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"Sports Quote of the Day"
“Greatness is not measured by what a man or woman accomplishes, but by the opposition he or she has overcome to reach his goals.” ~ Dorothy Height, Administrator, Educator and Civil Rights Activist
Trending: Cubs’ Kyle Hendricks ready for the next biggest start of his career. (See the Cubs section for team news and World Series updates).
Trending: Together Again: Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane Reunite On Top Line Vs. Devils. (See the hockey section for Blackhawks updates and NHL news).
Trending: Minnesota Vikings - Chicago Bears Preview. (See the football section for Bears news and NFL updates).
Trending: Dwyane Wade's 'perfect storm' makes his debut a dramatic one in Bulls' win. (See the basketball section for Bulls news and NBA updates).
Trending: The official schedule for the 2016 World Series
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Cubs’ Kyle Hendricks ready for the next biggest start of his career.
By JJ Stankevitz
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Kyle Hendricks succeeded in the spotlight Oct. 22, taking his methodical, measured mentality into a nervy Game 6 clincher against Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw. The result was 7 1/3 innings of two-hit shutout ball in which the 26-year-old Dartmouth alum faced the minimum to beat a guy many consider the best pitcher in baseball, and it sent the Cubs to their first World Series since 1945.
The playoff stage clearly hasn’t been too big for Hendricks, who led baseball in ERA (2.13) and soft contact rate (25.1 percent) in the regular season. He’s carried that success into October, allowing only three runs over 16 1/3 innings in the 2016 postseason. The way he’s gone about pitching those games and processing the magnitude of them hasn’t been any different than how he worked from April through September.
“I've never seen him rush through anything,” manager Joe Maddon said. “I’m sure he takes time brushing his teeth. I would imagine his cup of coffee takes two hours to drink.”
Hendricks, who was standing about 20 feet away from Maddon when his manager grinned through those comments Thursday, laughed when he got his turn at the podium: “I don't drink coffee, which probably doesn't come as a shock.”
But that deliberate approach Maddon was alluding to with his coffee comment has helped Hendricks maintain his effectiveness as the playoff pressure has mounted over the last few weeks.
“It took me a long time to fall into this mindset,” Hendricks said. “You can find yourself falling out of it and falling back into it. A lot of it has to do with confidence, I think. At the end of the day, if you are in that mindset where you're having simple thoughts, really you're on the mound, you know you can clearly recall your game plan, what you're trying to do to this hitter, and then you can simplify your thought and commit to just one pitch. When you have those kind of thoughts going through your head, you feel pretty confident, and you know you're going to do pretty well.”
Hendricks’ changeup has been an outstanding put-away pitch in the postseason, with the right-hander mixing it in well with his four-seam fastball and two-seam sinker. Opposing batters are swinging and missing at 21.7 percent of Hendricks’ changeups, according to TexasLeaguers.com, in his three playoff starts (among Cubs starters in the playoffs, that’s the second-highest whiff rate on any pitch only to John Lackey cutter, which has a 23.7 percent swing-and-miss rate).
Hendricks, too, has looked extremely comfortable in his starts at Wrigley Field — like that Game 6 outing against the Dodgers — posting a 1.32 ERA while limiting opposing hitters to a .589 OPS at home in the regular season (those numbers were a 2.95 ERA and .643 opponent OPS on the road).
So the stage is set for Hendricks to make, and succeed in, what will either be his final or second-to-last start of the 2016 season. Friday will mark Hendricks’ first career World Series start, but he hasn’t shown any reason to think the moment will be too big for him.
“I'm just going to take advantage of it,” Hendricks said. “I mean, how often do you get these opportunities? You dream of it as a kid. This is what you work all year long for.”
Kyle Schwarber not medically cleared to play the field, will not start in Games 3-5 of World Series.
By JJ Stankevitz
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Kyle Schwarber has not been cleared by doctors to play the field and will not start for the Cubs in Games 3-5 of the World Series at Wrigley Field, Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said Thursday.
Schwarber was seen with a glove in left field during the batting practice portion of the Cubs' workout Thursday at Wrigley Field, but Epstein said Cubs' doctors and Dr. Daniel Cooper, the Dallas Cowboys surgeon who performed the surgery on Schwarber's torn ACL and LCL in April, were "Convinced there’s too much risk in playing the outfield.” The risk of having Schwarber move quickly and start, stop and cut suddenly in the outfield was too great and Epstein said the Cubs didn't want to "throw caution to the wind" to get Schwarber in the lineup over the weekend.
"It's not disappointing at all," Schwarber said. "It was a long shot at the most."
Added Schwarber: "There's no being sad about it, there's no nothing. I know my role now and I'm going to embrace it."
Schwarber doubled and walked in Game 1 of the World Series and collected a pair of RBI singles and walked in Game 2 in Cleveland. He started and hit fifth as a designated hitter in both games and will be available as a high-leverage pinch hitter Games 3-5.
Cubs offense settling into World Series groove. What's Your Take?
By Tony Andracki
Photo/csnchicago.com)
It doesn't take long for the 2016 Cubs to rebound.
Their American League-style lineup is just simply too talented to keep down for an extended period of time, especially with Kyle Schwarber now added back into the fold.
They Cubs hitters are so confident, they even left Progressive Field feeling good about themselves despite being shut out in Game 1 of the World Series.
The Cubs got on the board early Wednesday night, plating a run on the third batter of the game as Anthony Rizzo doubled home Kris Bryant.
"Take the momentum away. Take the crowd out of it," Bryant said. "It's nice to score first. Especially when you're the visiting team, to get out there and score within the first three batters is huge."
The early lead helped the lineup settle in and keep their foot on the gas for a 5-1 victory to take the series back to Wrigley Field tied one game apiece.
"Especially with a young lineup, I think when you see a few guys go up there and take some good quality at-bats, one happens after the other and the other guys seem to do the same thing," Ben Zobrist said. "It takes a lot of pressure off. When you see other guys having good, quality at-bats, you don't feel like you have to take pitches and you can be aggressive early on.
"Oftentimes when you're aggressive in the zone is when you take the tough ones. We did a good job tonight laying off some good pitches. When they made mistakes in the zone, we really hit the ball hard. Even though we scored five runs, obviously we had a lot of baserunners on and we could've scored a lot more."
Zobrist has a point.
The night after leaving nine runners on base and going 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position, the Cubs left 13 runners on base and tallied just three hits in 12 tries with runners in scoring position.
Between nine hits and eight walks, there were Cubs on base all game. Indians pitchers didn't retire Cubs hitters in order in an inning until the seventh.
The Cubs also forced the Indians to throw 196 pitches in nine innings and worked starter Trevor Bauer to 51 pitches through the first two frames.
"That was good for us," Bryant said. "We saw a lot of their bullpen, so we have a lot of information to learn from and hopefully use in the next game."
Anthony Rizzo summed up the lineup's mentality simply:
"Grind out at-bats, work the pitcher's pitch count up and get the next guy up," he said.
That "pass the baton" mentality is what drives this offense and after a brief lull in that regard in Los Angeles when they were shut out in back-to-back games in the NLCS, the Cubs leave Cleveland feeling pretty good.
"When we're able to [get pitch counts up], you can kinda feel it - our offense really feeds off of that," Zobrist said. "We believe that we're going to break through eventually."
Chicago Sports & Travel Inc./AllsportsAmerica Take: We've been saying it all along and our position is not changing, the Cubs have a very young and talented team with a lot of determination, with a commitment to winning the world's series led by an aggressive and management-player relations oriented field manager. He's been able to reach the players and sell them on his program of team success. It's working and because it is, this team believes that they are destined and feels that there is no way that they can't win the World Series. We agree and have said on several occasions that this is the Cubs year. 108 years is long enough without a baseball championship and we also believe that that record will live in infamy forever. We are out on a limb but we are not wavering and strongly believe that the Cubs will win the 2016 World Series. Again, that's our story and we're sticking to it.
We've stated our position, how do you feel and what's your take? Please go to the comment section at the bottom of this blog and share your take with us. We love hearing from you and really respect you thoughts.
Thanks in advance for your time, consideration and response.
The Chicago Sports & Travel Inc./AllsportsAmerica Editorial Staff
Cubs roll over Indians to even up World Series. (Wednesday night's game, 10/26/2016).
By Tony Andracki
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
The Cubs called their shot again.
The week after showing no sense of panic after being shut out by the Los Angeles Dodgers in back-to-back NLCS games, the Cubs once again exuded a calm confidence after running into the brick wall of the Cleveland Indians pitching to start the World Series.
From Joe Maddon to Anthony Rizzo to David Ross, the Cubs felt they had some nice at-bats against the Indians' best pitchers - Corey Kluber, Andrew Miller and Cody Allen - but just couldn't score and predicted runs would be coming.
They were right, getting men on base early and often to win their first World Series game since 1945, a 5-1 victory over the Indians in front of 38,172 fans at Progressive Field Wednesday night.
"It's huge. We know that we needed to win this game," Ben Zobrist said. "It seems like every time our team has had our backs against the wall a little bit, we've risen to the occasion. Hopefully we can keep doing that.
"We've done a good job not letting the moment get the best of us and just focusing on passing the baton and having quality pitches, quality at-bats, both sides of the ball. That's what you have to do, just stay in the moment and get that 'W' and we were able to get it tonight."
The Cubs continued the trend of winning when scoring first as Rizzo drove home Kris Bryant with an RBI double in the top of the first inning.
From there, the Cubs added a solo tally in the third on Kyle Schwarber's RBI single and then broke out for three in the fifth on a Zobrist triple, another Schwarber single and then an Addison Russell bases-loaded walk.
The Cubs could've had more, leaving 13 on base in the first seven innings against starter Trevor Bauer and the Indians bullpen. The Cubs didn't go down in order until the top of the eighth.
It was still all the offense Jake Arrieta needed as the reigning National League Cy Young winner took a no-hitter into the sixth inning before Jason Kipnis doubled with one out.
Kipnis was the only Indians run of the game, scoring on a wild pitch two batters later.
Arrieta struck out six in 5.2 innings, surrendering only two hits, three walks and the solo tally.
The outing lowered Arrieta's 2016 postseason ERA to 3.78 and gave him his first victory this October.
Game 2 was moved up an hour because of impending rain and the move by Major League Baseball paid off as the Cubs and Indians didn't have to worry about any suspended game drama.
The two teams travel to Chicago for Games 3, 4 and 5 at Wrigley Field over the weekend.
Kyle Hendricks and Josh Tomlin will go in Game 3 Friday evening with the World Series now tied.
The Cubs understand what these three upcoming games mean for the fanbase and the entire city of Chicago.
"I can't imagine [what the fans are feeling]," Zobrist said. "They're probably just as excited - if not more excited - than we are to see that game played there. It's been a long time.
They've been waiting patiently and they deserve to have these games played there.
"Hopefully we can get some Ws there for them. We know it's gonna be electric and a really fun atmosphere."
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Together Again: Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane Reunite On Top Line Vs. Devils.
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
When coach Joel Quenneville has put Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane together it’s usually been during the postseason.
It’s rare when it happens in the regular season and when it does, it seems like an in-case-of-emergency move. But in this case, it may be more of a get-the-captain’s-production-going move.
The Blackhawks made a few more line changes on Thursday, including combining Toews and Kane, as they prepared for Friday night’s game at the New Jersey Devils. Marian Hossa moved to right wing on the second line with Artemi Panarin and Artem Anisimov. Marcus Kruger and Nick Schmaltz flip-flopped as third- and fourth-line centers. Tyler Motte and Ryan Hartman were the third-line wings while Dennis Rasmussen and Jordin Tootoo were on the fourth line.
Coach Joel Quenneville said the line changes, including Kane’s move to the first line, were because the Blackhawks continue to look for balance. To a point, that’s true; the Blackhawks still haven’t come close to getting that four-line rotation with which they’ve found so much success. But considering how successful the Toews and Kane combination has been for each, you’d have to think it’s to help bolster Toews’ point totals. Toews has just two assists through the first seven games.
“Right now I think Jonny, his production isn’t where you look at his play – we still always like the way he plays, he’s so useful in so any different ways,” Quenneville said. “I think maybe we get more balance on both lines. We’ve been trying a number of different looks in our top two groups there. over seven games we still need to be better in a lot of ways. hopefully we can find it.”
Still, if you can get your top players producing points, it’s worth a try. And Kane and Toews, regardless of how long they’ve been apart, usually click immediately upon reuniting.
“Yeah, I guess change can be good in this sense. We can probably produce a little bit more offense and have the puck a little bit more throughout the game,” Kane said. “I’ve played with Jonny a bunch before. Obviously, not as much lately. But I’m looking forward to it. It’ll be a fun way to play hockey. Obviously he’s one of the best players in the game, and probably in my mind, the easiest player to play with. It’ll be fun to get back out there with him and try to create something, try to produce and have some fun with it.”
As for that usual second line of Panarin, Anisimov and Kane, remember: as we’ve seen before, it can be put together again fast.
“They get a lot of shifts and a lot of looks. It’s not like we’re too far away from going back to it at any time. It’s always close and available,” Quenneville said. “Maybe we get more balance and a little more scoring across the board.”
Briefly
- Defenseman Gustav Forsling (upper body) did not skate on Thursday and will not travel to New Jersey. Quenneville is still hoping Forsling can play on Sunday vs. the Los Angeles Kings.
- Forward Andrew Desjardins (lower body) continues to improve. Quenneville said Desjardins could be skating in the next day or so.
- Corey Crawford will start vs. the Devils.
Blackhawks still trying to solve penalty kill issues.
By Tracey Myers
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
When considering the Blackhawks’ penalty kill, you can look at their 3-3-1 record in two ways: their record is mediocre because of it, or they’re still getting points despite it.
No matter how you look at it, however, the penalty kill’s malaise has to stop.
In seven games this season, the Blackhawks’ penalty kill has allowed 14 goals on 26 opportunities. Through their first seven games last season the Blackhawks were shorthanded 18 times, allowing three goals.
Looking at seasons overall, the Blackhawks allowed 46 power-play goals over 82 games last season. The kill allowed a scant 35 goals during the 2014-15 season and 46 goals in 2013-14.
Yes, the Blackhawks know it’s a big problem and they’ve talked about it and worked on it. So far, they just haven’t seen the results on it. Some have come off faceoffs. Some have come from long distance. Some have come off rebounds. It doesn’t seem to matter what they do: goals get scored. The Blackhawks will keep going back to the drawing board until they restore that penalty kill to its normal success rate.
“We talk a lot about the way we’re forcing it up ice, how we’re forcing it in the neutral zone, forcing entries, how we’re moving together as units, the personnel changes,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “We’ve tried a number of different looks on the back end, as pairs up front. We’re trying to find something that clicks. we haven’t gotten that confidence yet where we’re comfortable with just about any pairs right now. hopefully we can get that stabilized.
“We know the importance of that influencing the outcome of games and sometimes it can win a game for us. But it’s been a real negative so far,” Quenneville added. “We got through three in a row there. hopefully that’s the start of something positive.”
The Blackhawks killed off the final three penalties they took against the Calgary Flames on Monday night. It was a shot of confidence for a group that needed it, and now they have to repeat that more often.
“We just kept our feet moving. We were working. Our shifts were 20 to 30 seconds tops,” Jonathan Toews said. “When you go that short you have the energy to outwork the power play and make up for being down one man. Yeah, I mean, I think that’s the key right there, and I think our systems fall into place when we’re all moving and we’re all skating the right way.”
Artem Anisimov said those three successful kills were “intense.”
“We were skating. We didn’t give so much time to set up in our zone,” Ansimov said. “It was like, always clear. We cleared the puck 200 feet and it was successful.”
The Blackhawks have been talking “baby steps” regarding their penalty kill the past few games. Killing three in a row off on Monday night could be one, but it means nothing if they allow another one in their next game. The penalty kill is broken. The Blackhawks will keep trying to fix it.
Gustav Forsling out, Corey Crawford starting vs. Devils.
By Tracey Myers
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Gustav Forsling will not travel and Corey Crawford will start when the Blackhawks face the New Jersey Devils on Friday night.
Forsling, who is day-to-day with an upper-body injury sustained against the Calgary Flames on Monday night, did not practice on Thursday. Coach Joel Quenneville is still hopeful that the defenseman can play Sunday against the Los Angeles Kings.
The Blackhawks were switching lines again, putting Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane together on the top line. Marian Hossa took Kane’s place on the second line with Artemi Panarin and Artem Anisimov and Tyler Motte moved to the third line.
“Yeah, I guess change can be good in this sense. We can probably produce a little bit more offense and have the puck a little bit more throughout the game,” Kane said. “I’ve played with Jonny a bunch before. Obviously, not as much lately. But I’m looking forward to it. It’ll be a fun way to play hockey. Obviously he’s one of the best players in the game, and probably in my mind the easiest player to play with. It’ll be fun to get back out there with him and try to create something, try to produce and have some fun with it.”
Meanwhile, forward Andrew Desjardins (lower body) continues to improve. Quenneville said Desjardins could be skating in the next day or so.
Forsling, who is day-to-day with an upper-body injury sustained against the Calgary Flames on Monday night, did not practice on Thursday. Coach Joel Quenneville is still hopeful that the defenseman can play Sunday against the Los Angeles Kings.
The Blackhawks were switching lines again, putting Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane together on the top line. Marian Hossa took Kane’s place on the second line with Artemi Panarin and Artem Anisimov and Tyler Motte moved to the third line.
“Yeah, I guess change can be good in this sense. We can probably produce a little bit more offense and have the puck a little bit more throughout the game,” Kane said. “I’ve played with Jonny a bunch before. Obviously, not as much lately. But I’m looking forward to it. It’ll be a fun way to play hockey. Obviously he’s one of the best players in the game, and probably in my mind the easiest player to play with. It’ll be fun to get back out there with him and try to create something, try to produce and have some fun with it.”
Meanwhile, forward Andrew Desjardins (lower body) continues to improve. Quenneville said Desjardins could be skating in the next day or so.
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