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Why the Poetry Foundation Shake-Up Is One to Watchon June 10, 2020 at 9:22 pm Read More »
Olivia Junell, 33, has been codirector of Experimental Sound Studio since 2015 and managing director of the Hyde Park Jazz Festival since 2014. In 2015 she joined the board of Afro-feminist troupe Honey Pot Performance, whose research and outreach efforts include the Chicago Black Social Culture Map. On March 21 she helped launch the Quarantine Concerts livestream series with ESS codirectors Adam Vida and Alex Inglizian, drummer Ben Billington (who books the Resonance series), and guitarist Daniel Wyche (who curates the Elastro series at Elastic Arts).
I moved to Chicago in 2013 from Houston, where I’d been working at the Contemporary Arts Museum. I came for my master’s at the School of the Art Institute–I did a dual master’s in arts administration and public policy and in art history. Kate Dumbleton, who’s an instructor at SAIC, was on the board of Experimental Sound Studio at that time, and so ESS ended up being one of the first places I went to in Chicago.
A couple years later a job opened up as director of community interaction–partially a development role but also partially an outreach and partnership role. I had been at ESS for a year when Lou Mallozzi, one of the cofounders and the longtime executive director, decided to retire after 30 years. At that time, Adam and Alex and Dan Mohr (who was still at ESS) all decided to pitch to the board a collaborative leadership model. That’s when I became one of the codirectors.
ESS is dedicated to artists exploring the sonic arts–supporting the development of new work, presenting work to the public, recording and documenting work, and ultimately archiving it in our Creative Audio Archive. There are six of us, and there are no full-time people. Every day at a small organization is a different hat.
When the pandemic hit, you saw canceled gigs, and then you saw artists being super quick to respond and set up livestream shows. Right before the shelter-in-place got announced, we started thinking: OK, how can we help?
Our immediate thought was that we needed to provide a hub, a central place where all of these artists could go to perform, so they could tap into a much larger network than maybe they would be able to tap into on their own. We reached out to Ben and Daniel and Carrie Cooper, who’s at Dark Matter Coffee. We talked to Nick Wylie at Lumpen. We wanted to make it a platform, not something that ESS was a gatekeeper for. Every evening is curated by a different organizer.
We’ve had Corbett vs. Dempsey, curators from Elastic–some of those include Sam Lewis, Billie Howard, Erica Miller. Eduardo Francisco Rosario has curated two really wonderful nights. We’ve had Social Norms, which is a New York-based group. We’ve had Soundpocket, which is based in Hong Kong and has been a longtime partner of ESS. I’m working with a curator from Miami that I’d never even heard of before this all started, Eddy Alvarez. He and his brother run Vidium.
Rebuild Foundation did one in April. Feed Your Head Collective, which is people from all over but I believe is based in Philadelphia. Tomeka Reid did her Chicago Jazz String Summit, which is an international lineup. Lumpen has done nights, and they have a Twitch channel also–we coproduced a streaming guide for artists. In normal circumstances, you couldn’t get all these people on a bill together. With ESS’s budget, it’d be a very long-term project to even think about bringing a curator in from Baltimore.
Since April 1, we’ve done a show every day, until last weekend. We’re now booking August. One of the central goals of the Quarantine Concerts was to provide a stream of revenue to artists–100 percent of the donations every night. So that means that $47,000 has gone out to artists that has come directly from audience members.
We can get so many different types of lineups together, audiences from all over the world–ESS can’t fit even 40 people in our space. We most nights have twice that. We’ve gotten up to over 1,000, which for experimental music ain’t bad. We’re at 157,895 views so far.
In terms of accessibility, it slices both ways. It’s as accessible as the Internet. People who maybe did not have the mobility to make it to concerts in person–it’s free on your phone, comin’ to you live. On the flip side, not everyone has the Internet.
Some projects it makes more sense to think about in a different way than just a nightly presentation, raise money for the artists, et cetera. Rebuild Foundation’s Juneteenth celebration coming up is a really good example–they’re gonna have artists playing from different outdoor locations, and donations are going to the Tamir Rice Foundation. We’ll be looking to do more partnerships like that, while also making sure the artists still get money. We’re looking for sponsorship, and the fundraising wheels are at work.
Last week a lot of the curators decided to postpone their shows, because the world needs space to focus on other things. A lot of the artists need that space also. Saturday was still the Ende Tymes Festival–they’re donating all their revenue to the Gianna Floyd fundraiser, to Reclaim the Block, and also to the Navajo Nation COVID-19 Relief Fund.
Art is incredibly important to seeing us through challenging times–not just seeing us through but also highlighting important emotions and realities of different people’s lived experiences. Historically experimental music is a white, male, academic space. And that’s such a narrow and inaccurate picture of what is happening. It’s our duty to be intentional in collaborating with Black musicians and Black organizers and POC musicians and organizers and artists. We’ve had lineups curated by Luke Stewart, Sam Lewis, Damon Locks. JayVe Montgomery curated “Shelter in Space.” We know that we need to come at this with a lot of intentionality, because it’s been fucked for so long.
There’s definitely still space for this type of platform after live music returns. Maybe it’s for commissioning artists–how can you get really experimental with the act of streaming? We have our gala coming up July 17, 18, and 19–Laetitia Sonami is working with two artists, Sue-C and Paul DeMarinis, to engage with that task.
We’ve been able to create such an amazing network of artists and curators–maybe livestreaming stops, and we do something in the in-person world or the recording world with those partnerships. Everyone feels very open to following the path wherever it may lead. v
click to enlarge
Last week I skipped an installment of this column to sit with others and process, to mourn and celebrate the lives of George Floyd, Trayvon Martin, Tamir Rice, Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Philando Castile, Breonna Taylor, Sandra Bland, and the hundreds of others injured or killed in incidents involving law enforcement officers. I worried about social distancing while supporting demonstrators and marchers. I listened to a lot of music.
Sometimes being involved in creating art or images seems like the least helpful thing when I’m faced with the enormities of the state. But I wanted to claim this column for something powerful this week. I wanted to make a connection. To ask you to think about a man who made music in his early adulthood in Houston, who recorded with his friends and became a member of a “click.” Who lived a big life full of hip-hop, family, and service to others. Who lived.
This week, I reached out to local artist and designer Teshika Silver (who also contributed to the Reader Coloring Book) to help me make a tribute to a concert that should have been. George Floyd was called “Big Floyd” by some of his friends, and beginning in the mid-90s he rapped under that name with Houston’s DJ Screw and the influential Screwed Up Click. I wanted to commission a concert poster for an imaginary show with Big Floyd headlining at the historic New Regal Theater, a favorite of mine on Chicago’s south side.
I asked Silver to make this concert poster happen, but I left the details up to her. I also asked her to help pick out some nonprofit organizations to highlight. She chose the date of the fantasy concert, and told me, “I imagined that George had survived, and had he survived, his rap career had a resurgence and he got his old rap crew together again. Next year, in 2021, they would tour, and end up in Chicago on Monday, January 18: MLK Day.”
Thank you, Teshika, for this work and for helping me pay tribute to Big Floyd. Readers interested in contributing to Mr. Floyd’s estate and helping to make a better life for his daughter and the rest of his family can give to the GoFundMe set up by his sister.
ARTIST: Teshika Silver
FANTASY GIG: Big Floyd, DJ Screw, and the Screwed Up Click at the New Regal Theater on Monday, January 18, 2021
ARTIST INFO: astratesh.com
NPO TO KNOW: Silver chose two local organizations to highlight: the Chicago Freedom School, which supports youth activism and liberatory education, and the Chicago Torture Justice Center, an organization and community center dedicated to addressing the traumas of police violence and institutionalized racism.
This offseason, the Chicago Bears added several players at key positions. However, one of the areas they failed to address was at the running back position. In fact, you could argue that running back is a weakness for the Bears.
Think about it this way: If David Montgomery were to go down to injury, the team would be in trouble. It would be a catastrophe to see Montgomery go down. If the Bears think they can depend on Tarik Cohen or Ryan Nall to carry the load, they are sadly mistaken.
Here is another take: The Bears have the worst running back group in the NFC North. It’s a tough pill to swallow, but it’s the truth.
It just so happens that on Monday, there was news of one of those NFC North running backs wanting a new deal, or else. Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook is officially planning to hold out if he does not get a “reasonable” extension.
Last season, Cook rushed for a career-high 1,135 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also ended the year with 53 receptions for 519 yards. It was an impressive season, yet it was his only impressive season over his young career.
As a rookie, Cook appeared in four games and missed the remainder of the season due to a torn ACL. His second year, Cook appeared in 11 games, again missing time due to injury. Even last year, Cook missed a pair of games.
Health is not guaranteed with this kid, but when he’s on the field, he’s one of the best running backs in all of football. So, if there is no progress made on a deal or if the Vikings don’t want to pay him, Ryan Pace must pick up the phone and at least make an inquiry.
That’s all I ask — a simple phone call. So, how would a trade for Cook work? Let’s look at a few simple steps.
Chicago Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts can certainly use a public relations win at this point.
In the midst of larger issues in terms of the scale of the world, Ricketts took that as the perfect time to do an exclusive interview with ESPN Chicago to essentially cry poor while Major League Baseball negotiates with the Major League Baseball Players Association in an attempt to salvage the 2020 season.
This latest PR misstep for Ricketts came after a series of missteps that also included the chairman being booed during the Cubs Convention earlier this year while discussing the launch of the Marquee Network-a network that the majority of Cubs’ fans still do not have access to as they wait for an agreement between Marquee and Comcast.
Needless to say, Ricketts’ approval rating likely is not that high right now.
Fortunately for Ricketts, there is a golden opportunity in front of him. That opportunity exists in the form of former Cubs’ outfielder Sammy Sosa. Sosa will be the topic of many sports conversations this week as ESPN is set to air the latest installment of their “30 for 30” series this upcoming Sunday with an episode titled “Long Gone Summer”. The episode will focus on Sosa’ 1998 home run race with St. Louis Cardinals slugger Mark McGwire.
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Sosa has begun to make the media rounds and spoke with David Kaplan of ESPN Chicago. Most of the interview was Kaplan lobbing hanging curveballs to Sosa with nothing of substance. If there is a takeaway from the interview, it is that Sosa is ready to return to the Cubs’ organization in some capacity and believes that it is something that will happen in time along with his No. 21 being retired.
Of all the issues that are currently on Ricketts’ plate, reconciling with Sosa is the easiest one to resolve.
Ricketts, since his family took ownership of the Cubs, has maintained that Sosa must apologize for his past transgressions before he is welcomed back by the Cubs’ organization. Of course, Ricketts is referring to the accusations of steroid use that has suffocated Sosa’s legacy since 2005. With Sosa not willing to address the accusations, Ricketts has remained firm in his stance but still wants you to watch Sosa highlights on Marquee’s social feed and the network itself.
The issue is that Ricketts is on the wrong side of this battle.
Chicago Cubs: Sammy Sosa open to returnJordan Campbellon June 10, 2020 at 12:00 pm Read More »
Everyone knows that the Chicago Blackhawks have some awesome goaltending. Corey Crawford has been one of the best goalies in the league for going on a decade now and there is no worry with him in the crease. There was some injury concern a few years back but it has been good for a while now. He has been stellar in playoff series’ before and when the NHL returns to play, this should be no different.
He platooned with Robin Lehner all season long. Together, they formed one of the best goalie duos in the NHL. It was a lot of fun to watch but without knowing what the coronavirus was going to do to our world, Chicago traded Lehner to the Vegas Golden Knights. That was they telling everyone at the trade deadline that they were throwing in the towel as sellers and looking on to next season.
Well, Lehner is gone now and they got Malcolm Subban in return amongst other assets from Vegas. Subban is a nice backup goalie but he isn’t going to play over Crawford unless there is an injury. This tandem might not be as strong as the one the Hawks had before, but it is still one to be pretty confident in going into the playoffs. If they lost the Edmonton series, it would almost certainly not be the goalie’s fault.
How is Edmonton’s duo? They ran a platoon similar to Chicago with Mike Smith and Mikko Koskinen. Smith played in 39 games and Koskinen played in 38. Mike Smith should be a goalie that Chicago fans remember because he was the starting goalie for the Arizona Coyotes during the 2012 playoff series between Chicago and Arizona. Smith and the Coyotes actually took down the Chicago Blackhawks that season.
Edmonton’s goalies both had similar records but Koskinen had way better overall numbers. Koskinen had a 2.75 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage. Those are very similar numbers to Crawford’s 2.77 goals-against average and he also had a .917 save percentage in 40 games. Smith had a 2.95 goals-against average and a .902 saver percentage.
If the Oilers start the 38-year-old Smith, that would be a mistake because they would be giving Chicago a significant goaltending advantage. If Koskinen is their guy, it becomes almost a wash between the two sides. The only thing that favors Crawford in that matchup would be experiencing. Corey Crawford knows exactly what it takes to be the backbone of a championship team, so much so that he has done it twice.
The Edmonton Oilers might have more firepower than the Blackhawks do but with Crawford in the net in a short series, you just never know. This should, without question, be a very entertaining series all around.
Signed to a one-year, $1M contract this offseason, Jordan Lucas was already facing a difficult task of making the Chicago Bears roster. The 26-year-old has primarily played on special teams during his tenures with the Dolphins and Chiefs.
During the 2018 campaign, Lucas played in all 16 games and made four starts, but again, he accounted for just 22 percent of the defensive snaps and 47 percent of special teams snaps. The following season, his playing time on the defensive side of the ball dropped to just four percent of the team’s snaps.
And with a crowded safety room, he could be among the first wave of cuts in training camp. But Lucas has added a new wrinkle to the equation, stating that he plans to kneel “110 percent” this upcoming season in a recent conversation with Brad Biggs of The Chicago Tribune.
Amid the George Floyd outrage and the subsequent Black Lives Matter movement, I have no issue with Lucas kneeling during the anthem on a personal level. What happened with Floyd and what continues to happen in the US is terrible. Change is needed, and someone needs to be the voice.
But as noted, it will be challenging for Lucas to make the team, given Eddie Jackson and Tashaun Gipson‘s status on the roster. Accompanied with the Deon Bush and potentially Duke Shelley filling out the safety depth chart, Lucas could be on the outside looking in.
The problem with that is if the Bears cut Lucas in training camp, his public statement for kneeling will become the narrative for his release and not from a roster depth perspective.
I support Lucas for his future demonstrations, but, man, the Bears might be forced to add him to the roster to avoid the aftermath that would surely result from a release.
FASCISM~A form of far-right authoritarian ultra nationalism characterized by dictatorial power, forced suppression of opposition, as well as strong regimetation of society and the econmy
ANTIFA~ Anti-Fascism
Hmmm…Antifa sounds like a good thing, doesn’t it? Wiping out fascism is a good idea, right? So doesn’t that equate to Antifa being an organization most good Americans would aspire to join?
I know I would, but I have one problem. I have no idea where to find them. With Antifa dominating much of the recent news, I decided to search them out.
Monday, I spent the morning in downtown Chicago. You’d think that would be a great place to find them; afterall, it was rumored they were spending quite a bit of time there during the recent protests/riots. Nope…nothing…not even a trace of Antifa.
In the afternoon, I headed a few miles north to the Lakeview/Lincoln Park area. There are plenty of anti-far-right, authoritarian types up there. Maybe this is where Antifa has their headquarters? Uh Uh. Not there, either.
So now I’m really stumped. Where to next? If not the city, maybe the suburbs?
I got on the Metra train and headed up to the north shore. Downtown Evanston? Wilmette? Kennilworth….no, scratch that one. Winnetka or Glencoe? Not a sign of Antifa. I left the train in Highland Park and we headed to Deerfield. Driving through uptown HP all I saw was boarded up businesses. The current administration says that’s a sign that Antifa was there. Is this the place? Is Highland Park, Illinois, the town where I went to high school, the home of Antifa headquarters? Turns out that the boards were only a preventive measure if there was violence in last Sunday’s peace rally and march. Damn…I thought I had found them. Very disappointing. Nothing in Deerfield, either. Damn!!
I went home and was about to give up on finding these Antifa people. But then I read that great source for news, truth and honesty….TWITTER!
Hey look at this….Donald Trump is tweeting about Antifa:
“Buffalo protester shoved by Police could be an ANTIFA provocatuer. 75 year old Martin Guugino was shoved away after appearing to scan police communications in order to black out equipment. @OANN I watched , he fell harder than pushed. Was aiming scanner. Could be a set up.”
WOW!! All this time I wasted searching for these guys and all I needed to do was check my cell phone. Who knew. Trump wouldn’t lie, right? Things you see on Twitter are gospel, right?
EUREKA!!!! Antifa exists in Buffalo, New York and is led by a seventy-five year old man. Who would have ever guessed that? Certainly not me. He had me fooled. That blood on the sidewalk was a nice touch. Added a little reality to the scam.
So now that I found Antifa, what’s next? The winters are too cold to move there. I don’t see myself being a fan of the Bills or the Sabres. Niagra Falls isn’t that far away, but how many times can you go see water? I’m sure I can’t make a full-time commitment, but maybe they have summer internships or part-time jobs? Rumors have it that George Soros pays them well. I can always use a little extra cash. Most good Americans can. I hear Martin is still in the hospital, but is doing better. Maybe I’ll give him a call. Does anyone know his room number?
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Antifa, Donald Trump, Martin Guugino
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My so called friends think it’s time to edit this section. After four years, they may be right, but don’t tell them that. I’ll deny it until they die!
I can’t believe I’ve been writing this blog for four years.
It started as a health/wellness thing and over the years has morphed to include so many things that I don’t know how to describe it anymore.
I really thought this was going to be the final year of the blog but then Donald Trump came along. It looks like we’re good for four more years..God help us all!
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Does anyone know a member of Antifa?Howard Mooreon June 10, 2020 at 11:00 am Read More »
One of the main reasons the Cubs have a new VP of Scouting is their lackluster track record of drafting and developing MLB pitchers under the current front office regime. Chicago fans are away of this. The Cubs can’t develop pitching jabs are almost as prevalent nowadays as the ones regarding the Bears inability to develop QBs.
Dan Kantrovitz comes over from the A’s looking to change that. While I do believe there were some positive strides taken by the Cubs in the last two drafts already, the hope is for the new models being put in place under his oversight will further accelerate the process.
Unfortunately for Kantrovitz the challenges facing him this year are staggering. Most of the top prep arms were unable to pitch this year, and several of the collegiate arms expected to be available in the middle of the 1st round were only just beginning to establish themselves as full-time starters.
Questions surround all of them. Drafting pitchers is never easy, developing them into big leaguers even more so, and doing some under the circumstances this season is mindboggling.
You won’t see much in the way of my personal observations below. I just don’t feel comfortable being able to give an in depth opinion on any of the arms this year based on the limiting viewings I’ve had of them.
Top college pitchers: Asa Lacy, Emerson Hancock, Reid Detmers, Max Meyer
Four collegiate pitchers have separated themselves from the pack heading into the draft. Texas A&M lefty Asa Lacy is the presumptive favorite to go off the board first, and is likely gone inside the top three picks. He looked great this spring before the shutdown.
Minnesota righty Max Meyer and Georgia righty Emerson Hancock are expected to go soon after. Meyer had the better spring, featuring upper-90s heat and a wipeout slider, but Hancock entered the year as the presumptive favorite to be the first pitcher chosen before a handful of less than dominant starts took a bit of the bloom off the rose. Louisville lefty Reid Detmers is the probably the most polished arm of the group, but offers less upside. He appears to be the final top ten lock.
To start off, we’ll stick with the collegiate arms as we explore the options who could be available to the Cubs at 16 on Wednesday night.
Oklahoma RHP Cade Cavalli
Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 226 | B-T: R-R
A former two-way player with a classic starter’s frame, Cavalli moved to the mound full time just this spring. He sat mid-90s and touched higher while showing two distinct breaking balls and a projectable change.
Oklahoma RHP Cade Cavalli has been excellent. FB sitting 95-97 mph consistently, SL anywhere from 84-89, can manipulate it and land it, viciously plus at times, CH firm 89-91 w/ great tumble. High-end #MLBDraft target. Here’s 96 on the inner black for a K. pic.twitter.com/3fciiEN3sT
— Brian Sakowski (@B_Sakowski_PG) February 28, 2020
For all the positive attributes he brings to the table, there are some concerns. His delivery is clean, but there is a concern hitters get a really good look at the ball out of his hand. Cavalli has given up more hard contact than others at the top of the draft. Some of that could be chalked up to inexperience, but the lack of deception and sometimes spotty command along with a shorter overall track record make him a greater risk than others.
Cavalli does happen to be a workout partner with current Cubs prospect Kohl Franklin.
Tennessee LHP Garrett Crochet
Ht: 6-6 | Wt: 218 | B-T: L-L
I love the idea of pairing another big, intimidating lefty presence with the Cubs current top pitching prospect Brailyn Marquez. Crochet certainly offers that. The 6’6″ lefty can touch 99, his slider is considered plus-plus and he’s even developed his changeup into a solid offering as well despite splitting his time between the rotation and bullpen for the Vols. He was set to take over as a full-time starter this year but missed the first few weeks and managed to make only one unannounced 3.1 inning appearance this spring which few scouts saw in person.
Could LHP @GarrettCrochet make a debut as soon as…2020?!@ProspectJesus seems to think so as he and @B_Sakowski_PG broke down one of the most talented lefties in the draft. https://t.co/l4eRIAVK7d pic.twitter.com/crSR1Kt23d
— Prospects Live (@ProspectsLive) May 24, 2020
He adds deception with his cross-body delivery and there is no doubt his stuff will play. The question is can he consistently repeat his delivery and throw enough strikes to be a starter. If he can, you might have the next Chris Sale. If not, you may be drafting a closer or lefty reliever at 16th overall.
Georgia RHP Cole Wilcox
Ht: 6-5 | Wt: 232 | B-T: R-R
Emerson’s rotation mate is an intimidating presence and offers plus stuff on the mound. Mid-90s, a plus slider and the makeup of a solid change offer plenty of upside. Walks have been an issue in the past. He was trending in the right direction though, taking over as the Saturday Night starter for the Bulldogs this spring, while showing better control (4 BB/32 K in 23 IP).
So J.T. Ginn is going to be fun this season. #HailState #StayHealthy pic.twitter.com/EWg82CeGsa
— Prospects 365 ⚾️ (@Prospects365) February 14, 2020
Mississippi State RHP J.T. Ginn
Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 192 | B-T: R-R
A 1st round pick of the Dodgers just two years ago, Ginn offers an excellent three-pitch mix. His fastball/slider combo matches up with anyone in the class and his changeup is more advanced than others. He appeared a prime candidate to go top 15 heading into 2020.
So J.T. Ginn is going to be fun this season. #HailState #StayHealthy pic.twitter.com/EWg82CeGsa
— Prospects 365 (@Prospects365) February 14, 2020
It is almost impossible to get a read on where the talented righty will be chosen however, as he is a draft eligible sophomore, giving him plenty of leverage in the tricky negotiations this year, but there is also the factor that Ginn blew out his elbow this spring and underwent TJS. Drafting Ginn is perhaps the biggest risk/reward proposition among the collegiate class.
Duke RHP Bryce Jarvis
Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 195 | B-T: L-R
A riser this spring, Jarvis went from being considered a mid-round pick to a potential 1st round pick thanks to extensive work at Driveleine and Cressey Sports Performance which greatly improved his velocity. Formerly topping out in the low-90s over his first two years at Duke, Jarvis returned this spring touching the upper-90s while holding mid-90s deep into outings. His slider and changeup are also considered above average offerings.
2020 PitchingNinja Award for Most Dominant Performance by a College Pitcher.
Winner: Bryce Jarvis. [94 pitch, 15K Perfect Game] pic.twitter.com/imHIOyVD2z
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 10, 2020
But it is difficult to gauge just how real his breakout was with just four spring starts to judge. Can he sustain that velo over the course of a season? Jarvis wasn’t a full-time starter last year and didn’t pitch on the Cape so there just isn’t much track record of him performing multiple times through an order against top competition.
Have I mentioned scouting this draft class is really difficult?
Others: South Carolina RHP Carmen Mlodzinksi (dominated on the Cape last summer led to top half of the 1st round rankings prior to season, but was less impressive in first four starts this year), Auburn RHP Tanner Burns (A solid, high floor starter with a an SEC track record)
There simply wasn’t enough time this spring for the prep pitchers to show their stuff in game action. In some cases there was none. With the leverage prep players have to go to college and re-enter the draft down the road, taking a prep righty makes a risky proposition even riskier.
RHP Mick Abel
Ht: 6-5 | Wt: 198 | B-T: R-R
Three months ago the notion of Mick Abel being available with the 16th pick was almost laughable. But when the presumptive top prep arm doesn’t get to pitch at all leading up to the draft, who knows. Abel has been on the radar for a while, and despite touching 97 and sitting low-90s last summer to go along with advanced feel for his slider and changeup, there was still the hope for more to come this year as teams hoped he’d continue filling out his 6’5″ frame.
Coming out of a non-traditional prep environment in Oregon there are surely some teams that wanted to see more out of Abel to consider him a lock for the top ten. He wasn’t able to build on the momentum he had last summer and now there has to be some concern he’ll go the college route and re-enter the draft down the road under more favorable circumstances.
2020 RHP Mick Abel (OR) is a name you need to know for the ‘20 #MLBDraft. Fast arm, plenty of projection & sat 95-96 in first inning; slider showed + up to 86, flashed 86-88 CH in warm ups. #OregonState commit. pic.twitter.com/lsTWeM9sbD
— Jheremy Brown (@JBrownPG) June 12, 2019
I still expect he goes prior to 16, but I’ve seen mocks placing Abel with the Cubs or Red Sox in the middle of the 1st round. It might take an overslot deal at that point, but a big market team might be willing to roll those dice.
RHP Nick Bitsko
Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 220 | B-T: R-R
While Abel was considered the top prep arm in the 2020 class heading into the year, Nick Bitsko was expected to challenge for that role in the 2021 class according to most. That was until he graduated early and reclassified himself for the 2020 Draft. But then, like Abel, Bitsko did not get to throw a single pitch this spring so… have I mentioned scouting this draft class is really difficult?
Prep righty Nick Bitsko up to 98.5 mph in a bullpen today per his Instagram https://t.co/9eobneQfv6 buzz in today’s mock that he could go in the top half of the first round https://t.co/fxOA5jwbHV pic.twitter.com/9qqASBhWMB
— Kiley McDaniel (@kileymcd) May 26, 2020
He’s already packed on plenty of muscle mass to his 6’4″ frame and there’s plenty of track record of him throwing in the mid-90s. He’s posted video of him hitting upper-90s in training sessions leading up to the draft but it is difficult to assess if that is sustainable in game action or not. What distinguishes Bitsko most is his curveball. He generates power and spin on the pitch and most scouts project it to be a plus or better offering.
RHP Jared Kelley
Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 215 | B-T: R-R
It wouldn’t be a 1st round of the MLB Draft without a big arm coming out of the Texas prep ranks. This year, Jared Kelley has built up the most momentum thanks to easy mid-to-upper-90s velocity that he pairs with one of the best changeups among the teenage crop. There is concern regarding his ability to spin a breaking ball, but Kelley did get to perform a bit this spring, and his slider did look better according to scouts who saw him.
Video of our top-ranked prep prospect, RHP Jared Kelley. Through two starts this season Kelley has thrown 7 innings with 20 strikeouts & just one walk. Most recent outing he was up to 98-99: #MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/N3yfWAnykL
— Carlos Collazo (@CarlosACollazo) March 4, 2020
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2020 MLB Draft Preview: The PitchersMichael Ernston June 10, 2020 at 12:38 pm Read More »
950 N. Clark Street, Unit L in Chicago: $1,269,000 | Listed on May 6, 2020
This renovated Near North home in the Oak Club has three bedrooms and three bathrooms. Custom cabinetry, quartz countertops, backsplash, stainless steel appliances, a microwave drawer and wine refrigerator complete the kitchen. The master bedroom comprises the entire third floor and is made up of a custom walk-in closet, custom dressing area and renovated master bathroom with a rain and steam shower, marble, soaking tub and custom lighting. Additional features throughout the home include hardwood floors, a wood burning fireplace with a gas starter, skylight, roof deck, two heated garage parking spaces and storage room.
Agent: Lauren Dayton of Jameson Sotheby’s International Realty, 312-751-0300
(VHT Studios)
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