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What went wrong for the Chicago White Sox in April? Breaking down a tough first month to the 2022 season.

The Chicago White Sox suffered a unique walk-off loss on opening day in Detroit, when Javier Báez’s long fly to right was originally ruled a juggling catch by AJ Pollock before being correctly reversed to a game-winning hit.The rest of April didn’t get much better.AdvertisementThe Sox wrapped up the month on a positive note Saturday with a 4-0 win against the Los Angeles Angels. It was only their second win in the last 12 games.Starter Vince Velasquez was impressive in front of 33,762 at Guaranteed Rate Field, allowing four hits and striking out six in 5⅔ innings.AdvertisementTim Anderson led off the first with a home run and Luis Robert had a three-run homer in the fifth.With the victory, the Sox enter May with an 8-12 record.April marked their first losing month since September 2019. That snaps a streak of eight consecutive winning months, the franchise’s longest stretch since June 1993 to August 1994.The last couple of weeks, which included an eight-game losing streak from April 17-26, have been particularly tough.“It’s been a rough stretch,” starter Lucas Giolito said after Friday’s 5-1 loss to the Angels. “But there’s not really much that needs to be said. It’s just a matter of going out and executing in every facet of the game.“On my end, I feel like I could’ve executed better (Friday). I’m sure other guys feel like they could’ve executed better in other areas. But that’s the way it goes. If we just continue to go out prepared and let our talent shine out on the field, have focus in every situation, things will start to go our way.”Here are four areas that hampered the Sox in April.Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson walks back to the dugout after lining out to end the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Guaranteed Rate Field, April 29, 2022. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)The Sox entered Saturday ranked fifth in the majors with a 90.0 mph average exit velocity, but that didn’t translate into hits and runs.AdvertisementIn the last 16 games leading up to Saturday, the Sox were slashing .190/.245/.304 with 14 homers and 41 runs (2.6 runs per game). They scored three runs or less 13 times in April.“We’re putting good at-bats together, but we’ve just got to string some together now,” said left fielder Andrew Vaughn, who was hitting .283 and leads the Sox with four homers and 12 RBIs before Saturday’s game.The Sox entered Saturday tied for 12th in the American League in runs (60), and ranked 14th in hits (127) and last in batting average (.207) in the league.They were in the top five in the AL in each of those categories last season (fifth in runs, fourth in hits and average). Manager Tony La Russa is confident that potential will come through.“That’s what we talked about all spring, we’ve got a deep lineup, got to stay positive and keep working,” La Russa said before Saturday’s game.Saturday was a good sign for the team with their fourth multi-homer game of the season.AdvertisementChicago White Sox outfielder AJ Pollock (18) walks to the dugout after striking out in the fourth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Guaranteed Rate Field, April 26, 2022. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)The Sox were second in the AL with 586 walks in 2021.That same type of patience wasn’t on display in April. The Sox entered Saturday last in the AL with 39 walks.For an offense seeking consistency, sometimes a walk can spark a rally. But Friday marked the eighth consecutive game the Sox walked three times or less.“We can be more aggressive in the zone and not chase,” La Russa said after Thursday’s 5-2 loss in 10 innings to the Kansas City Royals.Chicago White Sox outfielder Eloy Jiménez leaves the field on a cart after falling to the turf on a groundout against the Minnesota Twins in the second inning, April 23, 2022, in Minneapolis. (Bruce Kluckhohn/AP)The Sox were hit hard by injuries in 2021, and that has been the case again early this season.The list of players on the injured list include starter Lance Lynn (right knee surgery), relievers Joe Kelly (biceps nerve injury) and Garrett Crochet (season-ending Tommy John surgery), third baseman Yoán Moncada (right oblique strain) and outfielder Eloy Jiménez (right hamstring tendon tear).AdvertisementMoncada began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte on Saturday, going 1-for-3 with a single. Kelly is slated to pitch Sunday for Charlotte.Vaughn got hit by a pitch in the ninth inning Friday, but the Sox breathed a sigh of relief Saturday because X-rays were negative. He’s day to day.“I’ve seen a lot of guys take 95 (mph) to the hand, and it doesn’t end really well,” Vaughn said. “I guess I got pretty lucky.”Chicago White Sox first baseman José Abreu (79) commits an error on a throw from shortstop Tim Anderson as Kansas City Royals baserunner Salvador Pérez (13) reaches safely in the fourth inning at Guaranteed Rate Field, April 26, 2022. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)Through Friday, the Sox and Baltimore Orioles led the majors with 21 errors.“The defense has been, I think, one of the larger surprises in terms of its performance thus far,” Sox general manager Rick Hahn said Tuesday. “Over the course of the summer I think guys are going to perform at their more accustomed levels than what we’ve seen over the past week or two weeks.”The Sox had one error Friday, making it 10 of their last 12 games with at least one miscue.AdvertisementLa Russa said generally there’s a balance involved when trying not to take offensive scuffles to the field.“If you don’t care, then it doesn’t bother you, but if you care that you want to hit and produce, it’s hard not to get distracted by it,” he said. “You’ve really got to fight it. … You’ve just got to understand you win the game on both sides, and the better defense (you have), the fewer runs you’ve got to score.“It’s the best players in the world, but they have their issues. It’s not automatic. They’re not robots.”The good news for the Sox is that it’s a long season and they aren’t the only team in the AL Central off to a slow start. The Minnesota Twins are the only team in the division with a winning record.“It’s on us to execute the plan and to do our job,” first baseman José Abreu said Friday through an interpreter. “We haven’t been able to do that. Hopefully sooner rather than later we’ll be able to do that.”

Sports

Column: Ryan Poles makes several moves on Day 3 of the draft with eyes on improving the Chicago Bears O-line

Those trade partners that didn’t materialize for Ryan Poles on Friday night came from every direction Saturday.The new Chicago Bears general manager, who made it known since January that he would love to have more draft capital, did just that, starting in the morning when he sent a 2023 sixth-round pick to the Los Angeles Chargers for two picks at the end of Round 7.AdvertisementThe Bears sat out the fourth round and when it was time to get involved in Round 5, Poles traded down three times, cutting deals with the Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans. When all was said and done, he went from having three Day 3 picks to eight, nearly tripling the number of lottery tickets he and staff members were scratching off on the second floor of Halas Hall.It was the first time the Bears ever had eight Day 3 picks. The NFL moved to a three-day draft format in 2010. The team has had eight picks in Rounds 4 through 7 three other times in the last 25 years (1999, 2003 and 2008). In that era, it was a two-day draft.AdvertisementSafety Craig Steltz, cornerback Zack Bowman and tight end Kellen Davis were the most impactful Day 3 picks in 2008. In 2003, it was safety Todd Johnson and wide receiver Bobby Wade. In 1999, it was linebackers Rosevelt Colvin and Warrick Holdman and defensive back Jerry Azumah. Colvin and Holdman were Round 4 picks.Poles didn’t have the draft capital to invest high picks into the offensive line — not when the strength of the board Friday in Round 2 was in the secondary after nine O-linemen had their names called in Round 1 the day before. So he threw lots of picks at the position, choosing four linemen in a span of six picks. The Bears added Braxton Jones, a potential left tackle from Southern Utah, Zach Thomas, a tackle that projects as a guard from San Diego State, Doug Kramer, a five-year starter at center for Illinois, and Ja’Tyre Carter, a guard from Southern.That left the Bears one short of being able to put a starting unit on the field next weekend for rookie minicamp. If new offensive line coach Chris Morgan can get one to develop into a starter and maybe have another project as a multi-position backup, that would be a victory.The Bears don’t have a great history of turning late picks into starters up front. They’re hoping Larry Borom, a fifth-round selection last year, pans out at tackle with a new staff in place. The only late picks that got a shot and worked out as starters in the last decade were a pair of tackles drafted by former GM Phil Emery — Jordan Mills in the fifth round in 2013 and Charles Leno in the seventh round in 2014.Poles left open the possibility to bring in competition for the line, citing the possibility of veterans being released by other teams, street free agents and even a potential trade, which wouldn’t be a surprise even if it’s not for a high-profile name.Surely Poles would have loved the opportunity to add one of the top offensive tackles in the class, something he would have been able to do with the seventh overall pick if the Bears were not paying off the bill for Justin Fields. He identified a secondary in dire need of help and went with where the talent was Friday. Now the Bears play the long game with their rookie tackles and wait to see what Borom and Teven Jenkins, a second-round pick a year ago, can do.It’s a draft that on the surface didn’t do a lot for quarterback Justin Fields, but the coaching staff has the benefit of the doubt for now. Velus Jones, the rocket wide receiver from Tennessee, wouldn’t have made sense for the former coaching staff. The Bears couldn’t come up with creative ways to involve Cordarrelle Patterson and the Tarik Cohen experience was good for only one season.If new offensive coordinator Luke Getsy can create ways to involve Jones — and comparisons to Deebo Samuel really aren’t fair at this point — the Bears might have a dangerous weapon in space, the kind of player who can turn a simple play into big yards.AdvertisementThat’s also what made the sixth-round selection of Baylor running back Trestan Ebner intriguing. He was a special teams dynamo in the Big 12 but he’s also a natural pass catcher out of the backfield — not something you would associate with David Montgomery or Khalil Herbert. Ebner is going to have his work cut out to earn playing time, but he could add another element (along with speed) to the offense. Versatility and speed are something every team seeks.Poles talked Friday about chipping away when asked about improving the O-line before the end of the offseason program, describing a methodical process that’s going to take time. It sounded in many ways like the description of a rebuild. If the Bears hit with a couple of their eight Day 3 picks, that will be part of chipping away.But just remember: we’re looking at final day picks without a fourth-rounder. They’re dice rolls.

Sports

Hall of Fame coach C. Vivian Stringer retires after 50 years: ‘I thank God he has allowed me to do the thing I love most’

Hall of Fame coach C. Vivian Stringer announced her retirement Saturday after 50 years in college basketball.She finished with 1,055 wins — fourth all-time among Division I women’s basketball coaches. Stringer made four Final Four appearances and reached the NCAA Tournament 28 times while leading Cheyney State, Iowa and Rutgers. Stringer was emotional when she talked to her team Friday night on a Zoom call.Advertisement“I am officially announcing my retirement,” Stringer in a statement. “My life has been defined by coaching and I’ve been on this journey for over five decades. It is rare that someone gets to do what they love for this long and I have been fortunate to do that. I love Rutgers University for the incredible opportunity they offered me and the tremendous victories we achieved together.”The 74-year-old coach had been on leave this past season because of COVID-19 concerns. She signed a five-year extension before going on leave last April. Her retirement becomes effective on Sept. 1, and she agreed to an $872,988 retirement buyout. Rutgers will name its basketball court in her honor next season.AdvertisementRutgers President Jonathan Holloway said naming the court after her is “a fitting and indelible tribute to one of the greatest coaches of all time.” He called Stringer “an icon” whose impact has been “felt across our campuses, around the state and throughout the nation.”Stringer has coached at Rutgers since 1995, winning 535 games. She led the Scarlet Knights to the NCAA title game in 2007 when they lost to Tennessee.C. Vivian Stringer announced her retirement Saturday after 50 years in college basketball. She finished with 1,055 wins, fourth all-time among Division I women’s basketball coaches. (Mel Evans/AP)The school’s appearance in 2000 made Stringer the first men’s or women’s coach to guide three different programs to the Final Four. She led Cheyney State to the first NCAA title game in 1982 and Iowa to the national semifinals in 1993.“Coach Stringer is a titan in college basketball, inspiring generations of student-athletes and coaches to pursue excellence on and off the court,” Rutgers Athletic Director Pat Hobbs said. “Her place in the history of the game is cemented, but more remarkable is the legions of young women whose lives she helped shape.”She started her coaching career in 1971-72 at Cheyney State in Pennsylvania.“I am forever indebted to all the coaches who I worked beside,” Stringer said. “Some were former players, some were colleagues, but all were friends and family at the end of the day and were my most trusted relationships.“To the young ladies that I was fortunate to have coached and mentored into the women and leaders of today, keep pushing the barriers, keep pushing for your spot at the table, and always know who you are.”Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.At Iowa, Stringer elevated the program starting in 1983, setting an attendance record in 1985 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Stringer left Iowa to coach at Rutgers following the death of her husband Bill.Advertisement“There’s always a soft spot in my heart for the University of Iowa and Dr. Christine Grant for giving me my first major coaching position … She was a strong believer in women’s rights and that’s a responsibility that I have championed and will continue to take up the fight for.”Stringer has been an inspiration to many Black female coaches, including South Carolina’s Dawn Staley, who won her second national championship on April 3.“Coach Stringer thank you for elevating our game,” Staley tweeted. “The strength of your shoulders allowed us to stand tall. We will forever keep your legacy in our hearts. Thank you Coach Stringer.”Stringer won 20 or more games 37 times in her career, finishing with a 1,055-426 record (.712 winning percentage). She was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001 and enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009. Stringer also served as an assistant coach on the 2004 U.S. Olympic team that won a gold medal.The school will begin a search for a new coach immediately. Associate head coach Tim Eatman had taken over for Stringer in her absence.“This was the hardest decision of my life, but I thank God he has allowed me to do the thing I love most. I am ready to start my new journey and spending more time with my family, children, and grandchildren,” she said. “I am truly blessed to have had so many wonderful people in my life.”

Sports

Chicago Red Stars look to reset — and prioritize a ‘positive’ culture — after abuse scandals rocked the NWSL last season

A new National Women’s Soccer League season begins in earnest Saturday for the Chicago Red Stars, who hope their match against Racing Louisville FC at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview is the start of a new era.The team that takes the field Saturday — as it has since the beginning of the preseason Challenge Cup tournament — will be much different from the one that fell short of winning the club’s first NWSL title last fall.AdvertisementThat defeat kicked off a painful offseason, as club ownership allowed former coach Rory Dames to resign hours before a bombshell Washington Post report detailed years of abuse allegations against Dames at the Red Stars and Eclipse Select, a youth club Dames founded in 1997.“Everyone knows last year the entire league went through a lot,” defender Arin Wright said April 21 at the team’s 2022 jersey unveiling. “There was a lot of healing to be done.”AdvertisementChicago wasn’t the only NWSL club to confront coaching abuse. Earlier this week, the Houston Dash suspended coach and general manager James Clark over initial findings in a joint NWSL and player association investigation into “current and historic complaints of discrimination, harassment and abuse.”New Red Stars coach Chris Petrucelli knew he was stepping into a difficult situation when the Red Stars hired him in February.“I knew, we all knew, that I was walking into an environment where there had been some issues in the past,” Petrucelli said Thursday. “I’ve tried to be very respectful of the players as a whole and individually as well. The interesting thing is from the day that I’ve got here, all I’ve seen is happy faces. All I’ve seen is players that are trying hard, players that are doing their best and players that love what they’re doing, love each other and love their club.”In addition to arriving in the wake of an abuse scandal, Petrucelli is adjusting to the workings of the NWSL and an extended competitive season.Petrucelli joined the Red Stars after going 427-182-54 as a Division I coach over 31 years, most recently at Southern Methodist University. He won the 1995 national title at Notre Dame and earned back-to-back coach of the year honors in ‘94 and ‘95. He coached at Texas for more than a decade and also coached the U.S. under-19 and under-21 national teams.Chicago Red Stars midfielder Vanessa DiBernardo in action during an NWSL Challenge Cup match, March 20, 2022, in Houston. (Matt Patterson/AP)Petrucelli’s comments echo the tone of longtime Red Stars Vanessa DiBernardo and Wright.“It was something that was needed, and I think it was voiced by us, the players,” DiBernardo said April 21.AdvertisementWorking through a roster overhaul and gelling with front-office changes such as associate GM and former Red Star Michelle Lomnicki has been a complex process.Lomnicki will primarily manage player contracts and personnel matters, a role that previously was left in the head coach’s hands.“I think our club has done a very good job of making the changes and moving things around to elevate this club and move beyond what has gone wrong,” Wright said. “We’re ready to move forward and step into the next chapter.”There are other changes players say make them feel better supported. The club hired a human resources employee during the offseason and now has posters in the locker room about an anonymous hotline for reporting wrongdoing.“It’s nice having posters in our locker room of places where we can call and text to have support,” new signee and Arlington Heights native Amanda Kowalski said. “I think that’s super important. Not only are there resources available, but that we know that they’re there.”AdvertisementWright said earlier this month the team’s new culture is “very good” but added the Red Stars need to be “mindful of what was in the past… so we don’t fall back into those same patterns.”Forward Ella Stevens said Thursday that ensuring the club moves in the right direction off the field is what is most important, adding that a “positive environment” beyond soccer ultimately factors into on-field results.“When you feel supported and are happy playing and are where you want to be, your performance shows,” Stevens said.Chicago Red Stars defender Sarah Gorden (11) passes the ball during the second half of the NWSL final against the Washington Spirit, Nov. 20, 2021, in Louisville, Ky. (Jeff Dean/AP)The Red Stars in December traded midfield stalwart and U.S. national team star Julie Ertz and NWSL Defender of the Year finalist Sarah Gorden to expansion side Angel City FC.Injuries have already plagued the team: defender Tierna Davidson suffered an ACL tear in preseason and forward Kealia Watt is still rehabilitating from her own ACL tear, which she sustained in the 2021 NWSL semifinal. Defender Casey Krueger and midfielder Sarah Woldmoe are each on maternity leave.That hasn’t stopped Petrucelli from wanting to set a high bar competitively.Advertisement“I want to (win a championship),” Petrucelli said Thursday. “I want our team to do that. I want our team to have a chance to celebrate success and enjoy the experience along the way.“I don’t feel external pressure, but I think you look at it and you go, ‘This is a team that historically has been fighting for a championship and we should be doing the same.’”Star forward Mallory Pugh is working her way back from a concussion, and midfielder Morgan Gautrat is likely to miss more time with a calf injury.“There’s a lot of change,” DiBernardo said. “It’s going to take time for all of us to kind of figure each other out. We have older players who have played with each other for a while, but we also have younger players who are coming into this league and this environment.”That puts the onus of setting the tone on veterans such as DiBernardo, the captain, goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher and midfielder Yuki Nagasato, who returned in the offseason.“We are trying to jell and work together, and it’s going to be a process,” DiBernardo said. “But the environment is good and we feel good moving forward.”AdvertisementChicago Local 134, the Red Stars supporters group, in December called for majority owner Arnim Whistler to sell his controlling stake in the team, saying at the time it would not “complete payment for our season tickets or buy merchandise from the team.”Whistler has not sold his majority stake.“I’ll be here as long as I’m needed,” Whistler told the Tribune in February. “I think I’m still needed a bit. Certainly not being asked to leave, but if and when that’s the right thing to do, I will always do right by the club.”On Wednesday, Chicago Local 134 announced it will support the club for the 2022 season after boycotting games during the Challenge Cup.The group will silence all chanting and drums during the 10th minute of each match to “serve as a reminder of the continuing importance of our concerns.”Advertisement