sundayera7-blog

[sundayera7-blog]

Kyle Schwarber Extends the Cubs’ Lead with a Three-Run, Oppo-Blast!

Ian Happ hit the opposite field grand slam earlier and now Kyle Schwarber joins him with a three-run, oppo-blast of his own!

Check it out:

Before today’s game, Schwarber had five hits including a double and a homer in his last three games and he added a walk and homer (his 26th) today.

LOL:

Source: https://www.bleachernation.com/2019/08/07/kyle-schwarber-extends-the-cubs-lead-with-a-three-run-oppo-blast/

[sundayera7-blog]

This Chicago Home Has the Best Use of Color — House Tour

Name: James Conley and Kurt Heinrich Location: Rogers Park — Chicago, Illinois Size: 2,000 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, owned

A lot can happen in a year. Last summer, just a few weeks after closing on this home and a few days before their wedding, James and Kurt's kitchen and bathrooms were demolished for renovation (and therefore not in working order.) But that didn't stop them from celebrating their love. The couple quickly painted the living room, gathered friends and family, and were married in their living room right in front of this fireplace.

A lot of James and Kurt's inspiration comes from pop art, comic books, cinema history, and literature. Their combined styles successfully straddle mid-century modern and contemporary designs. But though they embrace modernity, they worked to maintain the classic architecture of their 1920s home and honor the original charm, too. With the help of designer Carly Moeller of Unpatterned, they have made an eclectic, cozy and colorful home.

Apartment Therapy Survey:

Our Style: I'd guess our style is sort of mid-century modern nerd-chic. Lots of pop culture artwork mixed with mid-century furniture and eclectic art and touches. We love bright pops of color in our spaces to add vibrancy as an accent to each room.

Inspiration: I'd say a lot of our influences come from pop art, comic books, cinema history, and literature. As a couple, we're a librarian and a writer so all of these sorts of elements are part of our personalities and I think we try to reflect that in our surroundings. We love things clean and fresh but also full of history and graphic color.

Favorite Element: Kurt: As much as I want to say the kitchen, I think the incredible color, art, and style of the dining room is my favorite.

James: This is a tough question! We've invested so much time changing almost every element of the house they all feel like parts of us. I guess it's a toss up between the tub and tile wall in our master bathroom and the combination of sea green kitchen backsplash between the stained wooden kitchen shelves and the slate-colored counters.

Biggest Challenge: Re-configuring the kitchen walls. Though the wall we reduced wasn't load-bearing it did contain the plumbing stack for the building, so we had to work with our designer Carly and our contractor Howard extensively to come up with some creative solutions. Though it couldn't work out the way we'd initially envisioned, I'd say their design and construction creativity made a space we really love.

What Friends Say: "I want to cook in your kitchen!" or "I want to marry your backsplash tile."

Biggest Embarrassment: Near the end of our kitchen/small bath renovation one of our large kitchen glass fixtures got bumped and it shattered into a million pieces. And of course they were back ordered for two months so we had a bulb in a socket hanging from the ceiling in our fancy kitchen for the unveiling to our friends haha.

Proudest DIY: Painting our living room. This might not seem like much of an accomplishment but we had to pick colors and get everything painted as soon as we closed on the house because we were getting married in the living room a few weeks after closing. We got it all done and our wedding photos came out beautifully in front of the fireplace!

Biggest Indulgence: Kurt: Probably the bidet seat in the master bathroom. I got used to having a bidet when I was studying abroad in Italy and had to have one in our first home!

James: Definitely the bathtub in the master bath. I've always wanted a deep soaking tub to luxuriate in and luckily (for me anyway) our old tub was damaged and needed replacing, so I decided to treat myself!

Best Advice: Find a designer and contractor who are as creative as you are. We were so lucky to have worked with Carly and Howard because of their incredible creative vision. Nothing was a roadblock to them, just an opportunity to explore alternative options — and that's how we are as a couple and as professionals. Also take time for yourself — renovations are longer than you expect and take a lot of emotional energy, so get out of the routine and get away from things when you can.

Dream Sources: District Chicago. DISTRICT CHICAGO. Seriously, half the furniture in our house came from District and everyone comments on how gorgeous those pieces are. Abt Electronics: If you need appliances their showroom is like magic, their prices are excellent, and they have free fresh baked cookies! CB2: If you're on a budget but trying to make a big impact you can find a lot of great items from glasses to flatware to light fixtures to chairs. Alapash New Home: Marco's showroom is carefully curated with oodles of art and hand-made items, it is impossible for us to go into that store without buying something for ourselves or our loved ones.

Resources:

PAINT & COLORS Master bedroom — Sherwin-Williams "Amalfi" Office — Behr "Juniper" Archways — Behr "English Daisy" Dining Room — Behr "Beacon Blue" Guest Bedroom - Behr "Hamilton Blue" Hallways and entry — Glidden "Soft Feather" Kitchen — Glidden "Distant" Fireplace and master bathroom — Benjamin Moore "Grape Juice" Living room — Benjamin Moore "Silver Mist"

ENTRY Console table — District Chicago Copper Pendant Light — Domicile Entry Bench — Target Peacock "Teal" Wallpaper — Relativity Textiles

LIVING ROOM Hopson Sectional — Joybird (purchased through District Chicago) Aubrey Sofa in Key Largo Zenith Teal — Joybird Soto Concave Arm Chair in Key Largo Grape — Joybird Custom tree trunk coffee table — District Chicago Kallax Bookcases — IKEA Mill Console Table — CB2 Cement-base table lamp — Alapash New Home Bright geometric paintings on wood in the entry and living room – Brian Hofmeister

DINING ROOM Reclaimed wooden dining table — District Chicago Reclaimed leather/corduroy dining chairs — District Chicago Refinished credenza — District Chicago "The Deep End" — Painting by Suzanne Gold Stockholm Glass China Cabinet — IKEA Dolce Vita Bar Cart — CB2

KITCHEN Kohler "Vault" apron-front double sink — Kohler Moen Align Faucet — Moen Peacock "Slate" Wallpaper — Relativity Textiles Watercolor 2x4 W67 Backsplash - Pratt & Larson via Virginia Tile Loft Pendant Lights - CB2 Folk Counter Stool in Walnut - Rejuvenation Copper Alberta Pull — Schoolhouse Electric Hex Shiny Copper Pull — CB2 Wide Vapor 12x24 Floor Tile — Caesar via Virginia Tile

MASTER BATHROOM Color by Numbers 4x12 Satin Tile — Crossville Tile via Virginia Tile Godmorgon Sink Cabinet — IKEA Siderna Single Lavatory Faucets in Chrome — Brizo Wide Vapor 12x24 Floor Tile — Caesar via Virginia Tile Black Flush Mount Sconces — CB2

HALL BATHROOM Color by Numbers 4x12 Satin Tile — Crossville Tile via Virginia Tile Hex Matte Black Tile — The Tile Shop Siderna Single Lavatory Faucet in Matte Black — Brizo Print Copper Hooks — CB2

PROFESSIONAL HELP Kitchen, Master Bath, Small Bath, Hallway, Entry, Dining room: Carly Moeller of Unpatterned (interior design and paint color advice) Howard Rothstein of Redstone Building Inc (all renovation work)

Thanks, James and Kurt!

Apartment Therapy supports our readers with carefully chosen product recommendations to improve life at home. You support us through our independently chosen links, many of which earn us a commission.

Source: https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/house-tour-an-incredibly-colorful-chicago-home-245907

[sundayera7-blog]

Bulls vs. Pacers Game Preview, Injury report, lineups

Chicago Bulls (10-28) vs. Indiana Pacers (25-12)

7 p.m., WGN

Injury Report:

Bobby Portis continues to make progress in his rehabilitation of a right ankle sprain. He went through practice yesterday, but the Bulls ruled him out for the game tonight.

For the Pacers, Myles Turner was a full participant in shootaround this morning after breaking his nose in a game earlier this week. The Pacers list him as questionable for the game tonight. Former Bull Doug McDermott isn’t listed on the injury report today after tweaking his ankle on Monday. Brother-to-former-Bull Aaron Holiday is listed as questionable with an illness.

The Last Time:

This game was historic....

In the first game of the Boylen era, the Chicago Bulls mustered all of the spirit their little bodies could hold, but still fell to the Pacers 96-90 in Indianapolis. The way the Bulls fought in their first game for their new head coach, it felt like this could be a turning point towards more competitive play in the future. It hasn’t exactly turned out that way though.

The Pacers are good

Quietly, the Indiana Pacers own the third-best record in the Eastern Conference, ahead of both the Philadelphia 76ers and the Boston Celtics.

Even more impressive, they’ve mustered a lot of these wins with their star Victor Oladipo missing 11-straight games in the middle of the season.

The Justin Holiday-less Bulls

How will this team look different now that their veteran shooting guard is in Memphis?

Won’t even see Cam Payne in garbage time anymore.

Source: https://www.blogabull.com/2019/1/4/18168730/chicago-bulls-battle-indiana-pacers-in-first-game-of-the-post-justin-holiday-era

[sundayera7-blog]

Double-dose of Bulls vs. Hawks this weekend (open thread)

[The blog is tanking, just doing one thread for the whole weekend -yfbb]

Chicago Bulls (17-45) Atlanta Hawks (21-41)

Friday - Atlanta - 6:30 p.m., NBC Chicago Sports Network

Sunday - Chicago - 2:30 p.m., WGN

Injury Report:

The Hawks list star forward John Collins as questionable tonight with flu-like symptoms. The former Wake Forest Demon Deacon has turned into one of the biggest steals from the 2017 NBA draft, quietly posting a team-leading 19.5 points per game on 56.9/37.9/76.9 percent shooting splits. This season, the Hawks are 4-12 in games that he hasn’t played.

They also have a Plumlee or Zeller out injured.

Nobody new on the Bulls injury report.

Preview:

Last time the two teams played was one of the lower points of the season, as the Hawks throttled the Bulls 121-101 at the United Center. It was the Bulls 11th loss in 12 games and Zach LaVine just wasn’t feeling it anymore.

Something’s obviously wrong. We weren’t losing (by) double-digits earlier in the season. We might have been losing -- and we didn’t even have a full roster. I don’t know. We’re a better team now, and we’re getting blown out. It doesn’t make a lot of sense.”

In a weird NBA scheduling quirk, the Bulls will have two opportunities this weekend (tonight and Sunday) to avenge that loss.

In case you live under a rock, or just aren’t interested in also-ran teams playing out the string, the Bulls are doing well right now. Chicago is 4-1 in their last five games and Zach LaVine and Lauri Markkanen have averaged 24 and 25.8 points per game respectively in that stretch.

Meanwhile, the Hawks have found something with Trae Young, expected by many as the guy from the draft last season most at risk to turn into a bust. He’s still not the most efficient guy in the world, but he averages 17.8 points per game to go along with 7.7 assists. He’s a rookie point guard who has started all 62 of Atlanta’s games, so the Hawks have thrown him into the fire and he’s responded well.

Young obviously catalyzes this, but the Hawks are fun as they play fast and throw up shots (second in the NBA in pace and sixth in 3-point attempt rate). Naturally, the high pace has led them to have the largest turnover percentage in the association as well.

TANK TALK:

Finally, let’s talk candidly about the tankathon right now. Here’s where we stand.

Barring an out-of-the-ordinary run either way, the Bulls are going to end up with that 4th slot.

Yes, the odds are all flattened this year. Each team with a top three worst record in the NBA has a 14.0 percent chance of that coveted No. 1 pick and a 52.1 percent chance at a top three pick. The team with the fourth worse record has a 12.5 percent chance at the No. 1 pick and a 48.1 percent chance at a top three pick. Though in a draft not considered particularly deep, the difference between a 52.1 percent and a 48.1 percent chance at a top three pick seems somewhat significant for a rebuilding team in a lost season.

I will continue to root for the Bulls to lose, because losing close games in which the young core continues to make strides still seems like a best case scenario for the Bulls the rest of the season. Mess around and beat the Hawks twice this weekend and suddenly they’re back in play for moving ‘up’ to 5th slot.

Source: https://www.blogabull.com/2019/3/1/18246532/bulls-vs-hawks-game-preview-injury-report-lineups

[sundayera7-blog]

Tamara O’Neal Was Almost Erased From The Story Of Her Own Murder

Dr. Tamara O’Neal had just finished up her emergency room shift at Mercy Hospital in Chicago on Nov. 19 when Juan Lopez, her ex-fiance, materialized in the parking lot. He knew where to find her. Earlier in the day, he rang the hospital trying to get her on the phone. She told the clerk who took the call to tell him she was busy.

As recently as September, O’Neal, 38, had planned to marry Lopez. But something caused her to change her mind, and a few weeks before the wedding, she broke off the engagement. On Monday the sight of him scared her enough to dial 911.

In the parking lot, he claimed to want his engagement ring back, but that was an excuse, another attempt to control her. He revealed his true intentions when he pulled out his gun and shot her six times. Afterward, he ran into the hospital and kept shooting, killing Dayna Less, a 24-year-old pharmacy resident, and Samuel Jimenez, 28, a rookie officer with the Chicago Police Department, before being killed by officer gunfire.

In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, when the facts were still being sorted, the media latched onto the policeman who was killed in the line of duty. His death ― understood as the most newsworthy component of the incident ― became the story. Headlines, captions and mobile alerts (including HuffPost’s), focused on him. In The New York Times, for example, O’Neal was not named until the fifth paragraph, as one of the “other victims,” and her relationship to the shooter wasn’t explained until later in the story.

Somehow, a mass shooting rooted in gendered violence was framed as a random act. Even Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel in a news conference said the mass shooting was “the consequence of evil.”

But the shooting was not random at all. It was the consequence of domestic violence. And by relegating O’Neal to a supporting part in the story, the media fundamentally misrepresented the nature of the attack. The massacre was a result of her ex-partner’s final attempt to control her.  

“We are not connecting the dots correctly,” said Monica McLaughlin, the director of public policy at the National Network to End Domestic Violence.

The erasure of O’Neal from the narrative obscures the motivation behind the attack, McLaughlin added, making it harder for the public to recognize the undercurrent of toxic masculinity in American gun violence.

Monte Gerlach Photography via AP

Tamara O'Neal in September 2017. Although her killing was the consequence of domestic violence, many news outlets at first minimized her in their reports about a mass shooting.

“Violence against women is a common denominator in many, many, many of these shootings,” she said.

As HuffPost has reported, most mass shootings in the U.S. involve a man targeting his intimate partner or another family member. And among mass shooters who target the public in random acts of violence, many have histories of abusive behavior toward women. (See: Pulse, Parkland, Sutherland Springs.)

David Adams, a domestic violence expert who has studied men who kill their partners, said many homicidal abusers feel a sense of ownership over their wife or girlfriend.

“They blame their partners for their own problems and, in general, see themselves as victims of unappreciative, selfish partners,” he said. Men who kill their partners as part of a mass shooting may simply want a larger audience to advertise their grievances, he added.

Like many mass shooters before him, Lopez had a history of abusive behavior toward women. He was fired from the Chicago Fire Academy in 2014 after he was accused of inappropriate conduct with female cadets. The same year, his then-wife filed an emergency protective order against him. “I fear that my safety is in jeopardy,” she wrote, stating that he was acting erratically with his firearm and had threatened to go to her job and cause a scene.

Four years later, he followed through on his threat to cause a scene at a workplace, only this time it was to confront O’Neal. “He couldn’t let it go,” her father, Tom O’Neal, told the Chicago Sun-Times. “He couldn’t let go and he took her away from us.”

Ruth Glenn, the executive director of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, said she understood the gut instinct among media outlets to emphasize the police officer’s death. Unfortunately, when it comes to gun violence, there is a hierarchy of newsworthiness. A police officer killed in the line of duty makes headlines far more often than a woman slain by her intimate partner. Especially, Glenn said, if she is a woman of color.

“[Police officers] put their lives on the line every day,” she said. “But if you think about it, so does a victim when she has decided that she needs to be away from the violence.”

A mass shooting rooted in gendered violence was framed as a random act.

Women are at the highest risk of being killed when they leave their partners, said Maureen Curtis, the vice president of criminal justice programs for the nonprofit group Safe Horizon. For many women, their workplaces can become a place of heightened danger, as their partners know when and where they work.

In 2017, Karen Elaine Smith was teaching an elementary class in San Bernardino, California, when her husband, whom she had recently left, walked in with a handgun and began shooting, killing her and an 8-year-old student. 

“This is one reason why we need to recognize that domestic violence is not just a personal matter and that helping and supporting a victim not only can save her life but the lives of others,” Curtis said.

Erasing domestic violence from the story also does a disservice to the police officer slain, said Mark Wynn, a retired Tennessee officer who now travels the country training police on issues related to violence against women.

Calls related to domestic disputes are the most dangerous for police, he said. In a strange coincidence, Wynn was just a few miles from Mercy Hospital, training Chicago police officers how to respond to domestic violence incidents, with a focus on officer safety, when the shooting happened.

“Every cop knows the deadly line of ‘If I can’t have you, nobody will,’” he said. “Abusers do not like to be held accountable for their crimes.”

This story has been updated to include Dr. Tamara O’Neal’s occupation.

Source: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/tamara-oneal-chicago-shooting-domestic-violence_us_5bf576a6e4b0771fb6b4ceef

[sundayera7-blog]

Girl in the Spider’s Web uses past trauma as an excuse for further violence

The Girl in the Spider's Web isn't so much meant to tell a story as it is designed to launch a new property. Stieg Larsson's posthumously published 2005 novel The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo was essentially a cozy mystery. The 2011 American film version was distinguished by its thoughtful character sketches and its moments of unexpected intimacy. But Girl in the Spider's Web shoots for a broader, more explosive canvas.

Based on a novel that wasn't written by Larsson (David Lagercrantz took over the series after Larsson's death), the film replaces the delicately expressive Rooney Mara with the mostly blank Claire Foy in the role of traumatized supercomputer hacker Lisbeth Salander. Director Fede Álvarez has been tasked with turning a personal creation into a predictable moneymaker. Along the way, he somewhat inadvertently demonstrates how individual trauma can be detached from its specific victims and become an excuse for generic violence—whether in the service of entertainment or something bleaker.

The plot of The Girl in the Spider's Web is familiar James Bond boilerplate. Various people are trying to steal an NSA program that will grant them control over the world's nuclear weapons. Lisbeth is also given an archenemy in the form of her twin sister, Camilla (Sylvia Hoeks). Intrepid investigative reporter Mikael Blomkvist, played with wearily assured compassion by Daniel Craig in the earlier film, is here rendered as a mooning dishmop by Sverrir Gudnason. It is deeply unclear why Salander wants to have anything to do with him.

Though, to be fair, it's not clear why Salander does much of anything she does in the movie. In Dragon Tattoo, she was motivated by curiosity, self-preservation, and commitment to friends as well as by a hatred of male violence linked to her own history of abuse. What makes Girl With the Dragon Tattoo special is that it's a rape-revenge narrative in which the main character isn't defined by either the sexual violence done to her or the revenge she takes on those who harm her or others. What was done to her matters, but it's not all of who she is. Her imperious confidence, her frank earthiness, her love of a puzzle, her rare smile: those are who she is, not her trauma.

In the reboot, though, everything but the trauma is tossed aside—or, given the FX budget, blown up. Salander has become a kind of Batman figure, consumed by her lonely quest for justice, hunting down and punishing a string of abusive men and then disappearing into the night. In Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Salander doesn't even fire a gun; her big action-hero moment involves swinging a golf club. Now, though, she's suddenly a ninja superspy and an expert with firearms of all sorts, leaping from car chase to firefight like any other action hero.

Previously, Salander used violence in extremis, to protect herself or people she cared about. But in Spider's Web, her particular history of trauma becomes (again like Batman's) a kind of all-purpose excuse for, and spur to, vigilante action and hyperbolic violence. Body counts escalate, shootouts splash into public places. The old Salander's vulnerability and trauma spurred her to do what she needed to do to survive. The new filmmakers, in contrast, use trauma as an excuse for Salander to do anything she wants, no matter how destructive.

Girl in the Spider's Web is at least vaguely aware of the moral problems that can result from the careless use of revenge narratives. Salander's sister, Camilla, was also abused by their father; she blames Lisbeth for running away and leaving her behind to suffer. Her career as a criminal mastermind is fueled by her trauma and ends with her planning to destroy the world to get back at her sister. Victimization has become detached from a particular person and turned into an all-purpose excuse.

That's a common trope in Hollywood—and, for that matter, in politics, where opportunists like Trump peddle gaseous narratives of grievance to justify any range of atrocities. You have made America less great, the argument goes, so it's OK to put your children in camps. Not coincidentally, the film gratuitously glorifies America's security services, as NSA operative Edwin Neeham (Lakeith Stanfield) shows up to save the day from the nefarious Swedish government. The story of one abused Swedish woman is rerouted, via the magic of American filmmaking, into an apology for U.S. global hegemony.

Girl With the Dragon Tattoo was in part an empowerment narrative; it was a story about how men who abuse and harm women are forced to answer for their crimes at the hands of those they've tormented. Girl in the Spider's Web is a story about how the desire for retribution can be picked up for cynical ends that have little to do with justice, much less with sympathy for the abused. Lisbeth Salander has suffered a great deal. But turning her into a vehicle for overdetermined, conscienceless violence still hurts.   v

Source: https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/girl-in-the-spiders-web-fede-alvarez/Content?oid=62023047

[sundayera7-blog]

Robber Hijacks Car, Kills Woman in Front of 2 Kids: Police

A 21-year-old woman was killed Wednesday night when a robber jumped in a car, demanded to be driven and then - in front of two children - shot her twice in the head before fleeing with cash, according to Chicago police.

The incident took place at around 9:22 p.m. in the 2200 block of North Long Avenue in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood on the city's Northwest Side, officials said.

Authorities said Maria Coronel was a passenger in a parked vehicle, with another woman in the driver's seat and two children in the back, when an unknown male jumped in the backseat of the car and ordered the driver to begin driving.

They traveled a few blocks east, stopping near the intersection of West Belden and North Lawler avenues, where officials said the suspect shot Coronel twice in the head before exiting the car and running away with an unknown amount of cash he took from her.

Coronel was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police and the Cook County Medical Examiner's office.

No one was in custody as of Thursday morning in connection with the shooting, according to police, who continue to investigate.

Source: https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/woman-killed-belmont-cragin-car-robbery-499248911.html

[sundayera7-blog]

U. of I. joins ‘milestone’ quantum tech research hub with University of Chicago

Mayor Rahm Emanuel isn’t exactly sure how quantum physics works, but he thinks a research center investigating it might be as big a deal for Chicago’s economy as the city’s decision to annex O’Hare Airport.

“People will look back at this day as a milestone that changed the direction not only of the city, not only of the state, not only of the country, but of the prospects of the greater South Side of Chicago,” Emanuel said Tuesday at the University of Chicago.

Administrators announced the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign will join the Hyde Park school’s efforts in quantum technology with the Fermi and Argonne National Laboratories as part of the “Chicago Quantum Exchange,” based near the University of Chicago.

Quantum physicists study very small particles — smaller than an atom — and their unusual qualities and uncertain states. In quantum computing, for instance, engineers hope to store information not in bits — in 1’s and 0’s — but in more-information rich “qubits.”

It’s a heady topic, on the cutting-edge of physics. But the field could have real-world implications, allowing the transmission of unhackable coded messages, medical imaging at an unprecedented resolution, and faster and more efficient computers, according to David Aswchalom, a professor at the University of Chicago’s Institute of Molecular Engineering.

Emanuel literally threw up his hands about the science behind the technology at the press conference. He was confident, nonetheless, that the combined efforts of the universities and the labs will anchor the emerging field in Chicago.

A participant in the project more familiar with the underlying science — Fermi Lab Deputy Director Joe Lykken — shared Emanuel’s enthusiasm.

“There’s a lot of hype out there, but I think it is a fair analogy to say this is like the World Wide Web when there were only three websites,” Lykken said. “We really are at the beginning of something that we think is going to be transformative, not just for science but for the whole world.”

Source: https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/quantum-tech-university-chicago-illinois-fermi-argonne-exchange/

[sundayera7-blog]

Zach Britton is Another Arm the Cubs Have Previously Targeted – How About Now?

This offseason figures to be one of the most high-priced and exciting free agent affairs in the league’s long history – and the Chicago Cubs could very well be at the heart of it all (LOL … that might not be true anymore). In any case, these players present possible fits for the Cubs, at a range of potential costs, positions, and talent levels.

Previously: Bryce Harper, Andrew Miller

Potential Target: Zach Britton, Age 30

Performance in 2018

Zach Britton’s overall performance in 2018 is a bit of a tough nut to crack. After making his debut following a recovery from an Achilles injury, he got pretty solid results, but had some obviously ugly peripherals, some lucky bounces, and some bad luck with homers.

The offseason injury is the reason for the low inning total, but I don’t think he can use that to explain his underlying performance (or at least, it would be a red flag to do so). Because while the ERA looks solid, his FIP paints a much different picture, particularly as it relates to balls and strikes.

In 2018, Britton’s 20.1% strikeout rate was technically above his career average (19.9%), but it was nowhere near the levels he put up in 2014-2016 when he first moved to the bullpen, and his 12.4% walk rate was the worst mark of his career. Given how much frustration Cubs fans have had with wild relievers during the past two seasons, that alone might justifiably scare some people off.

Less scary, but still concerning: his usually *elite* contact management disappeared last season, as he began drifting somewhat closer to the league averages. He was still solidly better than most in this department, mind you, but he just wasn’t elite, like he had been in the past.

The one way he definitely DID NOT disappoint in 2018, however, was his ground ball rate. That 73.0% mark might be a little lower than the numbers he posted in his best seasons, but oh boy is it still really, really good. In fact, he led the league in ground ball rate among relievers with at least 40 IP. For context, if you’re putting up a 50+% ground ball rate, that’s dang good.

The bad news, however, is that it looks to me like he earned the drop in strand rate thanks to his worsening K/BB ratio, but didn’t necessarily earn the HUGE drop in BABIP (.241 last season, .287 for his career) thanks to an uptick in hard contact.

I will say, however, that even accounting for the extra hard contact, Britton probably didn’t deserve an apparently flukey 25.0% HR/FB ratio. That’s the third highest rate in baseball this season, despite the fact that his hard-contact ranked among the top-30. I’d expect some huge positive regression in that department next season. I wish I had a stronger narrative thread here, but the truth remains: his season is/was difficult to evaluate on the numbers, alone.

Performance Before 2018

Interestingly, a lot of what I just stated can be applied – in broad strokes – to his 2017 season, too. That year, Britton was also limited by injuries, but delivered some solid results (2.89 ERA) with lagging peripherals (3.40), headlined by a low strikeout rate (18.0%) and an uncharacteristically high walk rate (11.2%). BUT BEFORE THAT … he was lights out.

Britton, like other lefty Cubs target Andrew Miller, has recently been one of the most elite relievers in baseball. From 2014-2016, he was among the top-10 in innings pitched (209.0), WAR (5.6), and batting average against (.153), while leading in ground ball rate (77.9%), soft contact (31.9%), and hard contact (18.5%).

He was second in ERA (1.38), tucked between two former Cubs closers, Wade Davis and Aroldis Chapman, who was, himself, just barely ahead of Andrew Miller.

Indeed, Britton and Miller have a lot in common – former left-handed relief aces, converted from starters, whose elite status has waned in the last year or so thanks, in part, to some unexpected injuries – but they offer two completely different approaches to the game. Miller is more of a strikeout artist and Britton is more of a contact manager. Think … Yu Darvish vs. Kyle Hendricks. The Cubs may very well be interested in both guys (they clearly have been in the past), but it would have to be for different reasons.

Also of random note: Britton finished FOURTH in the Cy Young voting back in 2016.

Projection for 2019 and Beyond

Projecting Britton seems, to me, an even tougher task than most. He’s still quite young and not that far removed from being at the top of his game. On one hand, you could say the injuries are behind him so he should be ready to resume his excellence, while on the other hand you might wonder whether the damage has already been done (or maybe he’s simply past his prime).

Weirdly, Steamer is projecting only 25.0 innings for Britton next season, but they appear to be quality innings in nature: 3.01 ERA (3.24 FIP). I’m willing to bet he pitches more than 25.0 innings in 2018, but we’ll get into his injury stuff in just a moment.

(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Possible Contract/Existing Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors: 3 years, $33M FanGraphs: 3 years, $30-36M Jon Heyman: 4 years, $60M His Expert: 4 years, $56M

The Cubs would be among many, many teams interested in Britton, and have been attached to him for a good long while, including once already this offseason.

It’s worth noting that the Cubs reportedly tried to trade for Britton during the 2017 season and again during the offseason before the 2018 season. Clearly they like something about him (I’m guessing it’s the fact that he’s a contact manager (they always go after those guys)), so keep that in mind.

Other Considerations/Injuries

In 2012, Britton was placed on the 60-Day DL with a left-shoulder impingement.

More recently: In April of 2017, Britton was placed on the 10-day DL with left forearm tightness. He was eventually activated on May 2, but was right back on the DL a few days later thanks to re-aggravating the same injury. Then, in the offseason, he ruptured his Achilles tendon, failing to debut with the Orioles until June 12th.

Because he was traded to the Yankees mid-season, he was not eligible for a qualifying offer, and, thus, will not cost his new team any draft picks upon signing.

When he moved to the Yankees around the mid-season mark, Britton’s ERA dropped even lower (2.88) but his FIP remained elevated (4.08). Of course, that’s something you would see from a good contact-manager.

Fit for Cubs

With all of this said, if Britton requires four years and over $50 million (as Heyman and his expert are anticipating) I can’t see how the Cubs would be justified in that expenditure. Sure, he was elite back in 2016, still has promise, is young for a free agent, and might have been held back by some injuries, but those injuries and all the time missed scares me.

If he winds up in the 2-3 year, $24-$32M range, I think the Cubs would be wise to pursue him, but even then, I still have some concerns (and questions about how and where they’re spending their money). The Cubs have plenty of injury-related questions in their bullpen as it is.

But we can’t ignore the obvious: the Cubs are searching for left-handed power pitchers this winter and Britton was averaging 95.6 MPH from the left-side last year. We also know he was twice a target of the Cubs in the past, as recently as last December and that he has a track record of truly elite success. But we also also know that the Cubs are looking for relief help against left-handed hitters, in particular, not simply left-handed relievers.

That’s noteworthy, because last season, Britton was actually far tougher on righties (.263 wOBA) than lefties (.313 wOBA) – and the year prior he was basically split neutral. At the same time, it’s not like that’s disqualifying whatsoever.

I don’t mean to come off as down or unsure on Britton as I think I am – I genuinely believe he’d be a great addition to this team – I’m just concerned the pedigree and number of interested parties might drive his price up to uncomfortable levels, especially if the Cubs are financially limited.

Source: https://www.bleachernation.com/2018/11/13/zach-britton-is-another-arm-the-cubs-have-previously-targeted-how-about-now/

[sundayera7-blog]

New! – Your Chicagoboyz Black-Coffee Friday Holiday Espresso Update

  After a couple of not entirely satisfactory years with a low-end conventional espresso maker (discussed here, here and here) and this morning’s epic hot milk explosion we decided to buy a standalone milk frothing device and ended up ordering this DeLonghi-made Nespresso machine, which comes with a milk frother for around $104 total (after coupon) on a Black Friday deal.

We have never owned a Nespresso but have given a couple of them as gifts and everyone loves them. Of course you have to buy coffee capsules, which are pricey if you buy the Nespresso branded ones but a very reasonable 33 cents each if you buy the ones from Bestpresso. These are excellent in our experience.  

  UPDATE: There’s a similar deal on a Breville-made Nespresso/frother combo:  

    —- Disclosure: This blog post was written under the influence of caffeine. Chicago Boyz earns an affiliate payment from Amazon when you buy any product through any of the Amazon links on this blog. If you buy stuff through our links we can afford to buy more espresso.

Source: https://chicagoboyz.net/archives/58467.html

[sundayera7-blog]

Suburban advocacy summit on October 27

Home / Blog / Suburban advocacy summit on October 27

October 4, 2018 | by Maggie Melin

Do you want better walking, biking and transit options in your community?

For people who walk, bike or ride transit in the suburbs, our transportation system is often neither safe nor welcoming.

But when bolstered by a collective voice of advocates, transportation conditions in the Chicagoland suburbs have the potential to be transformed.

Be a part of this suburban transformation by attending our annual gathering of suburban advocates at our Bike Walk Every Town Summit on Saturday, October 27 in Elmhurst.

Bike Walk Every Town is our suburban advocacy program dedicated to lifting up suburban leaders and providing them with the resources and strategic advice needed to be more effective change-makers in their community.

Register for the Bike Walk Every Town Summit on October 27. The gathering is free and lunch will be provided.

The summit is designed for all concerned residents -- from those new to advocacy to seasoned leaders with years of experience.

Join us for one or both of the following sessions:

Bike Walk Every Town 1.0 (for new advocates): The summit will start with an optional basic training for attendees interested in learning the fundamentals of advocacy and the Bike Walk Every Town platform. Attendees will be given guidance on creating a structured action plan to improve walking, biking and transit in their village or city.

Bike Walk Every Town 2.0 (for new and longtime advocates): All advocates are invited for a series of networking activities that will include regional updates and mapping out a plan for meeting with federal and state representatives and advocating for the implementation of the recently passed Bike Walk Education Bill at local school districts.

 We will dig into tools to help you increase your capacity and effectiveness as an advocate that will help you make positive change at the local, regional and state level.

 Visit our Bike Walk Every Town webpage to learn more about the program or email Advocacy Manager Maggie Melin at maggie@activetrans.org with any questions.

     Source: http://activetrans.org/blog/suburban-advocacy-summit-october-27

[sundayera7-blog]

Brewers rally late to top NL Central foe Cubs

Ben Gamel's two-out single in the eighth inning scored two runs and lifted the Milwaukee Brewers to a 3-2 win over the Chicago Cubs on Friday night.

Trailing 2-1, the Brewers loaded the bases with one out in the eighth inning on a walk and two hit batters. Jesus Aguilar popped out, but Gamel lined a 1-0 pitch from Pedro Strop to right, scoring Keston Hiura and Eric Thames.

Adrian Houser (4-4) pitched 1 2/3 innings and Josh Hader worked the ninth for his 23rd save in 25 tries.

Brandon Kintzler (2-1) took the loss in a game that saw each team muster only four hits.

David Bote hit a two-run homer for Chicago.

Beginning with the Friday night's series opener, the teams will play six of their next nine games against each other as they compete for the NL Central title or perhaps a wild card spot.

Brewers starter Gio Gonzalez, making his second start since a stint on the disabled list with left shoulder inflammation, winced after striking out Javier Baez to open the seventh.

Manager Craig Counsell and the Milwaukee trainer came out, and Gonzalez departed with what the Brewers said was shoulder tightness.

He allowed two runs on three hits. He walked one and struck out a season-high nine batters.

Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks allowed two hits and two walks while striking out five over five innings.

The Cubs were hitless until Albert Almora Jr. opened the sixth with an infield single. Bote followed by capping an eight-pitch at-bat with a shot to left-center for his 10th home run of the season.

Milwaukee pulled within 2-1 in the seventh when Gamel walked, advanced to second on a groundout and scored on a single by Christian Yelich.

Earlier in the day, the Cubs made a move to bolster their bullpen, acquiring left-hander Derek Holland and cash from the San Francisco Giants in exchange for cash considerations. The 32-year-old Holland (2-4, 5.90) was designated for assignment by the Giants on Sunday.

--Field Level Media

Source: https://sports.yahoo.com/brewers-rally-top-nl-central-033709526.html?src=rss

[sundayera7-blog]

Bears sign Marvin Hall, shore up depth and special teams

While some expected the Bears to land a free agent big fish after restructuring Khalil Mack’s earlier this week, general manager Ryan Pace has instead worked toward filling in depth and smaller roster holes. The latest comes in the form of former Falcons receiver and special teams standout Marvin Hall, who agreed to a one-year deal with Chicago Friday, according to the Bears.

Hall, 25, spent the first two years of his professional career in Atlanta featuring as a fourth and fifth receiver in the Falcons’ offense. He was superstar Julio Jones’ main backup at the X-receiver spot. Though, with a career 12 receptions, 209 receiving yards and two touchdowns, you’d be hard-pressed to say Hall’s someone with much of any relevant experience on offense. He stepped in for emergency purposes and filled in admirably when asked. The gist is that Hall’s more serviceable than wholly reliable: Something to be expected for a receiver at the bottom of a depth chart.

Where Hall should make most of his impact in Chicago is on special teams. A solid gunner and backup returner in Atlanta’s scheme, Hall could reasonably be seen as Josh Bellamy’s replacement — who signed with the Jets earlier this week. The Bears had one of the NFL’s worst special teams units last season as they ranked 26th overall in Football Outsiders’ DVOA. A bit of necessary change, even a wholesale overhaul, isn’t the craziest development to consider. When your third phase is as much of a non-factor as it was for the Bears’ last year, anything is possible. Pace and company can’t afford to let one unit drag them down as much as their special teams did in the pursuit of a championship.

It remains to be seen whether Hall will be unnecessarily piled on and criticized if pressed in on offense as a fourth or fifth receiver, but never give up hope. Scapegoats are a dime a dozen.

Be it on offense or special teams, Hall fits the bill of increasing speed and athleticism across the board for the Bears. As a guy who once ran a 4.28 40-yard dash at his Washington Pro Day two years ago, Hall is a quintessential blazer. Make no mistake: Guys with speed find their way on to the field more often than not. It’s rare you’ll lose with speed at any level. With Hall in particular, think Taylor Gabriel-lite as a solid comparison.

Matt Nagy is loading up his arsenal of weapons to play around with, as is special teams coordinator Chris Tabor. Hall is yet another puzzle piece in a Chicago grand design, albeit a smaller one.

Robert is the Editor-in-chief of The Blitz Network (subscribe here!), the managing editor of Windy City Gridiron, and writes for a host of other fine publications. You can follow him on Twitter @RobertZeglinski.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2019/3/15/18267798/chicago-bears-nfl-free-agency-marvin-hall-signs-atlanta-falcons-special-teams-josh-bellamy-nfl-2019

[sundayera7-blog]

Lincoln Park 7-Eleven property sold for $3 million, now 10 unit luxury condo development

This used to be the 7-Eleven. 1110 West Schubert, Schubert Pointe, is under construction with MLS listings from $1,000,000 to $1,650,000. All photos / stats Eric Rojas, Broker, Kale Realty

We walked down the 2700 block of North Lincoln last week. Schubert Pointe construction (1110 West Schubert Ave, Chicago IL 60614) is taking shape at the corner of North Lincoln Avenue and West Schubert in Lincoln Park. The "pointy" 10 unit building with distinct terraces takes the place of the former 7-Eleven store. A Cook County Recorder of Deeds document shows the property was likely sold for $3,010,000  This strip of North Lincoln Avenue is relatively sleepy compared to other parts of Lincoln Park.  Here's a story on the development back in October.

Three units of the development are listed for sale on the MLS with prices ranging from $1,000,000 to $1,650,000 for a penthouse unit with 1400 sq/ft terrace. I'm not sure if this includes the Range Rover in the driveway. There are many condos and attached town homes in the immediate area within a block or so.  The development location is a short walk to Jonquil Park, the CTA Diversey Brown Line stop and resides in Agassiz Elementary School district.

The condo market around this development in Lincoln Park is very active. Schubert Pointe will be pushing the high end for condo prices here.

We've listed and sold several homes very nearby including 1030 W Wrightwood   1307 West Wrightwood Unit 206 1307 Wrightwood Unit 106  904 West Schubert #2W

33 attached units have sold in the roughly two block shaded area around Schubert Pointe in the last 12 months.  The median price of a sold condo is about $540,000.  The highest sold unit over 12 months is 2649 N Racine Avenue Unit 3S for $1,040,000.  The 2100 sq/ft, three beds new construction penthouse unit boasts a 28ft wide floor-plan. The lowest priced sold unit is 1152 West Wrightwood Unit 2 for $420,000. The two beds, two baths middle floor re-sale condo looked in great condition and included a garage parking spot.

Contact us to find pre-market or new listings for sale in Lincoln Park and surrounding neighborhoods!

Source: http://www.ericrojasblog.com/2019/02/lincoln-park-7-eleven-property-sold-for.html

[sundayera7-blog]

Streeterville’s Optima Signature luxury apartments wow you with extensive amenities

Streeterville’s new Optima Signature is a new, ultra-luxury apartment tower just off Michigan Avenue’s Magnificent Mile. During your visit you’ll check off every item on your wish list – and see an unprecedented level of amenities.

Start your tour of Optima Signature with the above videos of 2- and 3-bedroom, 2-bath apartments at the Apex level, the top 15 floors.

Optima Signature apartments have floor-to-ceiling windows, wide plank flooring, stainless steel appliances, quartz or granite counters and in-unit washer / dryers. The Apex apartments, have upgraded finishes and 9- or 10-foot ceilings.

Convertible apartments are all rented at this time. One-bedrooms start at $2,450, and 2-bedroom, 2-baths at $3,990. An Apex-level 3-bedroom, 2-bath is available for $6,235 a month. A half-month’s free rent is available on select apartments, and a look-and-lease special applies if you lease on the day of your first visit.

Floor plans and near real-time rent and availability info are online.

You’ll need to visit the sprawling multi-level amenities at Optima Signature to understand their scale and how they enhance the experience of living there. The wide variety of amenity spaces can accommodate a crowd or an intimate gathering of friends.

Budget a greater than usual amount of time for your tour at Optima Signature, because the amenities are far more extensive than what you’ll see at other new apartment towers. Start with a walk through one of the resident lounges toward the basketball and bocce courts, the golf simulator and putting green, the yoga studio and indoor pool and whirlpool.

If you’re a fitness buff or wannabe you’ll find the workout venue of your dreams at Optima Signature. The lavish men’s and women’s locker rooms have showers, steam and sauna, and towel service.

When you head outside, you’ll find larger steam and sauna rooms adjacent to private and public grilling areas.

The sprawling outdoor terraces on the 7th and 8th floors have lush landscaping, hot tubs, an outdoor pool with private cabanas, a variety of seating and sunning options, a playground, and open vistas to the south.

There’s much more to see at Optima Signature.

The leasing center for the pet-friendly Optima Signature is open daily on-site at 220 E Illinois St.

Source: http://yochicago.com/streetervilles-optima-signature-luxury-apartments-wow-you-with-extensive-amenities/61510/

[sundayera7-blog]

Live rent free on the River North / Gold Coast border at Chestnut Place

Chestnut Place belongs on your must-visit list if you’re looking for an apartment with steps-to access to the best of the River North and Gold Coast neighborhoods. Add up to a month’s free rent and the attraction becomes even more compelling.

Chestnut Place apartments are appealingly-priced for the location. Available 1-bedrooms start at $1,899, and 2-bedrooms with a bath-and-a-half at $2,834.

You can see floor plans and check near real-time rent and availability info online.

Join YoChicago in the videos for a walk through half a dozen apartments.

The amenities at Chestnut Place were recently expanded and enhanced. A sprawling new resident lounge, for example, looks out onto State and Chestnut streets and comfortably accommodates a variety of uses.

An area overlooking State Street has a pool table, a beverage cooler, coffee service and lounge and banquette seating.

The lounge’s business center area has computer workstations, a printer / fax / copier, study group seating and a conference room with a flat-panel TV.

The large area facing Chestnut Street can host multiple small-group gatherings or a large party. It has a demonstration kitchen and multiple seating areas.

The fitness center has a broad selection of cardio and strength-training equipment, and space for yoga and stretching exercises.

The resident lounge and fitness area open to a deck with grilling stations and lounge and table seating.

Chestnut Place is steps from an abundance of shopping, dining, nightlife and charming small parks. Residents have quick access to the CTA Red Line at Chicago Ave. Loyola’s downtown campus, Lurie Children’s and Northwestern Memorial hospitals, and Mag Mile shops.

Chestnut Place is pet-friendly, non-smoking and has 24/7 door staff, a parking garage, and on-site leasing and management staff.

Source: http://yochicago.com/live-rent-free-on-the-river-north-gold-coast-border-at-chestnut-place/60971/

[sundayera7-blog]

Pace sees few glaring draft needs for Bears after big jump

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) -- General manager Ryan Pace understands the idea that the Chicago Bears need to draft a running back.

He's just not necessarily buying it.

Pace doesn't see too many big holes on the roster with the draft starting Thursday after Chicago made a worst-to-first jump last season. The Bears don't pick until the third round - at No. 87 - so it could be quiet for them in the early going.

''I kind of know what the narrative is out there, but we feel fortunate with our roster right now,'' Pace said Tuesday.

''This press conference feels a little different in that there's no pressing, huge needs. We can honestly select the best players. That's a great spot to be in.''

The Bears traded their first-round selection to Oakland in the blockbuster deal for Khalil Mack just before the start of last season. And they sent their second-rounder to New England when they traded up in last year's draft to get receiver Anthony Miller.

Pace has no regrets about those deals, particularly the trade for Mack. And when Oakland picks in Chicago's place at No. 24?

''When our pick comes up, Khalil Mack highlights will come on instantly (in the draft room), so that's the first thing that will happen,'' Pace said in jest.

''But it's still going to be a professional draft room. It's fascinating to watch it unfold. There'll be a lot of friends around the league. We'll see how it all goes down.''

The Bears are in a far better position than they were a year ago, after winning the NFC North at 12-4 in coach Matt Nagy's first season. Chicago ended a run of four straight last-place finishes and made the playoffs for the first time since the 2010 season.

The Bears are loaded with a defense that ranked among the NFL's best last season and are counting on an offense led by quarterback Mitchell Trubisky to make a jump in its second season in Nagy's system. But they're also short on trade assets, with just five picks in this year's draft and no obvious candidates to be dealt on the roster.

The Bears already traded one when they sent Jordan Howard to Philadelphia last month, opening up a spot at running back.

''I think there's probably always a story line with every draft,'' Pace said. ''I understand why it's that way, but I don't feel like we go into this draft saying, 'Man, we have to take this position or we're in trouble.' We're in good shape.''

Howard struggled to fit in a system that favors pass-catching running backs and wound up with career lows in yards rushing (935) and attempts (250) in his third season.

Even so, he had more combined carries than Tarik Cohen, Mike Davis, Taquan Mizzell Sr. and Ryan Nall - the running backs currently on Chicago's roster.

But Pace insisted the Bears ''feel good'' about who they have.

He can envision Davis playing a bigger role after carrying 112 times for 514 yards with Seattle last season. He sees two-time Pro Bowl kick returner Cordarrelle Patterson chipping in as a receiver and ball carrier after signing a two-year deal. And he dismisses the idea that the Bears could have gotten more for Howard than a conditional sixth-round pick next year.

''I think there's always a narrative out there, 'Oh, you could get this,''' Pace said. ''This is the reality. You know what I mean? We work those channels all the time. We're doing them right now. That's the reality of what it is. We feel good about it. We feel good moving forward. Again, we feel really good about that room and we wish Jordan the best.''

The other big issue for the Bears is at kicker.

Chicago released Cody Parkey in the wake of a double-doink miss off the upright and crossbar in the closing seconds of the wild-card loss to Philadelphia at Soldier Field and a ''Today'' show appearance a few days later that did not sit well with the team's hierarchy.

The three kickers on the roster - Redford Jones, Chris Blewitt and Elliott Fry - don't have NFL experience. But Pace is certainly open to the idea of drafting another one.

''It just depends on where you have the kicker graded,'' he said. ''If he's graded at that value and we get to that place in the draft and that (name) is sticking up there that high, I think you have to explore it.''

---

More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP-NFL

Source: https://sports.yahoo.com/pace-sees-few-glaring-draft-needs-bears-big-213237324--nfl.html?src=rss