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Sports

Who is a must-see — or did they all drop out? And does Joe Buck need to be muted? What to know about the MLB All-Star Game in Los Angeles.

With players bailing from Tuesday’s All-Star Game at a record pace because of back spasms, groin strains and injuries yet to be announced, it’s difficult to remember who’s in and who’s out.The allure of playing in the Midsummer Classic has gone the way of the NBA’s slam dunk contest. Mike Trout, Justin Verlander, Josh Hader, Jose Altuve and others sent their regrets for various reasons. Starling Marte stole home Sunday at Wrigley Field before the New York Mets announced he wouldn’t play in the All-Star Game.AdvertisementStill, many fans will tune in because that’s what we’ve done since we were kids and ,well, it’s too late to quit.Here are a few things to know about Tuesday’s telecast from Dodger Stadium, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Fox-32 and Fox Deportes.AdvertisementWhite Sox shortstop Tim Anderson tosses a ball into the stands after the first inning against the Tigers at Guaranteed Rate Field on July 7, 2022. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)Only three: Aaron Judge, who leads the majors with 33 home runs and is entering free agency; Shohei Ohtani, the greatest hitter/pitcher combo in baseball history; and Juan Soto, who reportedly turned down a 15-year, $440 million extension offer from the Washington Nationals because it’s under market value.As of this writing, none of the three has pulled out.Locally, White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson, who homered to end the Field of Dreams game against the New York Yankees last August, makes his starting debut for the American League. Anderson’s career arc — including having to overcome the shooting death of his best friend, Branden Moss, in 2017 — is known by Sox fans but deserves a retelling for a national audience.Cubs catcher Willson Contreras and his brother William, an Atlanta Braves catcher/DH, also will be featured attractions. Only four other sets of brothers have started in the same All-Star Game: Mort and Walker Cooper, Dixie and Harry Walker, Joe and Dom DiMaggio and Sandy and Roberto Alomar. It also could be Willson Contreras’ last hurrah as a Cub.Cubs outfielder Ian Happ and Sox closer Liam Hendriks, a last-minute replacement, are the other Chicago All-Stars. Sox starter Dylan Cease, a deserving candidate, was snubbed.The decision was made by MLB honchos when fan balloting began in 1970. The powers that be decided fans were not smart enough to pick deserving pitchers but followed the game enough to choose the eight position players. It’s an archaic rule that makes no sense and hopefully will be changed whenever Theo Epstein takes over.[ [Don’t miss] Meet Arch Ward, the sports editor who created MLB’s All-Star Game ]Some undeserving pitchers certainly might be selected, just as some undeserving position players get in every year because of name recognition. That’s a perk of stardom — getting into an All-Star Game is akin to a Hollywood celebrity getting into a nightclub through a side door. And once you’re in, you’re in.Fox Sports play-by-play announcer Joe Buck, left, and analyst Troy Aikman work in the broadcast booth before a preseason NFL game between the Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars on Aug. 22, 2019. (Lynne Sladky/AP)The longtime Fox broadcaster will be unable to call the All-Star Game because he left for ESPN last winter. So Twitter trolls accusing Buck of disrespecting their favorite team will be scarce. He also won’t be there to ask any mic’d-up outfielders about being trade bait at the deadline, as he did with Kris Bryant last year.AdvertisementJoe Davis is the new voice of the All-Star Game. He’s the Dodgers play-by-play man and a Midwest boy who grew up in Pottersville, Mich., listening to Len Kasper and Pat Hughes call Cubs games.Davis was recruited to Beloit College by alumnus and NBC Sports Chicago reporter K.C. Johnson. By the way, Davis also is very good at his job and deserves a listen without judging him against Buck.Unfortunately, John Smoltz remains in the Fox booth, so keep the remote handy in case he filibusters about the state of the game. Mostly. After last year’s inane decision to wear league jerseys instead of players’ usual team uniforms, the white and gray jerseys of the National and American leagues will have the player’s team letter in gold on the front. It has something to do with the Oscars. Don’t ask.[ [Don’t miss] Column: Ranking all 30 MLB teams heading into the All-Star break. Where do the White Sox and Cubs stand? ]Longtime Dodgers fan Larry King died in 2021. But this is a good opportunity for MLB to honor King, the Babe Ruth of celebrity baseball fans.No Gen X or millennial celebrity has picked up King’s torch, a bad omen for the national pastime. Still, many Hollywood celebrities are expected to be on hand, including popular recording artists and actors who will elicit the following response from middle Americans watching at home: “Whozat?”AdvertisementExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 79White Sox players greet Tim Anderson (7) at the plate after the shortstop hit a walk-off home run in the ninth inning to beat the Yankees 9-8 in the Field of Dreams game Thursday in Dyersville, Iowa. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)The early line is 12½. The second game, scheduled for Aug. 11 on Fox, features two of the worst teams in baseball: the Cubs and Cincinnati Reds. It needs all the hype it can get since you really can’t replicate the moment Kevin Costner walked through the cornfield before the White Sox-Yankees game, much less Anderson’s walk-off home run into the corn.Former baseball stats guru Peter Hirdt once suggested to Tribune baseball columnist Jerome Holtzman that MLB stage two All-Star Games. The fans would vote for one, and the players and coaches would vote for the other. Many players, of course, would be selected for both. Everyone would be happy.I’d update that idea and make it two seven-inning games, perhaps with a between-games show. Starters, of course, could be used only once. Before fan balloting began in 1970, MLB staged two All-Star Games from 1959-62 to help the players association fund its pension plan.Hard to imagine Baker doing otherwise, but even he knows getting in as many players as possible is on the All-Star agenda. Commissioner Rob Manfred and the MLBPA agreed in the 2017 CBA to remove the so-called Bud Selig rule, which gave the winner home-field advantage in the World Series, and finally made it a true exhibition game with nothing at stake.A better idea would be giving teams a financial incentive to actually play — and win — and letting managers use real strategy instead of trying to make every player and team’s fans happy.Maybe then we wouldn’t see players dropping out like flies.AdvertisementOf course. You’re a baseball fan. That’s what you do.

Sports

US women beat Canada in the CONCACAF W Championship final, securing a 2024 Olympic berth

MONTERREY, Mexico — Alex Morgan converted on a penalty in the 78th minute and the U.S. national team won the CONCACAF W Championship 1-0 over Canada on Monday night to secure one of the region’s spots in the 2024 Olympics.As FIFA President Gianni Infantino watched from a private box, the United States finally broke a stalemate when Rose Lavelle was fouled in the box and Morgan fooled Canadian goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan on the penalty. It was Morgan’s 118th career goal.AdvertisementJamaica defeated Costa Rica 1-0 in overtime earlier Monday to claim third place in the tournament.The four semifinalists all earlier earned spots in the 2023 World Cup next summer in Australia and New Zealand. Runner-up Canada will play Jamaica in a playoff for the region’s other Olympic bid in September 2023.AdvertisementThe United States is now 33-0 in World Cup or Olympic qualifying matches since losing to Mexico 2-1 in advance of the 2011 World Cup.The game was a rematch of the Olympic semifinal a year ago in Tokyo. Canada edged the United States 1-0 on a late penalty kick to advance to the final, its first victory over the Americans in 20 years.The Canadians went on to win the gold medal on a penalty shootout with Sweden. The U.S. team finished with the bronze.Alyssa Naeher was in goal for the United States instead of Casey Murphy, who started the previous game in the tournament. Defender Emily Fox also returned to the lineup from COVID-19 protocol.Temperatures hovered in the low 90s at the start of the match at Estadio BBVA. Sheridan had a big save in the 31st minute when Mallory Pugh made a break down the right side and took a hard shot at the goal.She made another in the 45th, with an assist from teammate Kadeisha Buchanan, on Sophia Smith’s scramble to score at the goal line. Smith had another chance in the 64th, but it went wide.Canada had a flurry of late opportunities, including a header from Jordyn Huitema that went wide.Kalyssa van Zanten scored in the 102nd minute to give Jamaica the edge in the earlier game. Van Zanten, who plays for Notre Dame, came into the game as a substitute in the 99th minute and scored on a well-placed pass from Drew Spence.Advertisement“I talked to her before she goes in and told her there’s a goal in those boots and she nodded to me and it gave her some confidence,” said Jamaica coach Lorne Donaldson, who took over the Reggae Girlz early last month amid upheaval.Costa Rica had perhaps the best opportunity in the first half when Melissa Herrera faced Jamaica goalkeeper Rebecca Spencer alone, but her shot went wide left.Rocky Rodriguez, who plays for the Portland Thorns in the National Women’s Soccer League, hit the post with a shot in stoppage time, and the game went to overtime.Costa Rica fell to the United States 3-0 in the semifinals, while Jamaica lost to Canada 3-0. Jamaica and Costa Rica each have been to the World Cup once before.The United States has been to every World Cup since the tournament started in 1991. The Americans have four titles, including the last two in 2015 and 2019.

Sports

Juan Soto wins the Home Run Derby, while Albert Pujols receives an impromptu salute from his fellow All-Stars

LOS ANGELES — Juan Soto’s name came up recently in trade speculation after he reportedly turned down a 15-year, $440 million contract offer to stay with the Washington Nationals.The outfielder was in the spotlight during Monday’s media sessions.AdvertisementAnd Monday night, he took center stage by winning the Home Run Derby.Soto tossed his bat high in the air after his 19th homer in the finals, surpassing Seattle Mariners rookie Julio Rodríguez to win by one.Advertisement“It feels amazing,” Soto told ESPN in an on-field interview.Nationals outfielder Juan Soto, right, celebrates afer winning the Home Run Derby on Monday, July 18, 2022, in Los Angeles. (Abbie Parr/AP)Soto, 23, and the 21-year old Rodríguez are examples of some of the game’s young talent. One of the game’s all-time greats — 42-year old Albert Pujols — also provided highlights.Players on the National League All-Star team gathered around Pujols before the St. Louis Cardinals great began his bonus round in his opening-round matchup with Kyle Schwarber of the Philadelphia Phillies.Players on the American League roster ran over from near the other dugout to show appreciation for Pujols, who is in his 22nd major-league season.Soon, every All-Star who was at the Home Run Derby circled Pujols in an impromptu salute.“That was pretty awesome,” Pujols said when interviewed on the field immediately after his round.Albert Pujols of the Cardinals, left, is hugged by National League teammates during the Home Run Derby on Monday, July 18, 2022, in Los Angeles. (Mark J. Terrill/AP)Pujols wasn’t finished. The former Cub Schwarber, the event’s top seed, also finished his round with 13 home runs, leading to a one-minute “swing-off.”Chants of “Albert Pujols” echoed throughout the ballpark. Cheers grew louder with each homer.AdvertisementPujols finished the first-round matchup with one more homer than Schwarber before losing in the semifinals to Soto.Rodríguez reached the finals after hitting 32 homers in his opening-round win against Corey Seager of the Texas Rangers and 31 in the semifinals, denying the New York Mets’ Pete Alonso the chance for a three-peat.Rodríguez went first in the finals and hit 18 home runs. Soto knew what he had to reach and celebrated between home and the mound after coming out on top.

Sports

What we heard from the Cubs and White Sox at the All-Star Game, including Willson Contreras’ ‘experience that we will never forget’

LOS ANGELES — Willson and William Contreras sat back to back in booths Monday afternoon at Dodger Stadium’s Center Field Plaza, answering questions from reporters.Tuesday, the brothers will be batting back to back in the All-Star Game.AdvertisementWillson, the Chicago Cubs catcher, is sixth in the National League lineup. William, of the Atlanta Braves, is slotted seventh as the designated hitter.“This is one in a lifetime,” Willson said on All-Star workout day. “This is one experience that we will never forget. This is amazing for me and my family. Real proud of what we’ve done together.Advertisement“And hopefully we can keep that coming. Hopefully it’s not only one. Hopefully we get to spend more All-Star Games together.”William didn’t know how the lineup stacked up until a reporter asked him about it.“That was something we were talking (Sunday night) at dinner,” William said through an interpreter. “It’s really something happy for us to share.”It’s the first time since Roberto and Sandy Alomar Jr. in 1992 that brothers will start an All-Star Game together.Willson’s Cubs teammate Ian Happ, a first-time All-Star, predicted “a lot of tears.”“It’s going to be so cool for them,” Happ said. “Just seeing them in the clubhouse being able to say hello to each other. What a really special moment for those two to be able to put on the same All-Star jersey and share that field.”National League All-Star William Contreras of the Atlanta Braves looks on during All-Star workout day at Dodger Stadium on July 18, 2022, in Los Angeles. (Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images)Late in Monday’s media session, William walked over to his older brother’s booth and the two took questions.“We saw each other last night and we hugged each other and said, ‘We finally did it,’” Willson said. “It was a dream come true. I’m really proud of my brother because I have shared a lot of experiences with him and he’s making the adjustments at the right time. That’s why I think he deserves to be in the All-Star Game.”AdvertisementThe White Sox shortstop doesn’t have a particular National League pitcher he’d like to face.“It don’t matter,” Anderson said with a laugh. “I just want to get in the box.”Voted the American League’s starting shortstop, Anderson is the No. 7 batter in the AL lineup. It’s his second All-Star Game and first start. He was on deck when the ninth inning ended last year in Denver. This year he’s in line for at least one plate appearance.“It means a lot,” Anderson said of being a starter. “It hasn’t happened in 50-plus years in White Sox history (Luis Aparicio in 1970), so it’s definitely a blessing. It’s definitely a dream come true.“I never imagined being a starter or even being at an All-Star Game. I’ll always be thankful.”Anderson appreciated the support from fans.Advertisement“The class is deep,” Anderson said. “Shortstop is a hot positon and for me to be able to start is crazy. I’m just having fun and enjoying the moment.”While the Sox didn’t live up to expectations in the first half, they won five of their last six before the All-Star break. That included taking three of four against the first-place Minnesota Twins to get within three games in the AL Central standings.“That was definitely huge to finish out that way against a good ballclub,” Anderson said. “You saw what they did to us when they came to our place (the Twins won two of three July 4-6). Hopefully we continue to keep playing that way and hopefully get back in this thing.”During last year’s All-Star Monday at Coors Field, Kris Bryant answered questions about his future with the Cubs.Contreras and Happ, this year’s Cubs representatives, fielded similar questions Monday.Contreras, an impending free agent, was asked if it had gone through his mind that his third All-Star appearance might be his last as a Cub.Advertisement“It’s not like I haven’t thought of that,” he said. “But this is my third time as a Cubs player and I’m really proud and thankful because the Chicago Cubs were the first team that saw me in Venezuela. They were the first team that gave me the opportunity to be a pro baseball player and I will always be thankful, no matter what happens.“No matter what the future holds, no matter what the outcome is, I feel like Chicago will always be my home, even if I end up playing in a different city.”National League All-Stars Ian Happ of the Chicago Cubs and Jake Cronenworth of the San Diego Padres during All-Star workout day at Dodger Stadium on July 18, 2022, in Los Angeles. (Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images)Happ is a free agent after the 2023 season.“The connection that I have to Chicago, the city, the organization, I put this jersey on every day,” he said. “Wrigley Field is a place you go to work and it’s pretty special.” Asked what he learned from watching former teammates navigate through uncertainty, Happ said: “The thing I took away from it, as tough as it was to lose friends, those guys are still playing baseball and doing really well.“Joc (Pederson is) an All-Star. (Anthony Rizzo) has (22) homers before the break. Kris is happy where he is, Javy (Báez) is happy where he is. Guys end up being OK and playing baseball and still having a great time.”AdvertisementAs for the present, Happ is having a great time sharing the All-Star experience with his family.“You can’t put into words how awesome it is to get to share that with the family and with those people who have been there through everything,” he said. “They’ve been there through the great moments, when I played as a kid, all the travel and the struggles all the way through. So to be able to enjoy this together is really, really special.”The Sox closer found out Sunday morning that he had been added to the AL All-Star roster. A lot of planning quickly followed.“Trying to figure out flights, figuring out my parents’ flights, trying to get the dogs to sitters and someone to take care of the cats,” Hendriks said. “My wife, who was in Chicago at the time, getting out here. Her flight was delayed, she booked another flight to make sure she got here on time.He added with a laugh, “Other than that, it’s been fun.”Hendriks was not needed in relief Sunday, as the Sox beat the Twins 11-0 at Target Field.Advertisement“So I didn’t have to worry about adding stress and pitching as well,” he said.Hendriks said all the last-minute planning was well worth it.“Without a doubt,” he said. “You go through the stress levels of that, it’s always an honor to be out here and experience this. Whether it be the first day (named to the roster) or the last day, it’s always an honor to come here and represent the White Sox in back-to-back years.”