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Sports

4 numbers that highlight Tim Anderson’s impact on the Chicago White Sox as the All-Star shortstop heads to the IL

Tim Anderson led off the bottom of the first Sunday against the Chicago Cubs at Guaranteed Rate Field in typical Tim Anderson fashion, hitting the ball the other way for a single.The White Sox shortstop displayed another part of his game later in the inning, swiping second base.AdvertisementThe Sox will be missing that all-around game for an unspecified period after Anderson exited in the fifth with a strained right groin. After ranging to his left to field a grounder and making the throw to first, he fell to the ground in shallow center field.Sox manager Tony La Russa said Anderson is headed to the injured list.Advertisement“If he goes down like that, you know there’s something up,” Sox infielder Danny Mendick said Sunday. “Hopefully he can get healthy and get back out there real soon.”[ [Don’t miss] Column: Despite comeback win, White Sox fans still seeking a reason to believe in this team — and its manager ]Anderson has a .356/.393/.503 slash line with five home runs, 19 RBIs and eight stolen bases in 40 games. His 164 weighted runs created plus (wRC+), according to fangraphs.com, ranks 11th in the majors. The stat estimates a player’s offensive contribution in total runs and adjusts that number to account for external factors such as ballpark and era. The major-league average is 100, meaning Anderson is 64% above that.“He’s a great player, legitimately a great player,” La Russa said Sunday.Here are four numbers that highlight Anderson’s impact.White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson steals second base as Cubs second baseman Andrelton Simmons makes the late tag on Sunday, May 29, 2022, at Guaranteed Rate Field. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)Anderson is a major reason the Sox made the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time in franchise history in 2020 and ‘21. Since the start of the 2020 season, they are 123-89 when he’s in the starting lineup and 28-28 when he’s not, according to the Sox.During that span, the Sox are 104-58 when Anderson gets at least one hit and 26-3 when he homers.Anderson has excelled in the postseason too. He collected nine hits in the 2020 wild-card series against the Oakland Athletics, batting .643 in the three games. He had seven hits in last season’s American League Division Series against the Houston Astros, hitting .368 in four games.Anderson didn’t waste any time aiding the offense against the Los Angeles Angels on April 30 at Guaranteed Rate Field, hitting José Suarez’s first pitch over the right-field wall.AdvertisementIt was the 15th leadoff home run in Anderson’s career and the second time he accomplished the feat this season. The first was April 24 in Minnesota.He has hit six homers on the first pitch of a game, tied for third in major-league history, and he ranks second behind Ray Durham (20) in leadoff homers by a Sox player.Anderson already had two hits during the second game of a May 22 doubleheader against the New York Yankees when he came to bat in the eighth.Fans at Yankee Stadium greeted him with boos throughout the game in the aftermath of Yankees third baseman/designated hitter Josh Donaldson calling Anderson “Jackie” during the previous day’s game and the conversations that followed between Donaldson and the Sox, which resulted in the benches clearing.There were two on and two out in the nationally televised Sunday night game, and the Sox led by two. Anderson provided insurance with a dramatic three-run home run to right, quieting the crowd.“You’ve got to give me something to keep me motivated,” Anderson said two days later.AdvertisementAnderson had another three-hit game May 26 against the Boston Red Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field, and his 49 three-hit games since 2019 are the most in baseball during that stretch, according to the Sox. The Sox are 34-15 in those games.White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson celebrates after hitting a solo homer against the Seattle Mariners at Guaranteed Rate Field on April 13, 2022. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)Anderson entered Sunday with a .326 batting average since 2019, which according to the Sox was tops in the majors during that period.Anderson led the majors with a .335 average in 2019, finished second in the American League in 2020 (.322) and was fourth in the AL last season (.309).Entering Monday, Anderson ranked third in the AL this year at .356.“Tim’s a great player having a great year,” La Russa said Sunday. “Now he’s going to have to recover. Recovering from any injury is not fun. But for us, just got to look around at who we send out. We’ve got a lot of guys to send out that can help win a game. That’s our attitude.”

Sports

Why did Jaylon Johnson practice with the 2nd unit? 4 things we heard from Chicago Bears defensive assistants.

The Chicago Bears continue organized team activities next week at Halas Hall, marching toward mandatory minicamp in June and the start of training camp in July.Last week, defensive assistant coaches spoke with reporters for the first time since the coaching and front office overhaul in January. Here are four things we heard during that session.AdvertisementChicago Bears edge rusher Trevis Gipson stretches, May 24, 2022, during OTAs at Halas Hall in Lake Forest. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)The Bears’ decision to trade Khalil Mack to the Los Angeles Chargers in March was a calculated move, made in large part because general manager Ryan Poles saw an opportunity to add draft capital in exchange for a proven player on the backside of his career. But that deal also symbolized a vote of confidence in Gipson, who has quickly earned belief from the new regime.Coach Matt Eberflus noted in April that he was impressed with the third-year pass rusher’s motor and athleticism and sees a chance for Gipson to take another big step forward in 2022. Gipson made the most of his opportunities last season, totaling seven sacks and forcing five fumbles.Advertisement“That’s not something that just comes naturally to everyone,” new defensive line coach Travis Smith said of Gipson’s production. “He has good awareness that when you’re an edge rusher, that if guys get high in the pocket, he can come back inside. Or if he has the edge, then he can turn it on high where then he can affect that quarterback and also go for the ball.”Gipson’s strip-sack victims last season included Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff and Kirk Cousins of the Minnesota Vikings. He also had two strip-sacks of New York Giants quarterback Mike Glennon.Gipson’s growth down the stretch after Mack went on injured reserve in Week 11 with a foot injury was obvious.“He went in there and showed up,” Smith said. “He was productive.”Smith has also quickly developed an affinity for Gipson’s demeanor and approach.“He is competitive,” Smith said. “He enjoys football. You can tell. You can see it on his face and you see he really enjoys playing the game.”Chicago Bears defensive back Jaylon Johnson works out, May 17, 2022, during the organized team activities at Halas Hall in Lake Forest. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)It was notable that the third-year cornerback, a two-year starter, was practicing with the second-team defense during drills while Kindle Vildor was with the first team.But Eberflus and defensive backs coach James Rowe instructed media members, who have been allowed to watch only two of six OTAs practices, not to read into the grouping. Eberflus said Johnson, who wasn’t on the field during voluntary minicamp in April, was “just getting back into action,” and the Bears were seeing where he was at with his conditioning.AdvertisementRowe said the Bears are trying different combinations. When asked if Johnson has been meeting the coaches’ practice standard, Rowe said, “No doubt. He’s getting better every day at it.”Johnson said during the first week of OTAs that working with a new coaching staff is a “complete reset” and noted he needed to show them what he can do in person — beyond what they saw on film.Rowe said he thinks Johnson is on a good path toward doing that.“The thing that I probably like most about him so far is how intelligent of a football player he is,” Rowe said. “Just continuing to do that and then … just learning our system and the way we want guys to practice and how we want things done. He is doing a good job of taking ownership of that.”Chicago Bears defensive back Jaquan Brisker works out, May 17, 2022, during organized team activities at Halas Hall in Lake Forest. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)Multiple people have noted the play of the two second-round picks in practices. Eberflus said Gordon was “lighting it up” during the first week of OTAs, and Rowe noted Brisker’s knack for punching the ball out.“Maybe his punch is a little bit heavier than most because we ask everybody to punch the ball on every play,” Rowe said. “I probably would hate to get in a fight with him. No, he just has a knack for it right now, and it’s something we all teach, obviously, the ‘Peanut Punch.’ So he’s just got a specialty.”AdvertisementEberflus brought Charles “Peanut” Tillman in to speak during rookie minicamp, and safeties coach Andre Curtis noted Tillman is making himself available to Bears players to pick his brain.Curtis said some players just seem to have a focus for getting the ball out, and Brisker appears to have it.“The other thing is not only punching but being accurate with it,” Curtis said. “Some guys have really good hand-eye coordination, and he’s done a good job of it so far, so we’ll see how it goes.”Chicago Bears linebackers coach Dave Borgonzi talks to players, April 19, 2022, during minicamp at Halas Hall in Lake Forest. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)Upstairs at Halas Hall, Borgonzi has taken note of a picture of the Bears’ four Hall of Fame linebackers: Bill George, Dick Butkus, Mike Singletary and Brian Urlacher.“There’s obviously a lot of history and tradition,” he said.Borgonzi also has history with former Bears coach Lovie Smith, having served as a defensive quality control coach under Smith with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2014. That helped further his understanding of the defensive scheme the Bears will run under Eberflus.AdvertisementBorgonzi’s entry into the NFL came in 2011 with the Dallas Cowboys. He was a defensive assistant while Eberflus was the Cowboys linebackers coach under coordinator Rob Ryan. Borgonzi and Eberflus worked together for two seasons in Dallas and then for the last four seasons with the Indianapolis Colts. So Borgonzi said it was a no-brainer to join Eberflus in Chicago.“We have a really good relationship,” Borgonzi said. “A lot of what I know is from what he taught me. So when he got this job, I was really fortunate that he gave me an opportunity to come with him.”