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Chuck's Daily Check In - 02.26.19

FINAL FROM THE UNITED CENTER:

Milwaukee 117, Bulls 106. (Bulls: 16-45, 7-24 at home)

LEADING SCORERS: Bulls: Lopez and Markkanen each with 26. Bucks: Brogdon and Middleton each with 22. LEADING REBOUNDERS: Bulls: Markkanen: 12. Bucks: Wilson: 8. LEADING ASSISTS: Bulls: LaVine: 9. Bucks: Brogdon and Connaughton: 5.

CCI RECAP: An excellent first quarter for the Bulls scoring 38 points against a superb defensive team but the second quarter proved to be the game changer as Milwaukee outscored the Bulls 38-16. The Bucks bench came through with energy and effectiveness. Both teams played without key performers as the Bulls were without two starters in Kris Dunn (migraines) and Otto Porter Jr. (leg strain). Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo sat out with right knee soreness and key reserve George Hill missed this one as well. Lauri Markkanen continues to fill up the stat sheet recording his 10th double-double in the last 12 games. Markkanen has a string of nine consecutive 20 point games. Robin Lopez played in his 198th game in a Bulls uniform and scored 26 points, the most he’s netted in a Chicago uniform. Lopez went 10 of 16 from the floor. Zach LaVine flirted with a near triple double of 11-8-9.

CCI IN THE LOCKER ROOM: “Lauri's involved in so many plays and the ball finds him. He's a big part of what we do. The ball is in his hands a lot, which is what we want - it's good for us. There's an awareness on our team that he's a primary guy and we've got to get him the rock" - Coach Boylen on Markkanen.

Up next: At Memphis, Wednesday.

10 years ago we lost two iconic figures in the history of the Chicago Bulls on the same day. It was February 26, 2009. We received word of their passing as we were preparing to visit the White House and President Barack Obama. Johnny and Norm loved the Bulls and brought passion to the franchise, our fan base and the city of Chicago. Forever in our hearts, we think of their families and thousands of people they touched in their extraordinary lives. God bless.

Phoenix 124, Miami 121. The Suns won a game. This is NOT a typo. Phoenix ended a 17 game losing streak. Miami has lost six straight home games.

Houston 119, Atlanta 111. James Harden scored 28 points ending his 32 game streak of scoring 30 + points. Trae Young set career highs with eight-three pointers and 36 points.

Philadelphia 111, New Orleans 110. Tobias Harris with 29 points. Anthony Davis scored 18 points in 21 minutes but was lifted with just over five minutes remaining in the third quarter and never returned. The Pelicans are limiting his playing time since he requested a trade in late January.

Memphis 110, Los Angeles Lakers 105. LeBron James bagged a triple-double of 24-12-11 but went 8 of 23 from the floor. Jonas Valanciunas scored 20 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. Joakim Noah with a 14-12 game. After the game, James told reporters, “If you’re still allowing distractions to affect the way you play, this is the wrong franchise to be a part of and you should just come in and be like, ‘Listen, I can’t do this.” Welp.....

Minnesota 112, Sacramento 105. Karl-Anthony Towns returned from concussion protocol and had a big time game of 34 points and 21 rebounds. Derrick Rose added 20. The T-Wolves are 29-31. The Kings are 31-29.

Golden State 121, Charlotte 110. DeMarcus Cousins scored a season high 24 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Cody Zeller made 13 of 14 shots and finished with a career high 28 points in a Hornets loss.

Portland 123, Cleveland 110. CJ McCollum scored 35 points- 11 in the fourth quarter. The Blazers led 71-48 at halftime.

Detroit 113, Indiana 109. Blake Griffin posted a triple -double(20-10-10). Believe it or not the Pistons have won seven of their last eight games.

Brooklyn 101, San Antonio 85. All Star D’Angelo Russell 23-8-7 as the Spurs have lost seven out of their last eight games. It was San Antonio’s lowest point goal of the season.

Los Angeles Clippers 121, Dallas 112. What a break out season for Montreal Harrell as he pumped in a career high 32 points. The Clippers own the seventh spot in the West. Luka Doncic had 28-10-10 but his Mavs have dropped five straight. Doncic also had nine turnovers. Clippers Head Coach Doc Rivers stopped the game with nine seconds left, grabbed the PA microphone and acknowledged Dirk Nowitzki who in all likelihood is playing in his last season.

Thanks for reading CCI. Reach out: cswirsky@bulls.com or Twitter: @ctsbulls. Always a pleasure!

Source: https://www.nba.com/bulls/news/chucks-daily-check-022619

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Enhanced Box Score: Cubs 10, Athletics 1, August 7th, 2019

Was I nervous for Ian Happ’s start at second base today, given all the hype I’m constantly trying to generate for the young switch-hitter? Yup. Did he over-deliver on that hype? OH YEAH.

Overall, Happ went 2-4 with a single and a go-ahead grand slam today, but even his two outs were BOTH 103 MPH line drives that were caught. He wasn’t tested much at second base, but he did have to drift into the outfield for some in-between plays and react to a couple of hard liners, himself. In any case, a .320/.452/.600 (173 wRC+) slash line with 6 walks and 6 strikeouts over 31 plate appearances is going to keep you in the lineup. Now let’s see if he can keep up the production.

Outside of Happ, there were a lot of other good performances today, including Kyle Schwarber (1-3, HR, BB), who has been red-hot lately (more on him tomorrow, no doubt), and Victor Caratini who launched his sixth homer of the year as part of a 2-4 day. Caratini is now slashing .265/.355/.462 (114 wRC+), which is really freaking good for any player, let alone a starting catcher … let alone a backup(!) catcher thrust into a starting role.

Other offensive performances of note: Kris Bryant went 2-4, knocking one off the outfield wall and Nicholas Castellanos not only kept his Cubs-hitting streak alive (all 7 games), he also hit yet ANOTHER double, upping his total to 43 (still leading MLB).

On the other side of the mound, Jose Quintana was ON, going 7.0 IP scoreless innings with just two hits and no walks against seven strikeouts. That was dominant and helped further rest a bullpen that’s been both injured and in flux.

Now onto the not-so-good stuff:

(1) Javy Baez left the game after fouling one off his shin and taking some time to get back into the swing of things, though he did initially remain in. Given the Cubs lead at the time, I’m still optimistic that it was nothing more than precautionary (which is how it appeared).

(2) Pedro Strop came into pitch for the first time since coming off the injured list and although all went well (1.0 IP, 1H, 0ER, 0BB, 1K), he still didn’t have his premium velocity. If he is going to work in the 93 MPH range, he might need to seriously change his pitch-mix/approach. Let’s just keep an eye on that for now.

Oh, yeah: And the Cubs have reportedly signed Jonathan Lucroy.

There were some ups and downs, but all things considered …

Full Box Score.

Source: https://www.bleachernation.com/2019/08/07/enhanced-box-score-cubs-10-athletics-1-august-7th-2019/

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Blackhawks Post-Thanksgiving Prospect Updates

In the wake of the Nick Schmaltz trade, many Blackhawks fans are already turning their attention to the next wave of prospects. Who will make an impact in the future? Is help on the way at any point?

The biggest name climbing the Hawks’ prospect board is Evan Barratt at Penn State. A 3rd round pick (#90 overall) in 2017, Barratt enters Monday night leading the nation in scoring with 21 points in 13 games. Fredrik Olofsson is tied for 19th in the nation, also averaging more than one point per game at Omaha.

College

Evan Barratt, F, Penn State 13 games, 10 goals, 11 assists, 21 points

Ian Mitchell, D, Denver 12 games, 2 goals, 9 assists, 11 points

Jake Wise, C, Boston University 10 Games, 0 goals, 2 assists

Fredrik Olofsson, F, Omaha 12 games, 6 goals, 9 assists, 15 points

Chad Krys, D, Boston University 8 games, 2 goals, 5 assists, 7 points

Joshua Ess, D, Wisconsin 14 games, 1 goal, 2 assists, 3 points

Parker Foo, F, Union College 10 games, 2 goals, 2 assists, 4 points

CHL

Adam Boqvist, D, London (OHL) 19 games, 6 goals, 13 assists, 19 points

Nicolas Beaudin, D, Drummondville (QMJHL) 16 games, 3 goals, 15 assists, 18 points

Brandon Hagel, F, Red Deer (WHL) 22 games, 15 goals, 24 assists, 39 points

MacKenzie Entwistle, F, Hamilton (OHL) 23 games, 11 goals, 10 assists, 21 points

Jake Ryczek, D, Halifax (QMJHL) 24 games, 2 goals, 9 assists, 11 points

International

Maxim Shalunov, F, CSKA Moskva (KHL) 27 games, 8 goals, 3 assists, 11 points

Andrei Altybarmakyan, F, HK Sochi (KHL) 13 games, 0 goals, 1 assist, 1 point

Artur Kayumov, F, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL) 30 games, 3 goals, 6 assists, 9 points

Tim Söderlund, F, Frölunda (SHL) 20 games, 3 goals, 1 assist, 4 points

Niklas Nordgren, F, HIFK (Liiga) 12 games, 4 goals, 3 assists, 7 points

Mathias From, F, AIK (Allsvenskan) 17 games, 4 goals, 2 assists, 6 points

Jakub Galvas, D, HC Olomouc (Czech) 21 games, 1 goal, 6 assists, 7 points

Source: http://committedindians.com/blackhawks-post-thanksgiving-prospect-updates/

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Fred Hoiberg Fired by Bulls After 3-Plus Seasons

Mark Humphrey/Associated Press

Fred Hoiberg's time with the Chicago Bulls is over.

The Bulls fired their head coach Monday following three-plus seasons at the helm.

John Paxson, the Bulls' executive vice president of basketball operations, said in a statement:

"Decisions like this one are never easy to make, however I felt this was the right choice for our organization at this time. After a thorough evaluation, I elected to make this move with the overall development of our team in mind. As a team, I believe it is imperative that we make unfaltering strides in the right direction and build the right habits to help put our players in the best position to evolve not only now, but into the future. I want to thank Fred for his dedication and efforts, as well as for his enduring commitment to our team."

Jim Boylen will serve as the Bulls' permanent head coach, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski:

K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune reported Hoiberg was caught off guard by the firing and arrived at team facilities Monday prepared to run practice. Johnson also reported Hoiberg wants to continue coaching and prefers to stay in the NBA. He previously coached at Iowa State.

Hoiberg was hired prior to the 2015-16 season to replace Tom Thibodeau, and his arrival brought the promise of a faster, more modern offense after the team played at a plodding pace under its former boss.

However, the Bulls didn't make big strides under Hoiberg's leadership during Year 1 and finished the 2015-16 campaign a modest 42-40. Chicago played .500 ball (41-41) the next season and qualified for the playoffs but ultimately bowed out to the Boston Celtics in the first round.

Following two years of trying to keep the Bulls competitive in the Eastern Conference playoff picture, Hoiberg had a different job description entering the 2017-18 season.

Specifically, he started to oversee a rebuilding club when the front office shipped Jimmy Butler to the Minnesota Timberwolves in a draft-night deal that netted Chicago youngsters Kris Dunn, Zach LaVine and Lauri Markkanen.

With that philosophical shift, the Bulls went 27-55, but their tantalizing potential was on display in December when they went 10-6 and briefly surged out of the Eastern Conference cellar.

Given the mandate to rebuild, Hoiberg's future appeared to be safe. The Bulls started 5-19 this season but played without Markkanen for the first 23 games. The Chicago Sun-Times reported Hoiberg believed he would have an opportunity to coach a fully healthy roster. 

But with time to ponder the future, the franchise evidently had a change of heart.

Now, the Bulls will have to pivot once again as they try to build around LaVine, Dunn and Markkanen in hopes of steadily evolving back into a postseason contender.

Source: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2770231-fred-hoiberg-fired-by-bulls-after-3-plus-seasons

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Bears’ Week 17 game against Vikings flexed to 3 p.m. start

Bears Week 17 game against Vikings flexed to 3 p.m. start originally appeared on nbcsportschicago.com

The Bears won't know their playoff fate when they kickoff against the Minnesota Vikings next week.

They were originally scheduled for a noon start at U.S. Bank Stadium, but the NFL flexed their game to a 3:00 kickoff, which has them playing at the same time as the Los Angeles Rams.

The Indianapolis Colts versus Tennessee Titans game was flexed to Sunday Night Football on NBC.

The Bears already clinched the three seed even with a loss next week, but they can still earn a first-round bye with a little bit of help.

They need the San Francisco 49ers to upset the Rams in Los Angeles, but the players won't know the result because both games will be playing at the same time in the later afternoon slot.

Matt Nagy said after the Week 16 win that he won't rest any starters if the team still has any playoff seeding to play for, and nothing that happens in the slate of noon games will affect the Bears' ability to move up or down in the bracket.

Source: https://sports.yahoo.com/bears-week-17-game-against-021931188.html?src=rss

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Zobrist, Cubs teammates put trust in front office

CHICAGO -- The message continually preached by the Cubs' decision-makers throughout this winter has been that the team plans on harnessing a heightened sense of urgency from the first pitch of the season on. And it will be incumbent on the players already in the fold to right the wrongs of last fall's collapse.

That theme has been accompanied by a great deal of talk about budgetary limitations, which has rattled a portion of the fan base. While Chicago is still searching for ways to make additions -- addressing the bullpen is one uncompleted task that remains -- the sense has been that payroll-freeing trades would be required to make even a mid-level signing.

CHICAGO -- The message continually preached by the Cubs' decision-makers throughout this winter has been that the team plans on harnessing a heightened sense of urgency from the first pitch of the season on. And it will be incumbent on the players already in the fold to right the wrongs of last fall's collapse.

That theme has been accompanied by a great deal of talk about budgetary limitations, which has rattled a portion of the fan base. While Chicago is still searching for ways to make additions -- addressing the bullpen is one uncompleted task that remains -- the sense has been that payroll-freeing trades would be required to make even a mid-level signing.

• Ricketts backs Cubs' roster, offseason approach | Epstein talks 2018 struggles

During a town hall-style discussion with president of baseball operations Theo Epstein at Cubs Convention over the weekend, one fan took to the microphone and cited that development as an area of unrest for the team's followers:

"The frustration, I think, isn't that you're not signing a big-name free-agent. It's when I read articles that the Cubs need to clear money to sign a middle reliever. I think that's where people are getting frustrated."

Ben Zobrist does not pay much attention to such articles, but he has been around long enough to know how things work. At 37 and with a salary of $12.5 million for 2019 -- the final year under a four-year contract -- Zobrist understands that his name might be one floated in trade rumors.

In a tunnel behind the main banquet hall at Cubs Convention, Zobrist said his only concern right now is to prepare for the season ahead with Chicago. He is looking forward to getting to know the new coaching staff, especially hitting coach Anthony Iapoce, and has already been searching for solutions to the lineup's second-half woes. Anything else is wasted mental energy.

"I'm one of the pawns," Zobrist said. "You kind of recognize where you're at as a player, and then you own it. So yeah, I don't have a no-trade clause at this point, so I could be traded. But that being said, I'm not going to give it too much thought."

Video: Zobrist talks 2018 season, looking toward 2019

It is worth repeating that, even with the purse strings pulled a little tighter this winter, the Cubs will head into 2019 with the largest payroll in franchise history. It projects to exceed the $206 million Competitive Balance Tax threshold, so the team's approach has not been guided by that specific monetary line. But as Epstein explained to the fan who broached this subject, the budget (while undisclosed) is the budget.

"Every team tries to enter every offseason as nimble as possible," Epstein said. "That's not our situation this winter. When we do our jobs really artfully, you never notice the budget, right? Because we've created a lot of flexibility, we have a lot of moveable pieces, we can get everything done that we want to get done. But when we haven't done our jobs and I haven't done my job as artfully or I haven't gotten the outcome that we expect enough, we're going to be in a situation that's not as flexible.

"So we can't always be as aggressive. We can't always get everything that we want. ... But it doesn't mean it's going to be that way forever. It doesn't mean we don't have a darn good team. It doesn't mean you can't find solutions in unexpected places that are going to be extremely impactful and help us get where we need to go for next year."

The first major clue came early in the offseason, when the team picked up Cole Hamels' $20 million team option and traded Drew Smyly (set to earn $7 million this year) to the Rangers shortly thereafter. Another tell came when reliever Jesse Chavez, who could have helped the bullpen much like he did last year, went to Texas on a two-year, $8 million deal.

Video: Cole Hamels excited to return to the Cubs in 2019

To date, Chicago's biggest external addition has been signing veteran utility man Daniel Descalso to a two-year, $5 million contract.

"I understand people have to work within a certain system that they set," Hamels said. "But I think when the time comes, if something needs to be added down the line, I think they'll be able to make that sort of decision. I'm pretty confident that they'll be able to do it. But we have a great team, and with the guys that we have that are going to come off the disabled list, that's like getting free agents right there. So there's tremendous talent. "

Hamels was referring to Yu Darvish, who signed a six-year, $126 million with the Cubs last winter only to have injuries limit him to eight starts in 2018. Darvish attended Cubs Convention and looked as strong as he claims to be in his offseason rehab program. Come Spring Training, the right-hander said he expects to have no restrictions.

That rotation includes Hamels, Darvish, Jon Lester, Kyle Hendricks and Jose Quintana -- a group on the books for $85.4 million combined. Behind that quintet are Mike Montgomery ($2.44 million) and Tyler Chatwood ($12.5 million), bringing the cost of the starting staff and its top two reserves to just over $100 million. Combine that with the other guaranteed deals, and the other rising costs via arbitration, and the Cubs' financial restrictions come into focus.

Even with the knowledge that he could be a trade candidate, Zobrist was quick to defend the Cubs' front office.

"They have a tough job," Zobrist said. "I trust them. I know that they're wise, kind of shrewd businessmen, and they're going to make the right decisions based on the amount of money that they have. I think they've proven that over the last few years in the way that they've taken care of the team and put the best possible team on the field."

Jordan Bastian covers the Cubs for MLB.com. He previously covered the Indians from 2011-18 and the Blue Jays from 2006-10. Read his blog, Major League Bastian, follow him on Twitter @MLBastian and Facebook.

Source: https://www.mlb.com/news/ben-zobrist-cubs-defend-front-offices-moves/c-302957768

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Mitchell Trubisky, Allen Robinson, Trey Burton Fantasy Outlook After Week 4

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Fantasy football owners who started any member of the Chicago Bears' passing attack are rejoicing Sunday.

The Bears have dropped 48 points and 483 total yards on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a Week 4 win. Mitchell Trubisky spread the wealth, targeting seven different players and hitting five for touchdowns.

Trubisky, Allen Robinson and Trey Burton were among the biggest beneficiaries of Chicago's offensive explosion. Here's a look at what their big performances mean going forward.

Mitchell Trubisky

Trubisky threw for 354 yards and six touchdowns, besting his previous career high for passing (314 yards). He ran for 53 yards as well.

The second-year passer is only owned in 14 percent of Yahoo Sports standard leagues, and he'll surely have started in even fewer leagues. Few people will have reaped the rewards of his monster numbers.

As great as Trubisky has looked, it's important not to overreact too much because of just one game. Tampa Bay entered Week 4 having allowed the second-most passing yards (1,088) in the league. Opposing quarterbacks also had a 117.1 passer rating against the Bucs, 30th in the NFL.

Trubisky had 591 passing yards and two touchdowns in his first three appearances, neither of which is all that impressive.

If you're looking for quarterback help, Trubisky is worth a look on the waiver wire. Just don't immediately consider him a QB1 in 12-team standard leagues.

Allen Robinson

Earlier this week, Bleacher Report's Matt Camp ranked Robinson 37th overall in point-per-reception leagues and 20th among his fellow receivers.

Robinson slightly outplayed that projection but in large part because of his 14-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter. He had two catches for 23 yards.

Little changes for Robinson coming out of Week 4. He's already owned in 95 percent of Yahoo standard leagues and firmly in WR2 territory. His performance against Tampa Bay solidifies his status as a must-start receiver in all formats.

Trey Burton

Burton's 39-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter couldn't have come much easier. Bucs safety Justin Evans bit on a double move and fell down, leaving Burton wide-open down the sideline.

Burton caught two passes for 86 yards and the one score.

The tight end position is generally pretty volatile from week to week unless you have one of the elite fantasy options on your squad.

Burton appears to be emerging as a favored target for Trubisky. He had four receptions for 55 yards in Chicago's 16-14 win over the Arizona Cardinals in Week 3. The 26-year-old is more than warranting consideration as a low-end TE1.

Source: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2798362-mitchell-trubisky-allen-robinson-trey-burton-fantasy-outlook-after-week-4

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Spring Training Miscellany: Cubs Beat Brewers, Are the Champions of the First Day

I somehow forgot to mention it before the game started, but today’s game was actually a re-do of Game 163 between the Cubs and Brewers, so, with their 8-4 victory, the Cubs are now the 2018 NL Central champions! Pour the champagne!

Kris Bryant went deep in his first Spring at bat, Jason Heyward led off the game with a hit, and Daniel Descalso started earning his top-free-agent-signing keep with a two-run single. On the pitching side, Matt Carasiti – who came back to the Cubs after a year in Japan – struck out three in his inning of work. Oscar De La Cruz, who is not eligible to pitch for another month or so as he wraps up his PED suspension, threw a scoreless 9th.

Other bits from today …

Cubs are definitely going all the way:

Joe Maddon got directly into the work today before the game:

Champions of the first day of Spring Training:

Source: https://www.bleachernation.com/2019/02/23/spring-training-miscellany-cubs-beat-brewers-are-the-champions-of-the-first-day/

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Report: Mirotic picks Europe over NBA

Nikola Mirotic reportedly has decided to play in Europe next season rather than stay in the NBA.

The 28-year-old Mirotic will play for Barcelona in the EuroLeague, according to a report from Shams Charania of The Athletic. Mirotic is from Montenegro and played 97 games in the EuroLeague with Real Madrid before making his NBA debut in 2014.

The decision came as a surprise because the 6-foot-10 forward could have signed a deal for a projected $40 million or more as an NBA free agent. He averaged 15.2 points and 7.4 rebounds in 46 games (25 starts) in 2018-19 with the Milwaukee Bucks and New Orleans Pelicans.

In 319 career NBA games, Mirotic averaged 12.3 points and 5.9 rebounds. He spent his first three-plus seasons with the Chicago Bulls before heading to the Pelicans in the 2017-18 season and then to the Bucks at the NBA trade deadline in February.

He earned $12.5 million last season in the final year of his contract.

--Field Level Media

Source: https://sports.yahoo.com/report-mirotic-picks-europe-over-191057534.html?src=rss

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Baseball history unpacked, February 13

A wildly popular Cubs-centric look at baseball’s past. Here’s a handy Cubs timeline, to help you follow along as we review select scenes from the rich tapestry of Chicago Cubs and Major League Baseball history. The embedded links often point to articles that I’ve chosen as illustrative of the scenes, from The Society for American Baseball Research, reproductions of period newspapers, images, and other such material. It’s all lightly unpacked and tidied up, just for you.

You might learn something, but mostly, it’s for fun!

Today in baseball history:

1914 - The Cubs exchange second basemen with the Braves, sending future Hall of Famer Johnny Evers to Boston for Bill Sweeney. Boston gets the better of the deal when their new middle infielder plays a pivotal role in the club’s World Championship this season, garnering the Chalmers Award as the Most Valuable Player of the league. (1)

1935 - Former major league journeyman Gus Dugas, a French-Canadian obtained from by the Montreal Royals from Albany of the International League in November, signs his contract while visiting relatives in his native province of Quebec. The French language contract is a first in the history of professional baseball. (1)

1953 - The Philadelphia Athletics change the name of Shibe Park to Connie Mack Stadium in honor of their longtime owner and manager. (2)

1964 - At the age of twenty-two, Cubs’ second baseman Ken Hubbs dies when the red and white Cessna 172 plane he is piloting crashes a quarter mile south of Bird Island in Utah Lake during a winter storm. The 1962 National League Rookie of the Year took flying lessons for the past two off-seasons to overcome his fear of flying, obtaining his license last month. (1)

1974 - Cool Papa Bell is named to the Hall of Fame by the Special Committee on the Negro Leagues. Bell started in the Negro Leagues as a pitcher, but was moved to center field to take advantage of his blinding speed. He helped the St. Louis Stars and Homestead Grays win three titles apiece. (2)

Bell was said to be so fast that he could turn off the lights and be in bed before it was dark. Barry Allen has a jealous.

Sources:

Thanks for reading. #Cubsnews

Source: https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/2/13/18222792/baseball-history-unpacked-february-13

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A Lincoln Park 1-bedroom, 1 ½ bath at the landmark Belden-Stratford

See rent and availability info at: https://www.BeldenStratford.com

The Belden-Stratford is a grand Beaux Arts landmark fronting Lincoln Park steps from the park’s most popular attractions: the zoo, the conservatory, North Pond, and Lake Michigan beaches.

The Belden-Stratford has studio to 2-bedroom, 2- and 2 ½ bath apartments with high ceilings, plank floorings, vintage detailing and all modern interiors.

Amenities include 24/7 door staff, on-site management, package receiving, a fitness room and a rooftop sundeck.

Join YoChicago in this sponsored video for a walk through one of the apartments.

Source: http://yochicago.com/a-lincoln-park-1-bedroom-1-%c2%bd-bath-at-the-landmark-belden-stratford/60554/

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Carol's Sets The Date!

Are you ready to kick it, old-Uptown-style?

Get your best dive bar duds ready, because Carol's Pub is coming back in just a couple of weeks!

They just announced a night with Diamondback (who else?) on Friday, December 21st, starting at 9:30pm and ending at 3:30am.

As the Faceback event page says, "Yes, folks, it's finally happening! Mark your calendars and put on your dancing shoes. See you at the new Carol's Pub!"

Source: https://www.uptownupdate.com/2018/12/carols-sets-date.html

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Wrigley Field construction update: A look at the right field corner

One of the places at Wrigley Field that wasn’t included on the media tour given April 6 was the right-field corner. Some of that area was still being worked on at the time.

So during the last homestand, I decided to take a walk over there and see what the new seating looks like. The first four photos in the gallery above were taken Saturday, April 6 — I include those so you can get an overview of the area that’s inside. The rest were taken before the game Wednesday, April 24.

The walkway behind the bleacher patio in right field leads to stairs that you can walk down, or an elevator that will take you down to ground level. The elevator has only two stops — patio level and ground level. As you can see in photo 9, there is a walkway behind the elevator that stops at the area that you can see in the exterior photos, an area that’s currently still under construction, as explained at wrigleyfield.com:

Due to ongoing construction in this area throughout the season, the club will not be available in 2019. The new space, which is scheduled to be completed in advance of the 2020 season, will feature an enhanced design and elevated food and beverage offerings while continuing to deliver best-in-class service. We will share additional details as they are finalized in the coming year.

It’s not clear whether this “club” will be members-only, or open to anyone.

I rode the elevator down from the bleacher patio level to the ground floor, where it lets you out in a concession area that stands where the Decade Diner/Sheffield Grill used to be. Later in the season this area will host the “Chef Series,” which was popular in 2018. That series will resume in June and when the team has specific information on what will be offered, it will be posted at this link.

Apart from those things, there’s a new bar area inside the right field gate (photo 14) and another elevator on that side (photo 15) that’s not currently available for use. The upper deck patio on the right field side, which will have additional concessions and restrooms, is not yet completed, and is expected to be open in the next few weeks.

When the work noted in this post is finished, that will complete the 1060 Project, sometime during this season. After that, there will still be work done on the ballpark most offseasons. Some of it will be simple maintenance, but there’s also still the question of what the Cubs will do with the press box, which likely won’t be answered until the Marquee Network goes on the air.

At some point in the future, probably next offseason, I’ll try to do a retrospective on the entire 1060 Project, which has preserved and enhanced Wrigley Field and, hopefully, will keep it around another 100 years.

Source: https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/4/30/18519691/wrigley-field-construction-update-right-field-corner

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Keys to the Game: Bulls vs. Wizards (02.09.19)

The Bulls and the Washington Wizards meet for the second time this season, but the first at the United Center. Back on December 28th Chicago defeated Washington, 101-92, at Capital One Arena in our nation’s capital. All five Bulls starters scored in double figures, led by Zach LaVine’s 24. Lauri Markkanen (14 points / 14 rebounds) and rookie Wendell Carter Jr (17 points/ 13 rebounds) also recorded double-doubles. All-Star guard Bradley Beal led Washington with a game-high 34 points.

For both the Bulls and the Wizards tonight wraps up a back-to-back set of games, as Chicago played in Brooklyn yesterday while Washington took on Cleveland in DC. The two also came together to pull off a significant trade this week, with the Bulls sending forwards Jabari Parker and Bobby Portis to the Wiz for Otto Porter Jr. The Wizards then conducted a second player swap just before the NBA mandated deadline the other day, shipping Markieff Morris and a future second round pick to New Orleans for veteran wing sniper Wesley Johnson.

Porter joins the Bulls averaging 12.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists this season. He’s a career 39 percent 3-point shooter who connected on better than 43 percent of his deep attempts each of the previous two seasons. The hope is that he and the above-mentioned Lauri Markkanen can transform into an intimidating frontline for many years to come. Markkanen, who currently is in his second season, is averaging 17.9 points and 8.1 rebounds.

Zach LaVine is also enjoying a terrific statistical year, leading the Bulls in scoring with a career-best 22.9 points per game, along with 4.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, shooting 45.5 percent from the field overall. Heading into the weekend LaVine had scored 20+ points in six of his last eight games and has posted 34 games of 20 or more points overall. He’s one of only three players in the Eastern Conference to accomplish such a feat.

Prior to last night’s contests both the Bulls and Wizards have been struggling to win games of late, as Chicago had lost two-in-a-row and six of eight, while Washington had lost three straight and six of their last eight, as well.

In order to end up on top this evening the Bulls are need to overpower and out-execute Washington at both ends of the floor. Offensively they must keep the ball moving, getting everyone involved in the action. The Bulls have to make the ball skip from side-to-side and from player-to-player to force the Wizards to scramble to defend both the perimeter and down in the paint. To that end Chicago’s primary guards (Kris Dunn and Zach LaVine), as well as both Porter and Markkanen, must display an aggressive mindset, and be willing to attack the rim at every opportunity.

As a team, the Bulls also need take command of the boards and look to speed up the pace by getting out on the break as often as possible in order to post easy scores before Washington can set up defensively.

From the opening tip until the final buzzer, Chicago has to commit to outhustling the Wizards in every way imaginable.

Source: https://www.nba.com/bulls/gameday/keys-game-bulls-vs-wizards-020919

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Overflow thread 1: Cubs vs. Brewers, Saturday 5/11, 1:20 CT

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Source: https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/5/11/18536942/overflow-thread-1-cubs-vs-brewers-saturday-5-11-1-20-ct

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National League All-Star Starting Lineup Is Out

It’s very nice to see these two Cubs in tomorrow night’s NL All-Star lineup, and it’s especially heartening when you them fitting right in with a group of names like this:

Old sabermetric wisdom has it that the best hitter in the lineup goes in the number two spot, so clearly, Javy Baez is the best hitter in the National League.

In all seriousness, Baez really is sandwiched in there with probably the three best hitters in the NL right now in Yelich, Bellinger, and Freeman.

Source: https://www.bleachernation.com/2019/07/08/national-league-all-star-starting-lineup-is-out/

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Eataly Launches an Alpine-Themed Pop-Up and More Dining News

Opening

Eataly (43 E. Ohio St., River North) has opened Baita, a new Alpine-themed pop-up that replaces Sabbia, its coastal-inspired spot that launched this summer. The new restaurant will feature dishes inspired by the Italian Alps, including melted raclette and hot chocolate. (Its name means “ski lodge” in the Piemontese dialect.) Not exactly light fare, but these dishes will probably hit the spot after or during a day of mid-winter shopping downtown.

Morsels

We have a few closings this week: Bar Lupo, the Italian restaurant on Huron, has shuttered after two years in business. Zella, an 18-year-old favorite for brunch in Lincoln Park, is closing in two weeks. Plus, one esteemed chef has left his position: Momotaro’s head chef, Mark Hellyar, whose replacement will be announced soon by Boka Restaurant Group.

A new food hall is coming to the South Side next year. One Eleven Food Hall plans to open in Pullman, as the Trib reports. It will feature four spaces for now, including a bakery, a vegan restaurant, and one spot for rotating pop-ups.

If you haven’t had a chance to visit the U.S. Pizza Museum (1146 S. Delano Ct., South Loop), you’re in luck — the temporary museum has just had its run extended. The pop-up, which features all sorts of pizza memorabilia and artifacts gathered by founder Kendall Bruns, is currently housed in the Roosevelt Collection. No specific end date has been announced, but the platform to get tickets (which are free but required for entry) suggests that it will be open at least through January.

Look, The New York Times noticed something awesome in Chicago! The acclaimed Pacific Standard Time (141 W. Erie St., River North) got the profile treatment from the Gray Lady. Yes, its author, Ari Bendersky, is a Chicago-based food writer, but it’s always great to see our city and its dining scene get national attention. Oh, and Conde Nast Traveler also named Chicago the best big city in America, so there.

Here’s a somewhat depressing bit of news for fans of local food: Subscriptions for CSAs (sometimes called farm shares) are way down. It’s not clear whether customers are overwhelmed with choices, whether the local food trend has peaked, or if there’s some other cause. But the numbers don’t lie, and plenty of farms have either stopped offering CSAs or cut way back. Personally, I still love my CSA (Tomato Mountain, which delivers to my home) but can see the cooking challenges they pose for a busy family.

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Edit Module Source: http://www.chicagomag.com/dining-drinking/October-2018/Eataly-Launches-an-Alpine-Themed-Pop-Up-and-More-Dining-News/