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Column: At 42, Rich Hill on Friday returns to Wrigley Field, where it all began with the Chicago Cubs in 2005

The Wrigley Field bullpens were on the field 10 years ago when Rich Hill and the Boston Red Sox came to town for an interleague series with the Chicago Cubs.Hill, who is scheduled to start at Wrigley on Friday for the Red Sox in the opener of a three-game series, was sitting in the visitor’s bullpen down the right-field line that day in 2012 when a few Cubs fans came down from their seats to scatter a relative’s ashes over the bullpen wall and onto the field.AdvertisementBut when they pulled out the baggie with the remnants from the dearly departed, the wind picked up and most of the ashes wound up falling into a bag filled with the baseballs that Red Sox pitchers used to warm up. It wasn’t sticky stuff on the balls. It was Grandpa.Advertisement“Guys would reach in for a ball and go ‘What’s going on here?’ ” Hill later recalled.Red Sox starting pitcher Rich Hill delivers against the Oakland Athletics during the first inning on June 16, 2022, at Fenway Park in Boston. (Mary Schwalm / AP)In Hill’s mind, having a dead relative’s ashes coat baseballs thrown by Red Sox pitchers was the ultimate tribute to Wrigley Field, where his major-league career began on June 15, 2005.“I think it speaks to the greatness of Wrigley Field,” he said. “That’s how special it is to everybody and symbolic of the history there. If you’re a Cubs player, just enjoying the moment, staying in the moment is the best thing you can do, wherever that may be.”Time flies, or in Hill’s case, it just kind of floats. It seems like yesterday that we watched him walk into the cramped Wrigley Field media room known as the dungeon after his opening start in 2008. He promptly hit his head on a drainpipe, one of those moments manager Lou Piniella dubbed a “Cubbie Occurrence.”Hill is still pitching at age 42, giving new meaning to the term ”journeyman” in his third stint with the Red Sox. He has pitched for 11 teams over 18 major-league seasons, not to mention the many minor-league stops at which he had to reinvent himself to get another job.When I was young, I always wondered why 40-something pitchers such as Hoyt Wilhelm hung on years after their best days had ended. Now that I’m much older than the players, I wonder why more of them don’t hang on for as long as they can — like Hill has. And I root for the old guys such as Hill who can still do the job well enough to stay in the rotation of a contending team.Hill was part of the 2006 Cubs rotation that included Carlos Zambrano, Greg Maddux, Sean Marshall and Carlos Marmol, all of whom have long since called it quits. I can still see him consoling rookie starter Ryan O’Malley outside the Waveland Avenue firehouse after O’Malley suffered an arm injury in his second career game. No one knew it then, but O’ Malley’s career was over. Hill’s was only just beginning.The ‘06 Cubs lost 96 games and cost manager Dusty Baker his job. But is also was the season the lefty with the sweeping curve began to establish himself as a major-leaguer.AdvertisementPerhaps Hill’s most famous game was in 2016, when he threw seven perfect innings for the Los Angeles Dodgers before manager Dave Roberts lifted him after only 89 pitches. It was an opportunity to pitch the 24th perfect game in major-league history, but Roberts feared Hill was developing a blister and made a precautionary move that denied Hill a chance at history. It still ranks as one of the most tone-deaf baseball decisions of all time.But in Chicago, Hill always will be remembered as the Cubs pitcher who walked the bases loaded on May 20, 2006, at White Sox Park before Brian Anderson hit a fly ball to left. A.J. Pierzynski soon crashed into Cubs catcher Michael Barrett, who punched Pierzynski and set off the biggest brawl in Cubs-Sox history.Michael Barrett, right, punches White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski after Pierzynski plowed into the Cub catcher at the plate in the second inning during their interleague game on May 20, 2006, at U.S. Cellular Field. The Sox won 7-0. (Phil Velasquez / Chicago Tribune)Hill defended Barrett’s actions after the game and called Pierzynski “gutless” and “pathetic.” Sox manager Ozzie Guillen told reporters to tell “that Triple-A (expletive) to shut the (expletive) up. Tell him to start throwing strikes or he’s going to get Dusty fired.”Hill was demoted to Triple-A Iowa the next day.“Sometimes a young man speaks more than he listens, which is a big part of the problem,” Baker said then. “Hopefully he’ll have learned something by his tenure here and hopefully he’ll be better when he gets back.”Hill returned at the end of July and finally got his act together in 2007, going 11-8 with a 3.92 ERA and helping Piniella’s Cubs win the National League Central. But Piniella pulled Zambrano too early in a Game 1 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NL Division Series, Ted Lilly slammed his glove to the ground Charlie Brown-style after serving up a home run in Game 2 and Hill was yanked early in the Game 3 loss at Wrigley that ended a dreamlike season.AdvertisementCubs starting pitcher Rich Hill delivers to the Diamondbacks in the first inning of Game 3 of the NL Division Series on Oct. 6, 2007, at Wrigley Field. (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)The next season looked like the end for Hill, who struggled with control problems, was demoted to Iowa in May and began having back issues. Some in the organization wondered whether his problems were all mental, the kind of backward thinking that often stereotyped players back in the day. Hill had been one of the more cerebral players in the Cubs organization since being drafted out of Michigan in 2002 and often touted the self-help books he was reading, including “Thinking Body, Dancing Mind: TaoSports for Extraordinary Performance in Athletics, Business and Life.”Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.After the Cubs gave up on Hill and sold him to the Baltimore Orioles in February 2009 for next to nothing, he began a nomadic journey that saw his career teetering on extinction numerous times before another successful comeback. Hill became a wanted man and enjoyed success in Oakland, Los Angeles and other stops.The fact he’s still here after all the injuries, upheaval and recurring demands to prove himself all over again is a testament to his resilience. During his rookie season in 2005, Hill told me he had spent his offseason working on “the other part of the game,” trying to train himself to think positively.“Things such as positive attitudes, and building little phrases I was using like, ‘act as if,’ ” he explained. “ ‘Act as if you’re a big-leaguer — the way you carry yourself and the way you hinder yourself.’ It’s changed the way I approach the game.”Though Hill seems to be in no hurry to end his career, you never know if Friday will be his last dance at Wrigley.Hopefully he’ll get some closure at the ballpark where it all began, on a sunny afternoon with a full house.AdvertisementHill’s message is as timely now as when he first delivered it 17 years ago,Enjoy the moment.

Sports

Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras is on the verge of his 3rd All-Star Game. He hopes Ian Happ joins him.

Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras is on the verge of starting in his third All-Star Game.And if Contreras has his way, he won’t be the only Cubs player heading to Dodger Stadium in less than three weeks.AdvertisementContreras is an All-Star Game finalist among National League catchers, the league announced Thursday, after he finished with the most votes at his position during Phase 1 of the process. Contreras is up against the Atlanta Braves’ Travis d’Arnaud in the next round of voting to determine who will start for the NL on July 19. The next voting phase runs from Tuesday through Friday. The starters will be announced July 8 while the rest of the All-Star Game rosters will be revealed at 4:30 p.m. July 10.Cubs player Willson Contreras is congratulated by teammates after scoring in the first inning against the Reds on Thursday at Wrigley Field. The Cubs won 15-7. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)Third baseman Patrick Wisdom (seventh), shortstop Nico Hoerner (10th) and Ian Happ (14th) were among the top vote-getters at their respective positions.AdvertisementWisdom went 3-for-6 against the Reds on Thursday at Wrigley Field, hitting two home runs — including a grand slam — and driving in six runs in the Cubs’ 15-7 rout. Rookie Christopher Morel went 5-for-5 with a home run, scored three runs and drove in two, and Narciso Crook had two hits in his major-league debut as the Cubs had 23 hits and took two of three in the series.It would represent Contreras’ third All-Star Game (2018, 2019), all of which he would’ve started. Notably, Contreras would become just the fourth player in Cubs history with at least three fan elections, joining Ryne Sandberg (nine), Sammy Sosa (five) and Andre Dawson (four). In 66 games entering Thursday, Contreras owned a .280/.394/.519 slash line with 13 home runs, 16 doubles, 154 OPS+ and 3.1 WAR.“When you start an All-Star Game, it makes you feel good,” Contreras, 30, said before the game. “At the same time, it means that you’re making progress in every area in baseball, not just hitting, but defensively. It takes a whole team to keep proving yourself.”[ [Don’t miss] Marcus Stroman was ‘gutted’ after Roe was overturned. ‘It’s their body, it’s their choice until the day I die,’ the Chicago Cubs pitcher says. ]The honor might be doubly special for Contreras, beyond it possibly being his last All-Star Game with the Cubs. His younger brother, William, is also a finalist for NL designated hitter, going up against Philadelphia Phillies reigning NL MVP Bryce Harper in the upcoming round of voting. However, Harper suffered a fractured left thumb and underwent surgery this week, which will require him to be replaced if he makes the team.Contreras, though, doesn’t want to look too far ahead.“Hopefully he makes it there,” Contreras said. “I’m not thinking about it because a lot of things can change from now on. But if we can make it together, I’m really sure that we will we both enjoy it a lot, and my family would be really proud and we’ll want to enjoy it.”[ [Don’t miss] Column: Freddie Freeman’s free-agent saga could serve as a cautionary tale for Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras ]Contreras had been using his social media presence to try to help Happ garner enough fan support to be voted in. But with Phase 1 voting complete, Happ’s path to the All-Star Game now must come from MLB player ballot choices, selections made by the Commissioner’s Office or as an injury replacement.Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.Contreras believes Happ didn’t get the fan votes he needed because he isn’t as well known outside of Chicago than some other outfielders. The NL outfield finalists are Mookie Betts, Joc Pederson, Starling Marte and Adam Duvall.Advertisement“If you see his stats, he’s doing everything,” Contreras said. “His name is probably not that big, but his stats are bigger. That’s one thing as a human being you need to see and the work he’s done this year is impressive. I 100% know he deserves to be there.“If we looked at stats and who deserves to be there, he is one of them.”Happ, who went 2-for-3 on Thursday, appreciates support from Contreras, his teammate the last six years.“That relationship you get playing with somebody for that long, I try not to take it for granted all of those little moments that we’ve had for all these years,” Happ told the Tribune Thursday. “And then how much it means to you to root that guy on when that guy has success, I think that’s a really special bond you get. I’m so proud of what he’s done.[ Rockford Peaches — 30 years after ‘A League of Their Own’ — live on in a new series: ‘We didn’t know we were part of something bigger’ ]This time a year ago, amid a dismal first half, it would have been hard to envision Happ being a contender to make the All-Star team. But he has been the Cubs’ most valuable player in 2022 behind Contreras. Happ entered Thursday leading the team in hits and tied for the most RBIs. He has given the Cubs much-needed offensive consistency, hitting .275 and a .377 on-base percentage, both career highs, with a 133 OPS+ and 2.3 WAR entering Thursday.“What that means to me to have gone through what the first half was last year, to kind of feel like I really carried over all that progress (in the second half) is really cool,” Happ told the Tribune.

Sports

Chicago Bulls are waiting on guard Zach LaVine’s decision as NBA free agency opens with a bang

The Chicago Bulls spent the first night of free agency — which began at 5 p.m. Thursday — waiting on their biggest offseason question mark.Two-time All-Star guard Zach LaVine entered unrestricted free agency for the first time after helping the Bulls end a four-year playoff drought —and his first postseason appearance — last season. Although the Bulls front office has been optimistic about re-signing LaVine to a maximum deal, the two parties didn’t come to an agreement at the opening of free agency.AdvertisementLaVine must make a decision by July 7, when the free-agency window comes to a close.In the first bombshell move of the free-agency cycle, Kevin Durant requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets after a disappointing three-season run in New York.AdvertisementThe Warriors’ Draymond Green, left, defends the Nets’ Kevin Durant on Nov. 16, 2021, in New York. (Frank Franklin II, AP)Despite heightened expectations surrounding the partnership between Durant and Kyrie Irving, the two were able to deliver on only one playoff-series win with the Nets. Irving chose to push for a trade out of Brooklyn despite opting in to the the final year of his $37 million contract extension, and Durant followed Thursday.Durant’s decision shakes up the power rankings of the Eastern Conference, which saw the Nets oscillate between bona fide contenders and flailing underachievers in recent seasons.Durant’s landing spot will be equally influential to the makeup of either conference next season. A one-time NBA MVP, two-time NBA champion, two-time NBA Finals MVP, four-time scoring champion and 12-time All-Star, Durant remains a prolific scorer with the ability to immediately transform a roster.

Sports

NFL is adamant about an indefinite suspension for Cleveland Browns QB Deshaun Watson

Deshaun Watson’s disciplinary hearing concluded Thursday with the NFL adamant about an indefinite suspension of at least one year and the quarterback’s legal team arguing there’s no basis for that punishment, two people with knowledge of the case told the Associated Press.Both sides presented their arguments over three days before former U.S. District Judge Sue Robinson in Delaware, according to both people who spoke on condition of anonymity because the hearing isn’t public.AdvertisementWatson, 26, was accused of sexual misconduct by 24 women and settled 20 of the civil lawsuits.Robinson, who was jointly appointed by the league and the NFL Players Association, will determine whether Watson violated the NFL’s personal conduct policy and whether to impose discipline.AdvertisementPost-hearing briefs are due the week of July 11, so it’s uncertain when Robinson will make a ruling. The Cleveland Browns are hoping to know Watson’s availability before training camp starts July 27.[ How the Houston Texans and a spa enabled Deshaun Watson’s massage appointments ]If either the union or league appeals Robinson’s decision, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell or his designee “will issue a written decision that will constitute full, final and complete disposition of the dispute,” per terms of Article 46 in the collective bargaining agreement.A person familiar with the case told the AP the league believes it presented evidence to warrant keeping Watson off the field this season. The person said the league’s investigation determined Watson committed multiple violations of the personal conduct policy and he would be required to undergo counseling before returning.A person familiar with Watson’s defense told the AP they expect a suspension. Asked what would be acceptable, the person said: “Our goal is to get him back on the field this year.”Two separate Texas grand juries declined to indict Watson on criminal complaints stemming from the allegations. Watson has denied any wrongdoing and vowed to clear his name.This is the first hearing for Robinson, who was the first female chief judge for the District of Delaware. Previously, Goodell had the authority to impose discipline for violations of the personal conduct policy.