the game with a .194/.237/.389 triple slash, but exited with a line of .275/.326/.650 thanks to a pair of doubles, a pair of homers, and an intentional walk.
No footage of his first HR, but here are the rest of Nelson Velazquez’s XBH tonight, with a nifty Morel slide into home as a bonus. pic.twitter.com/DJcwg6nlx2
His two homers helped the Smokies build an early 4-2 lead, but the Trash Pandas put up five runs between the 6th and 7th innings to take the lead. After a Christopher Morel leadoff walk in the 8th, Velazquez’s second double of the game brought in Morel and set the stage for a big Smokies comeback. Three walks and a single to the next four batters in the innings tied the score and set the stage with the bases loaded for Luis Vazquez. His two-run single put Tennessee on top to stay.
Bases loaded in a tie game situation and Luis Vasquez has ice in his veins pic.twitter.com/l7uVk17EVX
Top Performers
Nelson Velázquez: 4-4, 2 2B, 2 HR (2, 3), 3 R, 5 RBI, BB (.275)Darius Hill: 3-5, 2B, 2 R, RBI (.395)Bryce Windham: 1-2, R, RBI, 2 BB (.222)Bryce Ball: 1-4, R, BB, CS (.282)Luis Vazquez: 1-4, 2 RBI (.250)Nelson Maldonado: 1-4, R, RBI (.360)Anderson Espinoza: 4 IP, 2 H, 2 R, BB, 7 K (6.75)Burl Carraway: IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, K (S, 1, 10.13)
Injuries, Updates, and Trends
Leadoff man Darius Hill (.395/.439/.474) has reached safely in all 9 games he has played. He’s reached at least twice in 7 games.
High-A
Game Recap
Tennessee wasn’t the only affiliate to rally late for a win. South Bend and Beloit went back and forth early before coming out tied 4-4 through three innings. It remained that way until the 8th when the Sky Carp pushed across a run. Now down one, the Cubs broke through in the bottom half of the frame.
I mention it every time he hits a homer, pitchers are in trouble if they make mistakes to Canario over the middle of the plate. He can absolutely annihilate them.
The key for his development is getting him to make solid contact when pitchers throw off his timing or work the edges https://t.co/bbrhhYfJ2I
Yohendrick Piñango, who recorded three hits on the night, led off the inning with a double. An Owen Caissie walk and Matt Mervis single re-tied the game. Ed Howard then delivered a single to bring home Caissie as the winning run. Mervis would eventually score on a Luis Verdugo groundout to extend the lead.
It’s a good night to be Ed Howard pic.twitter.com/z4K7AwT6aQ
Top Performers
Yohendrick Piñango: 3-4, 2B, 2 R (.333)Alexander Canario: 1-4, HR (1), R, 3 RBI (.200)Matt Mervis: 2-4, 2B, 2 R, RBI (.226)Ed Howard: 2-4, RBI (.167)Owen Caissie: 1-3, R, BB (.121)Pablo Aliendo: 1-3, BB (.125)Dalton Stambaugh: 3.1 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K (0.00)Jeremiah Estrada: 2 IP, 2 H, R, BB, K (W, 1-0, 1.80)
Injuries, Updates, and Trends
Starter Jordan Wicks got knocked around a bit for the first time in his pro career (3.2 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 3 K). I didn’t see anything to be concerned about, just one of those days.
Yohendrick Piñango (.333/.400/.472) is one of the handful of guys who came out of the gate swinging a hot bat. The 19-year old is already at an advanced level for his age, and is likely to see AA before the year is over. He still features an inside out swing, but it is good to see him show a bit of power (2 2B, 1 HR) and patience (4 BB) thus far. He needs to make strides in both areas as he moves up the ladder.
Low-A
Game Recap
The Pelicans put the Smokies six-run 8th inning to shame as they hung a 10 spot on the board in the 6th of their game last night.
They’d already marched out to a 6-1 advantage thanks to big nights at the plate by Pete Crow-Armstrong (reached 5 times), Yeison Santana (4 hits, stole home), James Triantos (3 hits, 1 walk, SB), and Kevin Alcantara (4 RBI).
In the 6th though, the floodgates really opened. Triantos and Liam Spence opened the inning with back-to-back doubles. Crow-Armstrong and Jacob Wetzel drew back-to-back walks. After Alcantara reached on an error, hits by Peter Matt and Santana, along with a bases loaded double by Miguel Fabrizio brought home four runs.
This INNING for @Pelicanbaseball
10 runs.
6 hits.
2 walks.
13 batters. pic.twitter.com/JD2pYnOGjV
The team had already scored six runs and batted through the order when Triantos came up for his second plate appearance. He’d draw a walk to re-load the bases and then Spence drove in the seventh run on a sac fly. The final three runs came on a Crow-Armstrong home run. His first of the non-inside-the-park variety.
PCA with his 1st HR. pic.twitter.com/qXgkiPlIpw
And though it would be easy to overlook given the offensive outburst, it should be noted the Pelicans also received a strong outing by starter Tyler Schlaffer, who punched out six over four innings of one hit, one run ball.
Top Performers
Pete Crow-Armstrong: 2-3, 3B, HR (2), 3 R, 3 RBI, 2 BB, HBP (.269)Yeison Santana: 4-5, 2B, 2 R, RBI, SB (1) (.296)James Triantos: 3-4, 2B, 3 R, BB, SB (1) (.175)Peter Matt: 2-5, 2 R, RBI, BB (.156)Miguel Fabrizio: 1-5, 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB (.067)Liam Spence: 1-3, 2 R, RBI, BB, SF (.148)Kevin Alcantara: 1-6, R, 4 RBI (.241)Jacob Wetzel: 1-5, R, 2 RBI, BB (.206)Tyler Schlaffer: 4 IP, H, R, BB, 6 K (4.22)Jose Gonzalez: 4 IP, 3 H, 2 R, BB, 7 K (W, 1-0, 5.40)
Injuries, Updates, and Trends
It’s not easy to score 17 runs while hitting just one home run but the Pelicans managed it. Ethan Hearn was the only batter in the lineup to not reach base.
After his big day at the plate, Pete Crow-Armstrong is now slashing .269/.441/.615 with 4 XBH and 4 SB in 7 games from the Pelicans leadoff spot.
Filed under:
Daily Cubs Minors Recap
Subscribe by Email
Completely spam free, opt out any time.
Recent Comments
Latest on ChicagoNow
Posts from related blogs
Most recent post: It’s time to change how pitchers get “W”s
Most recent post: Rizzo’s home run depressed me.
Most recent post: 2017 Cubs Convention: Down on the Farm
More from Sports: Cubs
Read these ChicagoNow blogs
Read these ChicagoNow Bloggers
About ChicagoNow
•
FAQs
•
Advertise
•
Recent posts RSS
•
Privacy policy (Updated)
•
Comment policy
•
Terms of service
•
Chicago Tribune Archives
•
Do not sell my personal info
©2022 CTMG – A Chicago Tribune website –
Crafted by the News Apps team
Elite guard Shaedon Sharpe plans to stay in the NBA draft and not return to Kentucky, sources told ESPN on Thursday.
Sharpe announced earlier this month that he was entering the draft but maintaining his college eligibility. Despite having until June 1 to withdraw from the draft, Sharpe is expected to announce in the coming days his intentions to keep his name in it, sources told ESPN.
Sharpe is No. 6 in ESPN’s NBA draft rankings.
A representative of Sharpe’s high school, Dream City Christian (Arizona), confirmed to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony on Thursday that Sharpe graduated in May 2021. His diploma is expected to be sent to the NBA league office this week, which would clear the way for him to be added to the draft early-entry list.
Sharpe, the former No. 1 prospect in the 2022 class and a surefire lottery pick, enrolled for the spring semester at Kentucky with the expectation that he would practice with the team and then play with the Wildcats during the 2022-23 season.
When ESPN reported in January that he could potentially enter the 2022 NBA draft, speculation began to rise that Sharpe might suit up during the 2021-22 campaign. Sharpe, however, did not participate in any games and will end his Kentucky career without playing a minute for the Wildcats.
A 6-foot-6 guard from Canada, Sharpe rose to the top of the ESPN 100 after a dominant summer for the UPlay Canada grassroots program on the Nike EYBL circuit. He averaged 22.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists while shooting 55.6% on 2s and 36.1% from 3-point range.
Sources: Sharpe, 0 mins. at UK, to stay in drafton April 21, 2022 at 4:48 pm Read More »
The Chicago Blackhawks just love burning the first year of contracts during this meaningless season. They did that with Lukas Reichel already last week and they did it with Alex Vlasic on Wednesday night.
The young left-handed defenseman played in his 10th career game which, as mentioned before, burns the first year of his entry-level deal. It is truly a strange move for the Hawks as they just try to get to the end of the horrid season that took place this year.
On Easter Sunday, the Chicago Bulls played a much more competitive game against the Milwaukee Bucks than people would have expected. The Bucks won the game and took a 1-0 series lead in the first-round matchup but it was clear that the Bulls were going to fight.
In game two of the series, they looked like a completely different team that had no interest in leaving Milwaukee down 0-2. They didn’t do that as they stole home-court advantage from the Bucks with a 114-110 victory. It was a marvelous game.
There are lots to do in Chicago, and the possibilities are endless. Sure, you’ll miss a few days of playing online casinos in Canada, but you can choose among other activities like dining, touring, and participating in events. So, continue reading to learn more!
When you first see Crown Fountain, you will be entertained and awed. This quirky work of public art/video sculpture brilliance was created by Catalan artist Jaume Plensa and produced by Krueck and Sexton Architects. It debuted in July 2004.
The interactive fountain comprises a black granite reflecting pool between two glass brick towers that employ LED lights to display digital films.
Cloud Gate, often known as “The Bean”, is difficult not to fall in love with. Forming a gleaming archway into Millennium Park, people pass beneath the massive structure and look inquisitively at their distorted reflections. It’s no surprise that it’s the most popular location for selfies!
Sir Anish Kapoor, an Indian-born British artist, constructed Cloud Gate between 2004 and 2006, inspired by the properties of liquid mercury.
This art piece comprises 168 stainless steel plates welded together and carefully polished to conceal any visible seams, ensuring that your selfie is equally immaculate.
Birdlife thrives in the city’s center, resting on prairie grasses, dotted with benched hideaways and a quiet 5-foot-wide canal beside which to relax. This 10,000 square meter garden, which opened in July 2004, comprises perennials, bulbs, grasses, shrubs, and trees that form thick, sheltering hedges and huge fields of colorful flowers.
In the winter, rollerbladers (and ice skaters) glide down a quarter-mile (40 km) skating ribbon that meanders past trees, lawns, and a 3-acre Play Garden. It’s the place where every child’s greatest fantasies come true.
The two 40-foot rock-climbing walls in Maggie Daley Park, on the other hand, are a popular attraction. It’s the city’s first and only climbing park. There’s no difference between whether you’re a total beginner or a seasoned climber. If you wish to climb, there’s a special surface created just for you.
Seeing a performance at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion is mesmerizing. A brushed stainless steel canopy floats above you, creating an artful chain of colors across the pavilion’s Great Lawn. The acoustically ideal bandshell is enclosed in brushed steel, mimicking an aerodynamic helmet designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry.
Every summer, the city of Chicago organizes the Summer Film Series and Summer Music Series at the pavilion. It also serves as the main stadium for historic free music festivals such as the Chicago Blues Festival, Chicago Jazz Festival, and the Grant Park Music Festival.
You can read more about the Jay Pritzker Pavilion at jaypritzkerpavilion.com, where they post announcements, upcoming events, ticket info, and more.
Filed under:
Uncategorized
Meet The Blogger
Eraina Davis is a writer and entrepreneur. She has written for “Healthy Living” magazine as well as several academic publications. She opened one of the first pop-up shops in downtown New Haven, Connecticut called The Good Life, where she gave advice to entrepreneurs. She holds a Bachelor of Arts, an M.Ed in Education and an MAR in Religion from Yale.
Subscribe by Email
Completely spam free, opt out any time.
Latest on ChicagoNow
Posts from related blogs
Most recent post: Happy Earth Day!
Most recent post: What’s Happening This Week in Space: April 18th, 2022
Most recent post: It’s been 35 years since Harold Washington ruled the City–and I’ll never forget the day he died.
More from News: City Life
Read these ChicagoNow blogs
Read these ChicagoNow Bloggers
About ChicagoNow
•
FAQs
•
Advertise
•
Recent posts RSS
•
Privacy policy (Updated)
•
Comment policy
•
Terms of service
•
Chicago Tribune Archives
•
Do not sell my personal info
©2022 CTMG – A Chicago Tribune website –
Crafted by the News Apps team
Cool Things Canadians Can Do In Chicago Read More »
MILWAUKEE — After an uncharacteristic poor shooting performance in Game 1 of this first-round series against the Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan made a guarantee that there was no way he would shoot so poorly again.
In the days between Games 1 and 2, he watched film of every shot he missed. After the Bulls’ team bus arrived in Milwaukee the night before Game 2, DeRozan returned to Fiserv Forum once again to put up extra shots in an attempt to get back in rhythm.
And then on Wednesday, DeRozan made good on his guarantee, setting a playoff career high with 41 points on 16-for-31 shooting to lead the Bulls to a 114-110 victory that evened the series at 1-1.
“I looked at all my missed shots from Game 1, most of them shots are my shots,” DeRozan said after the game Wednesday. “I’ll never let a miss deter me from taking my next jump shot. And not being aggressive. I just knew [a bad shooting night], it wasn’t gonna happen.”
1 Related
DeRozan set a career high in scoring during his first season in Chicago, carrying the Bulls to victory with performances like these. Still, he became only the fifth Bulls player in franchise history to score 40 points during a playoff game and the first since Derrick Rose in 2011.
“He’s capable of doing that every night,” Bulls center Nikola Vucevic said of DeRozan. “He’s a helluva player. He’s a helluva scorer.
“He plays with such poise. He missed some shots in Game 1 that he’s usually good at making. Tonight, he just stayed aggressive. Obviously, he made some very tough ones, especially down the stretch, some big, big shots.
“We’ve seen him doing it all season long. … He might not go for 41 every night, but he has the capability of making big shots every night.”
DeRozan was responsible for creating his own offense for most of the night, knocking down 14 of 27 shots off the dribble, more than the entire Bucks team.
And perhaps most impressively, he shot 8-of-9 from the field for 16 points with Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo as his primary defender, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. Those eight field goals are the most Antetokounmpo has allowed against a single playoff opponent in his career.
“He’s a great player. He’s a guy that’s tough to guard because he wants to shoot those midrange shots,” Antetokounmpo said. “He wants to get to his spot. He has great bounce, great rhythm to him. He’s going to make a lot of those shots. He did it in the regular season. He’s doing it tonight.
“But at the end of the day, I feel like we contested every shot. He wasn’t open. We did our job and at the end of the day, sometimes you do your job and it still is not enough.”
With their win Wednesday night, the Bulls got their first victory over the Bucks with Antetokounmpo in the lineup since Dec. 26, 2017. Chicago has challenged Milwaukee through a competitive first two games of this series, a stark contrast from the Bulls team that scuffled to the end of the regular season, dropping 10 of its last 15 games.
“We had a long season,” Bulls guard Alex Caruso said. “We had a lot of adversity. There was almost a little bit of, like, we were just trying to start the playoffs already. We were kind of in a hole. But we got our spirit back.”
DeRozan’s 41-point night helps Chicago pull evenon April 21, 2022 at 8:56 am Read More »
Leave a comment