Saturday, December 3, 2022

EAST SUBURBAN CATHOLIC

Carmel at Benet, 7:00

METRO SUBURBAN – BLUE

Riverside-Brookfield at IC Catholic, 7:30

Timothy Christian at Wheaton Academy, 7:30

NIC – 10

Hononegah at Belvidere North, 7:30

NON CONFERENCE

Clifton Central at Hoopeston, 6:30

Cristo Rey-St. Martin at Elgin Academy, 1:00

Fremd at Grant, 7:30

Galena at Rockford Christian, 1:00

Glenbrook South at Crystal Lake South, 1:30

Grace Christian at Peotone, 11:30

Hinsdale South at Hinsdale Central, 6:00

Indian Creek at Woodstock, 2:30

Julian at Horizon-Southwest, 5:00

Kaneland at Raby, 4:30

Kennedy at Leyden, 2:30 (West)

Lake Forest Academy at Yorkville Christian, 6:30

Lakes at Maine West, 3:30

Latin at Payton, 2:00

Lincoln Park at Metamora, 2:00

Lisle at Newark, 6:30

Lyons at Downers Grove South, 4:00

Maine East at Wheeling, 4:00

Marian Central at St. Viator, 2:30

McNamara at St. Thomas More, 4:30

Morgan Park at Rich, 2:45

Mundelein at Evanston, 4:00

North Chicago at Rockford Lutheran, 2:30

Northside at Northridge, 5:00

Oswego at Waubonsie Valley, 6:00

Oswego East at Lincoln-Way East, 2:30

Palatine at Libertyville, 4:30

Phillips at Rantoul, 5:30

Proviso West at Dunbar, 2:30

Rolling Meadows at Maine South, 6:00

Round Lake at Hersey, 6:00

Sandwich at Richmond-Burton, 1:00

St. Anne at Cornerstone Christian, 4:30

St. Charles North at South Elgin, 3:30

St. Francis de Sales at Brother Rice, 1:30

Sterling at Harlem, 7:00

Stevenson at Westinghouse. 2:30

Sycamore at Harvard, 4:00

Tri-Point at Iroquois West, CNL

Von Steuben at Loyola, 3:30

Walther Christian at Ridgewood, 1:00

Warren at Jacobs, 1:30

West Chicago at Glenbard North, 3:00

Yorkville at Plano, 6:00

CHICAGO ELITE CLASSIC

at Credit Union 1 Arena

Hyde Park vs. University High, 12:00

Mount Carmel vs. North Lawndale, 1:30

Gonzaga (DC) vs. St. Ignatius, 3:00

Curie vs. Vashon (MO), 4:30

Young vs. National Christian (DC), 6:00

Simeon vs. St. Rita, 7:30

Kenwood vs. Joliet West, 9:00

CLARK

Prosser vs. Senn, 12:00

Francis Parker vs. Hope Academy, 2:30

Crane vs. Clark, 5:00

EASTLAND

East Dubuque vs. Marengo, 1:30

Aquin vs. Wethersfield, 3:00

Eastland vs. Warren (IL), 4:30

Byron vs. Hinckley-Big Rock, 6:00

HALL

Marquette vs. Mendota, 3:00

Fieldcrest vs. Bureau Valley, 4:30

Princeton vs. St. Bede, 6:00

Stillman Valley vs. Hall, 7:30

MARION

Lawrenceville vs. Ballard (KY), 2:00

Mascoutah vs. Effingham, 3:30

Kankakee vs. Carbondale, 5:00

Triad vs. Nashville, 6:30

Marion vs. Poplar Bluff (MO), 8:00

MT. VERNON / BELLEVILLE LINDENWOOD

Antioch vs. Lift for Life (MO), 2:30

WHEATON-WARR. SOUTH

Addison Trail vs. Glenbard East, 12:00

Wheaton North vs. Highland Park, 1:30

Naperville Central vs. Hoffman Estates, 3:00

Naperville North vs. Huntley, 4:45

Batavia vs. Glenbard West, 6:15

Wheaton-Warr. South vs. York, 7:45

AURORA CHRISTIAN

Seventh Place, 3:00

Fifth Place, 4:30

Third Place, 6:00

Championship, 7:30

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SAN FRANCISCO – Zach LaVine wasn’t going to kick young teammates when they were down.

In the aftermath of Bulls coach Billy Donovan opting to shakeup the starting lineup on Friday, moving Ayo Dosunmu and Patrick Williams to the second unit, LaVine made it very clear that the buck still started and finished with himself, DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic.

Dosunmu and Williams were simply collateral damage of the failings of that “Big Three” so far this season.

“It always does,” LaVine said of the blame falling on the three veterans. “Coach has to make his decisions, but as the best players on the team we’ve got to be the ones that make the plays, on bad days take the criticism, good days make sure to help us win, play defense, make the shots. That’s what you do, and why you are in position to do this.

“It’s a player-driven league, and I always think it starts top to bottom.”

LaVine wasn’t lying, but then again he also knows the top – especially the top three – remain very safe with their starting status.

It’s now up to Williams and Dosunmu to not only accept the demotion, but the coaching staff has to continue to make sure they are developing if this roster is to progress forward.

Not an easy wire to walk.

While Dosunmu and Williams said all the right things about their coach’s decision, and even showed in the loss to Golden State that they weren’t going to let it affect their play, minutes will be cut in their new role.

Dosunmu was averaging just under 29 minutes a game as a starter, and played 21 in the loss to the Warriors.

The good news was he went 4-for-4 from the field, hit his only three, grabbed five rebounds and handed out three assists.

“I just take it as this is what it was,” Dosunmu said of his performance and feelings about the change. “Start or not, every day I want to get 1% better. Keep stacking days like that, and at the end of the day you always become a better player. That’s my mindset. Nothing really has changed.”

Then again, Dosunmu was a second-round pick, and wouldn’t even be a starter if not for the Lonzo Ball injury.

It’s Williams that remained the elephant in the room, with the No. 4 pick from the 2020 draft realizing that his draft position seemingly no longer carries weight over wins and losses.

Just like that, he’s gone from 28 minutes per game as a starter, to trying to make the most out of the 19 minutes he played against the Warriors.

A decision that could hamper his development? Donovan didn’t think so.

“The one thing with Patrick is we’ve been trying to get him to be more aggressive,” Donovan said. “Being out there with three terrific offensive players in Zach, Vooch and DeMar, sometimes there’s not those opportunities, so to speak. He’s going to need to be somebody that gives that group a little bit of a pop. So I look at it as this may actually help his development, putting him in some situations where he can be a little more aggressive. I still think the development part for him is in place.”

Williams did put up nine shots in those 19 minutes, which wasn’t bad at all for a guy that averaged 7.4 shot attempts per game as a starter.

“I’m with whatever to win,” Williams said. “You gotta trust the process and control what you can control as a player. I trust Billy, I trust the coaching staff.”

LaVine, however, had a message for his teammates. Williams and Dosunmu can trust the decisions made, but LaVine wanted to make sure they were still hungry.

“I don’t think they should be happy or satisfied with it at all,” LaVine said.

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Baseball is an international sport but still has room to expand. One country that’s attempting to make inroads is Pakistan, more known for its prowess on the cricket pitch.

Lane Tech junior Amaan Khan is part of that effort.

Khan, a 16-year-old right-hander, pitched for the Pakistan national team during its two-game stay in a qualifying tournament for the 2023 World Baseball Classic. Though Pakistan was eliminated after a 7-4 loss to Argentina on Sept. 30 and a 12-0 defeat to Nicaragua on Oct. 2, the games in Panama City, Panama, were another step for the nascent baseball nation that also participated in qualifiers for the 2017 event.

Khan, who pitched an inning against Nicaragua and allowed two runs, relishes his role in the future of Pakistan baseball.

“It means a lot because you see the game’s growing [in Pakistan],” Khan said. “You’re able to help influence out there. I got a lot of people who reached out after the games and they sent a lot of love. Our team made an impact down in Pakistan, down in Asia and hopefully made some impact across the world to show kids that you can play baseball regardless of where you’re from.

“I would think it helped out a lot.”

Before Khan could contribute to the Pakistan national team, he had to get on its radar.

As a sophomore, Khan was a standout on Lane Tech’s JV team and was named its best pitcher. That resume helped, but Khan also tweeted an outing that was spotted by the Pakistan baseball federation. Khan was direct messaged by the federation, and was told he had an opportunity to play for the national team.

“Social media is the way, especially Twitter, for athletes,” Khan said. “It’s a way to reach out to coaches and they reach out to you.”

A lanky righty, Khan’s stuff includes a fastball, change-up, his “go-to” curve and a slider he’s working on. He will advance to the Lane Tech varsity this spring and hopes to play in college. He wants to continue to attack the game mentally and be confident on the mound.

“He’s just starting to really grow into his body as far as getting stronger and gaining control,” Lane Tech varsity coach Sean Freeman said. “His upside as a pitcher is just upward as he continues to get control. He already throws hard, but there’s a lot more in the tank the next couple years as he continues to develop.”

One area he doesn’t need to add much is maturity.

Freeman called Khan a “stand-up young man.” He cited Khan’s work volunteering at camps and with the Little League Challenger program, which is an adaptive version of the sport for individuals with physical and intellectual challenges.

Knowing Khan gave Freeman confidence he was mature enough to handle pitching in a prestigious tournament against teams with players twice his age.

“We have a lot of great kids, but he definitely has a level of maturity about him that’s probably a tick above your average high school player,” Freeman said. “He’s never too high [or] too low. He’s very calm and even-keeled. I knew he’d be able to compete, and no matter what happened that he’d stay within himself and give himself a chance, and that’s what he did.”

Indeed, Khan knows the significance of playing for Team Pakistan, something he wanted to do since he was a youngster.

“Being a role model is cool; I just kind of want to inspire kids to continue to play the game no matter where you’re from, what your background is,” Khan said. “Pakistan is a predominantly cricket country, and it just shows baseball is growing, and you have those kids that want to go out there but just don’t know, just to continue to play and show what they’ve got.”

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You remember the winter meetings. Where the baseball world gathers in one warm place for several days to talk shop, do business, make trades and announce free-agent signings.

The Sox had center stage as recently as 2016 with a pair of blockbuster deals, including moving one of their best pitchers of all time, Chris Sale. They have had their share of historic moments in winter meetings history, such as in 1975, when general manager Roland Hemond, working for new owner Bill Veeck, set up a table in the Diplomat Hotel in Hollywood, Florida, with a sign that read, “Open for business.” Within three days, they made six trades involving 22 players, dealing Jim Kaat and Bill Melton and acquiring Ralph Garr and Clay Carroll, among others. Those were the last winter meetings before free agency.

Like everyone else in the game, the Sox were blacked out the last two seasons.

But after COVID-19 canceled the 2020 meetings in Dallas and a lockout canceled 2021 in Orlando, the meetings return next week in San Diego.

Will the Sox make the front page? Here’s how they made news in past winter meetings:

Dec. 6, 2016, National Harbor, Md.

In the biggest deal of these meetings and one of the biggest in memory, the Sox kicked off a rebuild by dealing five-time All-Star Sale to the Red Sox for four prospects, including infielder Yoan Moncada — the No. 1 prospect in baseball, per Baseball America — right-hander Michael Kopech, outfielder Luis Basabe Jr. and righty Victor Diaz.

The next day, the Sox kept it rolling, sending outfielder Adam Eaton to the Nationals for right-handed pitching prospects Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez and Dane Dunning.

Giolito became an All-Star, Lopez has had mixed results and Dunning was traded for Lance Lynn.

Sale and Eaton went on to help their teams win the World Series.

Dec. 6, 1984, Houston

Hemond sent 1983 Cy Young winner LaMarr Hoyt and minor-league pitchers Kevin Kristan and Todd Simmons to the Padres for 20-year-old minor-leaguer Ozzie Guillen, who would become the 1985 American League Rookie of the Year, a Gold Glove shortstop, a three-time All-Star and manager of the Sox’ 2005 World Series champs.

The Sox also got utility player Luis Salazar and pitchers Tim Lollar and Bill Long. It was considered a bold move at the time for Hemond, but Hoyt had struggled in 1984 and battled drug issues and was out of baseball by 1987.

Dec. 13, 2004, Anaheim, Calif.

In a trade that helped shape the 2005 champs, GM Ken Williams dealt power-hitting left fielder Carlos Lee to the Brewers for the swifter, defensively better Scott Podsednik and reliever Luis Vizcaino. Podsednik stole 59 bases, made the AL All-Star team, finished 12th in MVP voting and hit a walk-off homer in Game 2 of the World Series against the Astros. The deal also saved about $6 million in payroll, providing flexibility for the Sox to sign second baseman Tadahito Iguchi.

Dec. 10, 1976, Los Angeles

The Sox traded Firemen of the Year Rich “Goose” Gossage (1975) and Terry Forster (’74) to the Pirates for outfielder Richie Zisk and right-handed pitcher Silvio Martinez. It was part of Veeck’s rent-a-player plan, acquiring players known to be highly motivated in their last season before free agency. Zisk would lead the South Side Hit Men, who won 90 games, with 30 homers and 101 RBI in 1977, one of the most fun in Sox history. Gossage became a Hall of Fame closer, having his best seasons with the Yankees and Padres.

Dec. 11, 1973, Houston

Not every Hemond trade was a good one. After fading Cubs star Ron Santo became the first player to use 10-and-5 rights (10 years of experience, five with same team) to refuse a trade to the Angels, he accepted one to the Sox, who sent Steve Stone, Steve Swisher, Ken Frailing and a player to be named (Jim Kremmel) to the Cubs. With Bill Melton locked in at third base, a disgruntled Santo was relegated to DH duty and second base. He didn’t get along with manager Chuck Tanner and Dick Allen and hit .221 with five homers and 41 RBI. At 34, it was the last season of a Hall of Fame career.

Dec. 2, 1971, Phoenix

In what is viewed as a franchise-saving deal, Hemond, who was the player personnel director, acquired disgruntled slugger Allen from the Dodgers for Tommy John and infielder Steve Huntz. Allen would lead the Sox to a 92-win season and almost to an AL West title, winning the AL MVP award and giving the Sox a needed bump in attendance.

An hour later, Hemond also pried starting pitcher Stan Bahnsen from the Yankees for infielder Rich McKinney. Bahnsen won 21 games in 1972.

Dec. 4, 1957, Colorado Springs, Colo.

In a deal that came as a shocker to Sox fans, popular future Hall of Famer Minnie Mi?oso was shipped to Cleveland with infielder Fred Hatfield for future Hall of Fame pitcher Early Wynn and outfielder Al Smith. Wynn won the AL Cy Young Award in 1959 after winning 22 games and helping the Sox reach the World Series. Smith also contributed to that team.

“I’m the happiest guy in the Broadmoor Hotel,” Cleveland manager Bobby Bragan said. “If I had to name the six or eight most exciting players in baseball, Mi?oso would be one of them.”

At the 1959 meetings in St. Petersburg, Florida, the Sox reacquired Mi?oso and three others from Cleveland for Norm Cash, John Romano and Bubba Phillips.

Worth noting

Pitchers Billy Pierce and Don Larsen to the Giants for Eddie Fisher, Dom Zanni and Bob Farley in 1961; Keith Foulke and Mark Johnson to the Athletics for Billy Koch and Neal Cotts in 2002; Cy Young winner Jack McDowell to the Yankees for minor-leaguer Keith Heberling and a player to be named (Lyle Mouton) in 1994.

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Two years ago, winger Chris Mueller was building his case to be on the United States men’s national team.

On Dec. 9, 2020, Mueller made his USMNT debut and scored twice in a 6-0 win over El Salvador.

He then played 26 minutes as a substitute in a 7-0 victory over Trinidad & Tobago on Jan. 31, 2021, and seemed to be entering the MLS season with momentum.

But after a standout 2020 for Orlando City, Mueller’s numbers declined in 2021, though he still earned a transfer to Scottish club Hibernian.

That move didn’t work out, and he ended up back in MLS with the Fire earlier this year. While he added speed and skill to the Fire attack, his chances to be with the national team in the 2022 World Cup were effectively gone.

“It definitely motivates me to see the team that’s doing well over in Qatar,” Mueller said. “Obviously, no matter what happened in the last year, I undoubtably believe that I should still be there. I know my quality and what I can do as a player, so whether the results came through for it or whatever happened, it kind of put me on a bit of a pause.”

Mueller isn’t looking back with regrets over the switch to Hibernian, where he made 15 appearances before signing with the Fire in May. He knows that there are dips in the game and that players will encounter some low points, and Mueller believes his perseverance will bring better results.

That doesn’t mean it’s easy for him to watch the World Cup, even while supporting the USMNT and wanting to see the players succeed.

“It has been a little difficult for me to watch it just because it’s easy to feel sad when I know I was in the mix,” Mueller said. “I really wanted to be there. That’s the goal for any kid playing in any country, to play at that level. It’s the top tournament you could ever play in.”

The good thing about international soccer is that it never really stops, and there are opportunities to get back into the picture. Mueller is confident he’ll be back in national-team consideration by the end of the 2023 MLS season, and he already has his eyes on 2026, when the World Cup is in North America and he’ll be 29 years old.

To resume his climb, Mueller needs to have a strong 2023 season with the Fire. He’ll be helped by having a full offseason to rest and prepare — something he didn’t have in 2022 — and the knowledge that he again will be one of the Fire’s most important players, which will give him a chance to thrive.

“It’s a massive year for me,” Mueller said. “I’m really looking forward to it. I’m really taking this time to recharge, reconnect with myself, recalibrate my mindset so that I can come in and have the best year of my career.”

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Could anything be more exciting than a gridiron clash between the 4-8 Packers and the 3-9 Bears?

Don’t answer that.

Still, though, Bears-Packers will always be a big deal here and up north. Sunday at Soldier Field, the old rivals get after it again. We probably don’t have to tell you which team usually emerges victorious, but what about this time? In this week’s “Polling Place,” your home for Sun-Times sports polls on Twitter, we asked voters to pick a winner.

“Need you ask?” @JeffreyCanalia posed rhetorically.

“It’s an SOS: same old story,” @JBIRD1268 wrote. “Packers win.”

We also asked if beating the Packers — oh, so rare — would be worth the Bears potentially moving down in the 2023 draft.

“I hope they lose the rest,” @j23airkenny offered, willing to take one on the chin from Green Bay yet again.

Finally, we asked about the quality of a rivalry that has been far too one-sided for far too long: Is it still one of the great ones?

On to the polls:

Poll No. 1: It’s Packers week for the Bears. Who wins Sunday at Soldier Field?

Upshot: What actually makes this one more than a little compelling is that both No. 1 quarterbacks — Packers oldtimer Aaron Rodgers and Bears youngster Justin Fields — come in hurting. If both play, it’ll bring some weightiness to a game between bad teams that don’t really have anything at stake beyond draft position and job auditions for next season. But the Bears will also take any chance they can get to sneak a “W” past their tormentors.

Poll No. 2: Is beating the Packers worth potentially moving down a few spots in the 2023 draft?

Upshot: The results say no, even though @MikeDon121848430 says yes, adding, “Stupid question. There should be absolutely no thought about next year’s draft during this season.” Come on, now, Mike — there are no stupid questions, just stupid writers who make up questions.

Poll No. 3: Considering the Packers have “owned” the Bears over the last 30-plus years, is this still a great rivalry?

Upshot: Look how close this vote is. It’s kind of sad, isn’t it? But give a whole bunch of respondents credit for seeing things as they are, not how they used to be. “Anyone who says this has been a rivalry in the last 30 years hasn’t been paying attention,” @thamanaynyexp1 offered. If only it had been possible to ignore it all.

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On Feb. 1, 1982, late-night television — and comedy, in general — changed forever with the debut of ”Late Night With David Letterman” on NBC. For me, it was momentous. As great as Dave’s failed morning show was, this was even more amazing because it broke the mold of the tired ”Tonight Show.” As much as Dave loved Johnny Carson, he managed to find a new form of comedy by not being Johnny. Stupid Pet/Human Tricks, the Velcro Wall, the Monkey-Cam, Stump the Band, Hello Deli gags, The Top 10 List and Dave’s Record Collection were just some of the great Letterman bits. One of my favorites was called ”Viewer Mail” on NBC. It became the ”CBS Mailbag” when the show moved to CBS in 1993. And that’s why we are talking about Dave today. In today’s quiz, we feature several emails from the Quizmaster’s Mailbag. And in the words of David Letterman, ”This is not a competition; it’s only an exhibition. Please, no wagering.”

1. ”You know him, you love him, you can’t live without him — Paul Shaffer, ladies and gentlemen!” David Letterman had never-ending respect for his bandleader and comedic partner, Paul Shaffer. ”Paul is essential,” Letterman said. ”It’s a long trip. And Paul is the funny flight attendant.” With that in mind, ”You know her, you love her, you can’t live without her — Tracey Labovitz, ladies and gentlemen!” Tracey is the gifted person who designs the quiz each week, and I guarantee you would never enjoy it as much without her skills. Tracey’s parents always told her that she interrupted the Cubs game on July 15, 1969, to be born. The second-place Mets beat the first-place Cubs that day. Who was the Cubs’ manager?

a. Charley Grimm

b. Leo Durocher

c. Pete Reiser

d. Whitey Lockman

2. Here’s one from Nick Z, whose birthday is March 15. Here are four players who were born on the Ides of March. Put them in order of WAR (according to Baseball-Reference).

a. Harold Baines

b. Bobby Bonds

c. Kevin Youkilis

d. Bob Locker

3. Gary M. gave me the year 1973 to consider. Here we go: The 1973 Major League Baseball season was the first for the designated hitter in the American League. Who was the first DH?

a. Ron Blomberg c. Orlando Cepeda

b. Mike Andrews d. Tony Oliva

4. Larry R. asked me to come up with something about March 14, 1950 — his birthdate, presumably. It is definitely the birthdate of Dave McKay, who was the Toronto Blue Jays’ starting third baseman on their first Opening Day in 1977. What makes McKay noteworthy?

a. He was a switch-hitter.

b. He was the Cubs’ first-base coach in 2012-13.

c. In one season, he hit more triples than homers.

d. He was the only Canadian on the original Blue Jays’ roster.

e. All of the above.

5. On Oct. 15, 1968, the expansion draft for the Seattle Pilots and Kansas City Royals took place, meaning that was their birthdate. Hall of Famer Hoyt Wilhelm (who pitched for the Cubs and White Sox) was chosen as the 49th player in that draft. Reader Jay H. is interested in a question about his birthdate, Dec. 12, 1968. That was the date that one of the two teams made its very first trade, swapping Wilhelm to the Angels for immortals Ed Kirkpatrick and Dennis Paepke. Who made that deal, the Pilots or the Royals?

6. Don R. wants us to think about May 9, 1981, the date of his first baseball-game date with his (now) wife. In that game, the White Sox topped the Royals 3-0. Richard Dotson threw a complete-game shutout. The Sox had eight shutouts that season. Six were complete games, and two were with two pitchers. In 2022, the Sox tossed 14 shutouts. Dylan Cease threw the only complete game. What is the greatest number of pitchers the Sox used to throw a shutout in 2022?

a. 6 c. 5

b. 4 d. 3

7. Ron S-L. asked me about 1964, one of my favorite MLB seasons. In the 1964 World Series, the Cardinals topped the Yankees. The day after the game, the victorious manager resigned. Later that day, the losing manager was fired. Who were these two managers?

a. Johnny Keane

b. Red Schoendienst

c. Yogi Berra

d. Ralph Houk

8. David Letterman’s CBS debut was on Aug. 30, 1993. Aug. 30 is the birthdate of which of the following legends?

a. Ted Williams

b. Tug McGraw

c. Larry ”Bud” Melman

d. The Quizmaster

9. When Letterman first introduced the mailbag on his show, Paul Shaffer played ”We’ve Got Letters,” the love-letter theme from the old Perry Como show. When the show moved to CBS, Paul changed the theme to ”Please, Mr. Postman,” a song the Beatles covered on ”With the Beatles” in 1963. Who sang the original hit?

a. The Ronettes

b. The Marvelettes

c. Ray Heatherton

d. The Mailmen

Sorry if I couldn’t get to your date/year request this week. There are many Hot Stove weeks to fill, so please be patient. Be healthy and have a great week.

ANSWERS

1. Leo Durocher managed the Cubs that season. The Miracle Mets won it all in 1969.

2. Bob Locker pitched for both Chicago teams and had a 10.2 WAR. ”Youk” played for both the Red Sox and White Sox and had a 32.4 WAR. Hall of Famer Harold Baines had a 38.8 WAR. And Bobby Bonds, who also played for both Chicago teams, had a 57.8 WAR. Neither he nor his son is in the Hall.

3. While Mike Andrews was the first DH for the White Sox, the Yankees’ Ron Blomberg was the first DH to appear in the AL. His autobiography is titled ”Designated Hebrew: The Ron Blomberg Story.”

4. All of the above. In 1978, the switch-hitting McKay, born in Vancouver, hit seven homers and eight triples. He was on Dale Sveum’s coaching staff.

5. Paepke played 80 games with the Royals, and Kirkpatrick played 613 games with them. Wilhelm, the 46-year knuckleballer, pitched in another 133 games before retiring July 10, 1972, just 16 days shy of his 50th birthday.

6. In 2022, the Sox used five pitchers three times to throw shutouts. In 2002, they tossed a six-pitcher shutout against the Royals.

7. On Oct. 16, 1964, Johnny Keane, the manager of the Cardinals, resigned. Hours later, Yankees GM Ralph Houk fired Yogi Berra. Less than a week later, Houk replaced Berra with Keane. The Cardinals replaced Keane with Red Schoendienst. And Berra became a coach with the Mets, managed by Casey Stengel.

8. Calvert Grant DeForest, aka Larry ”Bud” Melman, was born on July 23. The other legends were born on Aug. 30.

9. ”Please, Mr. Postman” was the debut single by The Marvelettes and the first Motown song to reach the No. 1 position on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart.

”In Scoring Position: 40 Years of a Baseball Love Affair” from Triumph Books is a Casey Award finalist for baseball book of the year and makes a great holiday present.

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The flurry of movement sparked by early roster deadlines has died down. The Cubs haven’t been part of the early trades or signings since. But have no fear, the winter meetings are right around the corner.

Each year, the winter meetings ignite activity. Having representatives from every team under one roof has a way of getting things done. And for the first time since 2019, the winter meetings are back in person, kicking off Monday.

The Cubs promised they’d be active this offseason, and they’ve made big moves before at this time of year.

Here’s a collection of the most significant moves — good, bad, recent and long ago — the Cubs have made during the winter meetings.

Signing Jon Lester

The Cubs’ best free-agent signing of all time came together during the 2014 winter meetings. The club agreed to terms with Jon Lester on a six-year, $155 million contract and made it official a few days later.

It’s easy to say in retrospect that Lester’s signing was what catapulted the Cubs into a run of five playoff appearances in six years, including three straight National League Championship Series and a World Series victory. But Kyle Hendricks, the last remaining Cub from that title team, said he felt at the time that Lester’s arrival was a turning point.

“When that happened in the offseason, now you knew,” Hendricks told the Sun-Times recent recently. “I hadn’t maybe thought about it, but I knew, OK, this is a team now that is all in. We’re going somewhere. We’re winning.”

Win they did. And Lester, posting a 3.64 ERA and .636 winning percentage during his time in Chicago, claimed two All-Star selections and came in as high as second in NL Cy Young voting as a Cub.

Trading for Mordecai Brown

From a recent winter meetings to an early iteration: The story of how Hall of Famer Mordecai Brown landed with the Cubs began as the National League met in December 1903. The Cubs were rumored to be trading right-hander Jack Taylor to Cincinnati, according to Sabr.org.

Only half of that report in “The Sporting News” came to fruition. The Cubs sent Taylor and catcher Larry McLean to St. Louis for Brown and catcher Jack O’Neil. And thus, the pitcher nicknamed “Three Finger” began a nine-year run in Chicago.

Brown went to the World Series three straight years with the Cubs and won two of them.

Trading Lee Smith to Red Sox

The Cubs haven’t only struck up deals to trade for future Hall of Famers at the winter meetings. They’ve also sent them away. Cue 1987.

The Cubs traded Lee Smith to the Red Sox for pitchers Al Nipper and Calvin Schiraldi.

Smith, whom the Cubs drafted in 1975, already had been an All-Star twice. He’d go on to earn five more All-Star selections and win three Rolaids Relief Man Awards in his decorated career.

Nipper pitched in just 22 games for the Cubs. Schiraldi posted a 4.19 ERA in parts of two seasons with the team.

Signing Ben Zobrist

In Ben Zobrist, the Cubs got a utility player, a 2016 All-Star and a postseason hero. They secured the man who’d record the biggest hit in Cubs history.

Zobrist famously drove in the go-ahead run in the 10th inning of Game 7 of the World Series, hitting an opposite-field double in the Cubs’ curse-breaking victory. He was named MVP of the series.

Zobrist’s Cubs tenure began with a winter meetings signing in 2015. He inked a four-year, $56 million contract.

Trading Bruce Sutter to Cardinals

Hall of Famer Bruce Sutter’s career was largely split between the Cubs and the rival Cardinals. That switch between the teams was courtesy of a winter meetings trade in 1980: Sutter to St. Louis for outfielder Leon Durham, third baseman Ken Reitz and utility player Ty Waller (the player to be named later).

Sutter had won the NL Cy Young Award two seasons before and was on a four-year All-Star streak. But before trading Sutter, the Cubs tried to lowball him in arbitration.

They lost the case, and Sutter was awarded a $700,000 salary for what would end up being his last year with the Cubs, who had offered $350,000.

Durham was a two-time All-Star in his 7 1/2 seasons with the Cubs. Reitz and Waller’s tenures were more brief. Sutter’s departure at least made room for Smith to take over as closer.

Sutter added two more All-Star selections to his r?sum? with the Cardinals.

Signing Ted Lilly

Lefty Ted Lilly was an All-Star, led the league in starts in 2008 and posted a 3.70 ERA in his time with the Cubs. But his 2006 signing also became part of Cubs winter meetings lore.

In 2006, general manager Jim Hendry was hospitalized for an angioplasty procedure. But he kept working.

“Jim was hooked up to an EKG machine, and we got it done,” Lilly’s agent, Larry O’Brien, told reporters at the time.

The result of Hendry’s efforts: Lilly signed a four-year contract for $40 million.

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LAS VEGAS — The inquiry arrived, asking whether he could fill in Thanksgiving night on Ben Maller’s overnight Fox Sports Radio show, and Bernie Fratto didn’t hesitate.

With the country in a tryptophan coma, Fratto went to work — from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. his time — in the network’s Las Vegas studios.

”Love every minute of it,” Fratto said. ”I’m like Dick Clark, who worked into his 70s. He grew up in the Depression and never turned down work. Neither will I.”

Fratto, 65, took a radio cue from meeting, by chance, the legendary journalist Dick Schaap in the late 1980s. The Michigan native delivers so much sports-betting information that having a notepad nearby is wise.

”He loves sports, he loves communicating and he loves blending the two,” Schaap, who died in 2001, wrote long ago in a letter of recommendation. ”If you hire him, I promise I will continue to steal from him.”

A catcher who signed with the Reds organization, only to have an arm injury fizzle that dream within a month, Fratto found a home behind the microphone.

He and wife Debbie moved to Vegas in 2010. He hosted UNLV basketball pregame and postgame radio shows, guested on others and got FSR’s national ”Straight Outta Vegas” gig in 2018. Strong ratings boosted it from one to four hours.

On Labor Day, FSR architect Scott Shapiro added Friday to Fratto’s workload, creating ”The Bernie Fratto Show.” It airs on more than 600 FSR outlets and SiriusXM’s Channel 83.

He aims to emulate Pablo Casals, the world’s finest cellist, who lived 96 years. In 1989, the Pablo Casals Elementary School opened on West Potomac Avenue in Humboldt Park.

At 93, Casals taught at a university when a student asked why he still practiced three hours daily.

”Casals said, ‘Young man, I’m beginning to see some improvement.’ I tell that story on the air,” Fratto said. ”I’ll never retire. I’d like to be the sports-radio version of Pablo Casals.”

TIMELESS

The soul of the show, if not the host himself, hails from 2648 West Grand Boulevard in central Detroit: Motown.

Berry Gordy’s brainchild revolutionized the music industry in the 1960s, spawning hits from the Miracles, Martha and the Vandellas, the Supremes and many others. Gordy put a ”Hitsville, U.S.A.” sign above the front window.

Today, the building is a museum. Fratto has visited on several occasions, taken out-of-town guests on tours and driven by it ”millions of times.”

”It’s nondescript and well-kept,” he said. ”You walk in, and there’s a tangible, visceral feel that will knock you on your butt — this transcendent, seminal happening that crossed racial and gender lines. Timeless music.”

Fratto trumpets texture and selects the bumper music — much of the Motown sound — that reconnects listeners after commercial breaks.

He shuffles stuff in and out every 90 days. That’s a testament to Shapiro, who allows hosts such autonomy.

Someone asked Fratto the name of a song. He wrote back, ”That was ‘Say A Little Prayer’ by Aretha Franklin.” Via Twitter, someone else typed, ”Best bumper music on FSR! Love hearing the music of my youth. Great show. God bless!”

Some of it isn’t Motown. Fratto recently eased in the fabulous ”Mas Que Nada” by Sergio Mendes, from his impeccable ”Brazil ’66” album, retaining his rich 1960s theme.

”There’s a method to my madness,” Fratto said. ”Imaging is so big in radio, trying to create a mood, a vibe, of which people aren’t even cognizant: ‘Man, this kind of feels good. I think I can hang here for a while.’

”When it resonates, I get texts.”

MANAGING RISK

During his first trip to Vegas, Fratto stayed at the Stardust. In its showroom, Joan Rivers opened for Rich Little, a show he attended. The Maxim became home base. He and a pal favored blackjack.

He witnessed Ray ”Boom Boom” Mancini’s mauling of Duk-Koo Kim, in the outdoor ring at Caesars Palace, in 1982. Hanging out with figures such as Randall ”Tex” Cobb became commonplace.

Cobb told Fratto about his biggest payday, which came against Larry Holmes.

”He got pummeled,” Fratto said of Cobb. ”He almost didn’t make weight. He told me, ‘Frankly, I was worried about the weigh-in . . . but I shoulda been worried about the way out!’

”He said he’d fight Holmes again, but he didn’t think [Holmes’] hands could have taken it.”

Fratto speaks with authority on Packers milquetoast defensive coordinator Joe Barry, having watched him, in 2008, orchestrate the first Lions defense to yield 500-plus points (517) in a season.

He strives to be a keen observer, providing a journalistic foundation with sports-wagering insights.

”This season, we studied the [Stanford] Wong teasers,” Fratto said of six-point, two-team NFL manipulations. ”They’re hitting at about 68%. The problem is, because it’s minus-140, if you’re not at 73%, you’re losing money.”

He conveys tactics in an even manner. Sportsbooks maximize profit and minimize risk. That, Fratto said, should be the tack of every bettor.

”I want to take people behind the curtain, show them how to treat this right so they don’t hurt themselves. You’re not in the prediction or fortune-telling business. Your goal is to manage risk.

”Do that, and you can have fun and it can be profitable. Part of managing risk is bankroll. Never endanger your bankroll.”

Listen to ”The Bernie Fratto Show” for money-making guidance and hear some epic music.

His own Hitsville.

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KEY MATCHUP

Bears quarterback Justin Fields is expected to play after missing last week’s game against the Jets with a separated shoulder. Fields was on an unprecedented tear as a runner prior to his injury, rushing for 640 yards and six touchdowns on 80 carries (8.0 average) in his last six games.

It remains to be seen how much Fields will run with the injury, but the opportunity figures to be there against a Packers defense that had no answer for Jalen Hurts as a runner in a 40-33 loss last week. Hurts, who came in averaging 44 rushing yards per game, had 17 carries for 157 yards.

That puts pressure on a Packers defense that has struggled most of the season but is reeling sine losing edge rusher Rashan Gary and linebacker De’Vondre Campbell to injuries. From defensive tackle Kenny Clark to linebacker Quay Walker to safety Adrian Amos, all three levels will be tested.

“He’s playing with confidence,” Amos said of Fields. “He’s doing what he does well. He’s probably one of the most dynamic people with the ball in his hands. You have to have the whole defense in sync to tackle him and bring him down. And he does have the arm talent to do [damage] when things hold up. He’s getting better and better as you give him more tools around him.”

TRENDING

In their five-game losing streak, the Bears have allowed 378.0 yards per game — 28th in the NFL in that span. But the Packers have been worse, allowing an average of 390.4 yards in their last five games (1-4) — 30th in the NFL in that span.

PLAYER TO WATCH

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is 24-4 with a 108.2 passer rating in games he has started and finished against the Bears in his career — 21-2 since the 2011 season.

He’s never been better against them recently — 5-0 with a 141.0 rating (76% completions, 16 touchdowns, no interceptions) in his last five games. Rodgers hasn’t thrown an interception against the Bears in his last seven games (208 passes) — since Eddie Jackson’s end zone pick in a 24-17 Bears victory at Soldier Field in 2018.

Rodgers, though, is banged up coming into this one — playing through a broken thumb he suffered against the Giants in London in Week 5, and now with a rib injury that forced him out agains the Eagles last week.

Rodgers proficiency has been hampered. His 92.9 passer rating is his worst since 2010. He’s thrown nine interceptions in 12 games — more than he’s thrown in an entire season since 2010 (11).

X-FACTOR

The Bears have lost five straight, eight out of nine and they’ve allowed 34.6 points per game in their last five games. And they lost two more leaders in wide receiver Darnell Mooney and Jackson. Coach Matt Eberflus’ “culture” that has kept this team together will face a supreme test in this one.

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