As the White Sox introduce Pedro Grifol as their new manager Thursday, it’s not yet known how the first-year skipper’s coaching staff will shape up, although third base coach Joe McEwing won’t be part of it.

McEwing, who spent 16 years in the organization including 11 as a coach under managers Robin Ventura, Rick Renteria and Tony La Russa, was the team’s third base coach the last two seasons and for seven altogether. McEwing said he learned of the Sox’ decision to let him go this week.

An intense worker and upbeat presence behind the scenes and in the clubhouse, McEwing, affectionately known as “Super Joe,” was thrust under an unwanted spotlight this season when he and pitcher Lance Lynn had words in the dugout at Detroit on June 13 and when he made a questionable decision to send slow-footed catcher Yasmani Grandal home from second base at Cleveland on Aug. 20. While manager Tony La Russa defended the decision, Grandal was out easily and twisted his knee trying to avoid the tag.

It’s also known that Charlie Montoyo will be Grifol’s bench coach, filling the role held by Miguel Cairo. Montoyo was fired as Blue Jays manager this season.

The Sox haven’t announced any staff changes but more are expected after the team finished a disappointing 81-81 last season.

They will announce Grifol, who’s hiring became known Tuesday. Grifol comes on board with a low profile as bench coach of the last place Royals and a well-rounded resume but one without major league playing experience.

As Grifol’s staff is pieced together, additional important matters – figuring out how to pick up the pieces of 2022 — will be addressed. Trades, free agent signings and exercising necessary club contract options could position the Sox, on paper, as preseason favorites to win their second AL Central Division in three years.

In any event, the roster Grifol has to work with is more important than the manager himself, and to that end, the Sox have four players who are free agents: First baseman Jose Abreu, shortstop Elvis Andrus and right-handers Johnny Cueto, Vince Velasquez.

Players with team contract options for 2023 include shortstop Tim Anderson ($12.5 million), outfielder A.J. Pollock ($13 million with a $5 million buyout) and second baseman Josh Harrison ($5.625 million, $1.5 million buyout). Only Anderson’s is certain to be picked up.

How the areas of starting pitching, right field, first base and second base are addressed, as well as plans to improve defensively and coaching and training staff changes will become more clear with Grifolin place.

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A week after linebacker Roquan Smith was overcome with emotion after the Bears traded Robert Quinn, the feeling of loss was just as heavy after Smith was traded to the Ravens on Monday.

“I couldn’t believe it. I was in disbelief. I was in shock,” safety Eddie Jackson said after practice Wednesday. “To everybody it was a shock that we got rid of Rob. So when you get rid of Ro — the thoughts go through your head like, ‘What are we playing for? Is their vision still the same as the players?’ We’re trying to make it to a Super Bowl, get to the playoffs, things like that.

“I’m a player. I really don’t involve myself with what goes on upstairs. I get it. My sixth year in the league. I understand it. It was a good move as a GM to try to get something [for Smith]. But it just hits different. The upstairs people aren’t down here with us. This has become a brotherly bond that becomes deeper than football. So it kind of hurts. It was definitely an emotional day.”

Cornerback Jaylon Johnson felt a literal sense of loss that another team captain — an emotional and vocal leader –was no longer on the team.

“It was a lot,” Johnson said. “I had just left the building. It was one of those things where you come back in the building and you see everybody kind of moving different. You don’t hear him in the locker room. You don’t hear him out at walk-throughs. You just kind of get that feeling that — I don’t want to say he’s gone, but he’s moved on to a different team.”

In Baltimore, Smith was dealing with the same kind of shock. But like his former teammates, he was ready to get through the emotion, deal with the reality and move on.

“I didn’t plan to [get traded], but life happens at times and [I] got traded. So initially I was shocked,” he told reporters in Baltimore on Wednesday. “But I’m excited to be there. Good group of guys that’s contending for a title and that’s what I’m in the game to play for — playing for a title.”

Losing Quinn was a tough hit, but at least easy to understand — the 33-year-old veteran was an odd fit on a rebuilding team. But Smith is 25, in the prime of his career and considered the biggest foundation piece of the rebuild. His departure — because of a contract impasse — left general manager Ryan Poles and coach Matt Eberflus with some explaining to do. That’s why both of them met with the team’s 13-player leadership council to quell any discord.

“Roquan more than anybody [was] kind of the lifeblood of the locker room,” tight end Cole Kmet said. “So it’s tough when you lose a guy like that. You don’t know what kind of message it sends. That’s why it was great [to hear] from coach and Ryan in terms of them walking us through and understanding some things.”

Jackson, a six-year veteran and the longest-tenured defensive starter, echoed that sentiment. The last thing this 3-5 team coming off a 49-29 loss needs is even a hint of dissension.

“It helps a lot. I told Ryan that,” Jackson said. “I appreciated him giving us a call and telling us what’s going on. You kind of need that. There are a lot of things that start floating around, especially in the locker room, like, ‘They don’t care about their guys.’ That was pretty cool for them to talk to us as men. We get the business part of this. We respect that. But we like to be respected as men and football players as well.”

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Newly released videos appear to show a Chicago police officer firing his weapon at a man who had fired at the cop during a foot pursuit last month in the Old Town neighborhood, and then not administering aid to the man.

Antonio Calmese Jr., 20, was shot about 5:05 a.m. Oct. 2 in the 400 block of West Blackhawk Street, according to Chicago police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office. His death was ruled a homicide resulting from multiple gunshot wounds.

Officers patrolling the area were flagged down by a person who said someone had pointed a gun at them, police said.

Videos released Tuesday by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability show Calmese walking the streets with a gun. They also show the officer, Jarron Jefferson, chasing Calmese through an alley and directing him several times to “drop it,” then saying, “You’ll get shot over that gun.”

About a minute later, the officer deployed his Taser twice, but Calmese continued to walk away.

Then, before turning a corner into another alley, Calmese fired what appeared to be one shot in the direction of the officer.

Jefferson ran to the corner and fired what appeared to be seven rounds toward Calmese, then another four shots. He took cover behind the corner of a building and then fired another seven rounds at Calmese, who did not appear to fire back and dropped to the ground.

Jefferson, 34, did not render aid to Calmese. Other responding officers did not appear to immediately administer aid, though a police report of the incident indicated officers and fire officials rendered aid.

Videos show another officer patting Calmese down about five minutes after the shooting. Fire officials arrived to render aid about eight minutes after the shooting.

A handgun and shell casings that didn’t match the officer’s weapon were recovered near Calmese, police said.

Calmese was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, fire officials said.

Jefferson, who wasn’t shot, was treated for injuries at the same hospital, fire officials said.

The chase lasted about 10 minutes, with Jefferson following Calmese around an apartment building, hopping fences and ultimately losing sight of him in a parking lot. He found Calmese when another officer arrived, at which time Jefferson said, “Get that motherf—–.”

Jefferson got in the other officer’s squad car, and the two drove for about a minute until they located Calmese again. Jefferson got out of the car for another foot pursuit moments before the exchange of gunfire.

COPA continues to investigate the shooting. It will release a summary report after it is concluded.

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It was all about the takeaways.

Roquan Smith wanted to be paid like Colts linebacker Shaquille Leonard, who blossomed into a star in Matt Eberflus’ defense in Indianapolis and signed a five-year, $98 million contract in 2021. But while Smith was a two-time All-Pro, he didn’t have Leonard’s knack for game-changing plays –responsible for 30 takeaways in his first four seasons to only six for Smith.

That’s why Eberflus backed the Colts’ signing Leonard to a five-year, $98.5 million contract in 2021, but couldn’t endorse a similar deal for Smith, who was traded to the Ravens on Monday for second- and fifth-round draft picks in 2023 and veteran linebacker A.J. Klein.

“We always base things on numbers and production, and we covet ball production in that position,” Eberflus said, “So that right there is a very important thing that the Will [weakside] linebacker needs to do. We loved Roquan. We made him an offer and they couldn’t find common ground.”

Whitehair returns

Bears guard Cody Whitehair was designated to return from injured reserve and practiced Wednesday for the first time since injuring his knee against the Giants in Week 4.

Whitehair could play against the Dolphins, presumably replacing veteran Michael Schofield, who started in place of Whitehair against the Patriots and Cowboys last week. It would be the Bears’ fourth different starting lineup on the offensive line in the last four games, but a welcome addition.

“He’s in a good spot mentally,” coach Matt Eberflus said. “He’s been working his tail off with the guys in the rehab. His strength numbers are good. His jump numbers are good. His velocity and seed in his jumps are good. We think he is going to be good.”

The Bears still have other issues on their offensive line. Right tackle Larry Borom (concussion), who missed the Cowboys game, did not practice Wednesday. And Teven Jenkins (back) was limited.

Elsewhere on the injury report, safety Eddie Jackson (hip) and cornerback Kyler Gordon (hip) were limited.

Turf Monster

Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa does not have fond memories of the Soldier Field turf from the preseason game last season.

“For guys who haven’t played in Chicago or who haven’t set foot there, the field, I would say isn’t as good as other places,” he told Dolphins reporters on Wednesday. “We’ll have to figure that out with the cleats that we wear and whatnot.”

Oh captain, my captain

Defensive tackle Justin Jones was named a team captain to replace Smith. Safety Eddie Jackson was named a captain to replace Robert Quinn last week. Cornerback Jaylon Johnson was named an honorary captain for the game against the Dolphins on Sunday at Soldier Field.

“I don’t take that [honor] for granted,” said Jones, who signed with the Bears in free agency in 2022 after four seasons with the Chargers. “The fact that these guys chose me to lead the team … I’m really grateful. I wish it was on different terms, but I definitely appreciate the opportunity. And I’m not going to let these guys down.”

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Overreaction: The Bear believe in Fields Future

The Bears finally added a weapon for Justin Fields by trading a 2023 second round pick for Chase Claypool, but that does not mean Just Fields future with the Bears is secure. Fields has struggled in his time as the Bears starter, having being sacked the most times in the NFL (31) this year. However, all the blame cannot go on the young QB.  Fields has show clear signs of improvement and regression this season. Viral clips of him missing wide open receivers have surfaced and may have Bears fans and the front office second guessing the future of Fields.

Fields has loads of untapped potential, he’s been said to have the arm talent of Patrick Mahomes with the speed of Lamar Jackson. Quarterbacks are given NFL comparisons in college all the time and it’s no surprise to see a quarterback taken in the first round only for a team to take another one the next year (Arizona, 2019).

Potential aside, Fields will need help to grow into his comps and if he does not get the help he needs this season to grow we could see a new QB. The Bear need to give Fields his fair shot, where he has weapons and has an offensive line to protect him. Time will tell of Fields is the go-to-guy in Chicago or another place holder until the Bear find their franchise QB.

Not an Overreaction: The Dolphins are all in

Miami has the best wide receiver duo in the NFL and after a busy trade deadline they may have the best running back duo as well. The former 49er’s assistant now head coach of the Dolphins, Mike McDaniel has traded for another form 49er running back. After having former 49er Raheem Mostert lead the Dolphins backfield, Miami went out and traded for former 49ers starter Jeff Wilson. This gives them a lethal 1-2 punch with the cost being a fifth round draft pick and Chase Edmonds being part of the deal to acquire Bradley Chubb.

Chubb’s deal was steep price but the Dolphins paid it, giving up a 2023 first round draft pick, a 2024 fourth round pick and 3rd down running back Chase Edmonds whom they had just signed in the offseason. For Bradley Chubb and a 2025 fifth round draft pick. Chubb has been one of the most efficient pass rushers in the league. Ranking third in edge rusher win rate.

Chubb is paired with 2021 first round pick Jaelen Philips on the edge and with 10 year NFL veteran Melvin Ingram in the mix. The Dolphin addressed their number one issue of a consistent pass rush and may have the best pass rush in the NFL after the trade deadline.

Overreaction: Bill’s adding Hines solves their run game woes

In the final minutes of the trade deadline the Buffalo Bills traded Zack Moss and a 2023 conditional fifth-round pick to the Indianapolis Colts for their explosive 3rd down back Nyhiem Hines. Hines has long been burred under the depth chart with Jonathan Taylor, and Marlon Mack taking the starting Roles. Hines get a fresh start in Buffalo to help add to the Bills already explosive offense.

The Bill’s have had a glaring issue for the past few seasons; How do they get the run game going without relying on Allen? Hines may not be a, 20 carry, NFL power back of old, but he does add another explosive element with his pass catching ability. Hines catches the ball an astonishing 89% of the time it is thrown to him. The Bills current starter and pass catching back Devin Singletary is only 76% on the year.

Not an Overreaction: The Lions undersold T.J. Hockenson

Hockenson has been a top 10 tight end in the NFL for the last few seasons. Coming from TE-U at the University of Iowa, Hockenson has been a game changer in the passing game for the Lions since day one. The Lions traded him to divisional opponent and the Superbowl hopeful Minnesota Vikings who added another major weapon to their high powered offense for essentially a pick swap.

Along with Hockenson, the Vikings receive the Lions 2023 second round draft pick and a 2024 third-round draft pick. While the Lions get the Vikings 2023 second round pick and a 2024 third-rounder. It is mind blowing that the Lion’s would give up Hockenson for a pick swap, but then again, it is the Lions.

Not an overreaction: The Jags are putting it all together for Lawrence

The Jaguars are rolling the dice on Trevor Lawrence making the leap to franchise quarterback with their last minute trade deadline move. The Jags traded a 2023 conditional fifth-round pick and a 2024 conditional second round pick to the Atlanta Falcons for suspended NFL wide receiver Calvin Ridley.

Ridley is currently serving a ridiculous year ban from the NFL for betting on games while he was away from football to focus on his mental health. Ridley had to forfeit his $11.1 million dollar salary and serve a year ban for betting less than $1,500 during his time away from the team.

Ridley is a proven weapon in the NFL, in 2020 he was voted second team all pro after posting a career high 1,374 yards and 90 receptions. The Jaguars have made moves both last season and this season to make the team as talented as possible for former number one pick Trevor Lawrence. The Jaguars have already shown massive improvement from a year ago and will need to find consistency in protecting their young QB if they want to give him the best chance to succeed.

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Matt Eberflus had some words about Roquan Smith

Roquan Smith’s trade to the Baltimore Ravens captured the surprise of many of the Chicago Bears fanbase. Smith was one of the most productive Bears linebackers in his first five seasons in the NFL. Coming into the 2022 season, his tackle and tackles for loss numbers were on par with Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis from Smith’s previous two years. This season, Smith was the NFL’s leading tackler with 83 tackles. However, it appears the All-Pro linebacker wasn’t the greatest fit with head coach Matt Eberflus.

Eberflus didn’t think Smith compares to Shaquille Leonard

During Wednesday’s press conference, Eberflus was asked by reporters why Smith wasn’t as valuable to the Bears’ defense as Shaquille Leonard was to the Colts’ defense that Eberflus was the coordinator of prior. (Leonard was made the highest-paid linebacker last season when Eberflus was there.) Eberflus answer was telling as to why the Bears and Smith couldn’t come to an agreement. It caught the beat reporter’s attention.

“I would say that when you look at that [Smith and Leonard being compared as All-Pro linebackers], we always base things on numbers and production,” Eberflus said. “To us, we covet ball production in that position. So that right there is a very important thing that Will linebacker needs to do.”

Between the lines, Eberflus is saying by “ball production” that Smith needs to be better in pass coverage and have more takeaways. Smith’s pass coverage is rated at just 44.4 by Pro Football Focus this season. He leaves Chicago after only coming up with seven interceptions and one forced fumble. Smith also had one fumble recovery during his five seasons with the Bears.

Matt Eberflus talked about potentially drafting Smith in Indianapolis

Matt Eberflus was asked if he would have advocated for the Colts to take Smith at sixth if they hadn’t chosen Quenton Nelson during the 2018 draft. (Smith was selected by then Bears general manager Ryan Pace two spots later at eight.) Eberflus appeared to hold back a chuckle has he gave his response.

“Yeah. I don’t think we, at that time, [Colts general manager Chris Ballard] was in the business of taking a off-the-ball linebacker at eight. I don’t think I could have convinced him of that,” Eberflus said.

Not sure if that was more directed at Pace or Smith. Both put Matt Eberflus in a hole to start his head coaching career with the Bears.

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Andreas Athanasiou nearly scored another pivotal goal Tuesday for the Blackhawks.

With just over two minutes remaining and the Hawks trailing the Islanders 2-1, Athanasiou received a drop pass in the final seconds of a power play. He skated unchallenged through the neutral zone and across the blue line. He curled right and moved the puck to his right-hand (forehand) side on his backhand, thus using his body to protect it.

He used his smooth skating to evade poke-check attempts from Islanders penalty-killers Zach Parise and Alex Romanov. He then activated his blazing speed to beat Romanov down the right wing, around the corner and to the net.

“I was coming in with speed and I was just trying to get a shot,” Athanasiou explained. “The ‘D’ kind of lunged forward, so I made a little adjustment to go around him.”

Sorokin saved Athanasiou’s close-in chance and the Hawks lost the game, so the play was quickly forgotten. That kept the recent attention on Athanasiou focused solely on his goal-of-the-year stunner Sunday against the Wild.

The highlight from that goal, in which he embarrassed Matt Dumba with consecutive one-on-one dekes before roofing a backhand shot over Marc-Andre Fleury, blew up on social media. Athanasiou said he “blacked out” in the moment but has been hearing from buddies about it the past few days.

Such spectacular efforts are becoming common for Athanasiou, who has now recorded 19 individual scoring chances at five-on-five through 10 games — tied with linemate Patrick Kane for the team lead.

Hawks coach Luke Richardson, however, actually liked Athanasiou’s near-goal Tuesday better than actual goal Sunday, although he won’t complain about the result.

He and Athanasiou have talked regularly about making smart decisions when deciding whether to attack the defense with possession or to play it safe with a dump-in — and, when choosing the former option, whether to attack straight ahead or down the wing.

“We want him to realize, when he’s coming across the blue line, he doesn’t have to stickhandle through the defensemen’s feet and sticks every time,” Richardson said. “[He can] use his speed and go wide. Same as [Sam] Lafferty, that should be in their minds every shift.

“And then when the defense makes a mistake and they’re a little too wide, a little too spread apart, that’s when you can attack the middle and use your speed and draw a penalty or get a breakaway.”

Because of Athanasiou’s world-class speed, he also has to mentally process situations and make such decisions more quickly than others, since the gap between himself and opponents often closes in a blink.

He weighs “so many factors” — including how many opposing players are behind the puck, where they’re moving, where his own teammates are providing outlets and how much speed and control of the puck he has built up — in each circumstance.

“If you just fly around the ice, you can get taken out of so many plays by skating out of the open area,” Athanasiou said. “So it’s [about] timing it and trying to find the seams at the right time and trying to open up ice at the right time. … Every play is different, every situation is different, but you just have to make reads.”

Lately, Athanasiou’s reads have been working out. He looks more dangerous than he has in years. But Richardson would like him to adjust his algorithm slightly.

“You’re not going to win the game with one shift,” Richardson said. “You might think you are, because you get a highlight goal every once in a while. But you have to realize there are 60 minutes, and if you fuel them with four turnovers compared to one breakthrough, I don’t know that those are great odds for us. So we have to make sure we play it smartly.”

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The Chicago Bulls have gotten off to a 3-2 start this NBA season and are certainly suffering from not having point guard Lonzo Ball, while Zach LaVine is also out. 

The start, of course, is still decent. The Bulls are coming off back-to-back wins and just beat 2021/22 NBA finalists, the Boston Celtics, ahead of Friday’s clash with the San Antonio Spurs. But Billy Donovan would be a lot better off having a full squad at his disposal. 

LaVine is recovering from offseason knee surgery and isn’t quite ready to return, while Ball remains out. The latter had an arthroscopic debridement procedure to clean up loose cartilage and, according to his father, LaVar Ball, there is nerve damage. 

It appears Ball’s recovery might last another year, which is a very bad outlook for the Bulls, though they have just about enough to be a threat in the Eastern Conference. They’re currently 28/1 to win the East this season and fans could take advantage of Illinois sportsbooks promo codes on that front.

Donovan recently addressed reporters on Ball’s recovery but had no real update to give. The head coach has been speaking about the guard at every turn, while he’s been visible on the team bench during home games this season. He is getting close to the date noted for re-evaluation and putting together a plan that would see him return to the court.

The former OKC coach could only speak to the player’s optimism when he faced reporters on Friday.

“I have not heard anything as of yet with that,’’ Donovan said, per Heavy.com. “He’s doing good. He feels like he’s progressing. He’s pretty optimistic and positive about everything. I think the biggest thing with the surgery is the incision healing in order to continue to make progress, and I just don’t know how far along he is in that process.’’

This falls along what LaVar Ball said during an appearance on the Ball Facts podcast.

“They finally got in there and they did his stuff right” papa Ball explained. “He had something that was – some of the debris was caught up with a nerve or something like that in his leg. It wouldn’t allow him to bend it or whatever. He was giving much pain but he got all that situated now…I just came back from seeing my boy to make sure he’s good, stitches is out.”

While Ball remains on the fringes, second-year point guard Ayo Dosunmu will benefit from the absence and should enjoy satisfactory minutes this season. The player has an opportunity to build chemistry with his coaches and teammates and has already upped his averages from last season, while improving his offensive and defensive ratings by at least six points for every 100 possessions. 

Dosunmo is playing 31.8 minutes a game, averaging 12.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.6 assists a contest. He has credited Ball for helping him become better.

“He told me about…the pace of the game, and understanding where and knowing the personnel of my teammates,” Dosunmu said. “Just knowing where they like to get the ball at. Just being a student of the game. Managing the game.”

As long as Dosunmo continues to play at a high level, the Bulls shouldn’t have to worry about rushing Ball back. His father wouldn’t allow it anyhow.

LaVine has also spoken up for Ball, also noting his teammate is feeling good and getting better. It’s expected that Ball will get his starting job back when he comes back, simply because he’s back, which could cause some friction should it come to that. The other way is also just as likely to cause some controversy, yet the Bulls do seem to have each others’ backs.

“It’s tough, man, because he worked so hard,” LaVine remarked “He’s in a good place right now. He’s getting better. And, I know guys have been talking about it all summer but let’s understand, he wants to be out here more than anybody else. And, you know, nobody wants to be injured. And it’s tough…having people talk about it each and every day – when you’re going to be back, when not.”

Donovan continuing to speak about Ball’s good attitude in what has to be a distressing time for the player is important for the fans. There’s a long season ahead and the team is off to a good-enough start, though not as good as the hot start they got off to last term.

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