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The Chicago White Sox recalled Jake Burger from Triple-A Charlotte on Tuesday after center fielder Luis Robert went on the COVID-19-related injured list.Burger was in the lineup Wednesday and hit a go-ahead three-run homer to help the White Sox beat the Boston Red Sox 3-1 in front of 21,075 at Guaranteed Rate Field.Advertisement“Timing was right,” White Sox manager Tony La Russa said. “Huge, huge hit.”The White Sox didn’t any have hits until the fifth against Red Sox starter Rich Hill.AdvertisementJosé Abreu broke up the no-hitter with a double to right. AJ Pollock reached on a throwing error by third baseman Rafael Devers. Burger followed with the 444-foot home run, his third of the season.“I want to play baseball and I want to compete, no matter where I’m at,” Burger said. “It’s kind of how I take it. Obviously, I hate referencing back to the three years I missed, but I was sitting on the couch for 2½ of those years. I’m going to put my best foot forward, no matter where I’m at.”Burger missed all of 2018 after suffering a ruptured left Achilles tendon in spring training, then missed all of 2019 because of a bruised left heel.With the 2020 minor-league season canceled because of the pandemic, Burger played in a local league in Missouri before joining the White Sox alternate site in Schaumburg.He spent time with the White Sox and Charlotte last season.“Take every day as a blessing,” Burger said.Burger came in hitting .239 (17-for-71) in 21 games with the White Sox in 2022. He has a .213 average (10-for-47) with three homers and eight RBIs in 13 games with Charlotte.“These past two weeks in Charlotte were good for me in terms of just relaxing a little bit and not doing too much,” Burger said. “I get a tendency, a habit, to try to get ahead every single at-bat instead of taking it pitch by pitch and being able to control my emotion and not overswing.”AdvertisementThe homer put White Sox starter Lucas Giolito in position for the victory.“I’ve experienced a little bit of the up-and-down grind and it’s not pleasant, but he keeps proving time and time again that he’s very effective at this level,” Giolito said of Burger. “Huge home run to give us the lead there. He’s been a wonderful teammate, he works his (butt) off. I look forward to seeing him contribute more.”Giolito allowed one run on five hits with seven strikeouts and four walks in six innings. The run came in the first on a two-out hit by Alex Verdugo.The Red Sox had at least two batters reach in each of the first four innings, but Giolito kept finding ways to work out of the jams.“It was a grind,” Giolito said. “I really lacked rhythm and tempo in my delivery, especially out of the windup early. It led to really, really poor fastball command, at times not really knowing where my fastball was going. Luckily I was able to make good pitches with runners on bases early and limit the damage.”Giolito credited catcher Reese McGuire for “keeping me locked in.”Advertisement“We really had to get that slider going,” Giolito said. “We did. That was a good pitch to work off of. All the fastballs I was throwing down in the zone when I usually want to be up. Just working through it and I was able to find a good rhythm later in the game in the last couple of innings.”Relievers Aaron Bummer, Kendall Graveman, Joe Kelly and Liam Hendriks followed.Kelly exited with left hamstring tightness after striking out two batters in the eighth. He will be reevaluated Thursday.Joe Kelly left the game with left hamstring tightness. He will be reevaluated in the morning.— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) May 26, 2022

Hendriks got the final four outs for his 14th save.“It just rained on this parade here,” La Russa said of Kelly’s injury. “It’s hard to enjoy the moment. That’s exciting, not just for the fans but for our team, when you have that kind of depth coming out (of the bullpen).“But nobody said it would be easy. We’ve gone through this before. We’ll wait and see what kind of hamstring (injury it) is.”

CINCINNATI — Nico Hoerner’s fluky right ankle sprain cost him only two weeks.Hoerner initially feared he could miss more time after colliding with an umpire in shallow right field May 11 in San Diego. He bounced back well, though, and suddenly the Chicago Cubs infield depth is a strength.AdvertisementHoerner came off the injured list before Wednesday’s game against the Cincinnati Reds. In a corresponding move, catcher Yan Gomes went on the IL with a left oblique strain. Willson Contreras was available off the bench and could be back in the lineup for Thursday’s series finale.Gomes’ injury creates an extended chance for backup P.J. Higgins, who started again Wednesday.Advertisement[ [Don’t miss] How the Cubs’ Patrick Wisdom — one year after his call-up — is erasing questions about his long-term fit ]Manager David Ross indicated Gomes’ oblique strain is on the milder side, which is encouraging for an injury that can be tough to come back from.“The news we got back is not as bad as we thought,” Ross said.Hoerner’s return gives Ross a lot of middle infield options, depending on how he wants to mix and match Hoerner with Andrelton Simmons, Christopher Morel and Jonathan Villar. Nick Madrigal (lower back strain) remains on the IL and went through a second day of full baseball activities Wednesday as he continues to progress.Cubs shortstop Andrelton Simmons fields a ball against the Pirates at Wrigley Field on May 16, 2022. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)Hoerner was not in the lineup Wednesday as the Cubs started Simmons at shortstop and Morel at second base. On days Hoerner and Simmons are both in the lineup, expect to see Hoerner at shortstop despite Simmons never playing anywhere else in the field during his 11 seasons in the majors.There’s a reason Ross wants that defensive setup between the two.“There’s a real benefit from a guy that young and upcoming getting as many reps at short for us,” Ross explained. “And the versatility of Simmons — I don’t know that there really is a real position in the infield anymore. I mean, half the time, (third baseman) Patrick Wisdom (is) at shortstop, right? So I think moving those guys around, you’ll see that.”Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.When Simmons joined the Cubs after missing the first 32 games on the IL, he acknowledged his shoulder was not yet 100%. Giving Simmons time at second base could help as he gets stronger with more game reps.[ [Don’t miss] As the Cubs move past the quarter mark of the season, many big-picture questions remain: ‘Got to let guys continue to develop’ ]More importantly, the Cubs can find out whether Hoerner is a long-term answer at short. Advertisement“Nico is a big-league shortstop,” Ross said. “He’s proven he can play big-league shortstop pretty consistently already in this season. Let’s see what happens at the end of the year and assess there. It’s easy to say you can be a shortstop in the big leagues long term, but you also have to do it. You have to prove it.”Hoerner’s defensive performance this season made Simmons feel he didn’t need to rush back before his body was ready. He has been highly complimentary of Hoerner’s play, especially his backhanded jump throws from the hole.Hoerner appreciates the praise from Simmons, a four-time Gold Glove winner.“He’s someone who’s done it at the highest level,” Hoerner said Wednesday. “I mean, some of those stats that have been flashing, defensive runs saved in the last decade and things like that, that’s pretty amazing.“So he’s a guy who not only does it but understands how he does it. He’s always thinking a play ahead and someone I’m excited to share the field with for sure.”

Lance Lynn pitched to several Chicago White Sox teammates before Tuesday’s game against the Boston Red Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field.In one instance, he shattered Eloy Jiménez’s bat.AdvertisementManager Tony La Russa liked what he saw from the right-hander, who is recovering from right knee surgery to repair a torn tendon.“I was overruled by the general manager (Rick Hahn) and the trainer, but I thought he was ready to go five days from now,” La Russa joked.Advertisement[ [Don’t miss] Luis Robert goes on the COVID injured list — and the center fielder might miss the entire White Sox homestand ]Lynn said he is in line to start this weekend — but it will be on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte.“It’s right on pace,” Lynn said Wednesday of the rehab process. “When you look at how everything goes, it’s all about how you can recover. Some days you are going to feel worse than others. It’s how you get through it and how you respond. The more I get on the mound, the better I feel, the more comfortable I feel.“Now it’s on to games this weekend it looks like. That’s the next step of intensity. I’m sure I’ll have some soreness and things of that nature you’ve got to get through. And that’s what the rehab process is all about so you feel comfortable when it’s time to be back here.”Lynn — one of three finalists for the 2021 American League Cy Young Award — anticipates needing three appearances before making his first start for the White Sox. La Russa cautioned it will be “at least three” starts.“We’re trying to be patient,” La Russa said. “It’s hard. But he’s so excited about the progress that he’s made. We’re going to have a lot of people eyeballing him because there’s nothing worse than getting excited, getting him back and then losing him.”Lynn has been out since he hobbled off the mound in an April 2 Cactus League game after throwing a pitch to the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Corbin Carroll. He underwent surgery April 5.Lynn knows the importance of being patient.“The more you push the thing, the more it kind of pulls you back,” he said. “It’s part of the process. My body is telling me how much I can give, the effort I can give and the intensity I can give. As long as you keep moving forward, everything is in a good spot. I’m looking forward to competing, but I have to make sure everything is ready to go before I fully let it go.Advertisement“The process of being injured and getting back is probably the worst process there is, especially for athletes. You miss competing. You miss being part of the team. You miss trying to help your team win. But as long as you get yourself back ready to go and you are 100% when you get back, then you did your job.”[ [Don’t miss] Tim Anderson ready to move on from Josh Donaldson’s attempt to provoke him: ‘I’m not looking for friendship’ ]Lynn is managing the situation by trying to “stay in (his) process.”“Make sure you are there for your teammates, doing everything you can to help them prepare for games or see what you see during a game,” Lynn said. “But make sure you hit all your checkpoints that day. You do it that way and the process keeps going.”Tuesday’s live batting practice was another step in the right direction.“The ball was coming out good, had good command,” La Russa said. “Exciting to think about (him) being back with us. But patience is going to be important.”Lynn said: “The first two times (against) the hitters went according to plan, and now it’s on to games and that’s going to be a totally different type of intensity. Each day you have to reassess, but there’s been nothing to hold anything back.”AdvertisementLynn went 11-6 with a 2.69 ERA and 176 strikeouts in 28 starts last season, his first with the White Sox, and placed third in Cy Young voting.He knows a player returning from an injury can provide a boost.“Yeah, if you do well,” he said with a smile. “If you suck when you get back, nobody cares. So I’ve got to be ready to go.”

Colin Kaepernick went from being blackballed to working out for the silver and black.Kaepernick, 34, a Black quarterback exiled from the NFL for his stance against police brutality and racial injustice, worked out for the Las Vegas Raiders on Wednesday.AdvertisementThe workout was first reported by ESPN. NFL Network reported it was happening Wednesday.Raiders owner Mark Davis recently reiterated support for giving Kaepernick a look in an interview with NBC Sports Bay Area. That’s exactly what is happening under first-year GM Dave Ziegler and coach Josh McDaniels.Advertisement“I believe in Colin Kaepernick,” Davis said during an episode of “Race in America: A Candid Conversation.” “He deserves every chance in the world to become a quarterback in the National Football League. I still stand by it. If our coaches and general manager want to bring him in or want him to be the quarterback on this team, I would welcome him with open arms.”Colin Kaepernick showcased his arm during halftime of Michigan’s intrasquad scrimmage in April. (Carlos Osorio/AP)Davis said something similar in the summer of 2020. His late father, Al Davis, was a trailblazer who hired the NFL’s first Black head coach, Art Shell, and its first female chief executive, Amy Trask, in the modern era.“Since 2017 I’ve told the coaches and general managers that if they want to hire Colin Kaepernick, they have my blessing,” Davis said, per ESPN.In 2016, Kaepernick began protesting racial injustice and police brutality by kneeling on the sideline during the playing of the national anthem. He hasn’t played for an NFL team since, while scores of less talented backup QBs have been cycled through rosters.He opted out of his Niners contract in the spring of 2017 when the 49ers told him he would be cut because he didn’t fit the system under new coach Kyle Shanahan.Kaepernick and safety Eric Reid sued the NFL and its owners alleging collusion to keep them out of the league. The league settled with both players in 2019. Kaepernick and safety Eric Reid reportedly split less than $10 million in the deal.Reid played for the Carolina Panthers in 2018 and 2019. Kaepernick remained a free agent.Almost nine months after Kaepernick and Reid settled with the league, it hosted an impromptu workout session for Kaepernick and invited all 32 teams to watch. But the workout was overall viewed as a joke by many. It was scheduled on a Saturday in November in the middle of the 2019-20 season in Atlanta, and Kaepernick was given just two hours to decide whether to go through with the workout, among several other oddities of the situation. Only eight teams sent scouts to that workout.AdvertisementIn 2020, commissioner Roger Goodell admitted the NFL was “wrong” for not listening to player protests earlier. Goodell then said “I welcome” and “support a club” signing Kaepernick “if he wants to resume his career in the NFL.”The Seattle Seahawks hosted Kaepernick on a visit in 2017, but didn’t sign him. He hasn’t had a single workout with a team until this week’s planned session with the Raiders.Kaepernick worked out during halftime of this year’s Michigan spring game, a platform provided by Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh, his former 49ers head coach. Kaepernick led Harbaugh’s San Francisco 49ers to Super Bowl XLVII in the 2012 season.Kaepernick has a pre-existing relationship with Raiders offensive coordinator Mick Lombardi, who was on the 49ers’ staff from 2013-16 while Kaepernick was their QB.Jarrett Stidham and Nick Mullens are the Raiders’ only backups of note behind starter Derek Carr at the moment. So there is a clear path to Kaepernick securing a backup job with a strong workout.Davis and the Raiders have been in the news a lot lately. On Wednesday, a judge denied two NFL motions: 1) to dismiss a lawsuit brought by fired Raiders coach Jon Gruden; and 2) to push it into arbitration. So the discovery process in that case should get interesting.AdvertisementFormer Raiders president Dan Ventrelle also alleged that Davis fired him recently in retaliation for raising concerns about a hostile work environment in the organization to the NFL’s attention.Kaepernick said recently on the “I AM ATHLETE” podcast that he realizes he’ll have to accept a backup role to break back into the league, but that he’ll compete to get his old job back.“I know I have to find my way back in,” he said. “So if I have to come in as a backup, that’s fine. But that’s not where I’m staying. And when I prove that I’m a starter, I want to be able to step on the field as such.“I just need that opportunity to walk through the door.”

CINCINNATI — Patrick Wisdom quickly rattled off a few words that summarized his last 12 months.Whirlwind. Surprising. Exciting. Fun. Grateful.AdvertisementOne year ago today, the Chicago Cubs called up Wisdom, unknowingly giving him the extended big-league opportunity he had been waiting for. Since then, Wisdom has gone from a 29-year-old rookie making the most of his chance nine years into his professional baseball career to making himself a factor on the Cubs and forcing the organization to view him as a viable power hitter.In those 145 games, Wisdom has produced a .230 average, .298 on-base percentage, .514 slugging percentage, 116 OPS+, 21 doubles, 38 home runs, 79 runs scored and 84 RBIs over 524 plate appearances.AdvertisementWisdom’s willingness to do whatever the Cubs ask of him, notably playing anywhere defensively including center field in one game this year, and the thump in his bat has stood out to manager David Ross.“Being able to go through a full major-league season with the ups and downs that have come with his performance, it’s been really rewarding to watch him have the consistent at-bat that we expect every time he’s in the box,” Ross said. “He’s been able to consistently be in the lineup, have the at-bats, work in walks and feel like he improves on something daily.”Cubs third baseman Patrick Wisdom high-fives teammates after hitting a home run at Wrigley Field on May 20, 2022. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)There were no guarantees this past offseason that the Cubs viewed Wisdom as a player with both short-term value as an every day player and a long-term fit for a rebuilding franchise. Seven weeks into the 2022 season, Wisdom couldn’t say whether he believes he’s shown enough to the organization for them to envision him as part of the Cubs’ next contender.“If they keep running me out there, that’s great,” Wisdom told the Tribune before Tuesday’s 11-4 win against the Cincinnati Reds. “If that time comes where they don’t, then that’s the nature of the beast and nature of the game. So I just take it game by game, day to day. I come in and if I’m in the lineup, I’m going give it my all. And if I’m not, I’m going to be ready to go when they call on me.“I guess selfishly I’d like to think that I have, but at the same time, I’m out there to prove myself every single day.”Beyond his numbers, Wisdom is proud of his daily game readiness and that the team knows he will give it his all on the field. He’s done a better job of limiting how extreme his slumps have become, something the Cubs wanted to see. And his stellar defense at third base makes Wisdom playable even when things aren’t going well in the batter’s box.[ [Don’t miss] Column: Criticize the Chicago Cubs? Not on Marquee Sports Network’s ‘The Reporters’ show. ]Wisdom believes that part of his game, along with his baserunning, has been a huge part of why he’s stayed in the lineup when he does hit an offensive rut.“He’s understanding who he is as a big-league hitter,” hitting coach Greg Brown said. “He’s understanding what his process is, and he’s been able to put together more consistent at bats. He’s had some really good takes, which I think leads to a lot of the barrels that he gets to.”AdvertisementStrikeouts are part of Wisdom’s game, and the Cubs are willing to live with that because of his power numbers and defensive boost. While he is still striking out at a 40% rate, his hard-hit rate is up and he is pulling the ball less, going up the middle more.Brown said Wisdom has been working hard in the cage to keep his barrel in the zone for a longer distance, attributing that and his consistent at-bats for a hot week that saw him homer in four straight games.[ [Don’t miss] As the Chicago Cubs move past the quarter mark of the season, many big-picture questions remain: ‘Got to let guys continue to develop’ ]“Once you start putting it together over a calendar year and doing damage, seeing how they pitch to him because of the fear factor of the power that he does possess, he’s a huge asset,” Brown said. “When he makes contact, he’s going to hit it hard.”Wisdom’s 38 home runs since his season debut a year ago are tied with Bryce Harper and Yordan Alvarez for sixth most in the majors. The guys ahead of him? Shohei Ohtani, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Pete Alonso, Aaron Judge and Salvador Perez. That type of power is extremely valuable, hard to find and much needed for the Cubs.Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.“I mean, that’s impressive,” Ross said. “That’s some big-time pop.”Patrick Wisdom is greeted at first base by first base coach Mike Napoli after hitting an RBI-single during the fourth inning against the Padres on May 11, 2022. (Gregory Bull/AP)Wisdom was a great story in 2021 after breaking Kris Bryant’s franchise rookie home run record. But he wants to be more than a one-year momentary success. It’s in the Cubs’ best interest too that Wisdom, who turns 31 in August, can be part of their lineup the next couple seasons.AdvertisementSelf-confidence plays a part in breeding success. Wisdom has started 39 of the Cubs’ first 42 games. Knowing Ross plans to play him every day regardless if he strikes out three times or tallies three hits provides a boost. It can’t be ignored, either, that Wisdom’s production has largely come without much protection in the lineup, especially after the trade deadline last season. Teams have been able to exploit Wisdom when he’s not surrounded by contact hitters.[ [Don’t miss] Chicago Cubs President Jed Hoyer is confident his long-term game plan is working: ‘We’re on the right track’ ]As his manager put it: “If you put Chipper Jones in the box and you surround him with a bunch of David Rosses, he’s not going to get a lot of pitches to hit right? They’re going to pitch around him every time he comes to the plate, or you’re going to make him hit his pitch because you’re not worried about David Ross hitting behind him.”Ross wants to set up Wisdom for success by slotting him around hitters who put the ball in play like Frank Schwindel, Nico Hoerner, Nick Madrigal and Yan Gomes — and all them to all play off each other.The Cubs still have a lot of big-picture questions to answer with this roster. Wisdom’s yearlong sample size indicates he might not be a question mark any longer.“I’ve learned, more importantly, that the confidence is there,” Wisdom said. “I can play at this level and I can help the team.”

Brittney Griner’s wife Cherelle wants President Joe Biden to secure her partner’s release, doing whatever is necessary to get the WNBA star home from Russia where she has been detained for more than three months.“I just keep hearing that, you know, he has the power. She’s a political pawn, ” said Cherelle, who became emotional detailing what little she knows about Griner’s detainment during an interview that aired Wednesday on Good Morning America. “So if they’re holding her because they want you to do something, then I want you to do it.”AdvertisementThe Phoenix Mercury center has been detained since Feb. 17 after vape cartridges containing oil derived from cannabis were allegedly found in her luggage at an airport near Moscow.The 31-year-old Griner — a two-time Olympic gold medalist for the U.S. — faces drug smuggling charges that carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Earlier this month, the Biden administration said Griner is being wrongfully detained.AdvertisementCherelle has talked with Secretary of State Antony Blinken about Griner’s case, but not the president.“I was grateful for the call, you say she’s top priority, but I wanna see it. and I feel like to see it would be me seeing BG on U.S. soil,” Cherelle said. “At this point I don’t even know who I’m getting back when she comes back.”

Though Robert Quinn hasn’t been present for the voluntary portion of the Chicago Bears offseason program to this point, he’s still making an impact in the defensive line meeting room.New line coach Travis Smith spent the last two seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders working alongside Rod Marinelli, who coached Quinn with the Dallas Cowboys in 2019.Advertisement“A lot of our tapes we’ve shown in our room are skill-development progression tapes of (Quinn) in Dallas that I had cut up already from Marinelli,” Smith said. “When we set it for the young guys especially, it’s good for them to see how he works his pass-rush progression.”Smith has met Quinn, who came to Halas Hall last month to receive the Brian Piccolo Award two days before the draft, and they have spoken on the phone. When Smith will have an opportunity to actually coach Quinn remains to be seen. Coach Matt Eberflus said “it’s my hope” Quinn will be at mandatory minicamp in mid-June.AdvertisementQuinn’s absence — and veteran free-agent signee Al-Quadin Muhammad also hasn’t been on the field while media were present — has created a surplus of opportunities for young players such as Trevis Gipson and rookie Dominique Robinson and even veteran Jeremiah Attaochu.[ [Don’t miss] More Pilates, less beer: How Teven Jenkins is working to earn the trust of his new Bears coaches ]Smith believes the switch to a 4-3 front could benefit Gipson, who played with his hand in the dirt in college at Tulsa before the previous coaching staff converted him to outside linebacker. Gipson had seven sacks while playing 49% of the defensive snaps in 2021 and could be ready for another jump.“The first thing with Gipson I noticed is he has a very good awareness of the quarterback,” Smith said. “He had a lot of ball production last year. That’s not something that just comes naturally to everyone.“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, where then he can affect that quarterback and also go for the ball.”Robinson has rare athletic ability for the position as a former quarterback and wide receiver and although he’s raw, the Bears believe there’s a chance he could be a situational pass rusher as a rookie.The Bears won’t learn a ton about their pass rush in the post-Khalil Mack era until pads go on in training camp, but they’re at least getting chances to evaluate the movement skills of the young players while testing their aptitude for learning the scheme.[ [Don’t miss] 3 Bears storylines to watch, including Justin Fields versus Mac Jones — and Lucas Patrick’s nasty edge ]General manager Ryan Poles traded Mack to the Los Angeles Chargers for a second-round draft pick that he used on safety Jaquan Brisker and a 2023 sixth-round pick that he traded for two seventh-rounders this year. He selected safety Elijah Hicks and punter Trenton Gill with those choices.The Bears moved Mack because they’re nowhere near being a contending team in 2022, although the thought at Halas Hall at this time last year was that they were in that mode. Trading Mack also helped clear up the team’s salary-cap position after this year.AdvertisementQuinn is perhaps the only veteran remaining from the previous regime whom Poles could likely turn into draft capital via a trade, and CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora reported last week that the Pro Bowl pass rusher wants out of town. If that’s the case, finding a trade partner could be a win for all parties.“I’m excited about Robert,” Poles said earlier this month during an interview on the “Mully & Haugh Show” on WSCR-AM 670. “In terms of moves and all that, this league is crazy. You know, I can’t rule anything out and give absolutes, but I want him on this team.”Bears outside linebacker Robert Quinn pressures Giants quarterback Mike Glennon on Jan. 2, 2022, at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)You can make a case why the Bears would want the 32-year-old on the team. He’s a consummate professional and a perfect scheme fit, certainly a more natural one in Eberflus’ 4-3 defense than the 3-4 scheme he played in the previous two seasons. Quinn is coming off a franchise-record 18½-sack season and is the only player on the front who currently would be a matchup issue for offenses.A stronger argument, however, can be made for dealing Quinn. It’s hard to imagine him being productive when the roster has been reloaded to the point the Bears would be a threat in the NFC. He’s due $13 million this season and is signed through 2024, but all of the guaranteed money in the contract has been exhausted.Maybe Poles saying he wants Quinn to be a part of the team is his way of maintaining leverage in any trade discussions. Quinn certainly could become attractive if a contending team suddenly experiences a need during training camp, preseason or the first two months of the season. Then Poles could flip him for a 2023 draft pick. The trade deadline hasn’t been announced, but last year it was Nov. 2, the day after Week 8 ended.Of course, the Bears assume the risk of losing Quinn to injury by carrying him on the roster, but he has been pretty durable over the last five seasons and said he’s spending this offseason getting his body ready for the grind of another year.Advertisement[ [Don’t miss] 4 things we heard from Bears assistant coaches, including Justin Fields reinforcing expectations ]“I didn’t expect to go anywhere or want to go anywhere, but again, this is a crazy business,” Quinn said after receiving the Piccolo Award a couple of weeks after Mack was traded. “If something’s going to happen, it’s going to happen.”Maybe Quinn has changed his stance since or maybe he’s an anti-diva who won’t publicly discuss playing for a contender as he prepares for his 12th season.Whatever the case, the Bears probably wouldn’t have been much worse than 6-11 last year even without Quinn’s sack production. His presence in 2022 is unlikely to be the difference between this being a playoff roster or not. As active as Poles was in making trades on Day 3 of the draft, getting a return for Quinn would put the first-year GM in better position next April, when the Bears should be closer to having some of their holes filled with young players who have bright futures.It’s all about timing, and maybe Poles will be a seller at the trade deadline. If so, he has to hope Quinn picks up where he left off in 2021. For now, Marinelli’s cut-ups of Quinn will be good teaching points for the rest of the room.

Enrique Hernández hit Dylan Cease’s first pitch over the left-field wall.It was the start of a tough Tuesday for Cease and the Chicago White Sox.AdvertisementCease had his roughest outing of the season in a 16-3 loss to the Boston Red Sox in front of 21,835 at Guaranteed Rate Field.The right-hander allowed a season-high seven runs on eight hits in a season-low three innings. He had four strikeouts and two walks.Advertisement“We’re going to have to take some time, look into it,” Cease said. “They put some good swings on it.”[ [Don’t miss] Tim Anderson is ready to move on from Josh Donaldson’s attempt to provoke him: ‘I’m not looking for friendship’ ]The White Sox allowed season highs in runs and hits (19). The Red Sox also recorded season highs in both categories while stretching their winning streak to six.“You take 30-some starts and you are going to have some where your location is not good,” Sox manager Tony La Russa said, “and he just wasn’t sharp and they were ready to hit and made him pay.“The pitches that they put in play, they had a lot of the strike zone. So he just wasn’t as sharp and we got him out before he threw too many. He’s coming back in five days against the Cubs.”Cease came in leading the majors with 67 strikeouts. Eight of them came in a May 7 start at Fenway Park in which he allowed one run on four hits in five innings in a game the White Sox won 3-1 in 10 innings.He was an out away from escaping the first with just the one run. But Trevor Story, who was named American League Player of the Week on Monday, connected for a three-run homer to make it 4-0.The Red Sox scored at least once in each of the first five innings. They scored two in the second and one in the third against Cease, who exited after 71 pitches.“They definitely had some comfortable swings in there,” Cease said.AdvertisementThe Red Sox also had success against relievers José Ruiz (three runs in two-thirds of an inning), Bennett Sousa (five runs in two-thirds of an inning) and Matt Foster (one run in two-thirds of an inning).[ [Don’t miss] Luis Robert goes on the COVID injured list, and the center fielder might miss the entire Chicago White Sox homestand ]The White Sox surrendered four home runs. All nine Red Sox starters had at least one hit, and seven had more than one. Eight starters had at least one RBI.“(Hernández’s homer) was good because (Cease) is really, really good,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “He had his way against us in Boston. It was really nice from top to bottom.”Vince Velasquez provided the first scoreless — and 1-2-3 — inning of the night for the White Sox in the sixth. It was the right-hander’s first time working out of the bullpen this season after making seven starts. He walked one and struck out five in three hitless innings.“Vince was outstanding and we got a (scoreless ninth) inning for (Aaron) Bummer, so it wasn’t a total loss tonight,” La Russa said. “Vince really threw the ball well. He wants to start, but evidently he can pitch in that role if we had to.”White Sox reliever Vince Velasquez pitches during the sixth inning at Guaranteed Rate Field on Tuesday, May 24, 2022. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)Red Sox starter Nick Pivetta allowed three runs on five hits with five strikeouts and two walks in six innings. He retired the first nine before a leadoff double by Tim Anderson in the fourth. Anderson had two hits and one RBI, and José Abreu hit a two-run homer.AdvertisementThe homer and Anderson’s fifth-inning single were the Sox’s only hits with runners in scoring position (2-for-10).“(Pivetta) got us out,” La Russa said. “Give him credit.”Cease was already focused on the steps needed to improve for his next start.“I’ll be upset tonight,” he said, “and then I’ll be back and ready tomorrow, ready to work on it.”

James Wade is usually focused on the day-to-day, but Tuesday night was an exception for the Chicago Sky coach and general manager.Wade woke up at 5:30 a.m., excited to celebrate his team’s first WNBA championship. His elation evaporated when he found out while heading into Wintrust Arena that at least 19 children and two adults had been killed at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.AdvertisementWade said during a brief pregame news conference that all he could do was be strong for his team.“It’s a tough situation,” he said after the Sky’s 95-90 win against the Indiana Fever. “There is a lot of stuff that is bigger than basketball. They were two days away from going on summer vacation and there were parents who were planning trips. It’s tough. It’s just tough.”AdvertisementAfter a moment of silence 30 minutes before tipoff, the Sky’s ring ceremony began with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert introducing the team’s front office. She handed each of them a championship ring at center court before principal owner Michael Alter gave a speech to the 4,100 fans in attendance.The players were then introduced one by one, emerging from the tunnel to an electric crowd before receiving their rings.The Sky’s Candace Parker arrives with her children, Airr Petrakov Parker, left, and Lailaa Williams, right, to get her championship ring on Tuesday, May 24, 2022, at Wintrust Arena. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)Candace Parker — who finished the game with 16 points, six rebounds and seven assists — walked onto the court with her 3-month-old son, Airr Petrakov Parker, in one arm and held her daughter Lailaa Williams’ hand in the other. The biggest fan reaction came when 2021 Finals MVP Kahleah Copper was introduced after Parker.It was the first time the Sky players had seen the design of the rings.“I love them,” said Allie Quigley, who scored 12 points in 29 minutes. “I think they are perfect. I want to wear them all the time, but I trust myself to just keep it somewhere safe.”Wade had input into the design, which features the words “WNBA CHAMPIONS” across the top and bottom with the Willis Tower displayed prominently in between. Along the side of each ring are images of the John Hancock Center, the Bean and the Water Tower.Chicago Sky championship ring commemorating the Sky’s 2021 WNBA championship at Wintrust Arena on Tuesday, May 24, 2022 in Chicago. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)Encapsulating the spirit of Chicago was important to Wade after the team asked for his input.“I was pretty involved,” he said. “I knew what the ring looked like before the players and wanted to put the Bean and other landmarks. It was really cool to be a part of it and I think it turned out OK.”AdvertisementThe celebration concluded with the players gathering to watch the Sky’s first banner raised.It was a long road for the Sky to get to this point. After months of playing overseas and waiting for the full team to convene, they were glad the celebration finally could commence.“I’m really proud of that,” Courtney Vandersloot said. “That’s one of the reasons why I stayed here for so long because we were building something I believed in and wanted to be a part of it. I wanted to help build it. To see us at the pinnacle of last year after all the ups and downs, it speaks volumes about this franchise.”Vandersloot and Quigley, her wife, are the longest-tenured players on the Sky. They knew better than anyone not to take this moment for granted after seeing the franchise at its lowest points.“So many memories come back when thinking (about her time with the Sky),” Quigley said during the shootaround. “I’ve been going through that a lot this past year, from winning to the offseason, about the last 10 years. It’s going to be good to see that banner raised and know that it is always going to be there.”[ [Don’t miss] It took 10 years, but the Chicago Sky’s Rebekah Gardner is relishing her 1st WNBA chance as a 31-year-old rookie ]The Sky overcame a seven-point halftime deficit to improve to 4-2. Parker became the fourth player in league history to finish a game with at least 15 points, six rebounds, six assists, three steals and three blocks. In the previous game versus the Washington Mystics, Parker posted her second career triple-double.AdvertisementAfter hinting at retirement before the season opener, Parker’s game has been in top form early in the season. Asked earlier in the day if there’s anything else she’s looking to accomplish before retiring, Parker said: “100%. When I wake up and there isn’t that desire to keep going, that’s when I know I will be done.”Another celebration will take place in Chicago when the Sky host the WNBA All-Star Game on July 10. It’s the first time the team will host the midseason festivities, and Engelbert was ecstatic before the game about another big market getting its turn in the spotlight. “Think about Chicago in July,” she said. “This city last year after this championship totally adopted this team. Not only for our All-Stars but all of Chicago will show up. We already have received enormous support from the city and everybody is excited to hold it here.”

Steve Kerr knows there are more important things than NBA championships.Kerr’s Golden State Warriors were playing the Dallas Mavericks Tuesday knowing a victory would earn them a sweep of their Western Conference series and a spot in the NBA Finals. But the usually even-tempered coach first addressed gun violence before taking the court in Texas, where a gunman killed 18 elementary school students and at least one teacher before himself being shot dead.AdvertisementKerr started by telling reporters he was in no mood to speak about basketball 10 days after 10 shoppers were fatally shot in a Buffalo supermarket and a few hours and at least 19 people were killed 400 miles away in Uvalde, Texas.“When are we going to do something?” an emotional Kerr demanded shorty after taking his seat.Advertisement“I’m so tired of getting up here and offering condolences to the devastated families that are out there — I’m tired of the moments of silence,” he said pounding the desk in front of him. “Enough!”Kerr urged senators to take action and put the lives of Americans ahead of their own political ambitions.“We can’t get numb to this!” he said. “We can’t just sit here, read about it, have a moment of silence, and yell, ‘Go Dubs! Come on Mavs, let’s go!’”Reacting to the Uvalde, Texas, school shooting earlier in the day, Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr makes a statement before Warriors played the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Dallas. (Scott Strazzante/AP)Among Kerr’s complaints is that some members of Congress are resistant to universal background checks that would be popular among the general population.“It’s pathetic!” Kerr said. “I’ve had enough.”[ NBA star Steve Kerr says Trump’s ‘surreal’ attacks on him shows the presidency has ‘sunken low’ ]Kerr, who asked those who saw his video to think about how they’d feel if one of their loved ones had been killed in Texas Tuesday, comes from a family all too familiar with gun violence. When he was a freshman basketball player at the University of Arizona, his father was shot dead while working as an educator in Lebanon.ExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 28Kladys Castellón prays during a vigil for the victims of a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas on Tuesday, May 24, 2022. (Billy Calzada/The San Antonio Express-News via AP)Warriors star Stephen Curry showed support for his coach on Twitter.“Watch this as much as you watch the game tonight,” he wrote alongside video of Kerr’s stirring speech.AdvertisementLos Angeles Lakers star and Warriors rival LeBron James also tweeted Kerr’s video and voiced support.