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5 fears or frustrations Chicago Bears fans will always haveTodd Welteron May 20, 2022 at 3:00 pm

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The Chicago Bears have a new general manager and head coach to fix a mess of a team left by the previous GM and head coach.

Going back to January 1993 when the Chicago Bears fired legendary head coach Mike Ditka, that seems to be a repeating theme.

Prior general manager Ryan Pace left new GM Ryan Poles with a mess of a salary cap, a lack of draft picks, and a roster thin on elite talent.

Previous head coach Matt Nagy left new head ball coach Matt Eberflus with more questions than answers at quarterback with the lack of development of young quarterback Justin Fields.

This sounds familiar as in 1999, 2004, 2012, and 2014. Poles is playing the long game approach in overhauling the roster capable of reliving the glory days of the Ditka era.

Yet, many Chicago Bears fans are fearful that this off-season is already setting up Justin Fields to fail. Logic and reason have been cast aside.

The “Bears have no weapons and are hanging Justin Fields out to dry” narrative has become firmly embedded in public consciousness

It’s rooted in fact, but it’s being repeated and repeated without any critical thought as to why it’s the case (they have no $$ or draft capital!!)

— Jeremy Layton (@JeremyLayt0n) May 6, 2022

The problem is Chicago Bears fans have seen this before. We witnessed Jay Cutler not living up to expectations in part because he was never given great weapons until 2013. By then, Marc Trestman was head coach, and the great defenses of the previous decade were long in the tooth that held Cutler back from getting back into the playoffs.

Chicago Bears fans also saw a game that featured Mike Glennon at quarterback with Deonte Thompson, Kendall Wright, Tanner Gentry, and Josh Bellamy at wide receiver.

So Bears fans have seen bad offenses before. We fear it because deep down we keep giving up three hours of our day to watch mostly bad football for nearly a generation now.

Since 1993, the Chicago Bears are 217-248 with five division titles, a 4-7 record in 11 playoff games, and a Super Bowl loss in 2006.

Poles is not the first general manager to come in and try to take a prudent approach. Jerry Angelo had some success but he lost his draft touch and could never properly put together a good offense to make it sustainable. The Bears had more mediocre seasons than great with his approach.

Poles’ first boss in Kansas City was failed former Bears general manager Phil Emery. That name will always live in infamy for how he cratered the team with his decisions.

Poles does project confidence and a plan where his former mentor did not, so he has that going for him. Plus, Poles has been mentored by more than just Emery. He does seem to have an idea of how to build a team the right way.

#Bears have to revamp their roster “the right way,” Ryan Poles told @mullyhaugh.

Listen to the full interview here: https://t.co/XLm9kjRAQI pic.twitter.com/oJVhtNFDCI

— 670 The Score (@670TheScore) May 6, 2022

Still, Bears fans have been burned too many times in the past, making it hard to trust a plan. I am not trying to speak for all Bears fans here. In my 40 years of Bears fandom, I have noticed some emotional patterns that my fellow diehards have had when it comes to this franchise.

Unless when it comes to the running back or the defense, Chicago Bears fans have certain fears, frustrations, or skepticisms that are just hard to overcome-especially over the past 30 years.

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5 fears or frustrations Chicago Bears fans will always haveTodd Welteron May 20, 2022 at 3:00 pm Read More »

Summerize Your Skin & Beauty Routine With These Products

Summerize Your Skin & Beauty Routine With These Products

The heat is rising, and the clothing is shrinking. Hello, bikini, sandal, and sundress season! It’s time for summer vacations, time on the beach, weekends on boats, and happy hours on rooftops. Are your skin and hair prepared for the sun’s rays and the extra exposure?

Today, I’m sharing my favorite summery products to leave your skin looking flawless and your hair hydrated and protected. I’ve discovered some innovative new products that will battle the aging effects of sun exposure, so you can enjoy your time on the beach without wondering whether you’ll be paying for good times with wrinkles later.

Dry, flaky skin and sunburns are the worst. Don’t let them get the best of you this summer! Summerize your skin with a beauty routine that will help you look and feel your best. Oh, and don’t forget to drink lots of water, too!

LOTUS MOON’S PAPAYA ENZYME MASK

Lotus Moon Skin Care believes in healthy aging, not anti-aging. That plump ‘bounce-back’ skin from your 20’s & 30’s begins to change dramatically once you enter your 40’s, 50’s and beyond. This is a natural part of aging. Skin changes… and no one should be using the same skincare routine year after year.

They believe that aging is a natural part of living and should be celebrated not feared. Lotus Moon Skin Care targets the biological skin changes that occur as we age so we can feel confident in our glowing skin.

As the season changes so should our exfoliation ritual. Regardless of skin type, once the summer heat hits, most will notice a change in their skin. Lotus Moon’s Papaya Enzyme Mask is like taking your skin on a tropical vacation. It decongests pores and revives dull skin. It also provides gentle, yet effective exfoliation, improves circulation, tone, and texture of skin. This “exfoli-cation” is literally nutrition for the face! It’s plant-based, Cruelty-free and made in the USA.

SUN PATCH

We love the sun but hate the effects it has on our skin. Sun Patch is designed to protect your extra sun-sensitive areas against harmful UV rays.

From mountain tops to desert valleys, you can protect your skin with long-lasting sun protection designed for ultimate comfort inside and out. Sun Patch developed their peel-and-stick sunblock patches by infusing high-quality medical-grade silicone with a UPF 50+ UV-blocking formula and adding a silicone gel adhesive, while leaving out chemical additives. The patches are waterproof, latex Free + phthalate free + hypoallergenic, and they’re reusable.

FLAWLESS BY GABRIELLE UNION SCALP SOOTHING TONIC

Flawless by Gabrielle Union is a majority black owned company created by award-winning actress, author and entrepreneur Gabrielle Union and her long-time friend and stylist Larry Sims.

Hydration is a major component of hair and scalp health, and Flawless By Gabrielle Union offers a full collection that includes exotic, hydrating and protein-rich ingredients that were selected for their moisturizing properties.

Flawless by Gabrielle Union Scalp Soothing Tonic($10; 4 oz.) is infused with Aloe Vera Extract, Rice Oil Complex & Peppermint Oil to help soothe itchy scalp and reduce irritation and inflammation from protective styling. This Scalp Soothing Tonic, is great for protective styles such as braids, weaves, locs and twists as we head into the summer season.

Flawless by Gabrielle Union is targeted for all textures. It’s a versatile collection . .    No matter what texture or style, the collection has products to customize a specific regimen – curls, waves, heat-styled and protective style looks. Priced at $9.99 and available at select nationwide Walmart stores and walmart.com

MICROPERFUMES

“If you haven’t heard of MicroPerfumes, you’re missing out on the fragrance world’s best kept secret. Founded in 2020, MicroPerfumes is a hidden gem destination for affordable, travel-sized portions of authentic fragrances from leading designer brands. According to SimilarWeb data, MicroPerfumes is the fastest growing digital beauty brand worldwide.”

 MicroPerfumesofferswidely affordable micro (3mL) and travel-size (5mL) versions of bespoke fragrances like Versace, Dior, Chanel, and Tom Ford at prices as low as 99 cents. No membership or subscription needed! MicroPerfumes has become popular for its “buy when you need” formula, no monthly subscription, contract, or commitment required.

In a rare feat for most e-commerce fragrance brands, they’re committed to insanely fast shipping: same-day fulfillment. If a customer wants to commit to a full bottle after sampling the travel-size versions, they have full-size options at a much lower cost than retail.

Yes, all of the products are 100% original brand name perfumes and colognes, NO imitations or knock-offs. They are the same exact fragrances as those you’d buy in a store, decanted from the original bottle of perfume.

PINCH

Pinch is reimagining the way people get injectables. It’s the fastest-growing aesthetic service created by healthcare professionals to provide clients with a personalized in-home injectables experience. On demand and in the privacy of your own home or office, you can Pinch Yourself or host a Pinch Party with complete confidence. They offer uniform pricing regardless of where you schedule your Pinch to take place.

Since Pinch doesn’t have the overhead costs of a physical location, they buy directly from manufacturers to ensure the best quality products. Xeomin® is offered at $12 per Pinch (unit), and our Providers are trained to treat conservatively (particularly with new patients or new treatment areas).

Filler treatment with Belotero® costs $500. Touch-ups in multiple areas of the face may be possible with a single syringe. The number of Pinches and/or syringes to achieve a desired result varies by individual; book a consultation with an expert to discuss your personal treatment goals. The convenience of our on-demand, in-home service is included at no additional cost. A full chart of the recommended products needed is on their website under FAQs.

Pinch is launching in Chicago this month and will soon be in other major US cities. You can download their app and be one of the first to get Pinched.

By using Pinch you’re supporting a local medical professional becasue they get to keep most of the fees from each visit. Pinch provides training, product and liability insurance. The person coming to your house has been fully vetted, trained and is a licensed medical professional in Ilinois. Jacob Avraham founded Pinch with Nurse Practitioners in mind. As a Chicago-based surgeon, he has experienced the ebb and tide of personnel and the overall volatility of healthcare staffing.

Every Pinch Practitioner is a licensed medical professional and expertly trained to perform the services you want. Licensed Nurse Practitioners please apply to be a Pinch Provider! Pinch lets you keep most of the fees for each session and provides insurance and training at no cost. Approved Pinch Providers can make roughly $20K a year committing as little as two hours a week to Pinch appointments.

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This Just N:

Get Updates on Celebrity Interviews, trendy Beauty & Fashion Tips, and coverage of Live Events

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Nekia Nichelle

NEKIA NICHELLE is an entertainment/lifestyle reporter + expert, TV host, and pop culture commentator — who serves up a vivacious personality packed with humor, integrity & savviness which has been featured on TV ONE, TMZ, and ABC/FOX/NBC/CBS affiliates. The Chicago native’s self-run YouTube channel (NekiaNichelle) that highlights everything entertainment & lifestyle boasts 3MIL+ views, and counting.
As a contributing blogger for ChicagoNow, she has interviewed celebrities such as John Legend, Halle Berry, Jenny McCarthy, Brandy, Queen Latifah, Amy Schumer, and more.
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Summerize Your Skin & Beauty Routine With These Products

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The Tyranny of Book Banning

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Betting tips for NBA Western Conference finals: Mavericks-Warriors Game 2on May 20, 2022 at 3:31 pm

All odds are provided by Caesars Sportsbook.

What you need to know for Game 2

Shining stars: Stephen Curry’s 3-point prop sits at 3.5 for Game 2, despite the fact he has averaged at least 12 attempts from deep over the past four games. For the Mavs, Reggie Bullock has lofted at least 10 3-pointers in two of his past three games His 3-point props sits at 2.5 for tonight’s game.

Liking Looney: The Warriors have leaned on Kevon Looney for meaningful minutes recently, as the big man has averaged nearly 32 minutes across the team’s last two contests. Looney has delivered nine assists and 27 boards across these two contests, making him a viable target for DFS as well as scoring, rebounding and passing props.

More Risk Than Reward: Andrew Wiggins went over his points prop by 3.5 points in Game 1, but I’d be careful doubling down. He led the Warriors in shots, started red-hot, scoring 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting in the first quarter, and didn’t have foul issues despite occasionally ending up guarding Luka Doncic. He has yet to score over 20 points this postseason and his points prop currently sits at 15.5.

– Jim McCormick & Kyle Soppe

Breaking down Game 2

Dallas Mavericks at Golden State Warriors
9:00 p.m ET, Chase Center, San Francisco, CA

Line: Warriors (-6.5)
Money line: Warriors (-260), Mavericks (+210)
Total: 214 points
BPI Projected Total: 220.8 points
BPI Win%: Warriors (73.7%)

Notable: As 5.5-point favorites in Game 1, the Warriors won by 25- and earned their 14th cover of the season by at least 15 points. In the game immediately following such impressive covers, however, they are just 4-8-1 ATS. Furthermore, six of those failures to cover have come by at least nine points.

Compete for $40,000 throughout the NBA postseason! Make Your Picks

Best bet: Over 214.0 points. The Warriors have been elite at home all postseason, averaging 116.6 PPG. They scored 112 points in Game 1 and clearly took their foot off the gas once it became a blowout. Game 1 went under because the Mavericks were ice cold, missing wide open looks early and never finding their rhythm. Tonight should be different, as the Mavs have had the time to recover from their seven-game series and focus on the Warriors. I look for both teams to score plenty of points, sending the total over 214 points. — Andre Snellings

Best bet: Stephen Curry under 26.5 points. Curry played well in Game 1 and could have scored more if he wasn’t pulled early. He still scored 21 points on 7-for-16 shooting from the floor. In Curry’s five games against the Mavericks, including Game 1, he has scored 20.2 PPG on 39.6 FG% and 34.1 3P%. He has only scored over 26.5 points once in those five games. — Snellings

Best bet: Luka Doncic over 31.5 points. The Warriors defended Doncic pretty well on Wednesday. He was held to a postseason-low 20 points on 6-of-18 shooting. Doncic had more turnovers (7) than field goals made in a playoff game for the first time in his career. The Mavericks will make adjustments and position Doncic for a bounce-back game tonight. — Eric Moody

Best bets: Warriors 2H (-2.5); Warriors 3Q (-1.5). The Warriors have long been a dominant 3rd Quarter team and that continued again in Game 1 against Dallas when they outscored the Mavericks by 10 points. Steve Kerr is tremendous making adjustments coming out of the locker room. Dallas has really struggled on the road (outside of Game 7 at Phoenix) in this postseason. I like the Warriors in this game, and I think they create distance on the scoreboard in the second half like they have most of these playoffs. — Tyler Fulghum

1 Related

Best bet: Klay Thompson over 20.5 points. Thompson went scoreless in the first half and made only four field goal attempts in Game 1. He picked things up in the second half and finished the game with 15 points. Thompson should get off to a fast start tonight. — Moody

Best bet: Draymond Green under 6.5 assists. The Warriors did an excellent job in Game 1 of passing the ball around to counter the Mavericks’ closeouts and switches. Multiple Golden State players racked up assists. However, Green had nine potential assists and three assists, below his postseason average from the first two rounds. — Moody

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Betting tips for NBA Western Conference finals: Mavericks-Warriors Game 2on May 20, 2022 at 3:31 pm Read More »

The Chicago Cubs need to promote pitcher Caleb KilianJordan Campbellon May 20, 2022 at 2:00 pm

The youth movement began for the Chicago Cubs this week as the team promoted infield/outfield prospect Christopher Morel and pitching prospect Brandon Hiughes to the Major League level.

Both Hughes and Morel thrived in their debuts as the reliever struck out all five batters that he faced in his appearance on Tuesday and Morel homered in his first plate appearance.

The promotions of Morel and Hughes, however limited their respective stays on the Major League level may be, have raised questions over the direction that the Cubs are headed in. After rebuilding the farm system through trades of the core players that were responsible for winning the World Series in 2016, Cubs’ president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer appears to be threading the needle between retooling the Major League roster while also prioritizing development within the the minor league system.

The rewards of emphasizing development is beginning to pay off for the Cubs at the Major League level, especially with their pitching prospects, as the Cubs have seen the likes of Justin Steele, Keegan Thompson, and Scott Effross emerge at the Major League level as effective members of the team’s pitching staff.

The next stride to be taken will be the promotion of starting pitcher Caleb Kilian. Kilian was part of the return that the Cubs received from the San Francisco Giants last season in the Kris Bryant trade. Kilian, 24, has been electric with the Iowa Cubs this season. In 8 starts this season, Kilian has posted a 1.31 ERA to go along with 40 strikeouts against 13 walks.

Kilian has dominated at the Triple-A level with the I-Cubs this season and that was none more apparent than his start on Thursday when he had a season-high eight strikeouts.

Caleb Kilian is the next big pitching prospect for the Chicago Cubs and is destined for the Major Leagues this season.

Kilian’s performance has drawn the attention of Hoyer, who spoke with reporters on Thursday in regards to when the starting pitcher may be promoted to the Major League level.

“We’re really excited about him,” Hoyer said. “I can’t speak to timetables, but certainly we’re well aware of the success he’s having.”

Hoyer indicated that Kilian likely would be making his Major League debut this season and in review of the Cubs’ upcoming schedule, the debut may be sooner as opposed to later. The Cubs have a pair of doubleheaders on May 30 and June 4 It certainly seems plausible that Kilian could receive the start in one of those four games for the Cubs.

As the season continues to progress, it certainly would be in the Cubs’ best interest to give starts to the likes of Kilian and Thompson in an effort to identify potential pieces of their 2023 starting rotation as opposed to veteran swingmen Alec Mills or Drew Smyly.

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The Chicago Cubs need to promote pitcher Caleb KilianJordan Campbellon May 20, 2022 at 2:00 pm Read More »

The Tyranny of Book Banning

The Tyranny of Book Banning

I don’t believe books should be banned

By anyone in our free land.

Let us read what we choose

To teach or amuse.

And let none say we can’t by command.

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Uncategorized

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Aquinas wired

I’m Jerry Partacz, happily married to my wife Julie for over 40 years. I have four children and eleven grandchildren. I’m enjoying retirement after 38 years of teaching. I now have an opportunity to share my thoughts on many things. I’m an incurable optimist. I also love to solve crossword puzzles and to write light verse. I love to read, to garden, to play the piano, to collect stamps and coins, and to watch “Curb Your Enthusiasm”.

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Latest on ChicagoNow

The Tyranny of Book Banning

from The Quark In The Road by Aquinas wired
posted today at 9:47 am

Boeing’s Starliner is Ready for Launch: How to Watch OFT-2

from Cosmic Chicago by Sophie Sanchez
posted Thursday at 4:12 pm

Clouds, then Sun!

from Chicago Weather Watch by Weather Girl
posted Thursday at 2:45 pm

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from Cheating Death by Howard Englander
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Chicago Festival Watch 2022: Mayfest Ravenswood returns

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Read these ChicagoNow blogs

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Pets in need of homes

Pets available for adoption in the Chicago area

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It’s like the couch potato version of Mr. and Mrs. Smith.
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The Tyranny of Book Banning Read More »

Betting tips for NBA Western Conference finals: Mavericks-Warriors, Game 2on May 20, 2022 at 3:31 pm

All odds are provided by Caesars Sportsbook.

What you need to know for Game 2

Shining stars: Stephen Curry’s 3-point prop sits at 3.5 for Game 2, despite the fact he has averaged at least 12 attempts from deep over the past four games. For the Mavs, Reggie Bullock has lofted at least 10 3-pointers in two of his past three games His 3-point props sits at 2.5 for tonight’s game.

Liking Looney: The Warriors have leaned on Kevon Looney for meaningful minutes recently, as the big man has averaged nearly 32 minutes across the team’s last two contests. Looney has delivered nine assists and 27 boards across these two contests, making him a viable target for DFS as well as scoring, rebounding and passing props.

More Risk Than Reward: Andrew Wiggins went over his points prop by 3.5 points in Game 1, but I’d be careful doubling down. He led the Warriors in shots, started red-hot, scoring 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting in the first quarter, and didn’t have foul issues despite occasionally ending up guarding Luka Doncic. He has yet to score over 20 points this postseason and his points prop currently sits at 15.5.

– Jim McCormick & Kyle Soppe

Breaking down Game 2

Dallas Mavericks at Golden State Warriors
9:00 p.m ET, Chase Center, San Francisco, CA

Line: Warriors (-6.5)
Money line: Warriors (-260), Mavericks (+210)
Total: 214 points
BPI Projected Total: 220.8 points
BPI Win%: Warriors (73.7%)

Notable: As 5.5-point favorites in Game 1, the Warriors won by 25- and earned their 14th cover of the season by at least 15 points. In the game immediately following such impressive covers, however, they are just 4-8-1 ATS. Furthermore, six of those failures to cover have come by at least nine points.

Compete for $40,000 throughout the NBA postseason! Make Your Picks

Best bet: Over 214.0 points. The Warriors have been elite at home all postseason, averaging 116.6 PPG. They scored 112 points in Game 1 and clearly took their foot off the gas once it became a blowout. Game 1 went under because the Mavericks were ice cold, missing wide open looks early and never finding their rhythm. Tonight should be different, as the Mavs have had the time to recover from their seven-game series and focus on the Warriors. I look for both teams to score plenty of points, sending the total over 214 points. — Andre Snellings

Best bet: Stephen Curry under 26.5 points. Curry played well in Game 1 and could have scored more if he wasn’t pulled early. He still scored 21 points on 7-for-16 shooting from the floor. In Curry’s five games against the Mavericks, including Game 1, he has scored 20.2 PPG on 39.6 FG% and 34.1 3P%. He has only scored over 26.5 points once in those five games. — Snellings

Best bet: Luka Doncic over 31.5 points. The Warriors defended Doncic pretty well on Wednesday. He was held to a postseason-low 20 points on 6-of-18 shooting. Doncic had more turnovers (7) than field goals made in a playoff game for the first time in his career. The Mavericks will make adjustments and position Doncic for a bounce-back game tonight. — Eric Moody

Best bets: Warriors 2H (-2.5); Warriors 3Q (-1.5). The Warriors have long been a dominant 3rd Quarter team and that continued again in Game 1 against Dallas when they outscored the Mavericks by 10 points. Steve Kerr is tremendous making adjustments coming out of the locker room. Dallas has really struggled on the road (outside of Game 7 at Phoenix) in this postseason. I like the Warriors in this game, and I think they create distance on the scoreboard in the second half like they have most of these playoffs. — Tyler Fulghum

1 Related

Best bet: Klay Thompson over 20.5 points. Thompson went scoreless in the first half and made only four field goal attempts in Game 1. He picked things up in the second half and finished the game with 15 points. Thompson should get off to a fast start tonight. — Moody

Best bet: Draymond Green under 6.5 assists. The Warriors did an excellent job in Game 1 of passing the ball around to counter the Mavericks’ closeouts and switches. Multiple Golden State players racked up assists. However, Green had nine potential assists and three assists, below his postseason average from the first two rounds. — Moody

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Betting tips for NBA Western Conference finals: Mavericks-Warriors, Game 2on May 20, 2022 at 3:31 pm Read More »

It has been mostly frustrating to watch the Chicago White SoxTodd Welteron May 20, 2022 at 1:00 pm

The Chicago White Sox are not meeting expectations right now. They have gotten off to a slow start that has shaken the fan base’s confidence that this team can win the World Series. The frustrating offseason has translated into a frustrating product to watch on the field.

The Chicago White Sox are sputtering offensively. They are 27th in the league in runs. They also have a -27 run differential.

They have managed to score just 18 runs in a five-game series against the Kansas City Royals. The Royals pitching staff is currently fifth in the Majors in runs allowed. The Sox were primed to have a big offensive series and struggled mightily to score runs.

The Sox are currently 7-12 against their AL Central Division foes. Not exactly a record that screams automatically repeating as division champs. It is just tough to watch right now. There is still plenty of time for a turnaround. After all, there are still 124 games left to play.

It is just rough to watch a team not look like anything remotely close to being one of the elite teams in the American League. The White Sox are struggling to hit and catch the ball which has led to pressing.

Right now, the Chicago White Sox aren’t as much fun to watch as they should be.

The White Sox are 21st in the on-base percentage and dead last in walks. They are struggling to get runners on base and then get them home. The Sox currently have an 83 wRC+ which is 13% below the league average.

The Sox are 27th in fielding percentage and have committed the fourth-most errors in the MLB. Those numbers are just not good enough to win another division championship let alone a World Series.

General manager Rick Hahn’s moves to upgrade second base, right field, and backup catcher are not working out. Josh Harrison, A.J. Pollock, and Reese McGuire are all struggling at the plate. It looks like Hahn will have to upgrade those positions before the trade deadline if the Sox hope to contend for a playoff spot.

Jose Abreu has been struggling at the plate as well. He is starting to hit the ball harder but his production is still sorely lacking. Tim Anderson has been great with the bat but his glove has been awful. Anderson also got into a beef with White Sox legend Ozzie Guillen.

Times were not supposed to be tough this season. This was supposed to be the season the Chicago White Sox won its first World Series since 2005. Right now, that looks like a long shot.

It does not help that manager Tony La Russa continues to manage like he is stuck in 2005 when he decided to bat Andrew Vaughn ninth during two of the games in the Royals’ series.

He managed a game like he was back in St. Louis when he would bat the pitcher eighth and a positional player ninth to get an extra leadoff hitter.

His lineup decisions are head-scratchers and his bullpen management is questionable. This type of start might get some managers fired but La Russa is firmly entrenched because the owner does not want to fire him again.

Remember folks, Jerry Reinsdorf’s main reason for bringing back La Russa to the Southside was because he regretted firing Tony back in 1986. There is still time to rebound.

Eloy Jimenez and Lance Lynn will be back soon. Luis Robert is starting to heat up at the plate. The Sox also still have a solid pitching rotation and bullpen.

They put up seven runs in the series finale against Kansas City. Now, the White Sox travel to New York to face the Yankees. Things may continue to get more frustrating short term before they get better long term.

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It has been mostly frustrating to watch the Chicago White SoxTodd Welteron May 20, 2022 at 1:00 pm Read More »

Chicago bassist Nick Macri celebrates some roots and branches on his first solo releaseBill Meyeron May 20, 2022 at 11:00 am

Chicago bassist Nick Macri is the model of versatility. He has appeared with a formidable gallery of jazz, folk, and rock musicians, including Ken Vandermark, James Elkington, Laetitia Sadier, Bobby Conn, and instrumental combo Stirrup. Adept on electric bass guitar and acoustic double bass, he can be unassumingly supportive or assertively tuneful, depending on what the situation requires. But he rarely performs on his own, which makes the music on his debut LP, Amache (Cuneiform), especially surprising. It’s credited to Nick Macri & Mono No Aware (“mono no aware” is a Japanese phrase referring to cognizance of the impermanence of things), but Macri is the only musician on it. He opens the album with tolling, almost prayerful metal percussion, but that vibe proves quite transient when he abruptly burps his electric bass. “How to Be in the Body . . . Without Jumping Out of Your Skin (for Tracy Pew)” is named for the late bassist of the Birthday Party, the ferocious postpunk combo where Nick Cave made his bones. The piece wraps around one and a half sides of a vinyl record, taking a winding path from simple, scorched melody to electronically scoured noise. Then Macri turns to his acoustic bass for the title track, dedicated to the thousands of Japanese American citizens who where shipped to internment camps during World War II and then made Chicago their home after the war. Macri has a familial connection to this heritage, and the piece’s solemnity makes it feel a bit like a prayer of remembrance.

Nick Macri & Mono No Aware’s Amache is available through Bandcamp.

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Chicago bassist Nick Macri celebrates some roots and branches on his first solo releaseBill Meyeron May 20, 2022 at 11:00 am Read More »

3 Chicago Blackhawks that could sweeten a Patrick Kane tradeVincent Pariseon May 20, 2022 at 12:00 pm

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The Chicago Blackhawks are a team that could go through some major changes over the summer. Once the Stanley Cup is awarded, all bets are off. If they are going to rebuild the right way, there are going to be some tough decisions made by the team.

It is hard to rebuild with certain players on the roster because those guys are ones that you consider “win now” players. Patrick Kane is a guy that you would consider a “win now” guy and it is fair to wonder if he will want to stick around for that hard of a rebuild.

If the Blackhawks went the route of trading him, it might be hard to find someone who can afford ten million dollars on the books for a whole season. They might need to add a prospect in order to sweeten the pot otherwise they would have to retain on him.

The Blackhawks have a lot of young players that they can package with Kane to get a better return and get a team to take on the full contract for the duration of the 2022-23 season. These are the three players that Chicago can use in this situation:

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Ian Mitchell

D, Chicago Blackhawks

Teams might be interested in landing Chicago Blackhawks prospect Ian Mitchell.

The Chicago Blackhawks, if they hang onto him, are hoping that Ian Mitchell is able to become a really good NHL defenseman. He wasn’t brilliant when he made his NHL debut but he was an impact player at the NCAA and AHL levels now.

It is clear that the potential to be a great NHL defenseman is there but he needs to get that chance once again. After the way that things went for him with the Rockford Ice Hogs this year, you’d have to think that he does get that chance again.

If the Hawks wanted to get rid of Kane for a good return without retaining any salary, Ian Mitchell is someone that you can send with him to sweeten the pot. He would make any team happy as a bottom-pair defenseman with the potential to become more than that.

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3 Chicago Blackhawks that could sweeten a Patrick Kane tradeVincent Pariseon May 20, 2022 at 12:00 pm Read More »

Chicago bassist Nick Macri celebrates some roots and branches on his first solo release

Chicago bassist Nick Macri is the model of versatility. He has appeared with a formidable gallery of jazz, folk, and rock musicians, including Ken Vandermark, James Elkington, Laetitia Sadier, Bobby Conn, and instrumental combo Stirrup. Adept on electric bass guitar and acoustic double bass, he can be unassumingly supportive or assertively tuneful, depending on what the situation requires. But he rarely performs on his own, which makes the music on his debut LP, Amache (Cuneiform), especially surprising. It’s credited to Nick Macri & Mono No Aware (“mono no aware” is a Japanese phrase referring to cognizance of the impermanence of things), but Macri is the only musician on it. He opens the album with tolling, almost prayerful metal percussion, but that vibe proves quite transient when he abruptly burps his electric bass. “How to Be in the Body . . . Without Jumping Out of Your Skin (for Tracy Pew)” is named for the late bassist of the Birthday Party, the ferocious postpunk combo where Nick Cave made his bones. The piece wraps around one and a half sides of a vinyl record, taking a winding path from simple, scorched melody to electronically scoured noise. Then Macri turns to his acoustic bass for the title track, dedicated to the thousands of Japanese American citizens who where shipped to internment camps during World War II and then made Chicago their home after the war. Macri has a familial connection to this heritage, and the piece’s solemnity makes it feel a bit like a prayer of remembrance.

Nick Macri & Mono No Aware’s Amache is available through Bandcamp.

Read More

Chicago bassist Nick Macri celebrates some roots and branches on his first solo release Read More »