dailyheraldchicago--2020-08-07--How many people in the U.S. are hospitalized with COVID-19? Who knows?

In mid-July , the Trump administration instructed hospitals to change the way they reported data on their coronavirus patients , promising the new approach would provide better , more up-to-the-minute information about the virus 's toll and allow resources and supplies to be quickly dispatched across the country .
Instead , the move has created widespread confusion , leaving some states in the dark about their hospitals ' remaining bed and intensive care capacity and , at least temporarily , removing this information from public view .
As a result , it has been unclear how many people are in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time when the number of infected patients nationally has been soaring .
Hospitalizations for COVID-19 have been seen as a key metric of both the coronavirus 's toll and the health care system 's ability to deal with it .
Since early in the pandemic , hospitals had been reporting data on COVID-19 patients to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through its National Healthcare Safety Network , which traditionally tracks hospital-acquired infections .
In a memo dated July 10 , the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services told hospitals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporting their data to the CDC and instead to submit it to HHS through a new portal run by a company called TeleTracking .
The change took effect within days .
Vice President Mike Pence said the administration would continue releasing the data publicly , as the CDC had done .
Almost immediately , the CDC pulled its historical data offline , only to repost it under pressure a couple days later .
Meanwhile the website for the administration 's new portal promised to update numbers on a daily basis , but , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ site had n't been updated since July 23 .
( HHS is posting some data daily on a different federal website but not representative estimates for each state . )
`` The most pernicious portion of it is that at the state level and at the regional level we lost our situational awareness , '' said Dave Dillon , spokesman for the Missouri Hospital Association .
`` At the end of this , we may have a fantastic data product out of HHS .
I will not beat them up for trying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but the rollout of this has been absolutely a catastrophe . ''
The Missouri Hospital Association had taken the daily data submitted by its hospitals to the CDC and created a state dashboard .
The transition knocked that offline .
The dashboard later came back online , but Dillon said in a follow-up email , `` the data is only as good as our ability to know that everyone is reporting the same data , in the correct way , for tracking and comparison purposes at the state level . ''
Other states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also experienced temporary information blackouts .
And The COVID Tracking Project , which has been following the pandemic 's toll across the country based on state data , noted issues with its figures .
`` These problems mean that our hospitalization data -- a crucial metric of the COVID-19 pandemic -- is , for now , unreliable , and likely an undercount .
We do not think that either the state-level hospitalization data or the new federal data is reliable in isolation , '' according to a blog post July 28 on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complicated , the administration has changed the information that it is requiring hospitals to report , adding many elements , such as the age range of admitted COVID-19 patients , and removing others .
For instance , HHS told hospitals to stop reporting the total number of deaths they 've had since Jan. 1 , the total number of COVID-19 deaths and the total number of COVID-19 admissions .
( Hospitals still report daily figures , just not historical ones . )
`` Massachusetts hospitals are continuing to navigate the dramatic increase of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health and Hospital Association said in a newsletter .
`` MHA and other state health officials continue to raise concerns about the administrative burden and questionable usefulness of some of the data . ''
`` Hospitals across the country were given little time to adjust to the unnecessary and seismic changes put forth by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services , which fundamentally shift both the volume of data and the platforms through which data is submitted , '' the association 's CEO , Steve Walsh , said in the newsletter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noted problems with hospital data .
For days , the Texas Department of State Health Services included a note on its dashboard that it was `` reporting incomplete hospitalization numbers … due to a transition in reporting to comply with new federal requirements . ''
That came just as the state was experiencing a peak in COVID-19 hospitalizations .
A spokesperson for HHS acknowledged some bumps in the transition but said in an email : `` We are pleased with the progress we have made during this transition and the actionable data it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states and hospital associations report difficulty with the new collection system .
When HHS identifies errors in the data submissions , we work directly with the state or hospital association to quickly resolve them .
`` Our objective with this new approach is to collaborate with the states and the healthcare system .
The goal of full transparency is to acknowledge when we find discrepancies in the data and correct them . ''
In the last week of July , HHS noted , 93 % of its prioritized list of hospitals , excluding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , reported data at least once during the week .
( The guidance to hospitals asks them to report every day . )
Asked about the lack of timely data on its public website , HHS said it will update the site to `` make it clear that the estimates are only updated weekly . ''
HHS is now posting a date file each day on healthdata.gov with aggregate information on hospitalizations by state .
But unlike the prior releases from CDC , which provided estimates on hospital capacity based on the responses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hospitals that reported data .
It 's unclear which hospitals did not report , how large they are , or whether the reported data is representative .
It 's also unclear if it 's accurate .
New York state , for instance , reported that fewer than 600 people were currently hospitalized with COVID-19 , as of Friday .
Federal data released the same day pegged the number of suspected and confirmed COVID-19 hospitalizations at around 1,800 .
Louisiana says more than 1,500 people are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 .
The federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 700 .
Nationally , The COVID Tracking Project reports that more than 56,000 people were hospitalized around the country with the virus , as of Thursday .
The data released by HHS on Friday puts the figure at more than 70,000 .
NPR reported July 29 that it had found irregularities in the process used by the Trump administration to award the contract to manage the hospital data .
Among other things , HHS directly contacted TeleTracking about the contract and the agency used a process that is more often used for innovative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ HHS spokesperson told NPR that the contract process it used is a `` common mechanism ... for areas of research interest , '' and said that the system used by the CDC was `` fraught with challenges . ''
Ryan Panchadsaram , co-founder of the tracking website CovidExitStrategy.org , has been critical of the problems created by the hospital data changeover .
`` Without real-time accurate monitoring , you ca n't make quick and fast and accurate decisions in a crisis , '' he said in an interview .
`` This is just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gone shows how the health system in a state is doing . ''
Dillon of the Missouri Hospital Association said the administration could have handled this differently .
For big technology projects , he noted , there is often a well-publicized transition with information sessions , an educational program and , perhaps , running the old system and the new one in parallel .
This `` was extremely abrupt , '' he said .
`` That is not akin to anything you would expect from HHS about how you would implement a program @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by ProPublica , a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power .
Sign up to receive our biggest stories as soon as they 're published .

How many people in the U.S. are hospitalized with COVID-19? Who knows?
In mid-July, the Trump administration instructed hospitals to change the way they reported data on their coronavirus patients, promising the new approach would provide better, more up-to-the-minute information about the virus's toll and allow resources and supplies to be quickly dispatched across the country.
Instead, the move has created widespread confusion, leaving some states in the dark about their hospitals' remaining bed and intensive care capacity and, at least temporarily, removing this information from public view. As a result, it has been unclear how many people are in hospitals being treated for COVID-19 at a time when the number of infected patients nationally has been soaring.
Hospitalizations for COVID-19 have been seen as a key metric of both the coronavirus's toll and the health care system's ability to deal with it.
Since early in the pandemic, hospitals had been reporting data on COVID-19 patients to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through its National Healthcare Safety Network, which traditionally tracks hospital-acquired infections.
In a memo dated July 10, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services told hospitals to abruptly change course -- to stop reporting their data to the CDC and instead to submit it to HHS through a new portal run by a company called TeleTracking. The change took effect within days. Vice President Mike Pence said the administration would continue releasing the data publicly, as the CDC had done.
Almost immediately, the CDC pulled its historical data offline, only to repost it under pressure a couple days later. Meanwhile the website for the administration's new portal promised to update numbers on a daily basis, but, as as of July 31, the site hadn't been updated since July 23. (HHS is posting some data daily on a different federal website but not representative estimates for each state.)
"The most pernicious portion of it is that at the state level and at the regional level we lost our situational awareness," said Dave Dillon, spokesman for the Missouri Hospital Association. "At the end of this, we may have a fantastic data product out of HHS. I will not beat them up for trying to do something positive about the data, but the rollout of this has been absolutely a catastrophe."
The Missouri Hospital Association had taken the daily data submitted by its hospitals to the CDC and created a state dashboard. The transition knocked that offline. The dashboard later came back online, but Dillon said in a follow-up email, "the data is only as good as our ability to know that everyone is reporting the same data, in the correct way, for tracking and comparison purposes at the state level."
Other states, including Idaho and South Carolina, also experienced temporary information blackouts. And The COVID Tracking Project, which has been following the pandemic's toll across the country based on state data, noted issues with its figures. "These problems mean that our hospitalization data -- a crucial metric of the COVID-19 pandemic -- is, for now, unreliable, and likely an undercount. We do not think that either the state-level hospitalization data or the new federal data is reliable in isolation," according to a blog post July 28 on the group's website.
Making matters more complicated, the administration has changed the information that it is requiring hospitals to report, adding many elements, such as the age range of admitted COVID-19 patients, and removing others. For instance, HHS told hospitals to stop reporting the total number of deaths they've had since Jan. 1, the total number of COVID-19 deaths and the total number of COVID-19 admissions. (Hospitals still report daily figures, just not historical ones.)
"Massachusetts hospitals are continuing to navigate the dramatic increase of daily data requirements," the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association said in a newsletter. "MHA and other state health officials continue to raise concerns about the administrative burden and questionable usefulness of some of the data."
"Hospitals across the country were given little time to adjust to the unnecessary and seismic changes put forth by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which fundamentally shift both the volume of data and the platforms through which data is submitted," the association's CEO, Steve Walsh, said in the newsletter.
A number of state websites also noted problems with hospital data. For days, the Texas Department of State Health Services included a note on its dashboard that it was "reporting incomplete hospitalization numbers … due to a transition in reporting to comply with new federal requirements." That came just as the state was experiencing a peak in COVID-19 hospitalizations.
California likewise noted problems.
A spokesperson for HHS acknowledged some bumps in the transition but said in an email: "We are pleased with the progress we have made during this transition and the actionable data it is providing. We have had some states and hospital associations report difficulty with the new collection system. When HHS identifies errors in the data submissions, we work directly with the state or hospital association to quickly resolve them.
"Our objective with this new approach is to collaborate with the states and the healthcare system. The goal of full transparency is to acknowledge when we find discrepancies in the data and correct them."
In the last week of July, HHS noted, 93% of its prioritized list of hospitals, excluding psychiatric, rehabilitation and religious nonmedical facilities, reported data at least once during the week. (The guidance to hospitals asks them to report every day.)
Asked about the lack of timely data on its public website, HHS said it will update the site to "make it clear that the estimates are only updated weekly." HHS is now posting a date file each day on healthdata.gov with aggregate information on hospitalizations by state.
But unlike the prior releases from CDC, which provided estimates on hospital capacity based on the responses, this file only gives totals for the hospitals that reported data. It's unclear which hospitals did not report, how large they are, or whether the reported data is representative.
It's also unclear if it's accurate. New York state, for instance, reported that fewer than 600 people were currently hospitalized with COVID-19, as of Friday. Federal data released the same day pegged the number of suspected and confirmed COVID-19 hospitalizations at around 1,800.
Louisiana says more than 1,500 people are currently hospitalized with COVID-19. The federal data puts the figure at fewer than 700.
Nationally, The COVID Tracking Project reports that more than 56,000 people were hospitalized around the country with the virus, as of Thursday.
The data released by HHS on Friday puts the figure at more than 70,000.
NPR reported July 29 that it had found irregularities in the process used by the Trump administration to award the contract to manage the hospital data. Among other things, HHS directly contacted TeleTracking about the contract and the agency used a process that is more often used for innovative scientific research, NPR reported.
An HHS spokesperson told NPR that the contract process it used is a "common mechanism ... for areas of research interest," and said that the system used by the CDC was "fraught with challenges."
Ryan Panchadsaram, co-founder of the tracking website CovidExitStrategy.org, has been critical of the problems created by the hospital data changeover.
"Without real-time accurate monitoring, you can't make quick and fast and accurate decisions in a crisis," he said in an interview. "This is just so important. This indicator that's gone shows how the health system in a state is doing."
Dillon of the Missouri Hospital Association said the administration could have handled this differently. For big technology projects, he noted, there is often a well-publicized transition with information sessions, an educational program and, perhaps, running the old system and the new one in parallel.
This "was extremely abrupt," he said. "That is not akin to anything you would expect from HHS about how you would implement a program."
• This story was produced by ProPublica, a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up to receive our biggest stories as soon as they're published.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-08-08--Baseball Way Back: Regan will always be linked to 1969 Cubs

Phil Regan spent his final innings as a player in Chicago .
For Cubs fans who rode the roller coaster of the unforgettable 1969 season , Regan will always be identified with that star-crossed crew that had the NL East flag in sight , only to let it slip into the hands of the Amazin ' Mets .
Regan went 12-6 that season , with 17 saves for a team that finished 92-70 .
When the Cubs acquired him April 23 , 1968 , from the Los Angeles Dodgers along with future Cubs all-star Jim Hickman , it provided a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Regan rewarded the Cubs by leading the NL in saves for the second time in his career , earning 25 in 1968 .
He was especially effective when used in games started by 23-year-old Joe Niekro .
Regan saved nine of Niekro 's 14 victories .
The 1968 campaign was also notable for Regan 's run-in with umpire Chris Pelekoudas , who during a 2-1 loss to Cincinnati on Aug. 18 at Wrigley Field accused Regan of doctoring the baseball with Vaseline .
Pelekoudas disallowed outs , one in the seventh and another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of `` illegal '' pitches .
On one of those outs , Regan had struck out Pete Rose .
When Rose returned to the plate , he singled , only to be caught stealing .
`` They said with the rotation on the ball , we thought it was an illegal pitch , '' Regan said in an interview from Port St. Lucie , Florida .
The umpires `` came out and took my hat off .
They wiped my forehead .
They checked my glove .
They checked my uniform .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ did n't kick me out of the game , '' despite a rule calling for a pitcher 's ouster for throwing an illegal pitch .
Although Regan remained in the game , manager Leo Durocher , outfielder Al Spangler and catcher Randy Hundley were tossed in that game -- as was Rose , who threw his helmet after he was caught stealing .
Ultimately , National League President Warren Giles cleared Regan of the charges , but the inning did impact the record books .
Regan said , `` Pete Rose was tied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going into the last game of the season on the strength of that one hit he got after he struck out . ''
Rose would win with a .335 average , while Alou finished at .332 .
Hopes were high for 1969 , Regan said , especially when general manager John Holland sent the players $ 500 bonuses as an incentive to come early to spring training .
The year began gloriously at Wrigley with an opening day walk-off 2-run home run by Willie Smith in the bottom of the 11th in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , living up to his nickname -- the Vulture -- was the winning pitcher , even though in the top of the frame he had given up the go-ahead run on a double by Don Money .
Regan has vivid recollections of the fan euphoria that swept through Wrigley that year , reflected in attendance that swelled from 1,043,409 in 1968 to 1,674,993 .
Bleacher Bums would jump on the field , mobbing the players on their way to the clubhouse in left field after the game .
He said , `` Hundley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was all messed .
His hat was gone , and he said , 'Wow , it 's hard to get through them people . '
'' And in the parking lot by the fire station , `` After a game , you could n't get through the crowd .
It was just wall-to-wall people every day .
I have to say it was pretty exciting , '' Regan said .
Regan said he enjoyed playing for Durocher , ranking him and Dodgers ' manager Walt Alston as his favorites .
`` I used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up , 'Do n't argue with Leo .
Because you ca n't outtalk him . '
But he was exciting to play for .
You would come to the ballpark every day and you never knew what was going to happen , what he was going to do , and I really liked him a lot . ''
Regan remembered that after the Cubs won a game in 1969 , Durocher fined team captain Ron Santo $ 100 , telling him , `` 'You loped .
You did n't run from second to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' That kind of got everybody 's attention . ''
But Regan remains puzzled by the season 's bitter outcome , given the Cubs ' five-game lead going into September .
`` To this day I do n't know how the Mets beat us , '' he said , but offered a possible explanation .
`` I really think this -- and you do n't want to make excuses -- but I know I played in LA and I was in 60-some games out there and I was never tired , because you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I played at Wrigley Field and you play all those day games in the heat and I tell you I was tired at the end of the year .
And I was in only 60-70 games maybe .
I think our whole team got tired at the end .
That 's the only thing I can think of , because it was just too good a team not to win . ''
Regan played for the Cubs until he was sold June 2 , 1972 , to the White Sox , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ went 0-1 in 10 games .
After stints as the pitching coach with Seattle and Cleveland and one year as manager in Baltimore , where former White Sox GM Roland Hemond was general manager , Regan returned to Chicago as the Cubs ' pitching coach in 1997 and 1998 .
There he would nurture the young Kerry Wood .
He said he tried to get Wood away from his tendency to throw across his body and drop his arm .
Regan said he tried to have him open up more and get over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In spring training , some of the people did n't want him to throw a slider .
He had a great slider . ''
He said general manager Ed Lynch approached Wood and catcher Scott Servais and ordered Wood not to throw it , because it would hurt his arm .
`` Then he walked away , and Kerry said , ' I 'm throwing the slider . '
And so Servais said , 'Well , just tell him it 's a curve ball with a sharper break . '
`` Then after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you never heard another word . ''

Baseball Way Back: Regan will always be linked to 1969 Cubs
Phil Regan, who pitched for the Cubs in 1969, says the team's late-season swoon may have come from playing too many day games. Associated Press
Last of 3 parts
Phil Regan spent his final innings as a player in Chicago.
For Cubs fans who rode the roller coaster of the unforgettable 1969 season, Regan will always be identified with that star-crossed crew that had the NL East flag in sight, only to let it slip into the hands of the Amazin' Mets.
Regan went 12-6 that season, with 17 saves for a team that finished 92-70. When the Cubs acquired him April 23, 1968, from the Los Angeles Dodgers along with future Cubs all-star Jim Hickman, it provided a badly needed boost to the bullpen.
Regan rewarded the Cubs by leading the NL in saves for the second time in his career, earning 25 in 1968. He was especially effective when used in games started by 23-year-old Joe Niekro. Regan saved nine of Niekro's 14 victories.
The 1968 campaign was also notable for Regan's run-in with umpire Chris Pelekoudas, who during a 2-1 loss to Cincinnati on Aug. 18 at Wrigley Field accused Regan of doctoring the baseball with Vaseline.
Pelekoudas disallowed outs, one in the seventh and another in the ninth, to two batters because of "illegal" pitches.
On one of those outs, Regan had struck out Pete Rose. When Rose returned to the plate, he singled, only to be caught stealing.
"They said with the rotation on the ball, we thought it was an illegal pitch," Regan said in an interview from Port St. Lucie, Florida.
The umpires "came out and took my hat off. They wiped my forehead. They checked my glove. They checked my uniform. They didn't find anything. They didn't kick me out of the game," despite a rule calling for a pitcher's ouster for throwing an illegal pitch.
Although Regan remained in the game, manager Leo Durocher, outfielder Al Spangler and catcher Randy Hundley were tossed in that game -- as was Rose, who threw his helmet after he was caught stealing.
Ultimately, National League President Warren Giles cleared Regan of the charges, but the inning did impact the record books.
Regan said, "Pete Rose was tied with Matty Alou for the batting title going into the last game of the season on the strength of that one hit he got after he struck out." Rose would win with a .335 average, while Alou finished at .332.
Hopes were high for 1969, Regan said, especially when general manager John Holland sent the players $500 bonuses as an incentive to come early to spring training.
The year began gloriously at Wrigley with an opening day walk-off 2-run home run by Willie Smith in the bottom of the 11th in a 7-6 win over the Phillies.
Regan, living up to his nickname -- the Vulture -- was the winning pitcher, even though in the top of the frame he had given up the go-ahead run on a double by Don Money.
Regan has vivid recollections of the fan euphoria that swept through Wrigley that year, reflected in attendance that swelled from 1,043,409 in 1968 to 1,674,993.
Bleacher Bums would jump on the field, mobbing the players on their way to the clubhouse in left field after the game.
He said, "Hundley came in one day, His uniform was all messed. His hat was gone, and he said, 'Wow, it's hard to get through them people.'"
And in the parking lot by the fire station, "After a game, you couldn't get through the crowd. It was just wall-to-wall people every day. I have to say it was pretty exciting," Regan said.
Regan said he enjoyed playing for Durocher, ranking him and Dodgers' manager Walt Alston as his favorites.
"I used to tell kids when they would come up, 'Don't argue with Leo. Because you can't outtalk him.' But he was exciting to play for. You would come to the ballpark every day and you never knew what was going to happen, what he was going to do, and I really liked him a lot."
Regan remembered that after the Cubs won a game in 1969, Durocher fined team captain Ron Santo $100, telling him, "'You loped. You didn't run from second to third as hard as you could.' That kind of got everybody's attention."
But Regan remains puzzled by the season's bitter outcome, given the Cubs' five-game lead going into September.
"To this day I don't know how the Mets beat us," he said, but offered a possible explanation.
"I really think this -- and you don't want to make excuses -- but I know I played in LA and I was in 60-some games out there and I was never tired, because you played at night and it was cool.
"I played at Wrigley Field and you play all those day games in the heat and I tell you I was tired at the end of the year. And I was in only 60-70 games maybe. I think our whole team got tired at the end. That's the only thing I can think of, because it was just too good a team not to win."
Regan played for the Cubs until he was sold June 2, 1972, to the White Sox, who released him July 20 after he went 0-1 in 10 games.
After stints as the pitching coach with Seattle and Cleveland and one year as manager in Baltimore, where former White Sox GM Roland Hemond was general manager, Regan returned to Chicago as the Cubs' pitching coach in 1997 and 1998. There he would nurture the young Kerry Wood.
He said he tried to get Wood away from his tendency to throw across his body and drop his arm. Regan said he tried to have him open up more and get over the ball.
He said, "In spring training, some of the people didn't want him to throw a slider. He had a great slider."
He said general manager Ed Lynch approached Wood and catcher Scott Servais and ordered Wood not to throw it, because it would hurt his arm.
"Then he walked away, and Kerry said, 'I'm throwing the slider.' And so Servais said, 'Well, just tell him it's a curve ball with a sharper break.'
"Then after he struck out the 20 guys, you never heard another word."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-08-09--Semien hits leadoff HR, A's beat Astros to win 8th straight

OAKLAND , Calif. -- Marcus Semien homered in the first after hitting a walkoff single to end a 13-inning win a night earlier and the Oakland Athletics beat the Houston Astros 3-1 on Saturday for their eighth straight victory .
Frankie Montas ( 2-1 ) pitched seven shutout innings , allowing two hits without walking a batter and striking out five for the AL West-leading A 's .
The three-time reigning division champion Astros lost their fourth in a row .
The last three defeats had been by a total of four runs .
Semien became the first player in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hit and a leadoff homer on back-to-back days .
Matt Chapman homered in the eighth and added an RBI groundout in the sixth as Oakland ( 11-4 ) matched the 2014 club for the best record through 15 games over the last 30 years .
Houston starter Framber ValdÃ©z ( 0-2 ) gave up two runs and seven hits , striking out nine with one walk over seven innings .
ST. PETERSBURG , Fla. -- Austin Meadows hit a two-run single and the Tampa Bay earned a split of seven-inning games in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as ace Gerrit Cole came within one strike of earning his 20th straight regular-season win .
Cole took a 5-0 lead into the fifth .
With two outs and a runner on , he had a 1-2 count on Ji-Man Choi , who came back to hit an RBI double .
Jose Martinez followed with a two-run homer on the 107th pitch from a clearly tiring Cole .
Soon after , Yankees manager Aaron Boone took a slow walk to mound to replace Cole with Chad Green ( 2-0 ) , who got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 1/3 innings .
Aaron Judge hit his eighth home run of the season for the Yankees .
Giancarlo Stanton and Mike Ford also connected for New York .
After Ford homered , a two-run double by Gio Urshela put the Yankees up 4-0 and chased Rays starter Tyler Glasnow ( 0-1 ) with two outs in the third .
In the nightcap , the Rays used six pitchers during a bullpen day .
Judge flied out deep with a runner on base to end it .
Pete Fairbanks ( 2-1 ) pitched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Meadows ' hit off Luis Avilan put Tampa Bay up 3-1 in the fourth inning .
Avilan replaced spot starter Michael King ( 0-1 ) , who allowed three runs on one hit and five walks in 3 2/3 innings .
PHILADELPHIA -- Jake Arrieta tossed six strong innings for his first win in more than a year and Jay Bruce and J.T .
Realmuto each homered to lead Philadelphia .
Arrieta ( 1-1 ) tossed three-hit ball and struck out six for his first win since June 30 , 2019 .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bryce Harper made an outstretched , diving catch in the fifth that earned a fist pump in appreciation from Arrieta .
Realmuto continued his hot streak , homering for the third straight game , with a 427-foot solo shot in the fourth off Braves starter Kyle Wright ( 0-2 ) .
Wright put the next runners on base and Bruce hit a three-run homer to make it 4-0 .
PITTSBURGH -- Niko Goodrum , Miguel Cabrera , C.J .
Cron and Jeimer Candelario all hit home runs in the first inning against Pittsburgh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Detroit sent four of Holland 's first 11 pitches over the fence at PNC Park to propel the Tigers to another big offensive outburst against reeling Pittsburgh one night after a 17-13 win in 11 innings .
The Pirates lost for the ninth time in their last 10 games .
Cabrera got three hits , including his 481st career home run .
The 37-year-old also drove in three runs .
Ivan Nova ( 1-0 ) nearly let a big early lead slip away .
The veteran gave up five runs on six hits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kevin Newman tied a career-high with four hits and drove in two runs for Pittsburgh .
CHICAGO -- Zach Plesac tossed six strong innings and Cleveland snapped a scoring drought with a six-run fourth .
The Indians had been blanked for 13 innings before Franmil Reyes and Jordan Luplow each hit a two-run homer in the fourth .
Luplow was 0 for 21 with a walk this season before homering .
Domingo Santana added a solo homer in the eighth .
Plesac ( 1-1 ) allowed five hits and struck out seven in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Yoan Moncada homered in the eighth for Chicago .
He has reached in 19 straight games dating back to last Sept. 25 .
The Indians were held hitless through the first three innings before erupting against Drew Anderson ( 0-1 ) in the fourth .

Semien hits leadoff HR, A's beat Astros to win 8th straight
Oakland Athletics' Marcus Semien, right, slides in to steal second base as Houston Astros' Jose Altuve (27) misses the ball in the sixth inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 8, 2020, in Oakland, Calif. Associated Press
Oakland Athletics' Sean Murphy, Liam Hendriks (16) and Marcus Semien, from left, and teammates celebrate the 3-1 win over the Houston Astros in a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 8, 2020, in Oakland, Calif. Associated Press
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Marcus Semien homered in the first after hitting a walkoff single to end a 13-inning win a night earlier and the Oakland Athletics beat the Houston Astros 3-1 on Saturday for their eighth straight victory.
Frankie Montas (2-1) pitched seven shutout innings, allowing two hits without walking a batter and striking out five for the AL West-leading A's.
The three-time reigning division champion Astros lost their fourth in a row. The last three defeats had been by a total of four runs.
Semien became the first player in A's franchise history with a game-ending hit and a leadoff homer on back-to-back days.
Matt Chapman homered in the eighth and added an RBI groundout in the sixth as Oakland (11-4) matched the 2014 club for the best record through 15 games over the last 30 years.
Houston starter Framber Valdéz (0-2) gave up two runs and seven hits, striking out nine with one walk over seven innings.
GIANTS 5, DODGERS 4
LOS ANGELES -- Austin Slater had his first multi-homer game, Johnny Cueto took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and San Francisco beat Los Angeles.
Slater hit solo shots over the wall in center in the third and fifth innings off Clayton Kershaw and became only the seventh player to hit two homers in the same game off the Dodgers' ace.
It was a tough night for Kershaw (1-1), who has traditionally dominated the Giants. The right-hander allowed four runs and six hits in 4 1/3 innings with a walk and six strikeouts.
Cueto (1-0) only allowed a third-inning walk to Chris Taylor in the first five innings before hitting a wall in the sixth. He went 5 2/3 innings and allowed four runs on two hits with three walks and three strikeouts.
Mike Yastrzemski also homered in the third to extend San Francisco's lead to 2-0.
DIAMONDBACKS 3, PADRES 2
SAN DIEGO -- Starling Marté and Stephen Vogt homered off Chris Paddack in the sixth inning, and Arizona beat San Diego.
The Padres failed to capitalize on two more home runs by Fernando Tatis Jr., including his second leadoff homer in two nights.
Tatis' second homer, off Héctor Rondón in the eighth, pulled the Padres to 3-2.
All the excitement of Tatis' leadoff drive off Merrill Kelly (2-1) disappeared by the fourth inning, when Vogt's sacrifice fly brought in Marté.
Marté sent a charge through the Diamondbacks dugout in the sixth when he hit a go-ahead homer off the side of the Western Metal Supply Co. Building in the left-field corner. With two outs, Vogt drove a ball into the home run porch down the right field line to chase Paddack (2-1). .
Archie Bradley pitched the ninth for his third save.
RANGERS 2, ANGELS 0
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Joey Gallo hit a two-run homer, six Texas pitchers combined on a four-hitter to give the Rangers consecutive wins for the first time this season.
Edinson Volquez (1-1), the first reliever after starter Kolby Allard's five innings, worked the sixth for his first major league victory since 2017. It was his first win for the Rangers since 2007, before the former starter was traded to Cincinnati for Josh Hamilton. Rafael Montero worked a perfect ninth for his second save in two nights.
The Angels are 5-10 under new manager Joe Maddon, matching the worst 15-game start in team history. They had been 5-10 five other times, most recently in 2013.
Gallo went the opposite way in the sixth off Patrick Sandoval (0-1), the line shot landing in the Angels bullpen in left-center field. All four of Gallo's homers this season have come off left-handed pitchers.
ORIOLES 5, NATIONALS 3
WASHINGTON -- Pat Valaika, Pedro Severino and Anthony Santander homered during a five-run rally in the eighth inning as Baltimore roughed up Washington's relievers.
The Orioles went into eighth with just two hits and trailing 3-0. Sean Doolittle relieved and Baltimore began the eighth with back-to-back, pinch-hit homers by Valaika and Severino.
Daniel Hudson (1-1) took over with one out and after a walk and single, Santander hit his third homer of the season into the left-field bleachers.
Shawn Armstrong (1-0) allowed just one hit and struck out two in 1 ½ innings of relief. Miguel Castro earned his first save of the season with a scoreless ninth.
Juan Soto hit his first home run of the season in the second to give Washington a 1-0 lead. Eric Thames had an RBI double in the sixth as the Nationals went up 3-0.
ROYALS 9, TWINS 6
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Jorge Soler homered in back-to-back innings, the second blast coming in a go-ahead six-run fourth in which Kansas City went deep three times.
Nicky Lopez hit a two-run shot off reliever Lewis Thorpe (0-1) and Salvador Perez also went deep as the first seven Royals reached base in the fourth. Soler and Perez went back-to-back for the second time this season, and it was the first time the club had hit three homers in an inning since Aug. 19, 2018, against the White Sox.
Tyler Zuber (1-1) earned the win in relief of Danny Duffy. Trevor Rosenthal got four outs for his second straight save.
Nelson Cruz, Byron Buxton and Max Kepler went deep for the Twins, who lost the series opener in a 3-2 pitching duel.
YANKEES 8, RAYS 4, 1st game; RAYS 5, YANKEES 3, 2nd game
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Austin Meadows hit a two-run single and the Tampa Bay earned a split of seven-inning games in a doubleheader.
The Yankees won the opener as ace Gerrit Cole came within one strike of earning his 20th straight regular-season win.
Cole took a 5-0 lead into the fifth. With two outs and a runner on, he had a 1-2 count on Ji-Man Choi, who came back to hit an RBI double. Jose Martinez followed with a two-run homer on the 107th pitch from a clearly tiring Cole. Soon after, Yankees manager Aaron Boone took a slow walk to mound to replace Cole with Chad Green (2-0), who got the win after allowing one run over 1 1/3 innings.
Aaron Judge hit his eighth home run of the season for the Yankees. Giancarlo Stanton and Mike Ford also connected for New York.
After Ford homered, a two-run double by Gio Urshela put the Yankees up 4-0 and chased Rays starter Tyler Glasnow (0-1) with two outs in the third.
In the nightcap, the Rays used six pitchers during a bullpen day. Judge flied out deep with a runner on base to end it.
Pete Fairbanks (2-1) pitched the fourth to get the win.
Meadows' hit off Luis Avilan put Tampa Bay up 3-1 in the fourth inning. Avilan replaced spot starter Michael King (0-1), who allowed three runs on one hit and five walks in 3 2/3 innings.
METS 8, MARLINS 4
NEW YORK -- J.D. Davis homered and drove in a career-high four runs, Pete Alonso and Michael Conforto also connected, and the New York Mets finally slowed down Miami.
Rookie left-hander David Peterson (2-1) allowed two runs over five innings to win his first home start for the Mets. Davis hit a three-run shot and a sacrifice fly to help New York (6-9) win for only the third time in 10 games.
Conforto and Alonso each ripped a two-run homer off Daniel Castano (0-1), the latest starter to make his major league debut for the depleted Marlins. Despite a coronavirus outbreak that ravaged the roster, Miami (7-2) had won six in a row during a streak that began July 26.
BLUE JAYS 2, RED SOX 1
BOSTON -- Five Toronto pitchers combined on a four-hitter and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. scored the tiebreaking run in the eighth inning on a groundout to lift the Blue Jays.
Anthony Kay (1-0) pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings for the win. Anthony Bass picked up his third save.
Gurriel drew a leadoff walk in the eighth from Marcus Walden (0-1), moved to third on Randal Grichuk's one-out single and scored on a soft grounder by Rowdy Tellez to second baseman Jose Peraza, who was playing deep and didn't have time to turn a double play.
REDS 4, BREWERS 1
MILWAUKEE -- Anthony DeSclafani allowed two singles over six scoreless innings and Eugenio Suarez hit a three-run homer to lift Cincinnati.
Suarez put the Reds up 3-0 in the first with his second homer of the season. The Reds added a run in the seventh and Milwaukee countered with Brock Holt's sacrifice fly in the eighth.
DeSclafani (1-0), making his second start after opening the season on the disabled list, allowed a leadoff single in the third to Holt, who was erased on a double play, and a two-out single to Eric Sogard in the sixth.
Raisel Iglesias pitched a perfect ninth for his second save of the season and 100th career save.
The Reds capitalized on shoddy defense for three runs in the first off Trevor Anderson (0-1), who lasted just 3 2/3 innings, allowing the three runs '" two earned '" on four hits, walking two and striking out two.
ROCKIES 5, MARINERS 0
SEATTLE -- Charlie Blackmon added three more hits to his major league-leading total and drove in three runs, and four Colorado pitchers combined for a one-hitter.
Colorado won for the seventh time in eight games to keep rolling atop the NL West.
Rockies starter Ryan Castellani, making his major league debut, began with four perfect innings. He was pulled after a hit batter and walk to open the fifth.Reliever Jeff Hoffman kept the no-hitter going until J.P. Crawford lined a single to center field with two outs in the sixth inning for the Mariners' lone hit.
Hoffman (2-0) threw three innings before Yency Almonte pitched a perfect eighth and Phillip Diehl closed out the ninth.
Daniel Murphy and Trevor Story also had RBI singles for Colorado.
Anthony Misiewicz (0-1) gave up two runs in one inning.
PHILLIES 5, BRAVES 0
PHILADELPHIA -- Jake Arrieta tossed six strong innings for his first win in more than a year and Jay Bruce and J.T. Realmuto each homered to lead Philadelphia.
Arrieta (1-1) tossed three-hit ball and struck out six for his first win since June 30, 2019. He had help all around -- right fielder Bryce Harper made an outstretched, diving catch in the fifth that earned a fist pump in appreciation from Arrieta.
Realmuto continued his hot streak, homering for the third straight game, with a 427-foot solo shot in the fourth off Braves starter Kyle Wright (0-2). Wright put the next runners on base and Bruce hit a three-run homer to make it 4-0.
TIGERS 11, PIRATES 5
PITTSBURGH -- Niko Goodrum, Miguel Cabrera, C.J. Cron and Jeimer Candelario all hit home runs in the first inning against Pittsburgh's Derek Holland to lead Detroit.
Detroit sent four of Holland's first 11 pitches over the fence at PNC Park to propel the Tigers to another big offensive outburst against reeling Pittsburgh one night after a 17-13 win in 11 innings.
The Pirates lost for the ninth time in their last 10 games.
Cabrera got three hits, including his 481st career home run. The 37-year-old also drove in three runs.
Ivan Nova (1-0) nearly let a big early lead slip away. The veteran gave up five runs on six hits with three walks and three strikeouts.
Kevin Newman tied a career-high with four hits and drove in two runs for Pittsburgh.
INDIANS 7, WHITE SOX 1
CHICAGO -- Zach Plesac tossed six strong innings and Cleveland snapped a scoring drought with a six-run fourth.
The Indians had been blanked for 13 innings before Franmil Reyes and Jordan Luplow each hit a two-run homer in the fourth. Luplow was 0 for 21 with a walk this season before homering. Domingo Santana added a solo homer in the eighth.
Plesac (1-1) allowed five hits and struck out seven in lowering his ERA to 1.29 this year.
Yoan Moncada homered in the eighth for Chicago. He has reached in 19 straight games dating back to last Sept. 25.
The Indians were held hitless through the first three innings before erupting against Drew Anderson (0-1) in the fourth.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-08-09--Gov. Pritzker pushes mask compliance as Illinois announces 1,382 new virus cases

Gov .
J.B. Pritzker Sunday urged a committee of legislators to approve proposed Illinois Department of Public Health rules to bring businesses into compliance if they are not enforcing the May 1 requirement for people to wear masks in public if they can not maintain a 6-foot social distance .
On Friday , the IDPH advanced the new emergency rules , which give businesses a warning and the ability to rectify an infraction before receiving a fine , which can range from $ 75 to $ 2,500 .
Meanwhile , the state announced Sunday that 1,382 additional COVID-19 cases have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died .
That is a big decline from the previous two days , when new cases were over 2,000 , the highest since May .
Numbers on the weekend are n't necessarily representative , however .
At a Sunday press conference , the governor called for members of the General Assembly who serve on the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules ( JCAR ) to approve the IDPH rules .
He said they call for `` a modest level of enforcement similar to that which many other states already have '' that `` prioritizes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and punishment . ''
In explaining the need for the new rules , he said , `` We 're also doing this for the businesses that are following the rules , while their competitors flout them .
We 're doing this for the people who have to work in the stores where their bosses wo n't enforce public health rules , thereby putting their lives and health at risk .
We 're doing this to reduce or even eliminate community spread so that if parents want their kids to go back to school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of preserving the option of in-person learning this fall . ''
He put it into perspective by saying , `` Imagine if someone could walk into a restaurant , light a cigarette , blow smoke in your face and all the smoker had to say is , 'Well , it 's my choice . '
'' Pritzker was backed by IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike .
`` We 're dealing with a deadly virus , '' he said , adding `` 7,636 individuals have lost their fight with COVID .
That 's a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any debate about that , ask the doctors and the nurses that fought to try to save them .
Ask their grieving loved ones . ''
On Sunday , the Illinois Public Health Association ( IPHA ) , which represents 88 certified local health departments , declared its support of the emergency rules .
In a statement , it said , `` These proposed rules allow for multiple opportunities and flexibility to help businesses and others come into compliance . ''
On Sunday , the state reported 41,354 tests in the previous 24 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tests .
The state 's seven-day rolling positivity rate is 4.1 % , according to the IDPH .
Most of the deaths reported Sunday occurred in the Chicago area , with 7 in Cook County .
As of Saturday night , 1,488 people in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19 .
Of those , 322 patients were in the ICU and 114 were on ventilators .
Statewide , 194,080 people in 102 counties have now tested positive for the virus .
The age of cases ranges from younger than @ @ @ @ @ @

Gov. Pritzker pushes mask compliance as Illinois announces 1,382 new virus cases
Gov. J.B. Pritzker is seeking support for rules to require businesses to enforce compliance with the requirement that people wear masks in public if they cannot maintain a 6-foot social distance. Here he is speaking Tuesday in Carbondale on the importance of masks. Geoff Ritter photo
Gov. J.B. Pritzker Sunday urged a committee of legislators to approve proposed Illinois Department of Public Health rules to bring businesses into compliance if they are not enforcing the May 1 requirement for people to wear masks in public if they cannot maintain a 6-foot social distance.
On Friday, the IDPH advanced the new emergency rules, which give businesses a warning and the ability to rectify an infraction before receiving a fine, which can range from $75 to $2,500.
Meanwhile, the state announced Sunday that 1,382 additional COVID-19 cases have been confirmed and eight more people have died. That is a big decline from the previous two days, when new cases were over 2,000, the highest since May. Numbers on the weekend aren't necessarily representative, however.
At a Sunday press conference, the governor called for members of the General Assembly who serve on the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) to approve the IDPH rules.
He said they call for "a modest level of enforcement similar to that which many other states already have" that "prioritizes education and support for businesses over shame and punishment."
In explaining the need for the new rules, he said, "We're also doing this for the businesses that are following the rules, while their competitors flout them. We're doing this for the people who have to work in the stores where their bosses won't enforce public health rules, thereby putting their lives and health at risk. We're doing this to reduce or even eliminate community spread so that if parents want their kids to go back to school, they'll have the best chance of preserving the option of in-person learning this fall."
He put it into perspective by saying, "Imagine if someone could walk into a restaurant, light a cigarette, blow smoke in your face and all the smoker had to say is, 'Well, it's my choice.'"
Pritzker was backed by IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike. "We're dealing with a deadly virus," he said, adding "7,636 individuals have lost their fight with COVID. That's a cold hard fact. If there's any debate about that, ask the doctors and the nurses that fought to try to save them. Ask their grieving loved ones."
On Sunday, the Illinois Public Health Association (IPHA), which represents 88 certified local health departments, declared its support of the emergency rules. In a statement, it said, "These proposed rules allow for multiple opportunities and flexibility to help businesses and others come into compliance."
On Sunday, the state reported 41,354 tests in the previous 24 hours, for a total of 3,073,988 tests. The state's seven-day rolling positivity rate is 4.1%, according to the IDPH.
Most of the deaths reported Sunday occurred in the Chicago area, with 7 in Cook County.
As of Saturday night, 1,488 people in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 322 patients were in the ICU and 114 were on ventilators.
Statewide, 194,080 people in 102 counties have now tested positive for the virus. The age of cases ranges from younger than 1 to older than 100.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-08-09--U.S. tops 5 million confirmed virus cases, to Europe's alarm.

ROME -- With confirmed coronavirus cases in the U.S. hitting 5 million Sunday , by far the highest of any country , the failure of the most powerful nation in the world to contain the scourge has been met with astonishment and alarm in Europe .
Perhaps nowhere outside the U.S. is America 's bungled virus response viewed with more consternation than in Italy , which was ground zero of Europe 's epidemic .
Italians were unprepared when the outbreak exploded in February , and the country still has one of the world 's highest official death tolls at over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 10-week lockdown , vigilant tracing of new clusters and general acceptance of mask mandates and social distancing , Italy has become a model of virus containment .
`` Do n't they care about their health ? ''
a mask-clad Patrizia Antonini asked about people in the United States as she walked with friends along the banks of Lake Bracciano , north of Rome .
`` They need to take our precautions .
...
They need a real lockdown . ''
Much of the incredulity in Europe stems from the fact that America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experience and medical know-how to treat the virus that the continent itself did n't have when the first COVID-19 patients started filling intensive care units .
M ore than four months into a sustained outbreak , the U.S. reached the 5 million mark , according to the running count kept by Johns Hopkins University .
Health officials believe the actual number is perhaps 10 times higher , or closer to 50 million , given testing limitations and the fact that as many as 40 % of all those who are infected have no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America as a model , '' said Massimo Franco , a columnist with daily Corriere della Sera .
`` But with this virus we 've discovered a country that is very fragile , with bad infrastructure and a public health system that is nonexistent . ''
With America 's world's-highest death toll of more than 160,000 , its politicized resistance to masks and its rising caseload , European nations have barred American tourists and visitors from other countries with growing cases from freely traveling to the bloc .
France and Germany are now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` at risk '' countries , the U.S. included .
`` I am very well aware that this impinges on individual freedoms , but I believe that this is a justifiable intervention , '' German Health Minister Jens Spahn said last week .
Mistakes were made in Europe , too , from delayed lockdowns to insufficient protections for nursing home elderly and critical shortages of tests and protective equipment for medical personnel .
Hard-hit Spain , France , Britain and Germany have seen infection rebounds with new cases topping 1,000 a day , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Friday .
Some scientists say Britain 's beloved pubs might have to close again if schools are to reopen in September .
Europe as a whole has seen over 207,000 confirmed virus deaths , by Johns Hopkins ' count .
In the U.S. , new cases are running at about 54,000 a day -- an immensely high number even when taking into account the country 's large population .
And while that 's down from a peak of well over 70,000 last month , cases are rising in nearly 20 states , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In contrast , at least for now Europe appears to have the virus somewhat under control .
`` Had the medical professionals been allowed to operate in the States , you would have belatedly gotten to a point of getting to grips with this back in March , '' said Scott Lucas , professor of international studies at the University of Birmingham , England .
`` But of course , the medical and public health professionals were not allowed to proceed unchecked , '' he said , referring to President Donald Trump 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ When the virus first appeared in the United States , Trump and his supporters quickly dismissed it as either a `` hoax '' or a scourge that would quickly disappear once warmer weather arrived .
At one point , Trump suggested that ultraviolet light or injecting disinfectants would eradicate the virus .
( He later said he was being facetious ) .
Trump 's frequent complaints about Dr. Anthony Fauci have regularly made headlines in Europe , where the U.S. infectious-disease expert is a respected figure .
Italy 's leading COVID-19 hospital offered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump has defended the U.S. response , blaming China , where the virus was first detected , for America 's problems and saying the U.S. numbers are so high because there is so much testing .
Trump supporters and Americans who have refused to wear masks against all medical advice back that line .
`` There 's no reason to fear any sickness that 's out there , '' said Julia Ferjo , a mother of three in Alpine , Texas , who is `` vehemently '' against wearing a mask .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a large gym with open doors .
She does n't allow participants to wear masks .
`` When you 're breathing that hard , I would pass out , '' she said .
`` I do not want people just dropping like flies . ''
And health officials watched with alarm as thousands of bikers gathered Friday in the small South Dakota city of Sturgis for an annual 10-day motorcycle rally .
The state has no mask mandates , and many bikers expressed defiance of measures meant to prevent the virus 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center at Columbia University Irving Medical Center , who is leading a team seeking treatments for COVID-19 , decried such behavior , as well as the country 's handling of the virus .
`` There 's no national strategy , no national leadership , and there 's no urging for the public to act in unison and carry out the measures together , '' he said .
`` That 's what it takes , and we have completely abandoned that as a nation . ''
When he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around the globe , `` everyone can not believe what they 're seeing in the U.S. and they can not believe the words coming out of the leadership , he said .
Amid the scorn from other countries , Trump national security adviser Robert O'Brien , newly recovered from a bout with the virus , gave an upbeat picture Sunday on CBS ' `` Face the Nation . ''
`` We 're going to fight like heck .
We 're working hard on vaccines .
We 're working hard on testing machines that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're working on therapeutics , '' he said .
`` I 'm so impressed with our scientists and our doctors and our first responders and the folks who are attacking this disease , and God bless them all . ''
Many Europeans point proudly to their national health care systems that not only test but treat COVID-19 for free , unlike the American system , where the virus crisis has only exacerbated income and racial inequalities in obtaining health care .
`` The coronavirus has brutally stripped bare the vulnerability of a country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' wrote Italian author Massimo Gaggi in his new book `` Crack America '' ( Broken America ) , about U.S. problems that long predated COVID-19 .
Gaggi said he started writing the book last year and thought then that the title would be taken as a provocative wake-up call .
Then the virus hit .
`` By March the title was n't a provocation any longer , '' he said .
`` It was obvious . ''

U.S. tops 5 million confirmed virus cases, to Europe's alarm.
Passengers board a Casco Bay Lines ferry bound for Peaks Island on July 30 in Portland, Maine. America's failure so far to contain the spread of the coronavirus as it moves across the country has been met with astonishment and alarm on both sides of the Atlantic. AP file photo
ROME -- With confirmed coronavirus cases in the U.S. hitting 5 million Sunday, by far the highest of any country, the failure of the most powerful nation in the world to contain the scourge has been met with astonishment and alarm in Europe.
Perhaps nowhere outside the U.S. is America's bungled virus response viewed with more consternation than in Italy, which was ground zero of Europe's epidemic. Italians were unprepared when the outbreak exploded in February, and the country still has one of the world's highest official death tolls at over 35,000.
But after a strict nationwide, 10-week lockdown, vigilant tracing of new clusters and general acceptance of mask mandates and social distancing, Italy has become a model of virus containment.
"Don't they care about their health?" a mask-clad Patrizia Antonini asked about people in the United States as she walked with friends along the banks of Lake Bracciano, north of Rome. "They need to take our precautions. ... They need a real lockdown."
Much of the incredulity in Europe stems from the fact that America had the benefit of time, European experience and medical know-how to treat the virus that the continent itself didn't have when the first COVID-19 patients started filling intensive care units.
M ore than four months into a sustained outbreak, the U.S. reached the 5 million mark, according to the running count kept by Johns Hopkins University. Health officials believe the actual number is perhaps 10 times higher, or closer to 50 million, given testing limitations and the fact that as many as 40% of all those who are infected have no symptoms.
"We Italians always saw America as a model," said Massimo Franco, a columnist with daily Corriere della Sera. "But with this virus we've discovered a country that is very fragile, with bad infrastructure and a public health system that is nonexistent."
With America's world's-highest death toll of more than 160,000, its politicized resistance to masks and its rising caseload, European nations have barred American tourists and visitors from other countries with growing cases from freely traveling to the bloc.
France and Germany are now imposing tests on arrival for travelers from "at risk" countries, the U.S. included.
"I am very well aware that this impinges on individual freedoms, but I believe that this is a justifiable intervention," German Health Minister Jens Spahn said last week.
Mistakes were made in Europe, too, from delayed lockdowns to insufficient protections for nursing home elderly and critical shortages of tests and protective equipment for medical personnel.
Hard-hit Spain, France, Britain and Germany have seen infection rebounds with new cases topping 1,000 a day, and Italy's cases went over 500 on Friday. Some scientists say Britain's beloved pubs might have to close again if schools are to reopen in September.
Europe as a whole has seen over 207,000 confirmed virus deaths, by Johns Hopkins' count.
In the U.S., new cases are running at about 54,000 a day -- an immensely high number even when taking into account the country's large population. And while that's down from a peak of well over 70,000 last month, cases are rising in nearly 20 states, and deaths are climbing in most.
In contrast, at least for now Europe appears to have the virus somewhat under control.
"Had the medical professionals been allowed to operate in the States, you would have belatedly gotten to a point of getting to grips with this back in March," said Scott Lucas, professor of international studies at the University of Birmingham, England. "But of course, the medical and public health professionals were not allowed to proceed unchecked," he said, referring to President Donald Trump's frequent undercutting of his own experts.
When the virus first appeared in the United States, Trump and his supporters quickly dismissed it as either a "hoax" or a scourge that would quickly disappear once warmer weather arrived. At one point, Trump suggested that ultraviolet light or injecting disinfectants would eradicate the virus. (He later said he was being facetious).
Trump's frequent complaints about Dr. Anthony Fauci have regularly made headlines in Europe, where the U.S. infectious-disease expert is a respected figure. Italy's leading COVID-19 hospital offered Fauci a job if Trump fired him.
Trump has defended the U.S. response, blaming China, where the virus was first detected, for America's problems and saying the U.S. numbers are so high because there is so much testing. Trump supporters and Americans who have refused to wear masks against all medical advice back that line.
"There's no reason to fear any sickness that's out there," said Julia Ferjo, a mother of three in Alpine, Texas, who is "vehemently" against wearing a mask. Ferjo, 35, teaches fitness classes in a large gym with open doors. She doesn't allow participants to wear masks.
"When you're breathing that hard, I would pass out," she said. "I do not want people just dropping like flies."
And health officials watched with alarm as thousands of bikers gathered Friday in the small South Dakota city of Sturgis for an annual 10-day motorcycle rally. The state has no mask mandates, and many bikers expressed defiance of measures meant to prevent the virus's spread.
Dr. David Ho, director of the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, who is leading a team seeking treatments for COVID-19, decried such behavior, as well as the country's handling of the virus.
"There's no national strategy, no national leadership, and there's no urging for the public to act in unison and carry out the measures together," he said. "That's what it takes, and we have completely abandoned that as a nation."
When he gets on Zoom calls with counterparts from around the globe, "everyone cannot believe what they're seeing in the U.S. and they cannot believe the words coming out of the leadership, he said.
Amid the scorn from other countries, Trump national security adviser Robert O'Brien, newly recovered from a bout with the virus, gave an upbeat picture Sunday on CBS' "Face the Nation."
"We're going to fight like heck. We're working hard on vaccines. We're working hard on testing machines that are portable and fast. ... We're working on therapeutics," he said. "I'm so impressed with our scientists and our doctors and our first responders and the folks who are attacking this disease, and God bless them all."
Many Europeans point proudly to their national health care systems that not only test but treat COVID-19 for free, unlike the American system, where the virus crisis has only exacerbated income and racial inequalities in obtaining health care.
"The coronavirus has brutally stripped bare the vulnerability of a country that has been sliding for years," wrote Italian author Massimo Gaggi in his new book "Crack America" (Broken America), about U.S. problems that long predated COVID-19.
Gaggi said he started writing the book last year and thought then that the title would be taken as a provocative wake-up call. Then the virus hit.
"By March the title wasn't a provocation any longer," he said. "It was obvious."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-08-09--Rozner: Crawford vs. Lehner adds to Blackhawks drama

When the Blackhawks traded Robin Lehner , they certainly did n't think they would be playing postseason hockey .
So when they moved their goaltender to Vegas , there was obviously no concern that Lehner would face the Hawks in the playoffs .
They could n't possibly have foreseen this scenario , a pandemic shutting down the game and then the NHL granting Chicago the gift of a play-in series with Edmonton , which the Hawks would go on to win in four games .
And yet all of these things have occurred and now it 's only a matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Corey Crawford in the first round of the playoffs , the Hawks as a No .
8 seed facing the top seed in the West after Vegas -- with Lehner in net -- defeated Colorado Saturday afternoon .
More ridiculous than all of that -- and that 's all pretty ridiculous -- is Crawford falling ill with COVID-19 , returning for a week of practice and then playing the way he did against the Oilers .
`` Obviously , it was n't the best scenario , '' Crawford said after the Hawks eliminated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a few more weeks of practice and seen more pucks coming into the series , but it is what it is .
`` I was just trying to work hard to be ready .
I felt better each game . ''
Game 4 was Crawford 's best and he made some series-winning stops in the third period , but the Hawks ' goalie also knows he has a long way to go to be in postseason form .
`` It was tough luck to get ( sick ) just before we started camp @ @ @ @ @ @ @ better at the right time and able to start practicing hard and get into that first game , '' Crawford said .
`` The guys played great , so I was able to kind of hide back there for a little bit until I started to feel comfortable .
`` I still do n't think I 'm at the top of my game . ''
That much is clear .
The two-time Cup winner -- who was the Hawks ' best player in both of those title runs -- is not back to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in March , which is understandable .
Throughout the series he was brilliant at times , but he struggled getting back to his feet and at least a pair of goals resulted from precisely that .
His rebound control was also nowhere near as sharp as it will have to be against Vegas , which is a much deeper and more talented team than Edmonton .
`` There 's still some work to do , '' Crawford said .
`` It seemed like there were a lot of pucks lying around in front @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( of Game 4 ) when they were pressing and our guys did a great job of getting sticks on pucks or letting me cover it or clear it . ''
As for Crawford 's next opponent , Golden Knights coach Pete DeBoer says he has not yet decided between Marc-Andre Fleury and Lehner , but the latter was terrific against the Avalanche on Saturday and has earned the Game 1 start .
It 's not an easy call given the respect Fleury has earned through a brilliant career and 135 postseason starts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in town and has just 8 playoff starts from his time with the Islanders in 2019 .
`` Marc is a world-class goaltender and he 's been one of the best in the league for a very long time , '' Lehner said Saturday .
`` But like I said , they traded for me here at the deadline , and I 'm here whenever they need me . ''
Lehner was the better goaltender in Chicago and he has been the better goaltender in Las Vegas , going 5-0-0 with the Knights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ viewed in person by several Hawks who had the day off .
Still , Crawford and Fleury have rings all over their fingers , though no one is certain when Crawford can be Crawford again or if Fleury will ever again be Fleury .
It 's worth remembering , however , that Crawford 's best hockey of the season came after Lehner was traded .
So there it is right there for you .
As if this entire episode was n't entertaining enough already , Crawford vs. Lehner is coming soon to a @ @ @ @

Rozner: Crawford vs. Lehner adds to Blackhawks drama
Then Blackhawks goaltender Robin Lehner defends against a shot from the Dallas Stars earlier this season. Lehner was traded to Las Vegas at the deadline. Associated Press
When the Blackhawks traded Robin Lehner, they certainly didn't think they would be playing postseason hockey.
So when they moved their goaltender to Vegas, there was obviously no concern that Lehner would face the Hawks in the playoffs.
They couldn't possibly have foreseen this scenario, a pandemic shutting down the game and then the NHL granting Chicago the gift of a play-in series with Edmonton, which the Hawks would go on to win in four games.
And yet all of these things have occurred and now it's only a matter of days before it's Lehner vs. Corey Crawford in the first round of the playoffs, the Hawks as a No. 8 seed facing the top seed in the West after Vegas -- with Lehner in net -- defeated Colorado Saturday afternoon.
More ridiculous than all of that -- and that's all pretty ridiculous -- is Crawford falling ill with COVID-19, returning for a week of practice and then playing the way he did against the Oilers.
"Obviously, it wasn't the best scenario," Crawford said after the Hawks eliminated Edmonton. "I would have liked a few more weeks of practice and seen more pucks coming into the series, but it is what it is.
"I was just trying to work hard to be ready. I felt better each game."
Game 4 was Crawford's best and he made some series-winning stops in the third period, but the Hawks' goalie also knows he has a long way to go to be in postseason form.
"It was tough luck to get (sick) just before we started camp, but I was starting to feel better at the right time and able to start practicing hard and get into that first game," Crawford said. "The guys played great, so I was able to kind of hide back there for a little bit until I started to feel comfortable.
"I still don't think I'm at the top of my game."
That much is clear.
The two-time Cup winner -- who was the Hawks' best player in both of those title runs -- is not back to where he was before play was halted in March, which is understandable.
Throughout the series he was brilliant at times, but he struggled getting back to his feet and at least a pair of goals resulted from precisely that. His rebound control was also nowhere near as sharp as it will have to be against Vegas, which is a much deeper and more talented team than Edmonton.
"There's still some work to do," Crawford said. "It seemed like there were a lot of pucks lying around in front of the net in the third period (of Game 4) when they were pressing and our guys did a great job of getting sticks on pucks or letting me cover it or clear it."
As for Crawford's next opponent, Golden Knights coach Pete DeBoer says he has not yet decided between Marc-Andre Fleury and Lehner, but the latter was terrific against the Avalanche on Saturday and has earned the Game 1 start.
It's not an easy call given the respect Fleury has earned through a brilliant career and 135 postseason starts, while Lehner is the new guy in town and has just 8 playoff starts from his time with the Islanders in 2019.
"Marc is a world-class goaltender and he's been one of the best in the league for a very long time," Lehner said Saturday. "But like I said, they traded for me here at the deadline, and I'm here whenever they need me."
Lehner was the better goaltender in Chicago and he has been the better goaltender in Las Vegas, going 5-0-0 with the Knights, including Saturday's win which was viewed in person by several Hawks who had the day off.
Still, Crawford and Fleury have rings all over their fingers, though no one is certain when Crawford can be Crawford again or if Fleury will ever again be Fleury. It's worth remembering, however, that Crawford's best hockey of the season came after Lehner was traded.
So there it is right there for you. As if this entire episode wasn't entertaining enough already, Crawford vs. Lehner is coming soon to a television near you.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-08-09--Aug. 9 COVID-19 cases per county; search by ZIP code

Suburbs ' portion Since the outbreak began , there have been 94,658 cases in the suburbs as of Sunday .
That 's 49 % of the state 's total , according to the Illinois Department of Public Health .
There have been 3,848 deaths in the suburbs , representing 50 % of all deaths in Illinois .
Cook County • As of Sunday , suburban Cook County had 47,571 cases and 2,119 deaths , according to the state .
In Chicago : 63,876 cases and 2,809 fatalities .
• Top suburb counts as of Friday ( not updated Saturday or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and medical examiner 's office : 1,992 cases and 104 deaths in Des Plaines , 945 cases and 65 deaths in Wheeling , 925 cases and 19 deaths in Palatine , 794 cases and 23 deaths in Streamwood , 782 cases and 10 deaths in Mount Prospect , 774 cases and 21 deaths in Schaumburg , 747 cases and 50 deaths in Glenview , 728 cases and 34 deaths in Arlington Heights , 584 cases and 10 deaths in Hanover Park ( Cook County portion ) , 642 cases and 29 deaths in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths in Rolling Meadows , 437 cases and 42 deaths in Northbrook , 431 cases and 39 deaths in Elk Grove Village , 308 cases and 9 deaths in Prospect Heights , and 151 cases and 19 deaths in Buffalo Grove ( Cook County portion ) .
DuPage County • The county reported 12,229 cases and 519 deaths as of Sunday .
• Top counts : 960 cases and 9 deaths in Addison , 916 cases and 12 deaths in West Chicago , 802 cases and 12 deaths in Glendale Heights , 771 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DuPage County portion ) , 674 cases and 29 deaths in Carol Stream , 613 cases and 14 deaths in Bensenville , 589 cases and 27 deaths in Lombard , 566 cases and 43 deaths in Elmhurst , 494 cases and 11 deaths in Aurora ( DuPage County portion ) , 471 cases and 22 deaths in Wheaton , 356 cases and 3 deaths in Glen Ellyn , 341 cases and 5 deaths in Villa Park , 317 cases and 3 deaths in Hanover Park ( DuPage County portion ) .
Lake County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 427 deaths on its website Friday .
The website was not updated Saturday or Sunday .
• Most recent top counts : 3,160 to 3,164 in Waukegan , 745 to 749 in Round Lake Beach , 460 to 464 in Mundelein , 405 to 409 in Gurnee , 325 to 329 in Round Lake , 235 to 239 in Buffalo Grove ( Lake County portion ) , 245 to 249 in Lake Zurich , 225 to 229 in Vernon Hills , 190 to 194 in Wauconda , 180 to 184 in Libertyville , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County • The county confirmed 9,814 cases with 305 deaths on its website Sunday .
• Top counts : 3,912 cases in Aurora ( Kane County portion ) , 2,239 in Elgin ( Kane County portion ) , 940 in Carpentersville , 588 in St. Charles , 429 in South Elgin , 293 in Geneva , 268 in North Aurora , 235 in Batavia , 101 in Gilberts and 89 in Hampshire .
McHenry County • 3,210 cases and 113 deaths , according to the health department Sunday .
Will County • 9,236 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
• Cases per town include 641 in Naperville ( Will County portion ) and 118 in Aurora ( Will County portion ) .

Aug. 9 COVID-19 cases per county; search by ZIP code
Faculty, staff and students take part in the free on-campus COVID-19 walk-up testing sites at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Courtesy of the University of Illinois
Interactive map
Suburbs' portion Since the outbreak began, there have been 94,658 cases in the suburbs as of Sunday. That's 49% of the state's total, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.
There have been 3,848 deaths in the suburbs, representing 50% of all deaths in Illinois.
Cook County• As of Sunday, suburban Cook County had 47,571 cases and 2,119 deaths, according to the state. In Chicago: 63,876 cases and 2,809 fatalities. • Top suburb counts as of Friday (not updated Saturday or Sunday) from the county health department and medical examiner's office: 1,992 cases and 104 deaths in Des Plaines, 945 cases and 65 deaths in Wheeling, 925 cases and 19 deaths in Palatine, 794 cases and 23 deaths in Streamwood, 782 cases and 10 deaths in Mount Prospect, 774 cases and 21 deaths in Schaumburg, 747 cases and 50 deaths in Glenview, 728 cases and 34 deaths in Arlington Heights, 584 cases and 10 deaths in Hanover Park (Cook County portion), 642 cases and 29 deaths in Hoffman Estates, 443 cases and 13 deaths in Rolling Meadows, 437 cases and 42 deaths in Northbrook, 431 cases and 39 deaths in Elk Grove Village, 308 cases and 9 deaths in Prospect Heights, and 151 cases and 19 deaths in Buffalo Grove (Cook County portion).
DuPage County• The county reported 12,229 cases and 519 deaths as of Sunday.
• Top counts: 960 cases and 9 deaths in Addison, 916 cases and 12 deaths in West Chicago, 802 cases and 12 deaths in Glendale Heights, 771 cases and 38 deaths in Naperville (DuPage County portion), 674 cases and 29 deaths in Carol Stream, 613 cases and 14 deaths in Bensenville, 589 cases and 27 deaths in Lombard, 566 cases and 43 deaths in Elmhurst, 494 cases and 11 deaths in Aurora (DuPage County portion), 471 cases and 22 deaths in Wheaton, 356 cases and 3 deaths in Glen Ellyn, 341 cases and 5 deaths in Villa Park, 317 cases and 3 deaths in Hanover Park (DuPage County portion).
Lake County • The county listed 12,484 cases and 427 deaths on its website Friday. The website was not updated Saturday or Sunday.
• Most recent top counts: 3,160 to 3,164 in Waukegan, 745 to 749 in Round Lake Beach, 460 to 464 in Mundelein, 405 to 409 in Gurnee, 325 to 329 in Round Lake, 235 to 239 in Buffalo Grove (Lake County portion), 245 to 249 in Lake Zurich, 225 to 229 in Vernon Hills, 190 to 194 in Wauconda, 180 to 184 in Libertyville, 165 to 169 in Grayslake.
Kane County• The county confirmed 9,814 cases with 305 deaths on its website Sunday.
• Top counts: 3,912 cases in Aurora (Kane County portion), 2,239 in Elgin (Kane County portion), 940 in Carpentersville, 588 in St. Charles, 429 in South Elgin, 293 in Geneva, 268 in North Aurora, 235 in Batavia, 101 in Gilberts and 89 in Hampshire.
McHenry County• 3,210 cases and 113 deaths, according to the health department Sunday.
Will County• 9,236 cases and 344 deaths as of Sunday.
• Cases per town include 641 in Naperville (Will County portion) and 118 in Aurora (Will County portion).


dailyheraldchicago--2020-08-09--Cubs count their blessings after returning from St. Louis

This was a day for the Cubs to relax and count their blessings .
Their weekend series in St. Louis was canceled after the Cardinals announced three more positive tests for COVID-19 , bringing their total to 16 .
But the Cubs got the news early and were back in Chicago before 8 p.m .
They have three games to make up , in theory , but the Cardinals are up to 10 games canceled by their outbreak and it 's not clear when they 'll play again .
The Cubs are planning to hold two workouts at Wrigley Field @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cleveland .
`` I 'm not going to start complaining about the fairness or unfairness of this season , '' Cubs manager David Ross told reporters on a Zoom call Saturday .
`` We 're all happy to be playing baseball and we 'll wait and see what happens at the back end of this thing .
`` We send our best to the Cardinals and those players .
It 's a scary time and we all want baseball to move forward and guys to be healthy .
It shows how fast it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of the virus is super-frightening . ''
The Cubs made the short flight from Kansas City to St. Louis on Thursday night after a 13-2 loss snapped their six-game win streak .
They got word on Friday morning that the first game of the series was canceled and by late afternoon , they were headed to the airport .
Ross has spent plenty of time during the shortened season praising the work of Cubs director of team travel Vijay Tekchandani , who was also drafted to serve as the team 's COVID @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the flight back to Chicago .
`` Vijay again was on top of things , had the plane ready , '' Ross said .
`` United did a really good job of getting a us a plane really fast .
There 's a lot of logistics there , you 're sitting around the hotel and you ca n't go anywhere , with food .
Jordan ( Brown ) , our nutritionist , was on top of things , getting food in there that she was n't expecting to have .
`` Vijay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guys to hang out .
Just a lot of adjustments on their part and making sure everybody was comfortable and had some down time , but had some space to just get out of their room .
All in all , Major League Baseball was phenomenal . ''
Ross said some pitchers visited Wrigley on Saturday if they needed to do some throwing .
The plan is to do a simulated game Sunday , then `` something fun '' on Monday .
`` We 're still working through a little competition we 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We were setting some stuff up last night on the plane . ''
There was no announcement about the pitching rotation .
Jon Lester , Alec Mills and Kyle Hendricks were scheduled to throw in St. Louis .
While the Cubs sit at home , Cleveland is in town playing the White Sox .
So scouting opportunities are very available .
`` That 's kind of my nights now , just sitting on the couch with my dog and watching baseball and highlights and catching a game , '' Ross said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ myself . ''

Cubs count their blessings after returning from St. Louis
Chicago Cubs manager David Ross said the team will play a simulated game Sunday and "something fun" Monday after their 3-game series in St. Louis was postponed over multiple positive COVID-19 tests on the Cardinals team. Associated Press
This was a day for the Cubs to relax and count their blessings.
Their weekend series in St. Louis was canceled after the Cardinals announced three more positive tests for COVID-19, bringing their total to 16. But the Cubs got the news early and were back in Chicago before 8 p.m.
They have three games to make up, in theory, but the Cardinals are up to 10 games canceled by their outbreak and it's not clear when they'll play again. The Cubs are planning to hold two workouts at Wrigley Field before resuming their schedule on Tuesday in Cleveland.
"I'm not going to start complaining about the fairness or unfairness of this season," Cubs manager David Ross told reporters on a Zoom call Saturday. "We're all happy to be playing baseball and we'll wait and see what happens at the back end of this thing.
"We send our best to the Cardinals and those players. It's a scary time and we all want baseball to move forward and guys to be healthy. It shows how fast it can get out of control. That part of the virus is super-frightening."
The Cubs made the short flight from Kansas City to St. Louis on Thursday night after a 13-2 loss snapped their six-game win streak. They got word on Friday morning that the first game of the series was canceled and by late afternoon, they were headed to the airport.
Ross has spent plenty of time during the shortened season praising the work of Cubs director of team travel Vijay Tekchandani, who was also drafted to serve as the team's COVID compliance officer. Tekchandani came through again with the flight back to Chicago.
"Vijay again was on top of things, had the plane ready," Ross said. "United did a really good job of getting a us a plane really fast. There's a lot of logistics there, you're sitting around the hotel and you can't go anywhere, with food. Jordan (Brown), our nutritionist, was on top of things, getting food in there that she wasn't expecting to have.
"Vijay set up an outdoor area for the guys to hang out. Just a lot of adjustments on their part and making sure everybody was comfortable and had some down time, but had some space to just get out of their room. All in all, Major League Baseball was phenomenal."
Ross said some pitchers visited Wrigley on Saturday if they needed to do some throwing. The plan is to do a simulated game Sunday, then "something fun" on Monday.
"We're still working through a little competition we're going to have," Ross said. "We were setting some stuff up last night on the plane."
There was no announcement about the pitching rotation. Jon Lester, Alec Mills and Kyle Hendricks were scheduled to throw in St. Louis.
While the Cubs sit at home, Cleveland is in town playing the White Sox. So scouting opportunities are very available.
"That's kind of my nights now, just sitting on the couch with my dog and watching baseball and highlights and catching a game," Ross said. "I'm pretty awesome by myself."
• Twitter: @McGrawDHBulls


dailyheraldchicago--2020-08-09--2 injured in Bartlett fire that destroyed two townhouses

Two people suffered minor injuries late Friday night after a fire rendered two townhouse units on the 1200 block of @ @ @ @ @ , fire officials said .
A damage estimate was not immediately available and the cause @ @ @ @ @ said in a Saturday media release .
`` The cause is undetermined at this point @ @ @ @ @ Protection District Deputy Chief Brian Becker .
Firefighters were called about the fire at 11:52 @ @ @ @ @ two-story townhouse complex at 11:59 p.m. , and brought the blaze under control by 12:35 @ @ @ @ @ .
No firefighters were injured , but two civilians were treated for minor injuries and @ @ @ @ @ .
Overall , 29 firefighters from five departments fought the blaze .
Also present were @ @ @ @ @ fire investigators .
Bartlett police provided crowd and traffic control , officials said .

2 injured in Bartlett fire that destroyed two townhouses
Two people suffered minor injuries late Friday night after a fire rendered two townhouse units on the 1200 block of Appaloosa Way in Bartlett uninhabitable. Courtesy of Bartlett Fire Protection District
Two people suffered minor injuries late Friday night after a fire rendered two townhouse units on the 1200 block of Appaloosa Way in Bartlett uninhabitable, fire officials said.
A damage estimate was not immediately available and the cause is under investigation, officials said in a Saturday media release.
"The cause is undetermined at this point," said Bartlett Fire Protection District Deputy Chief Brian Becker.
Firefighters were called about the fire at 11:52 p.m., arrived at the two-story townhouse complex at 11:59 p.m., and brought the blaze under control by 12:35 a.m. Saturday, officials said.
No firefighters were injured, but two civilians were treated for minor injuries and released, fire officials said.
Overall, 29 firefighters from five departments fought the blaze. Also present were six command officers and two fire investigators. Bartlett police provided crowd and traffic control, officials said.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-08-09--Jaguars lose 2 more defensive linemen, sign 3 vets for depth

JACKSONVILLE , Fla. -- The Jacksonville Jaguars are down two more defensive linemen , bringing their total to five just a week into training camp .
The Jaguars placed defensive tackles Brian Price ( knee ) and Dontavius Russell ( hip ) on injured reserve Sunday , adding to a depth problem created when defensive end Lerentee McCray and defensive tackle Al Woods opted out of the 2020 season because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Defensive end Yannick Ngakoue , the only franchise-tagged player in the league to not sign his tender , is seeking a trade and skipping team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and not subject to fines .
The Jaguars are down six defenders in all , with cornerback Rashaan Melvin also opting out this week .
Jacksonville agreed to terms Sunday with two veterans - defensive tackle Caraun Reid and defensive back Tramaine Brock - in hopes of filling the void .
Reid had four tackles in three games last season in Arizona .
The journeyman also has spent time with Detroit , San Diego , Indianapolis and Dallas .
Brock , a veteran who has played for San Francisco , Minnesota , Denver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tackles and 11 interceptions in 10 NFL seasons .

Jaguars lose 2 more defensive linemen, sign 3 vets for depth
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Jacksonville Jaguars are down two more defensive linemen, bringing their total to five just a week into training camp.
The Jaguars placed defensive tackles Brian Price (knee) and Dontavius Russell (hip) on injured reserve Sunday, adding to a depth problem created when defensive end Lerentee McCray and defensive tackle Al Woods opted out of the 2020 season because of the coronavirus pandemic. Defensive end Yannick Ngakoue, the only franchise-tagged player in the league to not sign his tender, is seeking a trade and skipping team activities. Ngakoue is not under contract and not subject to fines.
The Jaguars are down six defenders in all, with cornerback Rashaan Melvin also opting out recently.
Jacksonville signed three veterans Sunday - defensive tackle Caraun Reid, defensive back Tramaine Brock and defensive lineman Carl Davis - in hopes of filling the void. They also waived rookie cornerback Kobe Williams.
Reid had four tackles in three games last season in Arizona. The journeyman also has spent time with Detroit, San Diego, Indianapolis and Dallas. Brock, a veteran who has played for San Francisco, Minnesota, Denver and most recently Tennessee, has 248 tackles and 11 interceptions in 10 NFL seasons.
Davis has appeared in 36 games in five NFL seasons. He signed with the Jaguars following Week 12 of the 2019 season and saw action in two games. He also played with Baltimore and Cleveland.
___
More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL