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Chicago White Sox starter Vince Velasquez was one out away from a scoreless first inning Friday against the New York Yankees.Standing in his way: the hot-hitting Giancarlo Stanton.AdvertisementThe cleanup hitter continued his tear with a two-run home run, his third of the series.Velasquez surrendered three homers in five innings as the Yankees beat the Sox 10-4 in front of 28,877 at Guaranteed Rate Field.Advertisement“Just starting off, I didn’t come out as hot as I expected,” Velasquez said. “The last two outings (against the Los Angeles Angels and Boston Red Sox) have been really locked in. It just seems like I was out of sync right from beginning.“This team is very selective when it comes to finding what they like and if you don’t execute, they’re going to capitalize.”The Yankees finished with four home runs — two-run blasts from Stanton and Josh Donaldson and solo homers by Aaron Judge and Joey Gallo — and won for the 17th time in 19 games.Gavin Sheets hit a two-run homer for the Sox, who lost for the third time in four games.Stanton hit two-run homers in the first and third innings Thursday, helping the Yankees to a 15-7 victory.He wasted no time contributing again Friday. Judge drew a one-out walk and Stanton homered with two outs.“The first inning, I didn’t have my slider, I didn’t have the command of the curveball as much as I wanted to,” Velasquez said. “With a big strike zone like that, I’m trying to force contact. It was a matter of sticking to what the task was and I fell short.”The Sox tried to dig out the 2-0 hole, loading the bases with one out in bottom of the first.AdvertisementSheets struck out and Yankees catcher Jose Trevino threw to third to try to get Tim Anderson. The shortstop made it safely by diving, but the third baseman Donaldson tried to nudge him off the base.The benches and bullpens briefly cleared.Once everyone went back to their respective areas, Yankees starter Gerrit Cole struck out AJ Pollock to escape the jam without allowing a run.“He made the pitches to get the hitters out,” Sox manager Tony La Russa said. “You’ve got to give him credit.”The Yankees had four hits — two singles and two doubles — during a three-run second.Judge’s solo homer in the fourth, his second of the series, made it 6-0. Gallo’s solo home run in the fifth gave the Yankees a 7-1 lead.AdvertisementVelasquez allowed seven runs on eight hits with four strikeouts and three walks in five innings.“Look at the standings, look at what they’re doing,” Velasquez said of the Yankees, who have the best record in baseball at 24-8. “They’re going to ambush and when you don’t have your best stuff it makes things a little bit harder.“But you’re going to have you’re good days, you’re going to have your bad days. It’s just a matter of you kind of getting back on the horse and going back to work.”La Russa appreciated “the way (Velasquez) gutted it out and gave us five (innings).”Cole allowed three runs on six hits with nine strikeouts and a walk in 6⅓ innings. He surrendered the two-run homer to Sheets in the sixth.“He’s got great stuff,” Sheets said. “He’s a guy that you don’t know what he’s going to throw at you. It could be 100, it could be 82, it could be 88. You just have to battle, you’ve got to grind with him.Advertisement“He gets your focus at the plate, because his stuff’s very good. It’s fun to face guys like that. It’s not guys you see every day. You gear it up, and it’s a good battle.”Donaldson’s two-run homer against reliever Matt Foster came during a three-run ninth. The Sox have allowed 38 runs (30 earned) on 48 hits in the last four games.“When we got torched today, it was almost always we just missed our location,” La Russa said. “You would see the catcher setting up and the pitch went a different place. And that’s what a hitter is supposed to do, they’re supposed to punish it. And they did.”

PHOENIX — The Chicago Cubs’ middle-infield depth is being tested.Nico Hoerner is day to day with right ankle soreness after exiting Wednesday’s win in San Diego following a collision with second-base umpire Dan Iassogna in the second inning. Hoerner is still being evaluated after initial imaging Wednesday did not show a fracture.AdvertisementSeiya Suzuki’s status also remains day to day because of lingering right ankle soreness. The right fielder pinch hit in the ninth inning Tuesday but did not play Wednesday. Suzuki took batting practice Friday. Coming off Thursday’s day off, neither Hoerner nor Suzuki was in the lineup for Friday’s series opener at the Arizona Diamondbacks.Manager David Ross indicated they were available off the bench, though given Hoerner’s ankle continues to get checked out, he likely won’t be a first option.AdvertisementHoerner’s absence thins the Cubs’ middle-infield options. Nick Madrigal went on the injured list Tuesday with a low back strain. Meanwhile, shortstop Andrelton Simmons is not yet ready to join the team from his rehab assignment. He will play nine innings Friday and Saturday at Triple-A Iowa.Cubs shortstop Nico Hoerner, top right, talks with a trainer after suffering a right ankle injury when he collided with umpire Dan Iassogna during a game against the Padres on May 11, 2022, in San Diego. (Gregory Bull/AP)Cubs right fielder Seiya Suzuki tosses his bat as he flies out during the third inning against the Padres on May 9, 2022, in San Diego. (Gregory Bull/AP)Ildemaro Vargas, who struggled defensively when he replaced Hoerner midgame Wednesday, started at shortstop Friday with Jonathan Villar slotted at second base.“I know each day he feels a little bit better and is trying to listen to his body and we get really good feedback reports,” Ross said of Simmons. “The main thing it’s getting better every single day. He’s a big-leaguer that’s been doing it a long time. He’ll know when he’s ready and he knows where we’re at. We’ll see how things work out today and then go from there.”Justin Steele’s left thumb felt fine when he threw a bullpen Friday, including with his slider grip, which gave him issues in his last start to cut the outing short from soreness. The Cubs will see how he feels Saturday. Sunday’s starter versus the Diamondbacks hasn’t been determined, but Ross expects it will be either Steele or Wade Miley.Right-hander Alec Mills (right quadricepts tightness) is scheduled to throw a bullpen Saturday while infielder David Bote (left shoulder surgery) is getting at-bats in extended spring training at the team’s complex in Mesa, Ariz.

Phil Mickelson withdrew Friday from the PGA Championship, electing to extend his hiatus from golf following his incendiary comments about a Saudi-funded rival league he supports and the PGA Tour he accused of greed.Mickelson made history in the PGA last year when he won at Kiawah Island at 50, making him the oldest champion in 161 years of the majors. He has not played since Feb. 6 at the Saudi International and has been out of public view.AdvertisementMickelson met the deadline to sign up for the PGA Championship on April 25, though his manager said Lefty was unsure about playing but wanted to keep his options open.The PGA of America announced his decision on social media.AdvertisementHe is only the third PGA champion not to defend his title in the last 75 years. Tiger Woods missed in 2008 while recovering from reconstructive knee surgery, and Ben Hogan couldn’t play in 1949 while recovering from his car getting struck by a bus.

The Chicago White Sox placed starter Lucas Giolito on the COVID-19-related injured list and reinstated outfielder Andrew Vaughn from the 10-day IL, the team announced Friday.Giolito began experiencing symptoms Wednesday, the team said. He is expected to rejoin the Sox next week.AdvertisementVaughn went 2-for-7 with two solo home runs and three runs in two rehab games with Triple-A Charlotte this week. He was on the injured list since May 2 with a bruised right hand.Prior to tonight’s game vs. the #Yankees, the #WhiteSox placed RHP Lucas Giolito on the COVID-19 Related injured list, returned outfielder Andrew Vaughn from his injury rehab assignment at Class AAA Charlotte and reinstated him from the 10-day injured list.— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) May 13, 2022

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The lawyer for WNBA star Brittney Griner said Friday her pre-trial detention in Russia has been extended by one month.Alexander Boykov told The Associated Press he believed the relatively short extension of the detention indicated the case would come to trial soon. She has been in detention for nearly three months.AdvertisementShe appeared for the brief hearing handcuffed, her dreadlocks covered in a red hoodie and her face held low.Boykov said “We did not receive any complaints about the detention conditions from our client.”AdvertisementGriner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, was detained at a Moscow airport after vape cartridges containing oil derived from cannabis were allegedly found in her luggage, which could carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.The Biden administration says Griner, 31, is being wrongfully detained. The WNBA and U.S. officials have worked toward her release, without visible progress.The Russians have described Griner’s case as a criminal offense without making any political associations.But it comes amid Moscow’s war in Ukraine that has brought U.S.-Russian relations to the lowest level since the Cold War.Despite the strain, Russia and the United States carried out an unexpected prisoner exchange last month — trading ex-marine Trevor Reed for Konstantin Yaroshenko, a Russian pilot serving a 20-year federal sentence for conspiring to smuggle cocaine into the U.S. While the U.S. does not typically embrace such exchanges, it made the deal in part because Yaroshenko had already served a long portion of his prison sentence.The Russians may consider Griner a potential part of another such exchange.The State Department last week said it now regards Griner as wrongfully detained, a change in classification that suggests the U.S. government will be more active in trying to secure her release even while the legal case plays out. The status change places her case under the purview of the department’s Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, which is responsible for negotiating for the release of hostages and Americans considered wrongfully detained.Also working on the case now is a center led by Bill Richardson, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations who helped the release of multiple hostages and detainees, including Reed.AdvertisementIt’s not entirely clear why the U.S. government, which for weeks had been more circumspect in its approach, reclassified Griner as a wrongful detainee. But under federal law, there are a number of factors that go into such a characterization, including if the detention is based on being an American or if the detainee has been denied due processU.S. State Dept. spokesman Ned Price has confirmed that U.S. Ambassador John Sullivan had a meeting with Russian counterparts but would not say whether Griner was discussed or talk any further about her case.

The Chicago Bears schedule is set for what is bound to be a rebuilding season under new general manager Ryan Poles and coach Matt Eberflus.That said, the Bears still get the national spotlight a few times this season with three prime-time games — including one against the rival Green Bay Packers.Here’s how our trio of Bears reporters sees the season playing out.Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields (1) scrambles with the ball against the San Francisco 49ers and scores a touchdown in the fourth quarter at Soldier Field, Oct. 31, 2021. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)Sunday, Sept. 11, noon, FOX-32In order to jump up nine slots in the 2021 draft, the 49ers traded their first-round picks in 2022 and 2023 plus a 2021 third-round selection to the Miami Dolphins. That was an expensive vote of confidence from general manager John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan in quarterback Trey Lance, whom the 49ers selected at No. 3. Could this be Lance’s first NFL start? At Soldier Field? In a showdown against fellow Class of 2021 quarterback Justin Fields? (Oh, yeah, this will also be the Bears’ home opener, raising the curtain on the Eberflus era.)Tribune picks:Brad Biggs: 49ersColleen Kane: 49ersDan Wiederer: 49ersAdvertisementGreen Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) acknowledges the fans as he leaves after beating the Chicago Bears, Dec. 12, 2021, at Lambeau Field. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)Sunday, Sept. 18, 7:20 p.m., NBC-5Eberflus better have his H.I.T.S. principle fully engrained by the end of August. The new coach’s first attempt to slow down Aaron Rodgers comes early. Including the playoffs, Rodgers is 23-5 as a starter against the Bears. That includes a 12-1 mark in games at Lambeau Field that he has both started and finished. (Rodgers left a Week 9 loss to the Bears in 2013 with a broken collarbone.) Rodgers also has shown a knack for embarrassing the Bears on the Sunday night stage, beating them six times in six tries with four of those victories by double digits.Tribune picks:Biggs: PackersKane: PackersWiederer: PackersAdvertisementHouston Texans coach Lovie Smith, center, talks to players during a voluntary minicamp practice, April 26, 2022, in Houston. (David J. Phillip/AP)Sunday, Sept. 25, noon, CBS-2Lovie Smith went 0-2 against the Bears as coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, including a 21-13 loss in his return to Soldier Field in November 2014. Now he’s starting anew in Houston and facing an uphill battle with a Texans team that went 8-25 over the last two seasons and is widely considered one of the NFL’s three worst. Carpe diem, Bears. Carpe diem.Tribune picks:Biggs: BearsKane: BearsWiederer: BearsAdvertisementChicago Bears wide receiver Darnell Mooney (11) makes a touchdown reception against New York Giants cornerback Aaron Robinson (33) in the first quarter, Jan. 2, 2022, at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)Sunday, Oct. 2, noon, FOX-32The Bears have used the Giants as a pain reliever in three of the last four seasons. Win. Win. Win. Albeit in games that had minimal entertainment value. Last season’s Week 17 meeting at Soldier Field was a 29-3 blowout in which the Giants finished with minus-6 net passing yards. Could this early-October trip be part of a welcome early stretch that offers an opportunity to build momentum and belief? Or will Brian Daboll, a candidate for the Bears coaching job last winter, have the Giants offense rolling?Tribune picks:Biggs: GiantsKane: BearsWiederer: GiantsAdvertisementMinnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) congratulates wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) after he caught a touchdown pass during the third quarter against the Chicago Bears, Jan. 9, 2022, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)Sunday, Oct. 9, noon, FOX-32The Bears haven’t traveled to the Twin Cities before Thanksgiving since 2006. This season they’ll finally get a sampling of what fall is like in Minneapolis. This will also be the Bears’ first look at a Vikings organization that went into full reboot mode in January, hiring Kwesi Adofo-Mensah as their GM and Kevin O’Connell as coach.Tribune picks:Biggs: VikingsKane: VikingsWiederer: VikingsAdvertisementWashington Commanders coach Ron Rivera, left, talks with wide receiver Jahan Dotson during rookie minicamp at the team’s training facility, May 6, 2022 in Ashburn, Va. (Alex Brandon/AP)Thursday, Oct. 13, 7:15 p.m., Prime VideoIf anyone should have a full understanding of how to fluster new Commanders quarterback Carson Wentz, it’s Eberflus and Bears defensive coordinator Alan Williams, who saw Wentz in practice every day last season with the Indianapolis Colts. Wentz, it should be noted, is 3-0 all time as a starter against the Bears. In another head-scratching and dispiriting trivia nugget, the Bears are 1-8 against Washington at Soldier Field since winning Super Bowl XX.Tribune picks:Biggs: BearsKane: BearsWiederer: BearsAdvertisementNew England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones (10) escapes pressure during the first half of a wild-card playoff game against the Buffalo Bills, Jan. 15, 2022, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (Joshua Bessex/AP)Monday, Oct. 24, 7:15 p.m., ESPNThis “Monday Night Football” contest at Gillette Stadium will showcase Fields versus Mac Jones in a rematch of the January 2021 college football national title game. (Jones and Alabama downed Fields and Ohio State 52-24.) For what it’s worth, the Bears haven’t beaten the Patriots since 2000, back Dick Jauron was their coach, Shane Matthews was starting at quarterback and Tom Brady was just an obscure rookie backup in New England. Since then? The Patriots, with Brady at the steering wheel, have beaten the Bears five times in a row by an average score of 35-21. Brady threw for 1,595 yards with 14 touchdown passes in those matchups. But hey, a new era is upon us. Who knows, right?Tribune picks:Biggs: PatriotsKane: PatriotsWiederer: PatriotsAdvertisementDallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) and running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) run onto the field before the start of a game against Washington in Arlington, Texas, Dec. 26, 2021. (Roger Steinman/AP)Sunday, Oct. 30, noon, FOX-32Rookie defensive backs Kyler Gordon and Jaquan Brisker should be in midseason form by this point, which is a must as the Bears head to Jerry World attempting to slow an offensive fireworks show featuring Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, Ezekiel Elliott and Dalton Schultz. Meanwhile, young defensive stars Micah Parsons and Trevon Diggs have the Cowboys eyeing a Super Bowl run.Tribune picks:Biggs: CowboysKane: CowboysWiederer: CowboysAdvertisementMiami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) calls a play in the huddle during a game against the New England Patriots, Jan. 9, 2022, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (Doug Murray/AP)Sunday, Nov. 6, noon, CBS-2While Eberflus might face a steep uphill climb trying to install his program and change the culture in his first season, he should take solace that he is not alone in that mission. More than a quarter of the teams in the league changed head coaches after last season, including the Dolphins, who replaced Brian Flores with Mike McDaniel.Tribune picks:Biggs: DolphinsKane: DolphinsWiederer: BearsAdvertisementChicago Bears running back David Montgomery (32) makes a move in the third quarter against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field, Oct. 3, 2021. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)Sunday, Nov. 13, noon, FOX-32The Lions have quietly positioned themselves to be playoff contenders with a promising nucleus of young talent that includes first-round picks Aidan Hutchinson and Jameson Williams as well as offensive tackle Penei Sewell, receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, tight end T.J. Hockenson and cornerback Amani Oruwariye. Yes, they still need a plan at quarterback beyond Jared Goff. But there has been a recent surge of optimism in Detroit about the direction of things under coach Dan Campbell.Tribune picks:Biggs: BearsKane: BearsWiederer: LionsAdvertisementAtlanta Falcons quarterback Marcus Mariota participates in an offseason conditioning program at the Falcons practice facility, April 19, 2022, in Flowery Branch, Ga. (Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com/AP)Sunday, Nov. 20, noon, FOX-32The Falcons have two of the most exciting young pass-catching talents in the league with tight end Kyle Pitts and receiver Drake London. The big question: Which Falcons quarterback will be throwing the ball in November? Bridge quarterback Marcus Mariota or rookie Desmond Ridder?Tribune picks:Biggs: BearsKane: BearsWiederer: BearsAdvertisementNew York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson warms-up before a game against the Buffalo Bills, Jan. 9, 2022, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (Joshua Bessex/AP)Sunday, Nov. 27, noon, FOX-32The retooling Jets grabbed four exciting players in the first 36 picks of last month’s draft. Cornerback Sauce Gardner, receiver Garrett Wilson, edge rusher Jermaine Johnson and running back Breece Hall figure to play prominent roles in 2022 for a floundering franchise that is refilling on hope. Of course, most of that hinges on the development of second-year quarterback Zach Wilson, who could be in line here to be the third Class of 2021 first-round quarterback to go head-to-head with Fields.Tribune picks:Biggs: JetsKane: BearsWiederer: JetsAdvertisementChicago Bears outside linebacker Robert Quinn (94) and inside linebacker Roquan Smith (left) are unable to stop Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones (33) from jumping into the end zone to score a touchdown in the third quarter, Oct. 17, 2021, at Soldier Field (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)Sunday, Dec. 4, noon, FOX-32Aaron Rodgers’ field trip to Soldier Field last season seemed like it might be setting up to be his final such excursion to Chicago as Packers quarterback. Instead, Rodgers found 200 million reasons to run it back for at least another couple of years. Ol’ No. 12 just seems to have that knack for torturing Bears fans in the cruelest of ways. In early December, fans in the lowest rows behind the end zones at Soldier Field should have themselves ready. Rodgers, as you probably know, has shown he’s willing to engage in a little back-and-forth.Tribune picks:Biggs: PackersKane: PackersWiederer: PackersAdvertisementStaley Da Bear, the Chicago Bears mascot, makes himself at home in a new whirlpool at Thornton High School’s athletic center, March 4, 2022, in Harvey. (Jeff Vorva / Daily Southtown)The Bears’ Week 14 bye is late — very late. So late, in fact, that it’s the latest since 1999, which also came in Week 14.AdvertisementPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) looks on during the second half of a wild-card game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Jan. 16, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. (Jason Behnken/AP)Sunday, Dec. 18, noon, FOX-32In an attempt to get young quarterback Jalen Hurts the weaponry he needs, the Eagles got aggressive, trading for A.J. Brown and then giving the big-play receiver a four-year, $100 million extension. As the Bears continue tweaking the ideal formula for Fields’ development, Brown’s production is at least worth monitoring.Tribune picks:Biggs: BearsKane: EaglesWiederer: EaglesAdvertisementBuffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) is congratulated by offensive tackle Daryl Williams (75) and guard Ryan Bates (71) after throwing a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs during the second half of a divisional playoff game, Jan. 23, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. (Reed Hoffmann/AP)Saturday, Dec. 24, noon, CBS-2Just leaving this here as a Christmas Eve stocking stuffer. Fields had a completion percentage of .589 and a passer rating of 73.2 as a rookie, throwing for 1,870 yards with seven touchdown passes in 12 games. Three years earlier, Bills quarterback Josh Allen had a completion percentage of .528 and a passer rating of 67.9, throwing for 2,074 yards with 10 touchdown passes in 12 games. Now Allen is a favorite for league MVP honors and eyeing a possible charge to the Super Bowl. We’re not saying … we’re just saying.Tribune picks:Biggs: BillsKane: BillsWiederer: BillsAdvertisementChicago Bears running back David Montgomery (32) runs in the third quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Detroit, Nov. 25, 2021. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)Sunday, Jan. 1, noon, FOX-32Happy New Year! The Bears have won at Ford Field four years in a row, and this is the team’s only road game after Week 12. Who knows? Maybe this becomes part of a solid finish that propels a young Bears team into 2023 with momentum and confidence.Tribune picks:Biggs: LionsKane: LionsWiederer: BearsAdvertisementChicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields (1) tries to run past Minnesota Vikings defensive end D.J. Wonnum (98) in the second quarter at Soldier Field, Dec. 20, 2021. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)Date/time TBDThe Bears and Vikings have become close season-finale buddies, meeting on the final Sunday of the regular season seven times over the last 11 years. This time, however, Soldier Field will be the stage for the finale. Will there be anything at stake besides draft positioning?Tribune picks:Biggs: BearsKane: BearsWiederer: VikingsAdvertisementExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 11 Meet the Chicago Bears’ 2022 NFL draft class. (Jae C. Hong/AP)Brad Biggs: 6-11There should be great buildup for the season opener against the 49ers for a game between franchises that traded up to draft quarterbacks in 2021 — and took very different approaches in preparing their signal caller. 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan was adamant Trey Lance, the No. 3 pick, would learn behind Jimmy Garoppolo. The Bears were forced to turn to Justin Fields in Week 2 when Andy Dalton was injured and then stuck with him until he was sidelined with an injury. Fields has more experience, including at the college level, while Lance is on a far better roster.New coach Matt Eberflus gets a quick indoctrination into the team’s rivalry with the Packers in Week 2. Four of the last five Bears coaches have won their first game at Lambeau Field, and Matt Nagy lost by only one point.After alternating between away and home games every week last season, the Bears play on the road in four of five games in October with the only home date Oct. 13 against the Washington Commanders in Week 6. That’s going to put pressure on a young team, especially with games against two 2021 playoff teams, the New England Patriots and Dallas Cowboys.A week 14 bye on the weekend of Dec. 11 is suboptimal, but Eberflus and staff will get a mini-bye in October with 11 days between the Commanders and a “Monday Night Football” game against the Patriots on Oct. 24.The development of Fields will be one of if not the most important storyline. The Bears play three other quarterbacks drafted in 2021 besides Lance: Davis Mills of the Texans (Week 3), Mac Jones of the Patriots (Week 7) and Zach Wilson of the Jets (Week 12). Those head-to-head battles will be measuring sticks.Colleen Kane: 7-10The Bears’ strength of schedule is tied for 24th in the league, according to NFL.com, so perhaps there’s an opportunity for a largely unproven group of players and coaches to pull off a couple of surprise wins. But there’s so much unknown about this team, including where Justin Fields’ development is headed under new offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, whether Fields can succeed with the current group of linemen and receivers and how a defense without Khalil Mack takes shape under Eberflus. It’s hard to predict anything other than a losing record in the first year of Poles’ remodeling project.Eberflus doesn’t have an easy first two games out of the gate against the 49ers and then the Packers at Lambeau Field. But Fields and company should have a nice three weeks to settle in after that and prepare for a key stretch that includes two prime-time games, including one against the Patriots and second-year quarterback Mac Jones in New England, followed by a road game against the Cowboys.The Bears at least have a mini-bye in October — 11 days between the Thursday and Monday night games — because a Week 14 bye week is rough for a new coach and young team.It’s odd the NFL scheduled only one road game over the final six weeks of the season, a quirk that would be great for the Bears and their fans if the team could remain in the playoff hunt late into December and January. If not, braving the cold at Soldier Field on Christmas Eve against the Bills or in the finale against the Vikings might not be very appealing.Dan Wiederer: 5-12It’s easy to look at the Bears schedule and identify windows of opportunity. A chance for a faster-than-expected start? Sure. It’s not unreasonable for the Bears to be competitive enough to win three of their first six. A late-season stretch in which they play only one road game after Thanksgiving weekend? That sets up a potentially comforting finish. And man, this year’s list of opposing starting quarterbacks is nowhere near as intimidating as last season’s. OK. Think positive. Perhaps this won’t be as painful of a season as it seemed.But then? Well, reality speaks up. In a bold and doubtful tone.Seven of the Bears’ 17 games will be played against opponents who made the playoffs last season. Twelve will come against foes who had more wins than they did a year ago. And that was before a front-office and coaching staff reboot at Halas Hall triggered a roster-gutting project that has put the team in the earliest stages of a demanding and tedious rebuild. The Bears roster, as presently constructed, is nowhere near as talented or sturdy as the one that contributed to a 6-11 finish last season.Furthermore, the Bears will play four October road games with trips to face the Giants, Vikings, Patriots and Cowboys during a demanding 28-day window. That stretch not only figures to test the patience of a fan base increasingly on edge but should also reveal Eberflus’ ability to steady a rocking ship.Through a rational lens, the 50,000-foot view remains the same. This figures to be a long season. As results go, this sets up to be a transition season that likely will be low on landmark moments and signature victories.

Tony La Russa has been in baseball for a long time.The Chicago White Sox manager described Thursday night against the New York Yankees as “some ‘see it to believe it’ stuff.”AdvertisementThe teams entered the eighth tied, but the Yankees scored seven runs with two outs in the inning to beat the Sox 15-7 in front of 20,050 at Guaranteed Rate Field.Said La Russa: “That eighth inning, two outs, nobody on, the way the ball is coming out of (reliever) Joe (Kelly’s) hands, to look up and see a seven spot, you had to see it to believe it.” AdvertisementKelly retired the first two batters of the eighth, but walked the next three to load the bases for slugger Aaron Judge, who hit a slow grounder up the middle which second baseman Leury García fielded. Judge beat García’s off-balanced throw to first and two runs scored on the sequence.Anthony Rizzo walked and Giancarlo Stanton drove in two with a bases-loaded single against Tanner Banks.Josh Donaldson followed with a three-run homer, the fourth home run of the night for the Yankees. Kelly suffered the loss, allowing five runs on one hit with four walks in two-thirds of an inning.“It doesn’t matter, two outs, one out, no outs, walks are not it,” Kelly said. “… Sometimes you’ve just got to pitch better.“They’re good hitters. I’ve faced them numerous times. Free passes are usually not the way to get them out. But I’ll face them again and throw it right at them.”The Yankees’ power was on full display throughout the night.Stanton went 3-for-4 with two home runs and six RBIs. Judge hit a solo home run and finished with four RBIs as the team with the best record in baseball took the opener of the four-game series.The Yankees won for the 16th time in their last 18 games. The Sox lost for just the second time in their last nine.AdvertisementSox starter Dylan Cease had good stuff, matching a career high with 11 strikeouts. But he was hurt by the long ball, surrendering the two homers to Stanton.“They’ve got a lot of professional hitters obviously, they have a game plan,” Cease said. “They put up a lot of good at-bats. Sometimes you just have to tip your cap.”Cease allowed six runs on six hits with the 11 strikeouts and two walks in four innings.The first eight outs were strikeouts and, according to Elias, he became the first White Sox starting pitcher in the expansion era (since 1961) to get each of his first eight outs of a game in that fashion.It was his 11th career double-digit strikeout outing, tying him with Billy Pierce for the eighth-most in franchise history. Still, the Sox were in a 6-4 hole after four innings.“They really capitalized really well tonight,” Cease said. “It’s definitely the weirdest stat line I’ve ever been a part of.”AdvertisementJudge’s solo homer in the seventh against Ryan Burr gave the Yankees a 7-4 lead.García began the bottom of the seventh with a single and Tim Anderson walked.Yoán Moncada, who began the season on the injured list and made his season debut Monday, followed with a three-run home run to center to tie the game.But just as quickly as the Sox gained some momentum, it vanished.“That first walk (in the eighth to Marwin Gonzalez) was a tough one and a couple pitches on (the next hitter Gleyber) Torres, (Kelly) just barely missed and it escalated,” La Russa said. “He was throwing the ball well, he got ahead and tried to put Torres away and it looked like it barely missed. He could have chased it and didn’t.“Then you’re facing the heart of the lineup and he’s pitching careful. And then the break that turned it all over, the contact by Judge that should have been the third out but it was perfectly placed and two runs (score). If we can make a play on that ball we’re in good shape.Advertisement“I mean, you had to see it to believe it. I still don’t believe it.”

Time heals all wounds, so it wasn’t surprising to hear Anthony Rizzo has gotten over his “bad breakup” with the Chicago Cubs.Rizzo on Thursday returned to Chicago, the town he once owned, as first baseman for the New York Yankees, who opened a four-game series against the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field.AdvertisementHe was booed loudly by Sox fans, just as Kyle Schwarber was last season with the Boston Red Sox. Once a Cub, always a Cub.It has been more than nine months since Rizzo was dealt to the Yankees with cash for minor-leaguers Kevin Alcántara and Alexander Vizcaíno, a move that signaled the beginning of the end of the Cubs’ relevance. He quickly was followed out of town by Javier Báez, Kris Bryant, Craig Kimbrel and others in the biggest sell-off in Cubs history as President Jed Hoyer went about building what he called “the next great Cubs team.”AdvertisementWhen Rizzo left, he was puzzled by Hoyer’s post-trade comment that he could sleep well knowing he made fair offers to try and retain the stars from the 2016 championship team.New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo has no hard feelings about his “bad breakup” with the Chicago Cubs last season. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)“I’m kind of confused on why. Why say that?” Rizzo told WMVP-AM 1000 the next day. “Sounds like a bad breakup and the person saying they’re fine when they’re not fine. … I know it comes down to a business, and when you want your cake and you want to eat it, too, that’s kind of how it seemed.”In other words, the Cubs had no problem making loads of money off the popularity of Rizzo, Bryant and Báez. But when it came time to compensate them for what they brought to the organization, the Cubs couldn’t find common ground with even one of their stars.Everything has worked out well for Rizzo. He’s one of the leaders on the best team in the American League, playing for a team his dad grew up loving and feeling rejuvenated at the plate.It has also worked out well for the Cubs, financially speaking. They’re averaging 31,655 fans at Wrigley Field, which is well below the 38,208 in 2019, the last full season before the pandemic. The season ticket base is still rather impressive for a team that easily could lose 100 games.And the Cubs haven’t significantly lowered ticket prices while paring payroll, so it’s basically a dream scenario for Chairman Tom Ricketts.During a media session in the Yankees dugout before the game, Rizzo was asked if he hashed it out with Hoyer.“Yeah, I think with our relationship with Jed, Theo (Epstein) and Jason McLeod, those three really saw me grow up,” he said. “They know who I am. They know who my family is and (wife) Emily is. And I know who they are. I don’t think it was ever necessarily (acrimonious). It’s business. … They had to make tough business decisions.Advertisement“As a human being, was I (ticked) off? Of course. But as a baseball player who sees what happens and (knows) this is a business, that’s the way it is. As far as hashing it out, I don’t think there’s much to hash out. … “I wish them well. I want Jed to have success being the president there. He was the GM and under Theo for a while. So for him to build the next great Cubs team would be great for him and (his wife) Merrill and his family.”The “next great Cubs team” is a ways off. This season’s team might be worse than the 2012 team that began the rebuild. That was when the Cubs brought Rizzo up from Triple-A Iowa and heralded him as the first of a wave of talented prospects who would change the culture of the organization.Rizzo was as good as hyped, and Epstein and Hoyer did exactly what they promised, winning a title in five seasons. But this rebuild is much different. There is no “Rizzo-esque” player in the Cubs clubhouse to build around. Their best player, catcher Willson Contreras, is in the same boat Rizzo, Baez and Bryant were in last year at this time, waiting to be dealt because the Cubs don’t believe he’s worth what he thinks he is.Seiya Suzuki, Nico Hoerner and Keegan Thompson might be the next wave, but it’s too soon to say they’ll be future All-Stars or players who can change the culture.What if the Cubs had signed one, two or all three of their stars? Last June I asked Rizzo if the Cubs could afford them all. Advertisement“If they want to, absolutely they can,” he replied. “The game is thriving with all the TV deals, the revenue (streams). If that’s their out and it’s time to go, so be it.”Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.That was their out. Ricketts recently considered buying Chelsea, a Premier League soccer team that eventually sold for $3.1 billion, so he can’t say he didn’t have the money. He just didn’t care to spend it. So for Rizzo, Baez and Bryant, it was time to go.Rizzo turned down multiyear offers from the Cubs and was dealt to the Yankees for two prospects who might not make it to Wrigley for years — if ever. He signed a two-year, $32 million deal in March to return to the Yankees, which seems fair for someone at this stage of his career.“I helped build that culture and have a lot of friends there,” he said. “It’s cool to see the traditions that were built during our whole time there still there.”Rizzo is lucky he’s not with the Cubs, having to be the spokesman for a team going nowhere and already playing meaningless games in mid-May. He still can return to Wrigley some day and be greeted like a hero without having to play here. Rizzo can ask Jake Arrieta how bad things can go when you attempt a second act with the Cubs and can’t rekindle the magic of those 2015 and ‘16 seasons.Rizzo was happy to be back but happier to be in first place wearing Yankees pinstripes, playing on a beautiful night on the South Side.Advertisement“We’re sitting at, I call it ‘The Cell’ … so it’s a lot easier to just be here and enjoy Chicago the city,” he said. “Next time I go to Wrigley, when and if that happens, it definitely would be more emotional, especially on a weekend like this. The place would be insane.”Life goes on, and no one can erase the memories.

Eloy Jiménez spent a portion of his Wednesday at Guaranteed Rate Field, running from the foul line in shallow left field to center.It wasn’t that long ago that Jiménez had to be removed from a game on a cart after suffering an injury that required surgery to repair a torn hamstring tendon behind his right knee.AdvertisementHe’s on the road to recovery.“I started to run a couple of days ago, and that is the main thing right now,” Jiménez said Tuesday. “Other than that, I’m feeling pretty good. We just wanted to make sure I’m good to run and see what happens.”AdvertisementJiménez suffered the injury during the second inning of an April 23 game at Minnesota, stumbling after crossing first base. He said the injury occurred before he touched the base.White Sox left fielder Eloy Jimenez is helped up by a trainer after suffering an injury against the Twins on April 23, 2022, in Minneapolis. (David Berding / Getty Images)White Sox left fielder Eloy Jimenez is carted off the field after suffering a hamstring injury against the Twins on April 23, 2022, in Minneapolis. (David Berding / Getty Images)“When I went down, I never thought anything bad (like) I could not play (for an extended time like last season),” he said. “I was just a little bit frustrated because I was feeling good. And then that happened. I’m feeling pretty good with the result and hopefully I’ll be back sooner than later.“The same day (of the April 26 surgery) I was feeling good. I was walking after surgery. Yeah, that was quick. I thought it was going to be longer, but now I feel really good, and we are going to be back sooner than later.”How soon?“You can ask that to Rick Hahn,” Jiménez joked. “I’m feeling pretty good, but I don’t know.”His timetable to return has been an estimated six to eight weeks from when the injury occurred.“He is a product of the modern-science miracle,” Sox manager Tony La Russa said Thursday. “Several days after the surgery he was walking around without a limp. He’s jogging, he’s swinging. Now what that actually means is, what we don’t want to do is push it ahead X number of days and that would be unwise and then lose him.“So we’re going to make sure (we) build up all the strength and stamina. But he’s really improving, and it’s exciting we’re going to get him back.”AdvertisementFor now, Jiménez is focused on running and taking some swings in the cages.“I’m really happy with that (hitting and running work) because I did not expect I was going to be back that soon,” he said.Injured White Sox outfielder Eloy Jimenez jokes with teammates before a game against the Cubs on May 4, 2022, at Wrigley Field. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)The Sox began a four-game series Thursday against the New York Yankees at Guaranteed Rate Field. They faced a dangerous offense that came into the game ranked second in the American League with 40 home runs. The lineup features Aaron Judge (MLB-leading 10 homers), Anthony Rizzo (tied for second with nine) and Giancarlo Stanton (tied for 11th with seven).The Sox entered Thursday ranked 10th in the AL with 26 homers. They are missing a power source in Jiménez, who has one home run and seven RBIs in 11 games.“It’s tough every time I’m out,” said Jiménez, who is slashing .222/.256/.333. “And pretty much everybody knows I like to play.“But when I’m in the dugout, I’m cheering for my team. But I’m feeling like ‘Jesus, I want to play.’ ”AdvertisementJiménez played just 55 games last season after suffering a ruptured left pectoral tendon during a Cactus League game. He slashed .249/.303/.437 with 10 homers and 37 RBIs.He’s hoping to take lessons from that time away to aid him during this recovery.“I’m working with (hitting coach) Frank (Menechino) to get my timing back,” Jiménez said. “I know it’s going to be a little bit hard. But we’ll have the opportunity to play every day, so let’s see.”Whenever he returns, Jiménez isn’t going to be altering those runs to first base.“I’m not going to stop doing what I think I can do,” Jiménez said. “That’s not going to stop me. I’m going to keep playing hard and that’s it.”

SAN DIEGO — The Chicago Cubs needed a ninth-inning rally, and catcher Willson Contreras saw an opportunity.Contreras motored from first to third base on a two-out Ian Happ single to right field Tuesday at Petco Park, putting the tying run 90 feet from home. Although they ultimately would lose to the San Diego Padres on Frank Schwindel’s flyout to the wall after Patrick Wisdom was hit to load the bases, base-running plays like Contreras’ have became a staple of the Cubs’ offensive profile.Advertisement“That’s going to be part of some of the risks that we’re going to take this season is just trying to maximize the areas where we can take chances,” manager David Ross said this week. “For us to compete, we’ve got to do that a little bit more and take some chances in areas. … Guys have done a nice job of pushing the envelope.”The Cubs have been one of the best teams at taking extra bases. Their 52% Extra Bases Taken Percentage (XBT%) is third highest in the majors, well above the average of 43%. With a runner on first, a Cubs base runner has advanced to third or scored 23 times, tying them for second most in those situations.AdvertisementFor an offense averaging 2.75 runs in the last 20 games, excluding the 21-run game outlier against the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Cubs could do a better job of taking advantage of when runners are on base. Relying on contact to produce runs makes cashing in when hitters get on base much more important. Entering their weekend series against the Diamondbacks in Arizona, 30% of Cubs base runners have scored after reaching; the MLB average is 31%.Cubs shortstop Nico Hoerner slides safely into home on a double from Ian Happ as Padres catcher Jorge Alfaro is late with the tag during the eighth inning Monday at Petco Park in San Diego. (Gregory Bull / AP)First-base coach Mike Napoli has taken on base running among his duties. Despite being a catcher-turned-first baseman, Napoli was known for his stellar base running during his 12-year MLB career. He recalled how after the Los Angeles Angels drafted him, the organization prioritized base running. Players weren’t going to reach the big leagues if they weren’t good on the basepaths.Napoli always felt pride in that area of his game. He took more chances on the bases while in the minors to figure out which situations he could take an extra base. So when he was called up for the first time in 2006 after six years in the minors, Napoli already understood his base running strengths and techniques.Part of Napoli and the Cubs’ base-running teaching process involves highlighting a smart play or when someone makes a mistake, whether its from their team or an opponent. It provides concrete examples of what the Cubs want from their base runners. Sound base running technique also helps third-base coach Willie Harris’ in-game decision-making for when to send a runner home.“I was a bigger guy, wasn’t the fastest, but I try to explain to these guys, it’s just anticipation, knowing the game, knowing situations and thinking about getting 90 feet because 90 feet can win you a baseball game,” Napoli told the Tribune. “We won playoff games when I played because someone got an extra 90 feet. The importance of that has been lost a little bit in the game today.“A lot of guys go through the minor leagues, and it’s two years in the minors and then they’re in the big leagues. … It’s a little bit harder trying to teach it at the big-league level because it all counts.”Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.Cubs players appreciate the base-running work Napoli puts in behind the scenes. He watches video trying to find any edge. He wants players to be armed with as much information as possible to internalize for those split-second decisions. Among the intel included on a preseries scouting report on opposing outfielders: arm strength, how each outfielder moves directionally to the ball and who they can run on.“You’re going until they stop you — until they secure the ball and shut you down you’re ‘yes’ all the way until the last second,” second baseman Nick Madrigal said. “If they bobble it, I want to be on the next next bag.Advertisement“That sort of style play, we’ve got some guys that are very athletic, able to run, and that’s how we’re going to score the most runs by being aggressive on the base paths. Every opportunity we get we’re going to be aggressive and try to put pressure on the defense out there.”Contreras has been one of the Cubs’ most successful aggressive runners while limiting mistakes. He leads the team with seven bases taken, including three on first-to-third or scoring. Wisdom and Seiya Suzuki rank second with four.The Cubs’ aggressiveness has a drawback at times. They have committed too many base-running mistakes. The Cubs’ 13 Outs on Base (OOB) are tied for the third most in the majors. These do not include pickoffs, caught stealing or forceouts. Five have occurred at second base (tied for first) and four at third (tied for second).Finding a balance between smart aggressiveness and being responsible on the bases is a middle ground the Cubs are trying to navigate.“It is important to have guys in motion, especially as much we put the ball on the ground,” Ross said. “And as much as we make contact that the more we can get action on the bases, that will help us stay out of double plays more.”