Author: staff

Sports

Rookie Christopher Morel’s special moment pumps life into the Chicago Cubs’ rebuild plan: ‘It’s so cool’

If the Chicago Cubs could bottle moments like Tuesday night at Wrigley Field, they wouldn’t have to worry so much about people calling this a rebuild. Christopher Morel’s bat-flipping celebration after homering in his first major-league at-bat, combined with Brandon Hughes’ five strikeouts in 1 ⅔ innings in his big-league debut, provided Cubs fans with hope the future might be brighter than imagined.AdvertisementThat’s what an infusion of youth can do.“It just brings that energy, that new energy,” pitcher Kyle Hendricks said before Wednesday’s series finale against the Pittsburgh Pirates. “It’s having a good balance of both. We have so many good veteran guys around here now that bring the right energy from that side and that aspect.Advertisement“But seeing these young guys come up, kind of a deer-in-the-headlights (look) a little bit. They don’t know what to expect. They just go out and play and play so wholeheartedly and so natural. It’s just fun to see all that emotion come out of them.”ExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 18The Cubs’ Christopher Morel receives an ice shower while being interviewed after the 7-0 victory over the Pirates on May 17, 2022, at Wrigley Field. Morel hit a pinch-hit home run in the eighth inning. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)Morel was in the starting lineup at third base Wednesday, still flying from the electric moment in the eighth inning Tuesday. The 22-year-old call-up from Double-A Tennessee knew when he stepped up that Willson Contreras had homered in his first at-bat in 2016.“I saw it on the scoreboard and I said to him, ‘Hey, I’m going to make my first at-bat a home run just like you,’ ” Morel said.The moment the ball left the bat, Contreras jumped out of the dugout like the Cubs had won the pennant. It was an instant flashback to June 19, 2016, at Wrigley, when he homered in his first major-league at-bat on Father’s Day against the Pirates.“It was amazing,” Contreras recalled Wednesday. “A good introduction for me in the big leagues.”Cubs rookie Christopher Morel hugs teammate Willson Contreras after a victory against the Pirates on Tuesday at Wrigley Field. Morel hit a pinch-hit home run in the eighth inning of the 7-0 win. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)Justin Steele chimed in, recalling watching the shot six years ago when he pitched for Class A South Bend.“Pretty sure me and Adbert (Alzolay) watched that home run together,” Steele told Contreras.Morel’s homer sparked a wild reaction from the crowd at Wrigley, which already was on its feet for the 3-2 pitch. He performed a semi-moonwalk out of the box while flipping his bat for what he insisted was the first time in his career.AdvertisementReally? His first-ever bat flip?“Like this, yes,” he said. “Last year I hit a walk-off and I flipped my bat, but not like this.”Morel became the ninth Cub to homer in his first major-league at-bat and the first since Contreras.Cubs rookie Christopher Morel, center, celebrates with teammates after a 7-0 victory against the Pirates on Tuesday at Wrigley Field. Morel hit a pinch-hit home run in the eighth inning in his first major-league at-bat. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)“I wasn’t thinking about it until it happened,” Hendricks said of the coincidence. “(Contreras) did it on the first pitch, of course. But we thought about it right away, especially Willson running out there giving him a hug. It was just an awesome, awesome moment for him. Going out there and doing that, it’s so cool to see things like that happen.”Contreras said he was waiting for Morel to “do something positive, either a blooper or a base hit.”Morel did something even better.Advertisement“Hitting a home run is pretty good,” Contreras said. “Almost nobody can do that in the big leagues.”Manager David Ross called it a moment Cubs fans will always remember and said he and pitching coach Tommy Hottovy had “swelling” in their eyes.Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.“That’s what stories are made of, and I’ll never forget that,” Ross said. “It reminded me of Willson’s first at-bat, that emotion. And then I started laughing when he nearly missed first base, like Mark McGwire (after breaking the home run record).”The Cubs were riding a wave entering Wednesday night’s game, with a four-game winning streak and Marcus Stroman scheduled to return to the mound Thursday after his COVID-19-related IL stint. Closer David Robertson was cleared to return from his COVID-related absence Wednesday.Chicago Cubs player Christopher Morel celebrates as he rounds the bases after hitting a pinch-hit solo home run in the 8th inning of a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Tuesday, May 17, 2022. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)Team President Jed Hoyer doesn’t want his plan labeled a “rebuild,” a term the Cubs embraced a decade ago before it became associated with another word — tanking.But when kids such as Morel, Steele, Hughes and Keegan Thompson enjoy some success, “rebuild” doesn’t sound quite as offensive. Most Cubs fans, in fact, would prefer to watch unproven 22-year-olds develop at Wrigley than former prospects signed on the cheap or 30-something pitchers who can be moved at the trade deadline.Advertisement“We have a lot of good, young talent, and they are hungry,” Contreras said. “They bring a lot of positive energy around the clubhouse, which is always good to have.”Hendricks and Contreras helped establish the winning culture on the North Side in their early years, and both said they hope the younger players understand they’re here to keep that culture alive.“We’re trying to hold on to that,” Hendricks said. “And everybody that comes into this environment, we hope that’s what they feel.”

Sports

Pandemic, protocols and problems remain part of NBA playoffs in Heat-Celtics East finals

MIAMI — The specter of COVID and illness continues to be a factor in the Eastern Conference finals series between the Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics.A day after the Celtics big man Al Horford entered the NBA’s heath-and-safety protocols, Boston coach Ime Udoka was unavailable for his team’s Wednesday media session due to what the Celtics said was a non-COVID illness.AdvertisementHowever, ongoing concerns about the pandemic continue to impact the NBA playoffs for a third consecutive year, with the Heat returning to a mask mandate for all media at Wednesday’s interview session.In addition, it is believed that ESPN now will conduct pregame coaching interviews remotely.AdvertisementHorford, as of Wednesday, was not expected to be available for Thursday’s 8:30 Game 2 and FTX Arena.It is not the scenario Heat coach Erik Spoelstra had hoped for by this stage of the pandemic.“It’s disappointing,” he said. “It’s like every single time you think it’s getting beyond this, it’s not.”That had him empathizing with the Celtics.“You want to beat their best with our best,” he said. “It’s just not the world we’re living in.”Heat guard Tyler Herro said Wednesday the return of COVID and illness is just a sign of the times.“I mean, you just control what you can control,” he said. “There’s a lot of sickness going around, but you just try to stay out the way and hope everything goes well, I guess.”While the Celtics offered no updates on Horford, word Wednesday was that guard Marcus Smart, the 2022 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, could return Thursday from the mid-foot sprain that had him out for Tuesday’s series opening Heat victory.Advertisement“Obviously, he’s Defensive Player of the Year,” Herro said, “so him being on the floor obviously brings a presence on that side of the ball. He’s a tremendous player, so him being out there, obviously it shifts things a little bit.”Herro said a return by Horford would be similarly series shifting.“I mean, both of those being back, that’s two of their five starters,” he said. “Being at full strength, I’m sure they’ll be a little bit more confident. And we’ll see when those guys get back.”For the Heat, point guard Kyle Lowry remains an unknown, sidelined with a hamstring strain for seven of the past nine games.Spoelstra said Lowry was limited to light shooting Wednesday, with the Heat limited in their court time.“I don’t have a new update,” he said.AdvertisementYes, Herro said, he was surprised that the Heat victory anthem of ‘Pepas’ was played with significant time remaining Tuesday, perhaps a bit prematurely.“It did,” he said. “I was thinking that. I think it was like four minutes on the clock.”The Heat led by 13 with 3:18 to play, with their lead later trimmed to seven with 1:28 remaining.Spoelstra said he was unaware of premature Pepas, but acknowledged being unaware through a significant portion of the Pepas phenomenon at FTX Arena.“You know what? I did not notice it [Tuesday] night,” Spoelstra said. “And it took like probably five games during the regular season to realize when our players were getting all hyped up in the huddle, and I’m looking around like, ‘focus.’ And then everybody told me to get my head out of the sand. And I realized what it was.“I didn’t even know it was played [Tuesday] night. At that point, I thought the game was very much in the balance.”AdvertisementHe then smiled and added, “I will talk to the appropriate people.”

News

The Janes is a call to action

We Chicagoans are a proud bunch, and usually with good reason. For many, we’re especially appreciative of our city’s radical history, from the echoing impact of…