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The Chicago Bears kicked off their mandatory minicamp Tuesday at Halas Hall — the final piece to the first offseason for a new regime — and it was another bumpy performance for the offense with cornerback Jaylon Johnson and rookie safety Jaquan Brisker coming away with interceptions.Here are four things we heard and saw.AdvertisementBears outside linebacker Robert Quinn celebrates after sacking Giants quarterback Mike Glennon, setting set the franchise’s single-season sacks record on Jan. 2, 2022, at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)Since the voluntary offseason program opened in April, coach Matt Eberflus has been mindful to thank players just about every time he has spoken about the development of the team.When mandatory minicamp kicked off Tuesday morning at Halas Hall, there was one significant absence. Quinn, the outside linebacker who set a franchise record with 18 ½ sacks last season, was not in attendance after choosing to take a pass on the voluntary portion of the offseason as well.AdvertisementQuinn, the highest earner on the roster at $12.9 million, is subject to a fine for each day he misses.“We’re not talking about that as an organization,” Eberflus said. “We hoped he would be here. (GM) Ryan (Poles) and his staff are going to work through that. I really don’t have any other comment other than that about Robert Quinn.“Yeah, I’ve talked to him. Wished him happy birthday a few weeks ago. … In terms of being here, not being here, I’m going to leave that up to Ryan.”The absence of Quinn, 32, only fuels speculation that the best move for both parties could be a trade. He’s well-traveled and might invite the chance to play with a contender. Quinn is an asset for Poles who will have diminished value by the time the Bears are ready to contend again. The Bears might have to settle for a Day 3 pick in return for Quinn — and they’ll need to find a trade partner with ample salary-cap space — but that’s how it goes for a player over 30 making a lot of money. The Bears don’t have a lot of experience at defensive end after Quinn, but they like Al Quadin-Muhammad, who was on the sideline during practice, and Trevis Gipson is ready for an expanded role after notching seven sacks in 2021. Without Quinn, it would be easier for the coaching staff to get rookie Dominique Robinson on the field to evaluate him.Offensive lineman Dakota Dozier (78) works out during Bears OTAs on May 17, 2022, at Halas Hall. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)Dozier went down at the end of a play late in practice when the ball came loose. After the training staff evaluated him, Dozier was helped onto a cart and taken to the locker room. Eberflus has consistently declined to address injuries. It appeared Dozier suffered a left leg injury, potentially his left knee.The injury is noteworthy considering Dozier, a backup throughout his eight-year with the exception of 2020 when he started 16 games at left guard for the Minnesota Vikings, has been in the mix with the first team. Dozier and Sam Mustipher have gotten the vast majority of reps with the starters at right guard, and it appeared that competition could carry into training camp.If Dozier’s injury is serious, the Bears would have to proceed with Mustipher as the starter, reshuffle the deck with players under contract or perhaps look outside the building for help.AdvertisementEberflus said the team was sticking with its plan of splitting the first half of OTAs and minicamp practices with one group and then the second half with a few changes. That means rookie Braxton Jones remains with the starters at left tackle. Larry Borom is still at right tackle and Teven Jenkins, last year’s second-round pick, is playing right tackle with the second team.“All combinations are open, I’ll just say that,” Eberflus said. “I’m not going to comment on is it yes or no but I’ll say that we have an open lens of all combinations are open. And we’re just trying to find the best five.”Bears defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli during their first training camp practice on April 6, 2019, at Halas Hall. (Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune)Eberflus considers Marinelli a good friend and mentor after the pair coached together with the Dallas Cowboys from 2013-17. Eberflus said Marinelli, who was the Detroit Lions coach for three years and spent four seasons with the Bears, including three as defensive coordinator, taught him about player-coach relationships.“To be able to show the player that you care through action and to prepare the player to play his best on Sunday,” Eberflus said. “And then you’re able to challenge them and push them past the point they can’t take themselves, and that’s what I learned from Rod. And players, everybody who talks about him just loves him to death. And man, I know when he was here he pushed the guys past the point they couldn’t take themselves.”Marinelli, whom Eberflus called “a dynamic speaker,” will address the Bears at a team meeting Wednesday. Marinelli recently retired from coaching after spending two seasons as the Las Vegas Raiders defensive line coach.Hall of Fame executive Bill Polian, who helped the Bears during their search for new general manager Ryan Poles and Eberflus in January, also watched practice Tuesday.AdvertisementVideos of quarterback Justin Fields and tight end Cole Kmet hitting home runs at Wrigley dominated social media Thursday afternoon.At a team meeting that morning on the final day of OTAs, Eberflus told players he was bringing them to the ballpark and then showed them the Bears’ history playing there from 1921-70.When the Bears arrived at the field, players were split into teams for a multi-event competition that included a home run derby. Fields, who played baseball in high school in Georgia, hit two home runs.“I honestly didn’t think I could hit a home run, but I got a couple out, so I was surprised by that,” Fields said. “Actually, once I saw a few guys go before me and they got close, I was like, ‘All right, this is possible.’ It was awesome. I think everyone had a good time. It was definitely a great team-bonding event.”However, Fields didn’t win the event. Kmet, who played baseball and football at Notre Dame, hit three homers to win the derby, the Bears reported.“I was happy when we were picking teams,” said wide receiver Darnell Mooney, who was on Kmet’s team. “I was like, as long as I get Cole, it doesn’t matter what team I’m on.”

Eighty-nine days before the Chicago Bears kick off the regular season against the San Francisco 49ers at Soldier Field, quarterback Justin Fields was asked if he was itching for the season to start, if his eagerness to test his growth and see the team’s new-look offense in action was eroding his patience.Fields just chuckled.Advertisement“No,” he said Tuesday afternoon. “I’m not ready for the season to start.”The response was firm and emphatic.Advertisement“I’m just being honest,” he said. “We’re not ready to play a game right now.”Quarterback Justin Fields speaks at Bears minicamp Tuesday at Halas Hall. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)Nor should they be. Not in mid-June, not after the massive overhauls the team made this offseason to the front office, coaching staff and roster. This is a one-step-at-a-time reboot, and the Bears starting quarterback is aware enough to understand the hard work has only just begun.The Bears are engrossed in their mandatory minicamp this week at Halas Hall, another stage to continue molding their offense and another chance for Fields to work on his footwork, timing and overall comfort in coordinator Luke Getsy’s system. Still, it’s clear the offense as a whole is a major work in progress and immersed in a trial-and-error phase that is obviously rough around the edges.Fields, for example, occasionally might be a touch late or a tad off with a throw, just like he was late in team drills Tuesday when cornerback Jaylon Johnson jumped a pass to Tajae Sharpe along the left sideline, picked it off and raced to the north end zone of Field 1.Costly mistake. Defensive celebration.Still, that’s also the type of error Fields can reflect on in meetings and post-practice film study, looking to diagnose what exactly went wrong and how he can fix it.“Right now, the coaches are throwing a lot at us,” Fields said. “They’re pretty much throwing the whole playbook at us — which is good. Of course there are going to be mistakes. But we’d rather have the mistakes come right now than later in the fall or in camp.”Fields, as has been well-documented, likely will be climbing uphill for the foreseeable future, particularly with an unproven receiving corps and an unsettled line around him. To the latter point, the Bears continue to move pieces around up front. On Tuesday, their first-unit offensive line consisted of left tackle Braxton Jones, right tackle Larry Borom and interior linemen Sam Mustipher, Lucas Patrick and Cody Whitehair.Advertisement[ [Don’t miss] Column: Chicago Bears offensive line still has big questions — and moving parts — as shown by Teven Jenkins and Braxton Jones ]Bears coaches are working to find the best grouping for what they want to do and might continue to fiddle with things into training camp in July and August.“All combinations are open,” coach Matt Eberflus said.Fields, you would think, would value continuity in his offensive line as soon as possible, wanting to develop a feel for how to operate within the pocket and learning how to distribute his trust. But as of this week, he said he has little anxiety about the fluid nature of the depth chart.“I’m not in a rush,” Fields said. “We still have a lot of time. And at the end of the day, whoever does the job the best is going to be the best fit for us.”Quarterback Justin Fields stretches Tuesday during Bears minicamp at Halas Hall. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)Fields also spoke positively of his glowing connection with Getsy, eager to see that evolve in the months ahead.In the bridge between the end of minicamp Thursday and the opening of training camp next month, Fields stressed his need to continue learning the details of his new playbook and the push to further his connection with his receivers.AdvertisementEberflus has emphasized the same things with his young quarterback and hopes off-campus throwing sessions with teammates will continue to be a part of Fields’ routine during the summer break.“It’s an important factor for timing, to be able to work with each other,” Eberflus said.Receiver Darnell Mooney might be the most dialed in with Fields at this point. And even with the growing pains the offense is enduring, Mooney is encouraged by Fields’ mindset.“He’s just locking in and knowing what he wants to do with this offense, with this team,” Mooney said. “As a quarterback in this league, he wants to take over the league. He’s already Justin Fields. He wants to be the best quarterback in the league. And he’s taken the strides to get there.”That brand of grand rhetoric is expected, of course. And soon it will have to be backed up by high-level on-field production that is consistent and undeniable. To this point, though, the bumps in the road remain obvious.[ [Don’t miss] Chicago Bears sign nose tackle Mike Pennel and release veteran Jeremiah Attaochu on the eve of minicamp ]Eventually, the patience many of the Bears have in working through the rough patches that are inevitable when installing a new offense with a young quarterback will give way to an urgency to start ramping up for Week 1. Balancing that patience and urgency properly will require effort.Advertisement“For me it’s just not making the same mistake twice,” Fields said. “If you make that one mistake on a play, just don’t do it again. And if you ultimately keep getting better growing, there will be (fewer) mistakes each and every day. And, of course, you’ll be right where you want to be.”Tuesday was another reminder that where the Bears want to be offensively is still a long way away. The offense still needs significant time to get there. But the effort needed to pave that road will be substantial.At the start of practice Wednesday, the Bears will be 88 days out from their opener as the countdown to their bigger tests continues.ExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 15New Bears coach Matt Eberflus speaks after being introduced on Jan. 31, 2022, at Halas Hall. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

DETROIT — The Chicago White Sox placed closer Liam Hendriks on the 15-day injured list with a right forearm strain.Hendriks is 1-2 with a 2.81 ERA, 37 strikeouts and 16 saves in 25 appearances this season. He is tied for the American League-lead in saves.AdvertisementThe move, retroactive to Sunday, was one of four announced by the Sox Tuesday. They also reinstated reliever Joe Kelly from the 15-day injured list, recalled pitcher Davis Martin from Triple-A Charlotte and optioned Bennett Sousa to Charlotte.[ [Don’t miss] Column: Another day, another Chicago White Sox controversy they avoid addressing ]Kelly was placed on the injured list on May 26 with a strained left hamstring. He is 0-1 with a 9.53 ERA, six holds and eight strikeouts in seven relief outings.AdvertisementMartin is 0-2 with a 4.11 ERA and 14 strikeouts in three games (two starts) with the Sox. Sousa is 3-0 with an 8.41 ERA and one save in 25 relief appearances.

The Lance Lynn-Joe McEwing dugout incident during Monday’s Chicago White Sox game in Detroit brought back some vivid memories of a similar incident in 1996.Frank Thomas and Robin Ventura, two of the biggest stars on the ‘96 Sox, engaged in a heated dugout spat on a hot August afternoon at Yankee Stadium. Thomas shoved Ventura in the chest in the seventh inning after Ventura tried to prevent him from getting ejected for arguing with the home plate umpire. Teammates Dave Martinez and Lyle Mouton quickly intervened before things got out of hand.AdvertisementBut a WGN camera caught the incident, and Sox manager Terry Bevington called the players together after the Sox’s 8-4 loss to tell them not to comment because he’d handle everything.“Both of those guys respect each other,” Bevington told reporters. “Both of those guys like each other. Little disagreements happen on teams. It’s really nothing.”AdvertisementBut Martinez ignored Bevington’s directive.“(Ventura) was just speaking honestly in the dugout, and (Thomas) snapped,” Martinez said. “When a guy 275 pounds snaps, look out.”Ventura politely said he couldn’t talk about what happened, but then was informed Martinez already had given us a blow-by-blow account.[ [Don’t miss] Column: Tony La Russa isn’t worried about Chicago White Sox fan discontent — he’ll ignore it like he did in his 1st South Side stint ]“I talked to him afterward. I have nothing against Frank,” Ventura said.So he was just trying to keep Thomas from getting ejected?“Evidently,” he said.Thomas, unaware his teammates had spoken, brushed past reporters and barked: “I have nothing to say.”The incident was the talk of the town. “Frank flips, Sox Flop” read the Chicago Tribune headline. But it quickly blew over, as most controversies do over the course of a long baseball season.AdvertisementThe Lynn-McEwing kerfuffle Monday was one of those things that happen when two headstrong individuals disagree. Unfortunately for them, it was shown on the NBC Sports Chicago broadcast and the video quickly spread on Twitter.Manager Tony La Russa told reporters afterward that Lynn was mad at himself for making a bad pitch. Lynn joked he and McEwing were debating what kind of steak was the best. McEwing was not made available for comment.Honesty may be the best policy, but silence is golden. The Sox didn’t feel it was necessary to explain the details of the spat, which is their prerogative. But the lack of accountability from La Russa and Lynn came on the heels of another controversy — La Russa’s intentional walk call on a 1-2 count to the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Trea Turner last week — a decision that not only backfired but made the Sox a national story.On a replay of the game, NBC Sports Chicago edited the inning that included the Turner at-bat out, a decision seen by many as a team interfering with its regional station’s editorial integrity to avoid making La Russa look worse than he already did.La Russa’s relationship with Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf is well known. The Sox are part-owners of NBC Sports Chicago. Conspiracy theories abounded, especially after Marquee Sports Network’s censorship of a show that contained criticism of Cubs president Jed Hoyer.[ [Don’t miss] Column: Mood turns ugly for the Chicago White Sox as ‘Fire Tony’ chants ring out in a loss at home ]So NBC Sports Chicago took its lumps, and deservedly so.AdvertisementKevin Cross, president and general manager of the three NBC stations in Chicago, said Tuesday the company in New Jersey hired to edit games down to a three-hour window erred by not leaving the fateful inning in the final edit.“There was no conspiracy,” Cross said. “We had to cut an hour and 13 minutes out of the game, and the person that did it didn’t know the nuance of that intentional walk. They are not from this market and didn’t know the nuance of Tony La Russa’s decision.“Where we messed up (is) we should’ve talked to (the company) and said ‘Whatever you do, don’t cut out this ending … That inning is untouchable.’ The fact it did get cut makes us look bad.”Accountability matters.White Sox manager Tony La Russa watches from the dugout during a game against the Tigers on June 13, 2022. (Duane Burleson /AP)NBC Sports Chicago accepted blame for the editing mistake. La Russa needs to heed the station’s example and be upfront about the Lynn-McEwing spat.Whether the disagreement was over defensive positioning doesn’t matter as much as the attempt to obfuscate and avoid the subject afterward. McEwing obviously stood his ground against a popular player who has much more job security than a third base coach.AdvertisementLa Russa had an opportunity to defend his coach. Instead he chose to make up a story. La Russa sat back in his chair in the visitors’ office with his pants undone as if he’d just finished Thanksgiving dinner and praised Lynn for always being “accountable.” Lynn then made his joke to reporters about the steak dinner.No accountability here.What happened between Lynn and McEwing might soon be forgotten, just as the Ventura-Thomas spat was by the end of ‘96. But throwing McEwing under the bus, as La Russa and Lynn did, will linger.The 2022 Sox still have a long way to go to match the wacky episodes of ‘96, when Tony Phillips was arrested for punching a Milwaukee Brewers fan, Bevington got into an altercation with umpire Rich Garcia at a downtown restaurant and the Thomas-Ventura incident at Yankee Stadium.The ‘22 Sox have 102 games left after Tuesday’s game in Detroit. Someone could flip. Someone could flop.Rest assured it’s a story that gets more interesting by the day.

Apple’s foray into live sports took a big step forward Tuesday.Apple and Major League Soccer have announced a 10-year partnership on a streaming service that will allow fans to watch every game without local blackouts or restrictions. The service will be available exclusively through the Apple TV app beginning next year.AdvertisementThe deal is Apple’s second venture into streaming professional sports. In April, it began airing “Friday Night Baseball,” an exclusive weekly doubleheader of Major League Baseball games.“The opportunity to partner with a sports league, and truly build the product together with them is very, very unique,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of services. “We can bring the things that we do really well with the things that they do really well and really make the product, which I think will be significantly better for the fans. We want to create a great experience for fans to be able to watch and experience MLS like they’ve never had before.”AdvertisementThe details of the streaming service will be announced in the coming months. The package will be included for fans who have full-season ticket packages for their club.Some MLS and Leagues Cup matches will be available at no additional cost to Apple TV+ subscribers, with a limited number of matches also available for free.“We really couldn’t have found a better partner to embark on this new journey together to capitalize on the momentum that exists in MLS today,” league Commissioner Don Garber said. “We can use this deal as rocket fuel as we build towards the World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico in 2026 and thinking about what the sport of soccer, what Major League Soccer could look like, in the years beyond.”Currently, most MLS games are streamed on ESPN+, but there are blackout restrictions due to some local rights agreements. The league’s deals with Fox Sports and ESPN expire at the end of the year, but Garber is hoping the league can reach a deal with a broadcast partner.Even with the Apple deal, MLS does have the opportunity to simulcast some games nationally.Streaming is already built into soccer fans’ DNA. The league said it has found in various studies that 83% of MLS fans watch sports on streaming devices or recorded TV in a typical week, much higher than the general average of 52% for all TV viewers.What also makes the deal intriguing for Apple is that MLS has the youngest and most diverse audience compared to the other four major professional North American sports leagues.Besides all regular-season and postseason matches, the package includes all Leagues Cup matches — the competition between MLS and Mexico’s Liga MX — as well as select MLS NEXT Pro and MLS NEXT matches.AdvertisementApple will also partner with MLS on presentation of the matches as the league takes over production. This is another step forward for the league, but is similar to the way European soccer leagues do business. All matches will be called in English and Spanish while those involving Canadian clubs will also be available in French.All matches will also be available in Full HD (1080p) for the first time. Previously, matches were broadcast in 1080i or 720p.Garber said the league will have a more streamlined schedule beginning next season, with most matches taking place on Saturday evenings and some on Wednesdays. The only time that might change is for a national broadcast or stadium conflict. The league will expand to 29 teams in 2023 with the debut of St. Louis CITY SC.The deal comes as Apple is also exploring opportunities with other sports. The company has been pursuing streaming NFL games when the league’s “Sunday Ticket” expires at the end of the upcoming season.

WNBA star Brittney Griner will remain in custody for at least 18 more days, according to Russian media.A Russian court extended Griner’s detention through at least July 2, ABC News reported citing Russian state media outlet TASS.AdvertisementThe seven-time WNBA All-Star center for the Phoenix Mercury was arrested by Russian authorities in February after hashish oil was allegedly found in her luggage at an airport in Moscow.She was accused of smuggling large quantities of a narcotic substance, an offense that can carry a sentence of up to 10 years behind bars.AdvertisementBrittney Griner (Rick Scuteri/AP)In May, the U.S. State Department determined that Griner was being “wrongfully detained by the Russian government.”On Monday, State Department officials met with Mercury officials to discuss Griner’s detention.“There is a lot involved in getting her back home and safe, they’re working relentlessly,” Mercury star Diana Taurasi said after the meeting, according to The Associated Press.“We’re here to do whatever we can to amplify and keep BG at the forefront, which is more important than any basketball game and anything else that’s going on in our lives. We want BG to come home as soon as possible, it’s number one on our list,” she added.A social media campaign has been pushing the White House to “please free your friend,” as the player’s family, friends, fellow players and fans post messages on Twitter using the hashtags #WeAreBG and #FreeBittneyGriner.Despite all efforts, however, the openly gay athlete will remain in Russia — a notoriously anti-LGBTQ country, where public discussions or positive messages about LGBTQ issues are illegal — until at least early next month.

Serena Williams is going to play at Wimbledon this year, after all. The All England Club announced via Twitter on Tuesday that Williams was awarded a wild-card entry for singles.Williams has not competed anywhere since getting injured during the first set of her first-round match at the All England Club a year ago. And her name did not appear on the women’s singles entry list released by the grass-court Grand Slam tournament earlier this month.AdvertisementBut Williams was among six women given a spot in the singles draw on Tuesday.Earlier in the day, Williams posted a photo of her white shoes on what appears to be a grass court and the message: “SW and SW19. It’s a date. 2022. See you there. Let’s Go.”Advertisement“SW” are her initials, of course, and “SW19″ is the postal code for Wimbledon.The 40-year-old American has won seven of her Open era-record 23 major singles championships at Wimbledon, most recently in 2016.Williams was the runner-up there in 2018 and 2019 (the tournament was canceled in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic).In 2021, Williams lost her footing on the slick grass and then her right leg buckled, leading to just the second mid-match retirement at any Grand Slam tournament of her career and first since 1998.

Chicago Cubs left-hander Justin Steele instinctively reached his hand out in attempt to snare a ball up the middle.The ball bounced off it, giving San Diego Padres second baseman Jake Cronenworth an infield single two batters into Monday’s game. After retiring the next batter, Steele’s barehanded attempt prompted a mound visit from a Cubs trainer and manager David RossAdvertisementThe last thing the Cubs needed was another injury to a starting pitcher. Already pitching with a blister on his left middle finger, the ball’s impact bruised Steele’s index finger. When Steele got checked out mid-first inning, the skin was cut off his blister so it wouldn’t tear. But his index finger, which was swollen by the end of his start, was the bigger issue.[ [Don’t miss] How a new slider helped Eric Stout earn a call up to his childhood-favorite Chicago Cubs: ‘It’s a tribute to why he’s up here’ ]“When I tried to catch that thing barehanded, I don’t know what I was thinking,” Steele said. “But I was able to manage the pain a little bit going through the start. After that inning, I went down to the cage and threw some balls into the net. I could feel it a little bit, ripping on the seam, but I thought the pain was manageable so I just kept going.”AdvertisementSteele didn’t let a bruised index finger derail him. Instead, he delivered one of his best, most efficient starts. Steele held the Padres to one run in seven innings, but the offense couldn’t get going against ex-Cubs right-hander Yu Darvish in a 4-1 loss, their seventh straight.Had he not gotten hit by the comebacker, Ross would’ve sent Steele back out for the eighth inning since the pitcher needed only 77 pitches to get through a career-high tying seven innings. Steele pounded the strike zone, throwing 60 strikes.Cubs starting pitcher Justin Steele delivers to the Padres in the first inning on June 13, 2022, at Wrigley Field. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)“I don’t know if we knew he was going to get through the second inning, he went out to try it and ended up pitching great,” Ross said. “So, credit to him, kind of a gutsy outing from what felt like where we might be in real trouble with the shortness of our staff.“We might need to smash him in the finger a couple of times before he starts because that was impressive.”Steele became the first Cubs starter since August 2020 to pitch consecutive games of at least seven innings with one earned run or less. That previous pitcher? Darvish, who earned the win for San Diego.Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.How Steele put together a stellar quality start is as important as the outing itself. He threw mostly four-seam fastballs, getting six whiffs and eight called strikes. The pitch accounted for 70% of his pitches thrown Monday, the second-highest fastball Pitch% in his 21 career starts. His previous start on June 5 (71.3%) is the lone outing to exceed it. Steele also mixed in six sinkers.“When you’re speeding hitters up like that, the secondary stuff always plays up,” Ross said. “You don’t have to be so fine with that. That’s what I saw tonight.”[ [Don’t miss] 3 thoughts on the Chicago Cubs, including being ‘patient’ with Seiya Suzuki’s slow recovery and the Jason Heyward roster conundrum ]The uptick in fastball usage is not a coincidence. Steele believes his fastball directly correlated to his high strike total.Advertisement“Going into my last two starts, I’ve been really honing in on fastball command with my four-seam and my sinker,” Steele said. “I’m just trying to command the four-seam in and sinker to both sides of the plate and I’ve been doing a good job of it in my last two starts.”Steele sounded confident his bruised index finger wouldn’t prevent him from making his next start. The Cubs can’t afford to lose another pitcher with three starters currently on the injured list. The team is expected to get clarity this week on left-hander Wade Miley, who reinjured his shoulder in his start after coming off the IL Friday in New York.Beyond needing healthy starting pitchers, the Cubs must get more consistency . This is an opportunity for Steele to step up. After his awful outing in the Cubs’ 20-5 loss in Cincinnati on May 26, Steele owns a 2.37 ERA in his last three starts.“Regardless of all that stuff that was going on with the rotation and whatnot, I definitely wanted to keep competing,” Steele said. “I felt like I had my stuff coming in from the bullpen so I definitely wanted to go out there and give them my best stuff. I definitely didn’t want to come out of the game.”

Tiger Woods’ late father Earl encouraged his son to putt to the picture, a visual cue the boy would use to win quarters from his “pops” long before becoming a golfing legend.Woods recalls those days fondly and aims to provide a similar experience for the masses as a partner with Greg Bartoli, founder of PopStroke. A fourth location opened Monday in Orlando to offer a sophisticated, present-day spin on traditional putt-putt and an entertainment option accessible to people of all ages and degrees of golf interest.AdvertisementPopStroke, a technology-infused golf entertainment venue, that today opened its Waterford Lakes location, on Monday, June 13, 2022. (Orlando Sentinel)A sign sharing Woods’ vision greets guests arriving at the two 18-hole, par-45 putting layouts ― the Tiger Red and Black courses.“Some of my happiest memories are spending time with my ‘pops’ on the golf course having putting contests,” reads a sign quoting the 15-time major champion. “I’m looking forward to others enjoying time with their kids at PopStroke.”AdvertisementBartoli, who made his fortune on Wall Street before relocating in 2013 to Jupiter, has witnessed PopStroke’s universal appeal — from fathers and sons to mothers and daughters to 6-year-olds and seniors. Out-of-towners on buddy trips or weekly foursomes can stop by to grab a post-round meal and continue the competition.Putting is the primary drawing card. Two eye-catching courses designed by TGR Design — Woods’ company — capture the imagination and test all skill levels.PopStroke has recast the traditional miniature golf setup.View of the Tiger Red Course, looking at the Restaurant and large scoreboard. (Orlando Sentinel)Hilly terrain dotted with palm trees and native foliage surrounds putting surfaces featuring challenging breaks and ample undulation. Greens built on sand rather than concrete and covered in high-quality synthetic turf instead of carpet provide a true roll not found at most putt-putt courses.“Something different than windmills, waterfalls and alligator mouths,” said Wes Abbott, the general manager of the east Orlando site.Even so, those with limited if any golf experience are able to participate, compete and enjoy themselves.Meanwhile, TopGolf — a highly popular golf entertainment option — requires patrons to pick up a club and swing it.“Putting is the one universal element of golf that everybody can do,” Bartoli said. “It’s not intimidating.”AdvertisementBartoli’s idea for PopStroke dates to family trips as a child to Myrtle Beach, S.C., where putt-putt courses still abound on Kings Highway featuring names such as Captain’s Hook, Shipwreck Island and Jungle Safari.Left to Right, Quran, 11, and DeMarcus Clark, and Aminah, 4, enjoy a game at PopStroke, a technology-infused golf entertainment venue, that today opened its Waterford Lakes location, on Monday, June 13, 2022. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel)A commercial property investment in Jupiter he made while living in New York City allowed Bartoli to put a personal spin on miniature golf and family entertainment.The result was Lighthouse Cove Adventure Golf. Located on Highway A1A, the facility features two 18-hole courses with waterfalls and caves common to traditional putt-putt along with a restaurant, sports bar, playground and tropical aquarium.“I was blown away by the impact it had in bringing people together, whether you were 5 years old, 25 on a date night, a 40-year-old couple with their kids or a group out on senior night having a glass of wine enjoying some putt-putt,” Bartoli said.Bartoli, a savvy investor for Credit Suisse First Boston and later JP Morgan after graduating from Boston College, saw an opportunity to improve on a good thing. This ultimately lead PopStroke Port St. Lucie to open in April 2019.A friendship with Jupiter resident and longtime TGR CFO Chris Hubman soon led to a conversation about involving Woods — golf’s greatest showman and clutch performer of the modern era.Advertisement“Having the greatest putter in the history of the game involved certainly adds to our credibility and the power of what we’re trying to deliver,” Bartoli said. “At the same time, you also have to provide a great experience. If you don’t, people are not going to come back no matter who’s involved in it.”PopStroke strives to keep everyone engaged.Patrons enjoy PopStroke, a technology-infused golf entertainment venue, that today opened its Waterford Lakes location. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel)Fees ranging from $25 for adults to $15 for young children provide all-day access to the two courses, along with Cornhole, Ping-Pong, Foosball and a playground. The facility features a full-service restaurant, three bars, an ice parlor featuring 24 flavors and event space.Bartoli said his three children, ages 10, 12 and 14, give PopStroke an enthusiastic thumbs-up.PopStroke clearly is catching on. A new facility recently opened in Sarasota, joining locales in Fort Myers and Port St. Lucie. Tampa, Delray Beach, Houston and two Phoenix area locations are in the works for 2022.Las Vegas, Myrtle Beach and Winter Garden in west Orlando are slated for 2023 while a Gainesville site has been discussed.Advertisement“How can you not like craft milkshakes and 24 flavors of premium ice cream and a playground and mini-golf and cheeseburgers?” he said. “We like to say we have something for everyone. A lot of this concept and the vision for this was created with families in mind and what can you do to bring people together and reconnect people and get them off their iPads for a little while.”Bar and outdoor play area at PopStroke, two 18-hole putting golf courses that includes a restaurant, bar, outdoor play area, ice-cream parlor, event space, and a playground. (Orlando Sentinel)Long before iPads and when ice cream came in vanilla or chocolate, people have bonded standing over a little white ball, holding a putter and hoping to sink a hole-in-one.Woods and his father’s competitions helped light the fire in a future legend. For others, it’s a fun, competitive way to spend a few hours.“People have been putting for years,” Abbott said. “My grandparents went to putt-putt for dates. We’re for anyone, 3 to 93.”PopStroke OrlandoWhere: 321 N. Alafaya Trail in Waterford Lakes Town Center (near Regal Cinemas)AdvertisementWhat: Two 18-hole courses, full service restaurant, bar with on-course service, 25 TVs, Jumbotron (with digital scoreboard), ice cream parlor (24 flavors), outdoor gaming and a playground.Hours: 9 a.m. midnight, 7 days a weekCost: $25 all day, seniors (60+) $20, children (6 to 12) $18, children 5 & under $15, military/UCF/Valencia College $20Specials: Monday, Seniors Day, $15 all day; Tuesday, Kids Day, $16 all day; Wednesday, College Day ($15, college ID required)Reservations: None. First come, first served.Website: https://popstroke.com/orlando-waterford-lakes/AdvertisementThis article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Edgar Thompson at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on Twitter at @osgators.

There were times over the last four years Eric Stout thought about walking away from baseball.His big-league experience — three games in 2018 with the Kansas City Royals — left him wanting more. But his path back to the majors tested how badly he wanted it.AdvertisementStout spent the last three offseasons pitching in the Puerto Rico winter leagues. He made nine appearances with three different teams in the independent leagues over the previous three years.Signing a minor-league deal with the Chicago Cubs in March at least united Stout with the team he grew up rooting for. On Monday, his big-league dream was again fulfilled. The Cubs called up the left-hander from Triple A and designated left-hander Sean Newcomb for assignment.AdvertisementStout took a moment to soak it in Monday afternoon when he stood on the Wrigley Field mound.“I would probably say it’s better than my first call up with the Royals in 2018 — it’s something I’ve always dreamed of,” Stout said. “It looks the same distance between home plate and the mound in Iowa and everywhere else I’ve been, but just a couple more seats in the stands. So it’s very, very cool to be on the field rather than the stands.“I don’t think it’s sunk in yet, honestly.”Chicago Cubs reliever Eric Stout, left, warms up before the game against the San Diego Padres on June 13, 2022, at Wrigley Field. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)Stout, 29, grew up in Glen Ellyn where his parents and grandmother still live. He was expecting a lot of family and friends from high school and college in attendance and was most excited about his 91-year-old grandmother attending Monday’s game against the San Diego Padres. Stout said she hasn’t seen him pitch since he was in college at Butler.Stout had only been at Wrigley twice before Monday: a ballpark tour when he was about 10 years old and a predraft workout.Cubs manager David Ross said Stout’s journey around baseball is a strength.Said Ross: “The guys that have some adversity and have the up-and-down track record a little bit and then they go to winter ball or they go to the minor leagues and they continue to have that much love for the game and continue to work to get better, there’s something really powerful in that. “When you take your downtime, your winters, your off time and you’re still working at your craft and competing in maybe the most not ideal circumstances, that just shows how committed they are to their craft.”AdvertisementStout’s challenging journey back to the big leagues can be traced back to a spring training dinner three months ago in Mesa, Ariz. He met with Cubs assistant pitching coach Daniel Moskos, a relationship that dates to working together at Driveline.That established trust led to a dinner conversation during which Moskos simply asked Stout, “How’s your slider?”Stout explained he never really trusted the pitch because it often was hit or miss for him.Moskos then inquired about his curveball, which Stout loved and had a grip-it-and-rip-it approach. With that groundwork, Moskos suggested a new slider grip.“We didn’t even have a baseball,” Moskos told the Tribune. “The genesis of this came from literally, like, mimicking seams with my other fingers and showing him where his hand needed to go. But the concept for him is really easy.”Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.Having looked at Stout’s repertoire, Moskos believed Stout needed a better off-speed pitch against left-handed hitters to generate more whiffs. Because of Stout’s mechanics, Moskos explained the new grip required him to throw the slider like his curveball.Advertisement“I reemphasized it, like, ‘Look, this is a curveball, do not try and make this sweep,’” Moskos recalled. “‘It will not work if you try to make it sweep. You have to try and create top spin.’ And so, obviously, it was very easy for him. He really took it and ran with it.”Added Stout: “I felt like that put me on the map.”The next step of Stout’s progression with his new slider is learning how to consistently throw it in and out of the zone as needed as well as figuring out the best way to utilize it against right-handed hitters.“He’s only been throwing it for two months, and he’s got great results on it,” Moskos said. “Obviously we’d maybe like to be in the zone a little bit more with it. But for it being just square one with this pitch I think it’s incredible. It’s a tribute to why he’s up here. He’s got this slider and it’s hopefully going to be a weapon we’re able to leverage.”Stout’s effective slider helped him post a 3.94 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 29⅔ innings. He has noticed, dating to last season, that the Cubs give guys shots at the big-league level when they perform at Triple A. Right-hander Matt Swarmer and catcher P.J. Higgins are among those call ups making the most of their opportunities with the Cubs.“My mentality was go out and have fun and what happens happens,” Stout said. “It just gives you more hope. You see that they’re getting called up and they’re doing well. So it’s like, alright, well if I go out and put up some numbers my shot might come.”