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Sports

Liam Hendriks is hoping for a quick return to the Chicago White Sox: ‘They say 3 weeks, I’m targeting July 1’

DETROIT — Liam Hendriks is used to getting the final three outs as the Chicago White Sox closer.Recently, he has been limited to watching the action unfold.Advertisement”I was going stir crazy in the bullpen (Tuesday),” Hendriks said before Wednesday’s game against the Detroit Tigers.The right-hander is recovering after being placed on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with a right forearm strain.Advertisement”I’ve had a tear in my UCL since ‘08,” Hendriks said. “It’s been there, that’s been manageable, I’ve been able to deal with it. But over the course of this year my elbow has been constantly inflamed a little more than usual.“It got to the point where it was inflamed, it was getting a little uncertain, there’s a slight forearm strain in there, so we’re taking care of that. The ligament hasn’t changed, nothing has changed on any other end that way, so it’s a mild strain, hopefully get back out there. They say three weeks, I’m targeting July 1.”Hendriks last pitched Friday, when he struck out one in a scoreless ninth to wrap up an 8-3 win against the Texas Rangers at Guaranteed Rate Field.White Sox closer Liam Hendriks celebrates getting the save as they defeat the Cubs, May 4, 2022, at Wrigley Field. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)Kendall Graveman handled ninth-inning duties Monday in a 9-5 win against the Tigers. Reynaldo López got the ball in the ninth Tuesday in a 5-1 victory after Joe Kelly pitched a scoreless eighth. José Ruiz got the final out Wedneday in a 13-0 win.If the Sox are in a save situation this weekend in Houston, Graveman — who spent parts of last season pitching for the Astros — or Kelly are the most likely options.Graveman has 12 career saves, including two this season. He was a starter with the Oakland A’s from 2015-18 before working out of the bullpen with the Seattle Mariners. Kelly has five career saves, two coming last year with the Los Angeles Dodgers.“Kendall’s got experience saving games, you saw that last year (with Seattle),” Sox general manager Rick Hahn said Tuesday. “Certainly capable of doing it. Joe Kelly certainly has the stuff to pull it off. And in various situations, we might have to mix and match a little bit. With (Aaron) Bummer down, he’s obviously currently not an option, but some point when he returns, hopefully in the next couple of weeks, he’ll probably be in that mix as well if Liam’s not active yet.”Bummer went on the injured list retroactive to June 9 with a left lat strain. The left-hander, who has a 3.06 ERA, nine holds and one save, was out May 7-22 with a right knee strain.Advertisement“I’ve been talking to you guys more about coming in and off the injured list than anything,” Bummer said Tuesday. “It’s frustrating, especially when I felt like I was starting to roll, both times. I thought I was throwing the ball pretty well, taking steps forward. It’s frustrating to be sitting on the sidelines again, but hopefully it’s a short stint and we’ll be back and be able to continue that groove.”Tanner Banks stepped up recently as a left-handed option. He threw two hitless innings Sunday against the Rangers and one the next night against the Tigers.“I’m really trying to bear down and trust my routine every day and trust my approach,” Banks said Tuesday. “Try to eliminate thinking as much as I can through pregame preparation and then just try to throw strikes and let my defense do their job. And they have.”The bullpen has been tested — including last weekend with consecutive extra-inning games against the Rangers. Hendriks, who has a 2.81 ERA and 16 saves, is looking forward to getting back in that mix.“It’s a matter of getting this done safely and getting me back out there to pitch, that’s the big thing for me,” he said. “I also want to be able to go when I get back and not be coddled or babied. Be able to go back-to-back.“I’m not concerned with it long term at all. You see forearm flexor strain (is a) precursor to a lot of things. But there’s been no change in my ligament, and that’s the good thing. That was one of the relieving parts of it. There was no damage to that, just a slight sprain.”AdvertisementMeanwhile, he’ll be watching his fellow relievers contribute.“We’ve got a lot of guys who are willing to come in,” Hendriks said. “We’ve had a lot of guys over there with a higher workload than they would have had in previous years. Some guys making their debuts, guys who have never pitched in back-to-back games. Doing that from the get-go it’s always going to wear on you a little bit.“But luckily we’ve got a couple veterans toward the end there that will help out, (and) once the starters get rolling and start getting into deeper games, we’re going to be searching for (relief) innings out there.”

Lifestyle

Ask Amy: Partner ignored by family wonders why

Dear Amy: I am 35; my “fiance” is 40.We have been engaged for 11 years.AdvertisementMy question is NOT about why we haven’t gotten married.I am wondering why his father has not made any attempt to make me feel welcome, even after so many years of us being together.AdvertisementAlmost every weekend, his father comes over and picks up my fiancé. They then go back to his dad’s house to hang out for the majority of the day.Even the simplest greetings are met with blank stares. He completely ignores my presence!Amy, I can’t even get a “hello” out of the man.My partner always says, “Just give him time.” Then he changes the subject.My family has gone out of their way to make my partner feel welcome, because they know that I love him and he is a part of my life.I just don’t understand why he hasn’t done anything to remedy the situation. Or why I have not gotten a valid reason for his father’s choice to completely alienate me, even though he welcomed in his brother’s psycho girlfriend into their lives with open arms.Am I wrong for wanting to be accepted by his family?And if not, then to at least be given a reason as to why I’m not accepted?Advertisement– Left Out WomanDear Left Out: You aren’t wrong to want acceptance from your partner’s family – or anyone.However – you and your “fiancé” (to use your quote-marks) are extremely passive in your response to it.Your 11-year engagement might be a clue that you two are extremely similar when it comes to your passivity (and patience).Being similar does not mean you are well-matched, however.“Give him time” is an elastic concept to your man. Glaciers have melted faster than he seems to move.AdvertisementThis problem should call up larger questions for you: If this man has been rude to you for over a decade, why haven’t you called him on it? And why hasn’t your guy?Also – would you spend part of every weekend hanging out with someone who was mean to the person you loved – even if your hang-buddy was your parent?As passive and patient as you have been, this might be the moment for you to consult your sundial and say, “time’s up.”Dear Amy: My older brother is getting married this summer, his second marriage. He practices a very conservative Christian belief and told me that because I am a gay man I am a sinner and will go to hell in the afterlife.His children told me that they pray for my salvation.For my entire youth he abused and tortured me physically, emotionally, and sexually.AdvertisementWe are both in our 60s now and for most of our lives have had very little contact.I don’t want to go to his wedding, however, my mother is putting a lot of pressure on me to go.The thought of going to the wedding makes me anxious and angry.I don’t want to see him or his family, but I feel guilty not supporting my mother. What should I do?– Confused BrotherDear Confused: Do not give in to your mother’s pressure. Understand with compassion that she may be hoping to heal the rift between you and your brother, but, unless she has also urged your brother to atone for his behavior and ask for forgiveness, any contact should be up to you.AdvertisementStay calm, and offer to help your mother by asking a friend or family member to accompany her.Dear Amy: I was a bit disturbed by your advice to “Accused of Desertion,” who decided to fly home alone after their partner tested positive for COVID.What I think was missed entirely is the fact that a close contact of someone who is COVID positive – even if they themselves have had a negative test – may still be infected and putting others at risk by getting on a flight.Ask AmyDailyNo-nonsense advice for better living delivered to your inbox every morning. For a limited time, sign up for the Ask Amy newsletter and get the book “Ask Amy: Essential Wisdom from America’s Favorite Advice Columnist” for $5.I know that public health guidance has been confusing and inconsistent, but the current CDC guidance is to defer travel for at least five days after last contact with the infected person, and test at that time.I would implore anyone who is unable or unwilling to isolate or quarantine at their destination to rethink air travel for now.– An Exhausted PhysicianAdvertisementDear Exhausted: Thank you for the clarification and advice. And thank you for the hard work trying to keep people healthy and safe.Got a question for Amy? Enter it here and we’ll send it to her.Sign up here to receive the Ask Amy newsletter to get advice e-mailed to your inbox every morning, and for a limited time — get the book “Ask Amy: Essential Wisdom from America’s Favorite Advice Columnist” for $5.©2021 Amy Dickinson.

Sports

Golden State Warriors win their 4th NBA championship in 8 years, beating the Boston Celtics in 6 games

BOSTON — The Golden State Warriors are NBA champions once again, topping the Boston Celtics 103-90 on Thursday night for their fourth title in the last eight seasons.Stephen Curry scored 34 points for the Warriors, who claimed the franchise’s seventh championship. And this one completed a journey unlike any other after a run of five consecutive Finals, then a plummet to the bottom of the NBA and now a return to greatness just two seasons after having the league’s worst record.AdvertisementFor Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala, it’s a fourth championship. The first three came in 2015, 2017 and 2018, when the Warriors were dynastic and made five consecutive trips to the Finals.Curry was named the Finals MVP for the first time. AdvertisementInjuries, including ones that sidelined Thompson for 2 ½ years, and roster changes changed everything. But this season, with Thompson returning around the midway point, the Warriors were finally back.Back on top too. Champions again, denying the storied Celtics what would have been their record 18th championship, one that would have allowed them to break a tie with the Los Angeles Lakers for the most in league history.This tale for the Warriors ended much differently than what was their most recent Finals appearance against the Toronto Raptors in 2019, one that saw Kevin Durant tear his Achilles in Game 5 and then Thompson tear his ACL in what became the Raptors’ title-clincher in Game 6.The aftermath of that loss was exacerbated by Durant’s decision to leave that summer in free agency to join the Brooklyn Nets and Thompson’s Achilles injury while rehabilitating his knee injury.It thrust a Warriors team into a rebuild that became a reload. The Warriors used their two-year hiatus from the NBA’s biggest stages to retool their roster — adding a past No. 1 draft pick in Andrew Wiggins, who excelled in his first Finals, along with another rising star in Jordan Poole.It all clicked. For coach Steve Kerr, it’s a ninth championship overall after winning five as a player. He’s the sixth coach to capture four titles, joining Phil Jackson, Red Auerbach, John Kundla, Gregg Popovich and Pat Riley.Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 34 points. Al Horford added 19. Jayson Tatum finished with 13 points but shot just 6 of 18 from the field. The Celtics also committed 22 turnovers, dropping to 1-8 this postseason when committing 16 or more.It was just the fifth defeat in 22 title-series appearances for the Celtics, who turned its season around to have a chance at this crown. The Celtics were 25-25 after 50 games, then went on an absolute tear to get to the Finals and nearly claim what would have been just the franchise’s second championship since 1986.

Sports

Atlanta and Miami are among 11 US sites for the 2026 World Cup — while Chicago backed out of bidding years ago

NEW YORK — Atlanta, Houston, Miami, Philadelphia, Seattle and Kansas City, Mo., were the newcomers among the 11 U.S. sites picked to host games at the 2026 World Cup, while Baltimore, Cincinnati, Denver, Nashville, Tenn., and Orlando, Fla., were left out. Arlington, Texas; East Rutherford, N.J.; Foxborough, Mass., and Inglewood and Santa Clara, Calif, were the holdovers.AdvertisementFIFA announced its selections Thursday for the first World Cup with three co-hosts, also picking three Mexican cities and two in Canada.The U.S. selections included none of the nine stadiums used at the 1994 World Cup. The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., and Orlando’s Camping World Stadium were the only ones remaining in contention, and they were among the sites dropped in the final round.AdvertisementNew stadiums were selected in five areas used in 1994. AT&T Stadium in Texas replaced Dallas’ Cotton Bowl; SoFi Stadium in Inglewood took over for Pasadena’s Rose Bowl; and Levi’s Stadium instead of Stanford Stadium.Your #FIFAWorldCup 2026 Host Cities:🇺🇸Atlanta🇺🇸Boston🇺🇸Dallas🇲🇽Guadalajara🇺🇸Houston🇺🇸Kansas City🇺🇸Los Angeles🇲🇽Mexico City🇺🇸Miami🇲🇽Monterrey🇺🇸New York / New Jersey🇺🇸Philadelphia🇺🇸San Francisco Bay Area🇺🇸Seattle🇨🇦Toronto🇨🇦Vancouver— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 16, 2022

Met Life Stadium in East Rutherford and Gillette Stadium in Foxborough replaced torn-down stadiums that were adjacent.Orlando’s Camping World was dropped among existing 1994 venues. The Detroit area, where the old Pontiac Silverdome was host to games, was cut in 2018, and Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium was dropped after FedEx Field in Landover, Md., dropped out. Washington’s RFK Stadium was used in 1994.Chicago, which hosted the 1994 opener at Solider Field, refused to bid, citing FIFA’s economic demands.Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca, which hosted the 1970 and ‘86 finals and will become the first stadium in three World Cups, was selected along with Guadalajara’s Estadio Akron and Monterrey’s Estadio BBVA.Toronto’s BMO Field and Vancouver, British Columbia’s B.C. Place were picked while Edmonton, Alberta’s Commonwealth Stadium was dropped.The bid plan envisioned 60 games in the U.S., including all from the quarterfinals on, and 10 each in Mexico and Canada.Specific sites for each round will be announced later.

Sports

Adam Hadwin leads U.S. Open in Brookline as Rory McIlroy makes statement with clubs

BROOKLINE, Mass. — Adam Hadwin wasn’t officially in the U.S. Open until eight days ago. He walked off The Country Club on Thursday with his best score ever in a major for a one-shot lead.With the focus finally shifting away from Saudi-backed rival league, who’s going and who’s staying on the PGA Tour, Hadwin opened with a 4-under 66 on a breezy but not overly punishing day at Brookline.AdvertisementThe lingering thoughts of the rival league came from Rory McIlroy, not from anything he said but with the golf he played.It was another bold statement as McIlroy didn’t make a bogey until his final hole — his brief fit of anger revealed as much desire as frustration — for a 67. That left him in the large chasing pack with four players who had to go through 36-hole qualifying.AdvertisementCallum Tarren of England, David Lingmerth of Sweden, MJ Daffue of South Africa and Joel Dahmen also were at 67.Adam Hadwin watches his shot on the 17th hole during the first round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at The Country Club. (Julio Cortez/AP)At the opposite end was Phil Mickelson, who celebrated his 52nd birthday — on the golf course, anyway — with a four-putt double bogey on his way to a 78.Hadwin ran off three straight birdies to finish the front nine in 31, and he only dropped one shot on the back nine for his 66. His previous low score in a major was 68 on three occasions, most recently the first round of the 2020 PGA Championship at Harding Park.McIlroy has become a leading voice on the PGA Tour over the last few years, particularly with his rebuke of the Saudi-funded series that is disrupting golf. Thursday was a reminder he’s pretty good at his day job, too.McIlroy made two straight birdies late in his round to become the first player to reach 4 under, only to miss the ninth green and make his only bogey.At the moment, McIlroy isn’t concerned with his strong stance against LIV Golf.“It’s been eight years since I won a major,” he said. “And I just want to get my hands on one again.”Even with a good start, and coming off a victory last week in the Canadian Open, it doesn’t figure to be easy for McIlroy or anyone else. The Country Club might be as accommodating as it gets all week, with moderate wind and cloud cover keeping the sun from making greens crispy and firm.AdvertisementAnd the best anyone could do was a 66.The group at 68 included two-time major winner Dustin Johnson, Justin Rose and Matt Fitzpatrick, who won the U.S. Amateur at Brookline in 2013.For McIlroy, it was his second straight major — and third time in his last four U.S. Opens — he opened with a score under par. There is confidence in his game for winning last week in Toronto, and there is passion rare for a Thursday unless the game is going badly.He tried to drive the reachable par-4 fifth hole and caught an awkward lie in the thick collar above a bunker, forcing him to stand in the sand. He hit that into another bunker, and then twice slammed the club into the sand out of frustration. But he managed to save par.“You’re going to encounter things at a U.S. Open, whether they be lies or stuff like that, that you just don’t really encounter any other week,” he said. “It’s hard not to get frustrated because I’m walking up there going, ‘Just come back into the bunker.’ The thickest rough on the course is around the edges of the bunker. So I was sort of cursing the USGA whenever I was going up to the ball.”And then from the ninth fairway, his approach sailed to the right and he flung his club. He couldn’t save par on that one and had to accept a 67 — not a bad start, and no apologies for his few outbursts of emotion.Advertisement“Almost to remind yourself sometimes how much it means to you,” he said.There’s a lot on the table outside of golf, too, with 13 players at the U.S. Open who took part in the Saudi-backed LIV Golf last week, leading the PGA Tour to suspend those members.McIlroy, the first to shut down talk of rival leagues in 2020, spoke passionately this week about building on the legacy handed down by Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. For those taking the guaranteed money for 54-hole events, he said it felt like “the easy way out.”But now it’s time for golf, and there a vibe of relief that focus could turn to a U.S. Open that first came to Brookline more than a century ago. Thursday was more about birdies and bogeys — mostly the latter in a U.S. Open — and a place in history.No other major is more open — roughly half the 156-man field has to qualify — and it showed. Seven of the top 13 came through qualifiers, including Hadwin. He was first alternate out of the Dallas section and got in when Paul Casey withdrew because of an ailing back.Dahmen debated whether to go a 36-hole qualifier 10 days ago in Ohio. The U.S. Open is hard and he had been beat up from travel and pedestrian results. Plus, it was supposed to rain. But he went anyway, and he qualified with one shot to spare.AdvertisementLingmerth was in the same qualifier and had to play 36 holes and then some because of a 5-for-1 playoff for the final spot. That went to Hayden Buckley — he was among those at 68 on Thursday — and Lingmerth was first alternate. He got in when Martin Kaymer withdrew.