A man was killed and two others were wounded in a shooting Saturday in Little Village on the Southwest Side.
Officers received a call from a concerned citizen about a vehicle that was driving slow and bumping the curb about 7 p.m. in the 4200 block of South Cicero Avenue, Chicago police said. Witnesses told officers they saw a person fire shots from inside a black Audi SUV.
Responding officers found a man, about 20 years, inside the vehicle with three gunshot wounds to the torso, police said.
He was transported to Mt. Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said. He hasn’t been identified.
Two other men, 32 and 27, were struck in the arm and taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital in cool condition, police said.
No one is in custody as Area One detectives investigate.
DETROIT – Dallas Keuchel knows he didn’t pitch his finest game, and he didn’t fault center fielder Billy Hamilton for his risky attempt on Eric Haase’s liner that skipped past him for a three-run inside the park homer in the Tigers’ 11-5 win over the White Sox Saturday.
But the play scratched at a scab that has been annoying Keuchel for years – that outfielders play too deep, even in a ballpark such as Comerica Park where it’s 420 feet to the center field wall.
“Billy is out there looking out for us as pitchers and trying to make plays not only for himself but the team,” said Keuchel, whose 2-0 lead in the third disappeared as he watched Hamilton sprint to the wall, in vain, retrieving the ball. “I don’t have any problems with what happened on the play. That’s a big league play. I just have a concern because you don’t let your best athletes play anymore.”
Keuchel would rather see outfielders play shallow and cut off bloops, flares and low liners.
“But it’s a [statistical] numbers game,” he said. “You play at the wall here, but in Detroit anything over your head is going to be a [home run].
Statistical analysis says outfielders should play deeper, though.
“You have so much field to lose, everybody is concerned about giving up slugging percentage now,” he said. “I’m a ground ball pitcher, so even if I give up a hard-hit ball, it’s usually going to fall in front of somebody. Or if not, it’s going to go over the fence. So I don’t understand how some of these numbers translate to playing deep, and I’ve been having a problem with that for years. Just overall, watching the game and watching guys.”
Keuchel walked two batters before the inside the park homer, so he was asking for trouble. But the former Cy Young winner raised an interesting point.
“I mean, you could probably go back and look how many players did the outfielders have to go back on or that were close to the wall,” he said. “It’s kind of dumbfounding that night in and night out, year after year the last seven or eight years, especially in the outfield, you are willing to play deeper and let balls fall in than playing at a normal clip depending on the pitcher on the mound. It’s just, it’s very confusing to me.
“I can shift the infielders. I have free reign on that. If I shift a guy or get beat on my account, then that’s a tip of the tip. It’s disheartening when you guys giving full effort on the mound and we see bleeders in there or hard hit balls kind of go to the wall and we aren’t supposed to be playing at that wall.”
CINCINNATI – It looks like Nico Hoerner has completed his rehab assignment and is on the verge of rejoining the team. Hoerner, 24, was in Cincinnati on Saturday and took batting practice before the game. The Cubs’ second baseman had a scheduled day off after playing back-to-back nights.
Hoerner, who’s been out since May 26 with a left hamstring strain is expected to be activated before Sunday’s game. The Cubs’ second baseman has a .338/.405/.432 slash line in 21 games.
“Just getting back and checking in with the trainers and see how he feels,” Ross said. “He played back-to-back [games]. Talked to him a little bit and [he] thinks everything went well. I think he scored from first on a double the other day which is nice, tested that out. Said it feels pretty good. He’ll run through some drills today and run through the trainer’s and hopefully be ready tomorrow, Monday at the latest.”
Like Hoerner, right-hander Trevor Williams is also working his way back to Chicago after undergoing an appendectomy early last month. Williams made his second rehab start on Friday, going five innings and allowing one run on three hits with a walk and three strikeouts.
“The numbers were good,” Ross said. “I watched most of it this morning. Looked like a little bit of traffic at times. Some good sliders in there, some good breaking pitches and the changeup looked okay. Some arm-side run misses. [Didn’t quite have] the fastball command I don’t think early on. Pretty good outing, I thought.
“It’s a lot of options. Right now, I’d like to continue to give him another start and really get him stretched out. I didn’t think I would say he was locked in, in his last start. But that being said, like a pitcher of his caliber is always welcomed.
He said it
Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo on Cubs recent stretch: “We’re on a skid and it’s not fun and losing sucks. We just have to come in tomorrow and be ready to play. From now until the trade deadline. You guys are going to ask questions every single day and rightfully so, because there are going to be rumors flying and stories written. But I think it’s on all of us in the clubhouse to just stay connected, stay together and take it day-by-day. Every cliche in baseball for these next 30 days, or whatever it is.”
DETROIT — The third-base coach is at his best when he goes unnoticed. That’s how it has been for Joe McEwing, who returned to the box when Tony La Russa was hired to manage the White Sox this season.
If anything, McEwing’s wave work has been noted for his aggressive, successful sends. He likes being in the fire again after serving as former manager Rick Renteria’s bench coach in 2017-20.
”Your heart is beating again,” McEwing said.
McEwing does his homework before every series, studying video on the way outfielders move, throw and close on balls and noting their throwing accuracy. He takes notice of how infielders handle relay throws if they’re pulled left or right and how well they recover with accuracy.
”Visually, I have already played it through before it happens,” McEwing said. ”A lot of it depends on your baserunning, as well. Medically where they are at, where you have to push or pull back.”
”Joe is the man,” bench coach Miguel Cairo said. ”He’s so prepared. I’ve learned so much from him.”
McEwing, who coached third in 2012-16 under then-manager Robin Ventura, was hard-pressed to think of a send he wants back. One that came to mind was when Andrew Vaughn was dead to rights a couple of weeks ago against the Rays, but he lucked out when the throw got through catcher Francisco Mejia.
McEwing has interviewed for seven managerial jobs, most recently for the Hanwha Eagles of the Korean Baseball Organization last fall.
When La Russa retired from the Cardinals in 2011, McEwing was asked to interview for that job. He also has interviewed with the Mets, Diamondbacks, Rangers, Twins and Tigers.
”I told [Sox vice president] Kenny [Williams] and [general manager] Rick [Hahn] that if the opportunity presented itself [with another team], I’d be willing to listen,” McEwing said. ”But don’t think I’m pounding the pavement looking for something else out there. I’ve been fortunate to be here my whole career, with an outstanding organization that has treated me unbelievable.”
The job in Korea ”was a very intriguing opportunity,” McEwing said, ”if it made sense for my family.”
”To go over and learn a different culture and perspective, the way they go about it baseball-wise and culturally, I’m always out to learn and continue to grow,” he said.
Burr stays on roll
Reliever Ryan Burr (0.00 ERA) got squeezed — according to Statcast — on a pair of pivotal calls by umpire Tom Hallion, which resulted in the ejection of pitching coach Ethan Katz, and walked a batter with the bases loaded while trying to pitch out of starter Dallas Keuchel’s mess during the Tigers’ four-run fifth inning. But Burr struck out Miguel Cabrera and Eric Haase to extend his scoreless-innings streak to 14.
Burr has bounced back from making the Opening Day roster in 2019, then having Tommy John surgery, getting non-tendered and signing a minor-league deal.
”To be part of a team competing for a playoff spot is incredible,” he said. ”I always knew in my heart I would be back here.”
Keuchel struggles
Keuchel (6-3, 4.48 ERA) had his worst start of the season, allowing seven runs, seven hits and three walks in four-plus innings.
The pivotal play was center fielder Billy Hamilton allowing Haase’s liner to skip past him for a three-run, inside-the-park home run in the fourth. Haase added a three-run homer against reliever Jace Fry, who was making his season debut, in the seventh.
I will never forget the day I decided to look over the beer menu at Buck’s Four Star Grill. During that initial visit, I knew I would be a fan for life. I’m not one to hang out in the touristy areas of downtown; however, I will never outgrow Buckingham Fountain. Here are some reasons why I love Buck’s and always stop at this seasonal food stand when I’m in the area.
Buck’s has a solid beer menu with a focus on local breweries
Reasonable prices (where else can you get craft beer on draft in the city for $6?)
Spectacular views of Buckingham Fountain and the city’s architecture
Friendly, helpful staff
Ample patio space that is clean and well kept
Fantastic people watching
Minutes from the beautiful lakefront
Food and drinks for everyone
As mentioned, Buck’s consistently has quality beer options with something for everyone. Buck’s usually offers half a dozen beers on draft, along with 14 bottles and cans. If you don’t fancy beer, you can order a hard seltzer, cider, wine, or non-alcoholic beverage. There’s also a decent food menu that includes hot dogs, burgers, Bavarian-style pretzels, fries, and more. I can only speak for the fries, which are perfectly crisp and yummy.
I had a full schedule during my recent visit and intended to stop for one beer to welcome them back. That quickly turned into a two-hour visit because I wanted another beer, and the weather was delicious. I have to give a shout-out to Marina for the great service.
My delicious beers and view
I started with a beer from one of my favorite breweries. Off Color Brewing creates unique beers with names to match. It was my first time drinking a Beer for Burgers, and it did not disappoint. This brew is a Helles Bock style blended with bourbon barrel-aged lager. Not everyone can make a combination like this work, but Off Color did. I tasted notes of vanilla, oak, and a bit of spiciness.
My second beer was a Mrs. O’leary’s Chocolate Milk Stout by Spiteful Brewing. This is dessert in a glass! I really enjoyed this stout with notes of milk chocolate, malt, and cream. This is only my second beer from Spiteful, and I’m anxious to visit the brewery to experiment with more of their beers.
Buck’s Four Star Grill is a delightful place to take in the cityscape. I highly recommend it to tourists and locals alike. I always get a different perspective when I’m chilling at Buck’s. Cheers!
My greatest passion is street art. I’m constantly pounding the pavement in search of murals with eyes wide open, so follow me on my colorful journey. View all my findings on Instagram @chicagosartandbeerscene.
Another passion of mine is beer. I consider myself a beer snob with a preference given to dark beer, especially stouts and barrel-aged. However, I’m always willing to try new styles because beer is life. Prost!
Six people have been killed and at least 12 others wounded since Friday night in shootings across Chicago.
In the latest fatal shooting, a man was killed while riding in a car in Lawndale on the West Side.
About 4:40 a.m., the 39-year-old was traveling in the back seat of a vehicle in the 4400 block of West Cermak Road when the rear window was shattered, according to Chicago police. He suffered a gunshot wound to the back of the head and was pronounced dead at Stroger Hospital, police said.
Earlier Saturday, a 19-year-old man was found shot to death early Saturday in Belmont Cragin on the Northwest Side.
About 1:25 a.m., officers responded to a call of shots fired in the 2200 block of North Lockwood Avenue and found the teen lying unresponsive on the sidewalk with gunshot wounds to the back and abdomen, police said. He was transported to Illinois Masonic Medical Center where he was pronounced dead, according to police.
Friday night, a 40-year-old man was fatally shot during an altercation in an Englewood apartment after he was playing music and a neighbor made several noise complaints, police said.
About 11:20 p.m., the man was playing music in his apartment in the 7400 block of South Emerald Avenue when a neighbor in the building made several noise complaints, police said.
The man then came to the front door of his apartment and began arguing with a person who shot him several times in the torso, police said. The person fled and the man was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
About three hours earlier, a man was shot to death outside his home Friday night in Roseland on the Far South Side.
The 28-year-old was in his backyard about 8:30 p.m. in the 11200 block of South Vernon Avenue when he was shot in the head, police said. He was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was pronounced dead, police said.
A man was killed and another wounded in a shooting Friday evening in Lawndale on the West Side.
The men, both 20, were in a vehicle that was stopped at a red light about 6:30 p.m. in the 3900 block of West 16th Street when a person approached them on foot and fired shots, police said.
The driver suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the back and torso and was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said.
The other, a passenger in the vehicle, was struck in the leg and was transported to Stroger Hospital, where his condition was stabilized, police said.
A 22-year-old man was fatally shot about an hour earlier in Hermosa on the Northwest Side.
The man was standing on the sidewalk about 5:30 p.m. when a person stepped out of a light-colored vehicle and fired shots in the 2700 block of North Kilbourn Avenue, police said.
He suffered gunshot wounds to the head and body and was taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
In nonfatal shootings, a woman was critically hurt in an attack on the Dan Ryan Expressway.
The 55-year-od woman was traveling south on I-94 just after 7 p.m. when her vehicle was struck by gunfire near 49th Street in the Fuller Park neighborhood, according to Illinois State Police.
She suffered a gunshot wound to the chest and was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition, fire officials said.
At least 10 other people were wounded in shootings citywide since 5 p.m. Friday.
Bucolic DuPage County is losing it. (Chicago Tribune file)
They’re also fleeing DuPage County
A new report, “The US Counties Experiencing the Sharpest Population Declines since the Trump Administration,” repeats the news that suburban DuPage County is losing population. What’s new is that it ranks seventh in the nation among big counties losing population. That’s surprising because DuPage County is mostly Pleasantville U.S.A., home to the stereotypical American suburb–leafy and safe. Must be some other reason, eh? Cook County, by the way, ranks fifth.
Must legislative redistricting take religion into account?
Caselaw requires that community, ethnic, racial political and other demographic factors be taken into account when redrawing legislative districts every decade. But I wasn’t aware that faith communities must also be considered.
The Illinois Muslim Civic Coalition thinks so. The group, in an email, properly criticized the highly politicized and corrupt process in Illinois, but added that:
Illinois has the largest per capita and diverse American Muslim population in the nation. Illinois Muslims are over 3% of the state’s total population and are of every race, ethnicity, and background. Illinois Muslims are business owners, healthcare professionals, educators, union members, factory workers, philanthropists, and tax payers. We strongly support and engage with our public officials, but we also unapologetically call out inequity. It is unacceptable that the 2021 legislative maps provide our diverse communities with zero representation.
Should the Democratic machine that’s doing the redistricting also stop breaking up Catholic parishes that define so many Chicago neighborhoods?
The Chicago Police Department has lost more than 700 officers since 2019, according to data The Epoch Times obtained from the department. In 2019, the department was able to hire 459 officers. In 2020, that number dropped to 157. This year, 105 have been hired as of April 30, based on the data. Meanwhile, 646 officers retired or resigned last year, compared to 592 in 2019. This year, 330 have left as of April 30.
Biden feathers his nest.
You expected otherwise? President Joe Biden needs a lot more staff around him than any previous president. Adam Andrzejewski, CEO/Founder of OpenTheBooks.com, writes:
Projected four-year costs of Biden’s White House payroll could top $200 million. For comparison, inflation adjusted, the Trump administration spent $164.3 million (2017-2020) and the Obama administration spent $188.5 million (2009-2012).
Go here for the full list of special assistants, deputy assistants and and, I suppose, assistant assistants.
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Anybody who is from Chicago most certainly was not surprised when it was revealed that Alderman Carrie Austin and her chief of staff were indicted on several corruption charges. The “Federal Hammer” strikes again in Chicago. Ho Hum! She’s at least the 30th Chicago alderman since 1975 to get snagged by the Federal watchdogs. I imagine it’s difficult to live on $150,000 a year for a part-time job no less. It also comes with a budget of over $178,000 a year for staff, pencils, and paper, plus a rent-free office, a City car, and expenses. The announcement of Carrie’s indictment, means 3 of Chicago’s sitting alderman are right now facing corruption trials. Most folks find it difficult to the point of arguing, which is more corrupt, the county and city politicians or the state politicians? A real Confederacy of Wits, no Wits, Half-Wits, and Nit-Wits.
A few years back Tribune reporter, John Kass, conducted a poll to rename the motto of the State of Illinois which is “THE LAND OF LINCOLN.” After the final votes were counted the winning name was “ILLINOIS! WILL THE DEFENDANT PLEASE RISE.” Nobody batted an eye. At the time the poll was taken back-to-back Illinois Governors were in prison at the same time, convicted on corruption charges. Meanwhile, the rest of the Chicago City Council somehow noticed that Chicago was being devastated by out-of-control violence. I mean 10 mass shootings in a 5 week period and over 58 mass shootings in which 3 or more people are shot since the new year would have a tendency to awaken even Chicago’s leadership. Some were even alert enough to ask the question, how can a one-month-old baby and an 8 and 9-year-old get shot in their city in one day? Shameful headlines only in Chicago.
The numbers are breathtaking, to say the least. Since the beginning of the year, two thousand folks have been shot and 365 have been murdered. A startling number even for some of the most jaded Chicagoans. Suddenly 22 of Chicago’s 50 aldermen decided to hold hearings on Friday before the 4th of July holiday and grill the police superintendent on JUST WHAT HE’S DOING TO CURB THIS OUTRAGEOUS MAYHEM? Now my question was where were the other 28 aldermen? Anybody who has traveled the world over knows quite well Chicago is known for the violence back in the Al Capone era times. The Saint Valentine’s Day massacre is still today an event that is constantly played up and talked about 92 years later, where 7 men were murdered in a North Side garage.
What’s happening today in Chicago dwarfs the violence Capone and those gangsters were guilty of. Chicago’s early gangsters never shot or killed babies or hundreds of teens. We have a city now that has had 58 mass shootings in less than 6 months and Chicago’s leaders are just now acknowledging the seriousness of the problem. Whether they are pretending to be inimical to the gangs or just going through the motions remains to be seen. Making speeches, blowing smoke, babbling, and spewing nonsense is the usual routine that most Chicagoans are used to getting from political creatures.
So while those newly WOKE 22 aldermen are grilling Chicago’s Top Cop I have a humble message that I delivered to them. After 33 years of working on Chicago’s streets, I can say this with some authority. Did you really need a meeting with Chicago’s police officials in city council hearings to suddenly reveal why Chicago’s soaring violence seems to have gotten out of control? Were you clueless to the fact that when you place restrictions on the police such as limiting vehicle chases, and foot chases of fleeing criminals even armed criminals, and instituting restrictions on search warrants results in increased criminal behavior?
Were you clueless to the fact that lenient bonds, no bonds, and home confinement, and releasing dangerous criminals back into the communities they are terrorizing within hours are a factor in the City’s increased mayhem? Back in 2015 when you came to an agreement with the American Civil Liberties Union to curtail “STOP AND FRISK” by Chicago’s cops did you not realize the serious implications of that agreement? Immediately after that agreement was signed street stops by Chicago’s COPS dropped over 80%. Ask any law enforcement officer in America and they will explain to you that STOP AND FRISK is the single most important tool to stopping gun violence before it happens. STOP AND FRISK was a right granted to all law enforcement officers in the United States by the United States Supreme Court in 1968 in a landmark decision TERRY VS OHIO. My question is when you decided this, did Chicago secede from the Union? While all these restrictions were taking place did you not think Chicago’s gangs were not paying attention?
While these hearings are taking place you may want to think about a police department that is facing massive retirements. It is estimated that over 500 of Chicago’s cops will retire this year with a record number already have done so. When you have cops working 12-hour shifts day after day with no time off and a department that leads the nation’s law enforcement departments in the numbers of suicide you may want to ask yourselves a question–Should we be looking in the mirror instead of grilling Chicago’s police leadership? A beleaguered, demoralized, tired, and overworked department is not just the fault of its command personal. Ask yourselves who is really responsible for Chicago’s cops? Who is actually calling the shots? Why have tried and true law enforcement tools to fight criminal behavior been seriously curtailed? I can tell you a department with all those restrictions did not do it to themselves. While you are grilling the top cop you may want to ask yourselves some questions also.
Bob Angone is a Marine VETERAN and a retired Chicago Police Lieutenant. He worked his entire Career covering the streets of Chicago as a Tactical Officer, Tactical Sergeant, and Tactical Lieutenant. His last assignments were in special Functions, he was the C/O of the CPD Swat teams his last five years and was an HBT (Hostage Barricade Terrorist) Sergeant for 10 years.
Yeah, sure, it’s the anniversary of the moment a bunch of colonists declared their independence from the tyranny of England. But it’s an American holiday, a point of pride for Americans and how consequential is it really for the rest of the world?
As a kid, it means parades, carnivals, hot dogs, wearing red-white-and-blue outfits. As an adult, it is a reminder that once upon a time, a group of individuals believed they had a right to self-determination, no taxation without representation, and that government needed to be of, by and for the governed.
Lots of pundits have held forth on whether or not America has ever lived up to the promise of our Founding Fathers. Often, particularly of late, the conversation has devolved into whether or not those promises were ever worthy of celebration, much less reverence.
Both sides miss the point, something that was brought home to me recently by a 96-year old WWII veteran who fought in Bastogne. This man, old but anything but frail, gave a speech that was part personal history and part history lesson. He was dressed in a reproduction of the uniform he and his brothers-in-arms wore as they held out for five days, surrounded and outnumbered five-to-one, in a crucial battle for the freedom of the world in December, 1944. After those experiences, he returned to his home in the Bronx, went to college and became a high school history teacher. Because of what he experienced. Perhaps more importantly, because of the why of what he experienced.
His was more than service to his country. It was in service to an idea that has lit the imagination of the world since 1776. On that July 4th 245 years ago, Jefferson, Adams and a host of names less well known to history did more than craft a framework for the future of the American colonies. They drew a line in the sands of time.
They declared themselves and their fellow colonists unique in all the world. Because every other human on the planet at that moment lived under the rule of autocracy. Some may have been subject to benevolent dictatorships, monarchies or aristocracies, but they were subjects. None could be the architects of their own lives.
On July 4th, 1776, every other human on the planet lived under a dictatorship of one sort or another.
That one sentence, shared by a man who lived through some of the most consequential events of the last century may be the most succinct and profound descriptor of why Independence Day matters to the world.
This is the dream our Founding Fathers dared to dream. They laid the framework by which an individual could live according to their conscious, worship how, where and when they chose, speak their heart, gather at will and define their own lives. They then pledged their lives and the lives of their families in the fight to make this dream reality. Of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence, five were captured, tortured and killed by the British. Another nine died fighting. Two lost their sons and another two saw their son’s captured. Yet, they signed this document, this dream, knowing full well they may not live to see the fruition of that reality. In short, they gave that dream to the world.
The United States of America is still the shining city on the hill that welcomes a million people every year yearning to live the American dream, far more than any other country on the planet. Today, we say that America is not as starkly unique as other countries have come to embrace representative-style governments. Yet, America is still the prize, the most sought-after gold ring.
This is what we celebrate on the 4th of July. The dream that is America. Every generation is required to wake up and continue the work that makes that dream reality. Independence Day is a celebration of what was bequeathed to us, and to the world. It is also a reminder that just as the pretty pyrotechnics in the sky are a brief flash in contrast to the norm, this dream is but a moment of brightness against the darkness of tyranny and oppression that still blankets much of the world.
On July 4th, 1776, every other human on the planet lived under a dictatorship of one sort of the other. That is what we celebrate and remember, with gratitude and awe.
Happy Independence Day, America.
Speaking of uniquely American, click here for a version of the Star Spangled Banner rendered by the guys at Black Rifle Coffee Company (“trigger” warning, literally. If you are traumatized by scary black rifles, don’t click the link). While you’re at it, support a veteran-owned and run business and get yourself some really good coffee and really cool gear. https://www.blackriflecoffee.com/
Views and opinions from the Gold Star, Military and Veteran perspective are generally different from those of the civilian world. Much of what I write is “their” stories, as told to me as the Gold Star Mother of PFC Andrew Meari, KIA 11/1/10 in Kandahar, Afghanistan. This is how I continue to honor the Oath my son took.
I don’t like labels or boxes as the former is insufficient to describe a person and the latter limits a person but if you insist, call me a Progressive Republican. I believe in this country, our Constitution and above all, in the rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I believe our government is supposed to serve the people, not tell them how to live.
To me, this is just common sense but since it seems to be a minority opinion, it has become “Uncommon Sense”.
Daily Cubs Minors Recap: Morel blasts 3 homers and Young homers and doubles twice during doubleheader; Howard with 4 hits; Assad tosses 6 shutout, Williams with 5
I’m running a little behind this morning, so I am going to cut out the game descriptions and just leave a statistical summary, but the affiliates went a combined 6-0 yesterday. And there were big days across the board. Of special note is the continued improvement by Christopher Morel. His season is turning into a prime example of process before results. His plate discipline and pitch recognition looked improved over 2019 since the start of the season, but it took almost a month into the season before it began translating into success on the field. Morel has been contributing at the plate over the last month, and seemed on the verge of a breakout, and well… that may have come last night. He is starting to become the multi-positional, all-around athlete, and offensive threat I imagined when I first watch him a few years ago.
Trevor Williams worked five shutout innings in his latest rehab outing. He also did not allow a run his first appearance. After working 5 innings I would imagine he will be ready to rejoin the rotation soon. Perhaps the nice performance by Alec Mills last night will prompt the Cubs to give Williams another turn down in Iowa, but I doubt it, especially with Arietta struggling. They may need Mills to piggyback (or replace) Jake.
He didn’t contribute much to the offense last night, but Nico Hoerner did add a single, meaning he has a hit in all 5 of his rehab appearances. He too appears nearly ready for a return to Chicago.
Javier Assad: 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, BB, 3 K (W, 1-3, 3.95)
Cayne Ueckert: IP, H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K (S, 3, 2.37)
Dakota Chalmers: 2.2 IP, H, 0 R, BB, 4 K (0.00)
Juan Gamez: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K (4.66)
Injuries, Updates, and Trends
It is easy to forget Jared Young was the Cubs Minor League player of the year in 2018, and then followed it up with a strong performance during spring training in 2019. His very difficult 2019 season at AA seemed to wipe out all momentum he had gained as a prospect, and that was only intensified by the lost 2020 campaign. Now, 2018 was a different time in the Cubs system. There was very little high end talent at the start of that season, and Young was one of the few guys capable of hitting even 15 home runs. At 25, and having missed the start of the year, it is hard to call him anything but a long shot at this point, but he also shouldn’t be forgotten. There is some pop in his left-handed bat and the ability to play the corner outfield and first base. That makes him a potential shuttle candidate in the future if his bat can continue to rebound.
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