chicagosun-times--2020-09-25--Trump expected to nominate Amy Coney Barrett to Supreme Court: GOP

President Donald Trump is expected to announce Saturday that he is nominating Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court as he aims to put a historic conservative stamp on the high court just weeks before the election .
Trump said Friday he had made up his mind and it was “ very exciting , ” without giving away the name , aiming to maintain some suspense around his personal announcement .
But the White House indicated to congressional Republicans and outside allies that the pick was Barrett .
“ Well I haven ’ t said it was her , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump said of the Indiana federal judge .
Conservative groups and congressional allies are laying the groundwork for a swift confirmation process for her , even before Trump makes the selection official in a Rose Garden ceremony Saturday evening .
They , like the president , are wasting little time moving to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , organizing multimillion-dollar ad campaigns and marshalling supporters both to confirm the pick and to boost Trump to a second term .
The likely shift in the court ’ s makeup — from Ginsburg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outspoken conservative — would be the sharpest ideological swing since Clarence Thomas replaced Justice Thurgood Marshall nearly three decades ago .
Ever the showman , Trump remained coy about his choice Friday evening as he returned from a campaign swing .
When asked whether lawmakers were being told it was Barrett , Trump smiled widely on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews and replied , “ Is that what they ’ re telling you ?
” “ You ’ ll find out tomorrow , ” he went on .
“ Look , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be any of one them .
It could be actually anyone on the list .
They ’ re outstanding.
” For Trump , it will provide a much-needed political assist as he tries to fire up his base .
For conservatives , it will mark a long-sought payoff for their at-times uncomfortable embrace of Trump .
And for Democrats , it will be another moment of reckoning , with their party locked in a bitter battle to retake the White House and the Senate .
Senate Republicans are readying for confirmation hearings in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the full chamber now expected before Election Day .
Democrats are essentially powerless to block the votes .
“ I ’ m confident he ’ s going to make an outstanding nomination , ” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told Fox News .
“ The American people are going to take a look at this nominee and conclude , as we are likely to conclude , that she well deserves to be confirmed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
” “ They ’ re hell-bent on getting this done as fast as possible , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ They think it helps Donald Trump get reelected.
” Outside conservative groups , who have been preparing for this moment for 40 years , are planning to spend more than $ 25 million to support Trump and his nominee .
The Judicial Crisis Network has organized a coalition that includes American First Policies , the Susan B. Anthony List , the Club for Growth and the group Catholic Vote .
“ One of the things we ’ ve learned from the histories of confirmation processes , the intensity of the fight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occupant of the seat than who the nominee is , ” said JCN ’ s Carrie Severino .
“ We expect this to be a very high stakes confirmation.
” Within hours of Ginsburg ’ s death , Trump made clear his intention to nominate a woman in her stead , after previously putting two men on the court and as he struggles to mitigate an erosion in support among suburban women .
The White House has already concluded a round of vetting this month , as Trump released an additional 20 names @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He has challenged Democrat Joe Biden to list possible nominees , too .
Trump had said he was considering five women for Ginsburg ’ s seat , but Barrett was at the White House at least twice this week , including for a Monday meeting with Trump .
He is not known to have met with any of the other contenders .
The staunch conservative ’ s 2017 appeals court confirmation on a party-line vote included allegations that Democrats were attacking her Catholic faith .
Trump allies see that as a political windfall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so once again .
Catholic voters in Pennsylvania , in particular , are viewed as a pivotal demographic in the swing state that Democratic nominee Joe Biden , also Catholic , is trying to recapture .
Vice President Mike Pence defended Barrett when asked whether her affiliation with People of Praise , a charismatic Christian community , would complicate her ability to serve on the high court .
“ I must tell you the intolerance expressed during her last confirmation about her Catholic faith I really think was a disservice to the process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he told ABC News .
Though the court can break down along ideological lines in high-profile cases , Chief Justice John Roberts and his colleagues resist the idea they are politicians in robes and emphasize that they agree more than they disagree .
Still , Barrett ’ s appointment would make the court more conservative .
It would be transformed from a court divided 5-4 between conservatives and liberals to one in which six members are conservatives appointed by Republican presidents .
Barrett has been hailed as a justice in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she clerked .
Trump played up the power to make judicial nominations with conservative voters in 2016 , when Republican senators kept open the seat vacated by the death of Scalia rather than let President Barack Obama fill the opening .
Trump ’ s decision to release lists of accomplished conservative jurists for potential elevation was rewarded by increased enthusiasm among white evangelical voters , many of whom had been resistant to supporting the candidacy of the one-time New York Democrat .
Trump ’ s campaign is preparing to use the latest confirmation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is big jet fuel on our base.
” said Bill Schuette , a former Michigan attorney general and now a Trump campaign surrogate .
“ This is going to fire up our base in order to support the responsibility of the Senate and the president to make the nomination , the Senate to confirm .
”

President Donald Trump is expected to announce Saturday that he is nominating Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court as he aims to put a historic conservative stamp on the high court just weeks before the election.
Trump said Friday he had made up his mind and it was “very exciting,” without giving away the name, aiming to maintain some suspense around his personal announcement. But the White House indicated to congressional Republicans and outside allies that the pick was Barrett.
“Well I haven’t said it was her, but she’s outstanding,” Trump said of the Indiana federal judge.
Conservative groups and congressional allies are laying the groundwork for a swift confirmation process for her, even before Trump makes the selection official in a Rose Garden ceremony Saturday evening. They, like the president, are wasting little time moving to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, organizing multimillion-dollar ad campaigns and marshalling supporters both to confirm the pick and to boost Trump to a second term.
The likely shift in the court’s makeup — from Ginsburg, a liberal icon, to an outspoken conservative — would be the sharpest ideological swing since Clarence Thomas replaced Justice Thurgood Marshall nearly three decades ago.
Ever the showman, Trump remained coy about his choice Friday evening as he returned from a campaign swing. When asked whether lawmakers were being told it was Barrett, Trump smiled widely on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews and replied, “Is that what they’re telling you?”
“You’ll find out tomorrow,” he went on. “Look, they’re all great. It could be any of one them. It could be actually anyone on the list. They’re outstanding.”
For Trump, it will provide a much-needed political assist as he tries to fire up his base. For conservatives, it will mark a long-sought payoff for their at-times uncomfortable embrace of Trump. And for Democrats, it will be another moment of reckoning, with their party locked in a bitter battle to retake the White House and the Senate.
Senate Republicans are readying for confirmation hearings in two weeks, with a vote in the full chamber now expected before Election Day. Democrats are essentially powerless to block the votes.
“I’m confident he’s going to make an outstanding nomination,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told Fox News. “The American people are going to take a look at this nominee and conclude, as we are likely to conclude, that she well deserves to be confirmed to the U.S. Supreme Court.”
“They’re hell-bent on getting this done as fast as possible,” said Democratic Senate whip Dick Durbin. “They think it helps Donald Trump get reelected.”
Outside conservative groups, who have been preparing for this moment for 40 years, are planning to spend more than $25 million to support Trump and his nominee. The Judicial Crisis Network has organized a coalition that includes American First Policies, the Susan B. Anthony List, the Club for Growth and the group Catholic Vote.
“One of the things we’ve learned from the histories of confirmation processes, the intensity of the fight has more to do with the previous occupant of the seat than who the nominee is,” said JCN’s Carrie Severino. “We expect this to be a very high stakes confirmation.”
Within hours of Ginsburg’s death, Trump made clear his intention to nominate a woman in her stead, after previously putting two men on the court and as he struggles to mitigate an erosion in support among suburban women.
The White House has already concluded a round of vetting this month, as Trump released an additional 20 names he would consider for the court. He has challenged Democrat Joe Biden to list possible nominees, too.
Trump had said he was considering five women for Ginsburg’s seat, but Barrett was at the White House at least twice this week, including for a Monday meeting with Trump. He is not known to have met with any of the other contenders.
The staunch conservative’s 2017 appeals court confirmation on a party-line vote included allegations that Democrats were attacking her Catholic faith. Trump allies see that as a political windfall for them should Democrats attempt to do so once again. Catholic voters in Pennsylvania, in particular, are viewed as a pivotal demographic in the swing state that Democratic nominee Joe Biden, also Catholic, is trying to recapture.
Vice President Mike Pence defended Barrett when asked whether her affiliation with People of Praise, a charismatic Christian community, would complicate her ability to serve on the high court.
“I must tell you the intolerance expressed during her last confirmation about her Catholic faith I really think was a disservice to the process and a disappointment to millions of Americans,” he told ABC News.
Though the court can break down along ideological lines in high-profile cases, Chief Justice John Roberts and his colleagues resist the idea they are politicians in robes and emphasize that they agree more than they disagree. Still, Barrett’s appointment would make the court more conservative. It would be transformed from a court divided 5-4 between conservatives and liberals to one in which six members are conservatives appointed by Republican presidents. Barrett has been hailed as a justice in the mold of Antonin Scalia, for whom she clerked.
Trump played up the power to make judicial nominations with conservative voters in 2016, when Republican senators kept open the seat vacated by the death of Scalia rather than let President Barack Obama fill the opening. Trump’s decision to release lists of accomplished conservative jurists for potential elevation was rewarded by increased enthusiasm among white evangelical voters, many of whom had been resistant to supporting the candidacy of the one-time New York Democrat.
Trump’s campaign is preparing to use the latest confirmation fight for maximum political effect.
“This is big jet fuel on our base.” said Bill Schuette, a former Michigan attorney general and now a Trump campaign surrogate. “This is going to fire up our base in order to support the responsibility of the Senate and the president to make the nomination, the Senate to confirm.”


chicagosun-times--2020-09-25--Man charged in murder at Brighton Park gas station over Labor Day weekend

An accused gunman charged with murdering a man at a Brighton Park gas station over Labor Day weekend was ordered held without bail Friday .
Eduardo Pena chased down Steven Garcia and shot him in the back in full view of surveillance cameras at a BP station at 39th Street and Archer Avenue on Sept. 6 , Cook County prosecutors said .
Earlier that night , Garcia , 38 , and his wife had tried to go into the gas station to purchase a snack but were turned away because they weren ’ t wearing face masks , prosecutors said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that his wife could wear it around her face and then waited outside while she went back into the store .
Pena and his wife were sitting in an SUV across the street , along with two men who were “ old Satan ’ s Disciples , ” Assistant State ’ s Attorney James Murphy said .
Those two men got out of the SUV when they saw Garcia ’ s tattoos and approached him to determine if he was affiliated with a gang , Murphy said .
One of the men punched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prompting Garcia to run down the street and out of the view of surveillance cameras as his attackers followed behind , Murphy said .
At that point , Pena , 40 , got out of the of the driver ’ s seat of his SUV and also allegedly chased Garcia , who eventually ran back to the gas station .
The other two men had given up the chase , but Pena continued and fired a shot into Garcia ’ s back with a “ large caliber handgun ” as Garcia ran up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ There was a large cloud of smoke from the muzzle of [ Pena ’ s ] gun as he shoots and a nearby Ring camera captured the very loud sound of the gunshot , ” Murphy said .
Garcia fell to the ground face down .
He was later pronounced dead at St. Anthony Hospital .
The two men who had been with Pena jumped back into the SUV , which sped away with Pena ’ s wife at the wheel .
Pena ran down the block to catch up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ let him inside .
But just over a minute later , the SUV was pulled over by officers because Pena ’ s wife forgot to turn on the headlights , Murphy said .
All four denied hearing gunshots and were eventually released with a warning after their names were checked , Murphy said .
The officers ’ body-worn cameras recored all of the car ’ s occupants , and the footage was later matched to footage showing the group at the gas station , prosecutors said .
Pena and one of the other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Once in custody , the man identified Pena as the shooter and provided details of the shooting that matched the surveillance footage , prosecutors said .
Pena ’ s assistant public defender said he has no criminal background and lives with his wife and four children , who he supports by working as a custodian at the Merchandise Mart .

An accused gunman charged with murdering a man at a Brighton Park gas station over Labor Day weekend was ordered held without bail Friday.
Eduardo Pena chased down Steven Garcia and shot him in the back in full view of surveillance cameras at a BP station at 39th Street and Archer Avenue on Sept. 6, Cook County prosecutors said.
Earlier that night, Garcia, 38, and his wife had tried to go into the gas station to purchase a snack but were turned away because they weren’t wearing face masks, prosecutors said.
Garcia took off his shirt so that his wife could wear it around her face and then waited outside while she went back into the store.
Pena and his wife were sitting in an SUV across the street, along with two men who were “old Satan’s Disciples,” Assistant State’s Attorney James Murphy said.
Those two men got out of the SUV when they saw Garcia’s tattoos and approached him to determine if he was affiliated with a gang, Murphy said.
One of the men punched Garcia multiple times in the face, prompting Garcia to run down the street and out of the view of surveillance cameras as his attackers followed behind, Murphy said.
Eduardo Pena Chicago police
At that point, Pena, 40, got out of the of the driver’s seat of his SUV and also allegedly chased Garcia, who eventually ran back to the gas station.
The other two men had given up the chase, but Pena continued and fired a shot into Garcia’s back with a “large caliber handgun” as Garcia ran up to the gas pumps, Murphy said.
“There was a large cloud of smoke from the muzzle of [Pena’s] gun as he shoots and a nearby Ring camera captured the very loud sound of the gunshot,” Murphy said.
Garcia fell to the ground face down. He was later pronounced dead at St. Anthony Hospital.
The two men who had been with Pena jumped back into the SUV, which sped away with Pena’s wife at the wheel. Pena ran down the block to catch up to the SUV before his wife slowed and let him inside.
But just over a minute later, the SUV was pulled over by officers because Pena’s wife forgot to turn on the headlights, Murphy said.
All four denied hearing gunshots and were eventually released with a warning after their names were checked, Murphy said.
The officers’ body-worn cameras recored all of the car’s occupants, and the footage was later matched to footage showing the group at the gas station, prosecutors said.
Pena and one of the other men were arrested Wednesday, records show. Once in custody, the man identified Pena as the shooter and provided details of the shooting that matched the surveillance footage, prosecutors said.
Pena’s assistant public defender said he has no criminal background and lives with his wife and four children, who he supports by working as a custodian at the Merchandise Mart.
Pena bail is expected back in court Tuesday.


chicagosun-times--2020-09-25--Jessica Chastain is terrific in ‘Ava’ as a former Special Ops toughie, the movie not so much

You want to know the story of the title character in “ Ava ?
” Well , sit right down , and you ’ ll hear a tale , all in the opening credits .
Ready ?
Ava was a star athlete and an honors student and had great promise , but she also liked to party , and then she got a DUI after a terrible crash , so it was time for redemption , and that ’ s when Ava joined the Army , where she kicked ass as a Special Ops soldier on missions such as “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though she was given an honorable discharge , there were questions about Ava ’ s “ high intensity ” and the probability she ’ d have “ difficulty in civilian life , ” and sure enough Ava went off the grid and became an assassin who charges around $ 75,000 per kill — and she ’ s really good at her job , as we saw in the prologue BEFORE the very helpful opening credits .
Whew !
“ Ava ” stars the wonderful Jessica Chastain as an assassin living in a “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is her mentor Duke , who actually tells Ava , “ Yours is not to reason why , yours is to do or die .
Colin Farrell plays Simon , Duke ’ s pet assassin before Ava .
Diana Silvers is Simon ’ s daughter , who ’ s following in dad ’ s footsteps ( ! )
.
Jess Wexler plays Ava ’ s sister Jude , Geena Davis is her mom , and there ’ s also Common as Michael , who ’ s with Jude but used to be with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Common .
( Dad joke alert ! )
After dispatching a high-level Brit financier in Paris ( she likes to ask her targets what they did to warrant someone putting a hit on them ) , Ava returns home to Boston to recharge her batteries .
She reconnects with sister Jude , who chastises her for missing dad ’ s funeral ( “ I haven ’ t seen you for eight years !
” ) and informs Ava their mother is in the hospital .
Then , they start bickering about Michael .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ hit on Ava , so that ’ s complicating things , and it ’ s time for some more serviceable but routine shootout stuff .
We know from Chastain ’ s work on films ranging from “ Zero Dark Thirty ” to “ Molly ’ s Game ” that she can play a savvy badass , and she ’ s terrific as the world-weary , ruthlessly efficient but deeply troubled Ava .
Her performance is easily the best thing in a by-the-numbers B movie with an A-list cast .
As the plot grows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is steady as she goes , playing a character who ’ s worthy of a film franchise in a movie nowhere near deserving a sequel .
Odds are we ’ ll never see Ava again , and that ’ s a shame because , with a better script and more inspired direction , she could have been a contender .

You want to know the story of the title character in “Ava?” Well, sit right down, and you’ll hear a tale, all in the opening credits. Ready?
Ava was a star athlete and an honors student and had great promise, but she also liked to party, and then she got a DUI after a terrible crash, so it was time for redemption, and that’s when Ava joined the Army, where she kicked ass as a Special Ops soldier on missions such as “Operation Mongoose,” but, even though she was given an honorable discharge ,there were questions about Ava’s “high intensity” and the probability she’d have “difficulty in civilian life,” and sure enough Ava went off the grid and became an assassin who charges around $75,000 per kill — and she’s really good at her job, as we saw in the prologue BEFORE the very helpful opening credits.
Whew! “Ava” stars the wonderful Jessica Chastain as an assassin living in a “Bourne” knockoff world. John Malkovich is her mentor Duke, who actually tells Ava, “Yours is not to reason why, yours is to do or die. Colin Farrell plays Simon, Duke’s pet assassin before Ava. Diana Silvers is Simon’s daughter, who’s following in dad’s footsteps(!). Jess Wexler plays Ava’s sister Jude, Geena Davis is her mom, and there’s also Common as Michael, who’s with Jude but used to be with Ava, so they have that in Common. (Dad joke alert!)
‘Ava’
Untitled Vertical Entertainment presents a film directed by Tate Taylor and written by Matthew Newton. Rated R (for violence and language throughout, and brief sexual material). Running time: 96 minutes. Now showing in local theaters and on demand.
After dispatching a high-level Brit financier in Paris (she likes to ask her targets what they did to warrant someone putting a hit on them), Ava returns home to Boston to recharge her batteries. She reconnects with sister Jude, who chastises her for missing dad’s funeral (“I haven’t seen you for eight years!”) and informs Ava their mother is in the hospital.
Then, they start bickering about Michael.
Meanwhile, someone’s put a hit on Ava, so that’s complicating things, and it’s time for some more serviceable but routine shootout stuff.
We know from Chastain’s work on films ranging from “Zero Dark Thirty” to “Molly’s Game” that she can play a savvy badass, and she’s terrific as the world-weary, ruthlessly efficient but deeply troubled Ava. Her performance is easily the best thing in a by-the-numbers B movie with an A-list cast.
As the plot grows increasingly convoluted and borderline laughable, Chastain is steady as she goes, playing a character who’s worthy of a film franchise in a movie nowhere near deserving a sequel. Odds are we’ll never see Ava again, and that’s a shame because, with a better script and more inspired direction, she could have been a contender.


chicagosun-times--2020-09-26--Notre Dame product Cam Morrison brings uncanny clutch gene to Blackhawks

For four straight seasons , whenever Notre Dame needed a big goal in a big moment , they turned to Cam Morrison .
Now , Morrison will bring that clutch gene to the Blackhawks , with which he signed his first NHL contract in August .
“ It ’ s obviously a dream , ” Morrison said this week .
“ As a kid growing up in Canada , to sign that first NHL contract means a lot .
The hard work starts now , but it was a great accomplishment.
” The 6-foot-3 , 214-pound wing perfectly fits the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ size , net drive and ability to win puck battles , but he also adds good vision and passing to the mix .
He translated those skills into four years of consistency with the Fighting Irish , scoring between 21 and 27 points ( in 32 to 40 games ) every season .
And after the Avalanche ’ s NHL rights to Morrison — rights they secured by using a valuable second-round draft pick , No .
40 overall , on him in 2016 — expired on Aug. 15 , those skills prompted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out .
“ He ’ s probably stylistically different than a lot of wingers we have , certainly with his profile of being a bigger kid , ” Bowman said .
“ Not only is he willing to go to the net , he prefers to be at the net.
” Hawks depth defenseman Dennis Gilbert overlapped with Morrison for two seasons at Notre Dame , so Bowman had preexisting familiarity with Morrison from scouting trips .
The interest proved to be mutual .
“ It was [ about ] where I see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well as opportunity , ” Morrison said .
“ Chicago has everything in place for me to be successful .
[ Based on ] the few conversations I ’ ve had with staff as well as coaches , I thought it was a great fit for me.
” But arguably Morrison ’ s most unique skill — or at least the one that made him a hero in college — is not quantifiable .
Take it from Notre Dame coach Jeff Jackson : “ One of the things that stuck out for me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last four years , scored some of the biggest goals that we ’ ve had here.
” In his 2017 freshman season , Morrison scored twice — including the tying goal with 5:17 left — as Notre Dame beat UMass-Lowell in overtime to advance to the NCAA Frozen Four , coincidentally at the United Center .
In 2018 , Morrison scored 9:23 into overtime to win the Big Ten Championship game over Ohio State .
Three weeks later , in the Frozen Four semifinals , Morrison set up Jake Evans ( now of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the third period to beat Michigan .
In 2019 , Morrison scored the game-winning goal late in the second period to top Michigan in the Big Ten Championship , earning back-to-back conference titles for Notre Dame .
The next game , Morrison scored in overtime to eliminate Clarkson in the NCAA Regional first round .
“ It ’ s just a matter of not letting the moment get to you and just staying calm , ” Morrison said .
“ Coach Jackson really portrayed that within our team .
Some of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that just shows the poise I have.
” “ Not every player has that ability to elevate in those key moments , ” Jackson said .
“ Whatever characteristic that is , I ’ ve not had many players that have found a way to play their best hockey at the biggest moments .
[ But ] he ’ s one of those guys that can do that.
” Morrison ’ s ability to perform under pressure will be tested in a different way moving forward .
He comes to the Hawks as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , prospect .
And at 22 years old already , his window to avoid becoming a career minor-leaguer is relatively small .
Even Jackson was honest about that when assessing his former player .
“ In order to become more than a role guy , he ’ s going to need to use that body and that reach more effectively on a consistent basis , ” the coach said .
“ He did that here at times , but the physical element to his game [ needs ] a little bit of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ space for himself and be able to get into those dirty areas and compete for that ice.
” Morrison will also need to improve his quickness and skating , which can often be the biggest leap from college to pro hockey .
He ’ s spent the summer training in that regard , but so has his competition .
He ’ ll likely start next season in the AHL — assuming the AHL season happens — dueling with the likes of MacKenzie Entwistle and John Quenneville to be the Hawks ’ preferred power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though , Bowman sounds optimistic and willing to be patient about his progression as he begins his two-year entry-level contract .
“ When we were talking to him last [ month ] , explaining his path to the NHL , we ’ re not sure how quickly it ’ ll be , ” Bowman said .
“ It could be quick .
He ’ s like everyone else .
If he ’ s ready , then great .
If he needs time to develop , we ’ ll put resources into making him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opened Friday and will last through Oct. 8 , the day between the NHL draft ( Oct. 6-7 ) and the start of free agency ( Oct. 9 ) .
The Senators opened the party by buying out Bobby Ryan , and the Hawks may soon join it by buying out one or both of Zack Smith and Olli Maatta .
• The Hawks can began training again at Fifth-Third Arena starting Oct. 15 , per an NHL announcement this week , but with no coaches present and groups of no more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time .

For four straight seasons, whenever Notre Dame needed a big goal in a big moment, they turned to Cam Morrison.
Now, Morrison will bring that clutch gene to the Blackhawks, with which he signed his first NHL contract in August.
“It’s obviously a dream,” Morrison said this week. “As a kid growing up in Canada, to sign that first NHL contract means a lot. The hard work starts now, but it was a great accomplishment.”
The 6-foot-3, 214-pound wing perfectly fits the prototype of a power forward with his size, net drive and ability to win puck battles, but he also adds good vision and passing to the mix.
He translated those skills into four years of consistency with the Fighting Irish, scoring between 21 and 27 points (in 32 to 40 games) every season.
And after the Avalanche’s NHL rights to Morrison — rights they secured by using a valuable second-round draft pick, No. 40 overall, on him in 2016 — expired on Aug. 15, those skills prompted Hawks general manager Stan Bowman to reach out.
“He’s probably stylistically different than a lot of wingers we have, certainly with his profile of being a bigger kid,” Bowman said. “Not only is he willing to go to the net, he prefers to be at the net.”
Hawks depth defenseman Dennis Gilbert overlapped with Morrison for two seasons at Notre Dame, so Bowman had preexisting familiarity with Morrison from scouting trips. The interest proved to be mutual.
“It was [about] where I see myself in a couple years, as well as opportunity,” Morrison said. “Chicago has everything in place for me to be successful. [Based on] the few conversations I’ve had with staff as well as coaches, I thought it was a great fit for me.”
At 6-foot-3 and 214 pounds, Morrison fits the mold of a prototypical power forward. Mike Miller/Fighting Irish Media
But arguably Morrison’s most unique skill — or at least the one that made him a hero in college — is not quantifiable.
Take it from Notre Dame coach Jeff Jackson: “One of the things that stuck out for me was that he probably, in the last four years, scored some of the biggest goals that we’ve had here.”
In his 2017 freshman season, Morrison scored twice — including the tying goal with 5:17 left — as Notre Dame beat UMass-Lowell in overtime to advance to the NCAA Frozen Four, coincidentally at the United Center.
In 2018, Morrison scored 9:23 into overtime to win the Big Ten Championship game over Ohio State. Three weeks later, in the Frozen Four semifinals, Morrison set up Jake Evans (now of the Canadiens) with six seconds left in the third period to beat Michigan.
In 2019, Morrison scored the game-winning goal late in the second period to top Michigan in the Big Ten Championship, earning back-to-back conference titles for Notre Dame. The next game, Morrison scored in overtime to eliminate Clarkson in the NCAA Regional first round.
“It’s just a matter of not letting the moment get to you and just staying calm,” Morrison said. “Coach Jackson really portrayed that within our team. Some of the overtime goals and big third-period goals, that just shows the poise I have.”
“Not every player has that ability to elevate in those key moments,” Jackson said. “Whatever characteristic that is, I’ve not had many players that have found a way to play their best hockey at the biggest moments. [But] he’s one of those guys that can do that.”
Morrison’s ability to perform under pressure will be tested in a different way moving forward.
He comes to the Hawks as a solid, but not exactly blue-chip, prospect. And at 22 years old already, his window to avoid becoming a career minor-leaguer is relatively small. Even Jackson was honest about that when assessing his former player.
“In order to become more than a role guy, he’s going to need to use that body and that reach more effectively on a consistent basis,” the coach said. “He did that here at times, but the physical element to his game [needs] a little bit of a nasty streak at times to create more space for himself and be able to get into those dirty areas and compete for that ice.”
Morrison will also need to improve his quickness and skating, which can often be the biggest leap from college to pro hockey. He’s spent the summer training in that regard, but so has his competition.
He’ll likely start next season in the AHL — assuming the AHL season happens — dueling with the likes of MacKenzie Entwistle and John Quenneville to be the Hawks’ preferred power forward call-up.
Fortunately for Morrison, though, Bowman sounds optimistic and willing to be patient about his progression as he begins his two-year entry-level contract.
“When we were talking to him last [month], explaining his path to the NHL, we’re not sure how quickly it’ll be,” Bowman said. “It could be quick. He’s like everyone else. If he’s ready, then great. If he needs time to develop, we’ll put resources into making him better.”
Notes:


chicagosun-times--2020-09-26--4 wounded in drive-by in Marquette Park

4 wounded in drive-by in Marquette Park

Four people were wounded in a drive-by Saturday morning in Marquette Park on the Southwest Side .
About 3:30 a.m. @ @ @ @ @ vehicle in the 2400 block of West Lithuanian Plaza Court , when someone inside a @ @ @ @ @ at them , Chicago police said .
A 23-year-old woman was struck in the leg @ @ @ @ @ Hospital in good condition , police said .
A second woman , 29 , was @ @ @ @ @ taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn in good condition .
Two men , @ @ @ @ @ , one in the leg and the other in the abdomen , police said .
@ @ @ @ @ to Holy Cross Hospital and is in good condition , while the other man was @ @ @ @ @ Medical Center in serious condition .
No one is in custody as Area One detectives @ @ @ @ @ crime , and track the city ’ s homicides .

Four people were wounded in a drive-by Saturday morning in Marquette Park on the Southwest Side.
About 3:30 a.m. they were standing near a vehicle in the 2400 block of West Lithuanian Plaza Court, when someone inside a passing dark-colored sedan fired shots at them, Chicago police said.
A 23-year-old woman was struck in the leg and taken to Holy Cross Hospital in good condition, police said. A second woman, 29, was struck in the arm and taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn in good condition.
Two men, both 30-years-old, were struck, one in the leg and the other in the abdomen, police said. The first man took himself to Holy Cross Hospital and is in good condition, while the other man was taken to University of Chicago Medical Center in serious condition.
No one is in custody as Area One detectives investigate.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-09-26--Dear Abby: My husband feels neglected unless I buy him expensive things, often

DEAR ABBY : I feel uncomfortable receiving gifts , and I find it hard to meet my husband ’ s requests for constant gifts , especially when I feel I already give so much .
He constantly asks me to buy him things , some of which are very expensive .
I ’ m a saver , not a spender , and I try to watch my budget .
I already pay all the household bills , even though we make the same amount of money .
I owned my house before we met , and he chips in with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out to dinner once in a while .
But I pay for the vast majority of expenses , as well as perform the majority of chores .
I have sacrificed and paid for all our vacations because I wanted the experience , and I accept that .
The problem is , he seems to feel unappreciated , suggesting that if I gifted him more often , he would know he was constantly thought of .
He says he buys me random gifts — usually small items to which there are strings attached or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when he buys for himself quite a bit , seem like a smack in the face to me .
I feel he ’ s impulsive with purchases , and won ’ t be happy until I have nothing left .
How do I handle meeting my husband ’ s need for constant validation without going bankrupt or having all the love sucked out from resentment ?
Mentioning my financial limitations doesn ’ t seem to quench his thirst for more .
— EXCESSIVE IN NEW YORK DEAR EXCESSIVE : If my reading of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing all the heavy lifting in your marriage .
What , exactly , is your husband contributing except to ask for more ?
Gifts are supposed to be freely given , not dispensed because they are requested .
Whether your husband is greedy , selfish or extremely needy , I can ’ t guess , but the balance is off in your marriage .
This is why I ’ m recommending you consult a marriage and family therapist .
If your husband is willing to go with you and discuss these issues , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , please go alone so you can gain clearer insight into what ( and whom ) you are dealing with .
DEAR ABBY : My mother likes to tell people where to sit at every family gathering .
It can be anywhere , including at a restaurant or even at my aunt ’ s house .
It ’ s annoying and feels disrespectful .
I ’ m 49 , and my girls are in their early 20s .
I try to be patient , but she doesn ’ t consider health conditions or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daughter was severely traumatized by a former neighbor and doesn ’ t do well with strangers .
A few years ago , my cousin ’ s boyfriend came , and my mother ordered my daughter to sit next to him .
It was horrible for my daughter .
We tried one more time last year at a restaurant , and it was the same .
Since then , we have skipped family gatherings I don ’ t know why she feels she has to tell us what to do .
Please help .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Have you talked to your mother about this ?
She may , for whatever reason , need to feel she is in control .
If she isn ’ t hosting the gathering , this may be her way of maintaining dominance in her relationship with her sister , her children and grandchildren .
I ’ m not sure you can change your mother , but please don ’ t cut yourself off from the rest of your family .
If you aren ’ t seeing them individually , please consider it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Buren , also known as Jeanne Phillips , and was founded by her mother , Pauline Phillips .
Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O .
Box 69440 , Los Angeles , CA 90069 .
For an excellent guide to becoming a better conversationalist and a more sociable person , order “ How to Be Popular.
” Send your name and mailing address , plus check or money order for $ 8 ( U.S. funds ) , to : Dear Abby , Popularity Booklet , P.O .
Box 447 , Mount Morris , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are included in the price . )

DEAR ABBY: I feel uncomfortable receiving gifts, and I find it hard to meet my husband’s requests for constant gifts, especially when I feel I already give so much. He constantly asks me to buy him things, some of which are very expensive.
I’m a saver, not a spender, and I try to watch my budget. I already pay all the household bills, even though we make the same amount of money. I owned my house before we met, and he chips in with occasional upgrades and maintenance or takes me out to dinner once in a while. But I pay for the vast majority of expenses, as well as perform the majority of chores. I have sacrificed and paid for all our vacations because I wanted the experience, and I accept that.
The problem is, he seems to feel unappreciated, suggesting that if I gifted him more often, he would know he was constantly thought of. He says he buys me random gifts — usually small items to which there are strings attached or implied reciprocity. These requests, especially when he buys for himself quite a bit, seem like a smack in the face to me. I feel he’s impulsive with purchases, and won’t be happy until I have nothing left.
How do I handle meeting my husband’s need for constant validation without going bankrupt or having all the love sucked out from resentment? Mentioning my financial limitations doesn’t seem to quench his thirst for more. — EXCESSIVE IN NEW YORK
DEAR EXCESSIVE: If my reading of your letter is accurate, you are doing all the heavy lifting in your marriage. What, exactly, is your husband contributing except to ask for more? Gifts are supposed to be freely given, not dispensed because they are requested.
Whether your husband is greedy, selfish or extremely needy, I can’t guess, but the balance is off in your marriage. This is why I’m recommending you consult a marriage and family therapist. If your husband is willing to go with you and discuss these issues, they can be resolved. If not, please go alone so you can gain clearer insight into what (and whom) you are dealing with.
DEAR ABBY: My mother likes to tell people where to sit at every family gathering. It can be anywhere, including at a restaurant or even at my aunt’s house. It’s annoying and feels disrespectful.
I’m 49, and my girls are in their early 20s. I try to be patient, but she doesn’t consider health conditions or if someone is left-handed.
My older daughter was severely traumatized by a former neighbor and doesn’t do well with strangers. A few years ago, my cousin’s boyfriend came, and my mother ordered my daughter to sit next to him. It was horrible for my daughter. We tried one more time last year at a restaurant, and it was the same. Since then, we have skipped family gatherings
I don’t know why she feels she has to tell us what to do. Please help. — PUSHED AROUND IN KENTUCKY
DEAR PUSHED: Have you talked to your mother about this? She may, for whatever reason, need to feel she is in control. If she isn’t hosting the gathering, this may be her way of maintaining dominance in her relationship with her sister, her children and grandchildren.
I’m not sure you can change your mother, but please don’t cut yourself off from the rest of your family. If you aren’t seeing them individually, please consider it.
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
For an excellent guide to becoming a better conversationalist and a more sociable person, order “How to Be Popular.” Send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 (U.S. funds), to: Dear Abby, Popularity Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Shipping and handling are included in the price.)


chicagosun-times--2020-09-26--How the coronavirus helped Matt Nagy  ‘appreciate the preseason’

The coronavirus lockdown has made us all wistful for things we once considered drudgery : riding shoulder-to-shoulder on the ‘ L , ’ waiting in line for airport security and , in the case of Matt Nagy , playing preseason games .
Yes , the same preseason games that Nagy reserved merely for the bottom half of his roster during his first two years as Bears head coach , fearful that his most relevant players would get hurt .
The same games he eschewed in favor of back-field scrimmages , claiming they were a more efficient way to get ready @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two weeks of sloppy play and a league-wide influx of injuries , what does Nagy think of preseason games now ?
“ I think it does really start to open you up a little bit to appreciate the preseason — at least it does for me , ” he said this week .
But for a thumb injury to backup nose tackle John Jenkins , the Bears emerged cleanly from the carnage of Week 2 .
But they saw the league ’ s most impactful first injury happen along their own sideline , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after safety Eddie Jackson shoved him out of bounds .
Barkley was one of seven players to tear the anterior cruciate ligaments in their knee in Week 2 , alongside reigning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Nick Bosa and former No .
3 overall pick Solomon Thomas , both of the NFC champion 49ers ; Broncos receiver Courtland Sutton , a Pro Bowl player last year ; and Seahawks linebacker Bruce Irvin , who has 52 career sacks .
“ It seemed just really weird and so freaky that all those injuries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Nagy doesn ’ t know whether they were related to the cancelling of preseason games .
Veteran safety Tashaun Gipson had a sense .
“ These are routine plays that are happening and guys are done for the season or out for an extended time , ” he said .
“ I definitely wouldn ’ t say that it ’ s far-fetched to say that us not being able to do any type of football whatsoever up until practically the middle of August wouldn ’ t have something to do with that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tough for anybody .
This is a rare sport that you just can ’ t duplicate it .
You can ’ t just get a bunch of guys together and say Hey man , let ’ s go to the local park and play pickup football , like the guys in the [ NBA ] bubble did.
” ACL tears happen at more than twice the rate during a typical preseason than they do in the regular season , said Dr. David Chao , a former Chargers team physician who is now an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ With no preseason games , he said , “ acclimation injuries ” — suffered while ramping up physical activity — are being pushed into the regular season .
They get more attention because stars play in regular-season games but only sparingly in exhibitions .
There have been 19 ACL tears thus far this year .
The last five preseasons , there was an average of 25 .
The elimination of preseason games , though , means there have been “ fewer runs down the ski slope , ” Chao said , and fewer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a small sample size , and Chao said it ’ s impossible to tell whether the rash in injuries is related to no preseason games .
The lack of preseason games this season has smothered the spark — once fueled by coaches , like Nagy , who treated them as worth of only second- and third-stringers — for the exhibitions to be canceled altogether .
The question now becomes : how many games should there be ?
“ It ’ s like the porridge is too hot , the porridge is too cold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t know that there ’ s a one-size-fits-all answer.
” Soft tissue injuries —sprains and strains to hamstrings , ankles , calves and quads — are common during a standard training camp and offseason training program .
But NFL players were forced to train on their own , not returning to their team facility until late July .
While the league allowed for a ramp-up period before players put on pads , but it wasn ’ t the same .
“ In these times , the little things count , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the games , ” Gipson said .
“ These things are more important than ever because our bodies are truly getting acclimated to playing in these types of conditions when we ’ ve been off for eight , eight-and-a-half months.
“ Two things kept Falcons coach Dan Quinn up at night during the preseason : tackling and penalties .
Players didn ’ t tackle full-bore at any point during camp , while his assistants were forced to fill in for officials who otherwise would have helped referee practice .
Nagy was particularly sympathetic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Giants ’ Joe Judge , who didn ’ t have the preseason as a test run .
This year , teams are forced to work out their problems in real time .
When Nagy said Sunday the Bears were “ just OK right now , ” he said it wasn ’ t a critique of his players or coaches , but a realization they have to work through problems because they didn ’ t have a preseason .
Nagy began warming to the preseason in March , when he decided to stage his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I had a reflection in my own opinion going into this year , not only to toughen us up mentally but physically , and playing guys in the preseason … ” he said .
“ Schematically , it can help you just do your stuff against somebody other than your own team .
I definitely think that it ’ s something that is good for us .
”

The coronavirus lockdown has made us all wistful for things we once considered drudgery: riding shoulder-to-shoulder on the L, waiting in line for airport security and, in the case of Matt Nagy, playing preseason games.
Yes, the same preseason games that Nagy reserved merely for the bottom half of his roster during his first two years as Bears coach, fearful that his most relevant players would get hurt. The same games he eschewed in favor of back-field scrimmages, claiming they were a more efficient way to get ready for the season.
So, after two weeks of sloppy play and a leaguewide spate of injuries, what does Nagy think of preseason games now?
“I think it does really start to open you up a little bit to appreciate the preseason — at least it does for me,” he said this week.
Except for a thumb injury to backup nose tackle John Jenkins, the Bears emerged cleanly from the carnage of
Week 2. But they saw the league’s most impactful first injury happen along their own sideline when Giants running back Saquon Barkley crumbled after safety Eddie Jackson shoved him out of bounds.
Barkley was one of seven players to tear an anterior cruciate ligament in Week 2, alongside reigning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Nick Bosa and 2017 No. 3 overall pick Solomon Thomas, both of the NFC champion 49ers; Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton, a Pro Bowl player last season; and Seahawks linebacker Bruce -Irvin, who has 52 career sacks.
“It seemed just really weird and so freaky that all those injuries happened this weekend,” Nagy said.
Nagy doesn’t know whether they were related to the canceling of preseason games. Veteran safety Tashaun Gipson had a sense.
“These are routine plays that are happening, and guys are done for the season or out for an extended time,” he said. “I definitely wouldn’t say that it’s far-fetched to say that us not being able to do any type of football whatsoever up until practically the middle of August wouldn’t have something to do with that.
“I think that’s tough for anybody. This is a rare sport; you just can’t duplicate it. You can’t just get a bunch of guys together and say, ‘Hey, man, let’s go to the local park and play pickup football,’ like the guys in the [NBA] bubble did.”
ACL tears happen at more than twice the rate during a typical preseason than they do in the regular season, said David Chao, a former Chargers team physician who is now an orthopedic surgeon and sports-injury analyst. With no preseason games, he said, “acclimation injuries” — suffered while ramping up physical activity — are being pushed into the regular season. They get more attention because stars play in regular-season games but only sparingly in exhibitions.
There have been 19 ACL tears this year. The last five preseasons, there was an average of 25. The elimination of preseason games, though, means there have been “fewer runs down the ski slope,” Chao said, and fewer chances to get hurt. Add in a small sample size, and Chao said it’s impossible to tell whether the rash of injuries is related to the scrapping of preseason games.
The lack of preseason games this season has smothered the spark — once fueled by coaches, such as Nagy, who treated them as worthy of only second- and third-stringers — for the exhibitions to be canceled altogether.
The question now becomes: How many games should there be?
From a safety standpoint, there’s no magic number.
“It’s like the porridge is too hot, the porridge is too cold,” Chao said. “I don’t know that there’s a one-size-fits-all answer.”
Soft-tissue injuries —sprains and strains to hamstrings, ankles, calves and quadriceps — are common during a standard training camp and offseason training program. But NFL players were forced to train on their own, not returning to their team facilities until late July. The league allowed for a ramp-up period before players put on pads, but it wasn’t the same.
“In these times, the little things count, the ‘pre-habs,’ the things before the games,” Gipson said. “These things are more important than ever because our bodies are truly getting acclimated to playing in these types of conditions when we’ve been off for eight, 8½ months.’’
Two things kept Falcons coach Dan Quinn up at night during the preseason: tackling and penalties. Players didn’t tackle full-bore at any point during camp, while his assistants were forced to fill in for officials who otherwise would have helped referee practice.
Nagy was particularly sympathetic to first-time head coaches, such as the Giants’ Joe Judge, who didn’t have the preseason as a test run. This year, teams are forced to work out their problems in real time.
When Nagy said Sunday the Bears were “just OK right now,” he said it wasn’t a criticism of his players or coaches, but a realization that they have to work through problems because they didn’t have a preseason.
Nagy began warming to the preseason in March, when he decided to stage his quarterback competition during exhibition games.
“I had a reflection in my own opinion going into this year, not only to toughen us up mentally but physically, and playing guys in the preseason,” he said. “Schematically, it can help you just do your stuff against somebody other than your own team. I definitely think that it’s something that is good for us.”
Maybe next year.


chicagosun-times--2020-09-26--Three White Sox ejected after Jimmy Cordero hits Cubs’ Contreras with pitch

All of the denials were in place , from White Sox right-hander Jimmy Cordero who delivered the pitch , and manager Rick Renteria , too .
It ’ s customary practice when a “ pitch that got away ” and hits someone , as Cordero ’ s fastball that zapped the Cubs ’ Willson Contreras in the back , and has the look of retaliation .
“ It was just a bad pitch , a bad pitch to him , ” Cordero said .
“ The ball sinked a lot , and that happened .
No , it was not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from him , ” Sox manager Rick Renteria said .
“ He pitched him in and the ball got away.
” Umpire Dan Bellino and his crew , and Contreras , saw it differently .
Contreras had homered in the third inning against right-hander Dylan Cease in the Cubs ’ 10-0 blowout victory at Guaranteed Rate Field .
His bat flip , a spirited underhand toss straight up in the air — can we get an official “ how far did it fly ?
” reading , please ?
— followed a howling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ball left the park .
The Cubs lineup had been struggling mightily and a celebration was understandable .
If the Sox were throwing at Contreras , it ’ s a bad look from a team whose shortstop and defending batting champion made bat flipping a “ Change the Game ” battle cry last season .
Tim Anderson even held a bat-flip seminar at the team ’ s fan convention this winter .
“ All the hype is on the guy on the other side when he bat flipped , right ?
” Cubs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thought Tim Anderson ’ s bat flip last year where he flipped it and looked in his dugout , that ’ s what you want .
That ’ s what Willson did.
” So it goes , though when losses mount , to the tune of six in a row for the Sox with two to play .
They have clinched a postseason berth but will go to the playoffs riding an eight-game losing streak if the Cubs take two more Saturday and Sunday .
Bellino and his crew viewed Cordero ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and had a strong feeling it was intentional , so after a conference they ejected the right-hander .
Renteria and pitching coach Don Cooper , an airborne bottle of water preceding him , charged out of the dugout and were thrown out , too .
“ I was a little livid because we were sure of how we viewed it , but understandably the umpires have a judgement on that and they did what they did , ” Renteria said .
Renteria said he expects the Sox to be “ a little bit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ Today , it was handed to us , right ?
A pitcher on the other side [ Yu Darvish ] that was really good , limited what we were able to string together if anything at all.
” Renteria maintains his team hadn ’ t played poorly or been blown out before Friday ’ s game , which also included sloppy defense — a dropped third strike by catcher Yasmani Grandal , a drop by Grandal on a tag play , a botched pitcher covering first play between Gio Gonzalez and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to first by lefty Jace Fry stood out .
“ It ’ s not a question of motivation .
It ’ s a question of performance , ” Renteria said .
“ These guys understand what ’ s going on , trust me .
They know where we ’ re at.
” “ It ’ s not like we don ’ t know we are a good team , ” Cease , who allowed three of the Cubs ’ five home runs .
“ We just have to put it together .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The last week has been good .
We have good players , we don ’ t need to panic or do anything drastically different .
We just have to bring it to the park .
”

All of the denials were in place, from White Sox right-hander Jimmy Cordero who delivered the pitch, and manager Rick Renteria, too.
It’s customary practice when a “pitch that got away” and hits someone, as Cordero’s fastball that zapped the Cubs’ Willson Contreras in the back, and has the look of retaliation.
“It was just a bad pitch, a bad pitch to him,” Cordero said. “The ball sinked a lot, and that happened. No, it was not intentional.”
“The ball got away from him,” Sox manager Rick Renteria said. “He pitched him in and the ball got away.”
Umpire Dan Bellino and his crew, and Contreras, saw it differently.
Contreras had homered in the third inning against right-hander Dylan Cease in the Cubs’ 10-0 blowout victory at Guaranteed Rate Field. His bat flip, a spirited underhand toss straight up in the air — can we get an official “how far did it fly?” reading, please? — followed a howling roar from the visitors dugout as the ball left the park. The Cubs lineup had been struggling mightily and a celebration was understandable.
If the Sox were throwing at Contreras, it’s a bad look from a team whose shortstop and defending batting champion made bat flipping a “Change the Game” battle cry last season. Tim Anderson even held a bat-flip seminar at the team’s fan convention this winter.
“All the hype is on the guy on the other side when he bat flipped, right?” Cubs manager David Ross said. “I thought Tim Anderson’s bat flip last year where he flipped it and looked in his dugout, that’s what you want. That’s what Willson did.”
So it goes, though when losses mount, to the tune of six in a row for the Sox with two to play. They have clinched a postseason berth but will go to the playoffs riding an eight-game losing streak if the Cubs take two more Saturday and Sunday.
Bellino and his crew viewed Cordero’s pitch to Contreras in the seventh inning and had a strong feeling it was intentional, so after a conference they ejected the right-hander. Renteria and pitching coach Don Cooper, an airborne bottle of water preceding him, charged out of the dugout and were thrown out, too.
“I was a little livid because we were sure of how we viewed it, but understandably the umpires have a judgement on that and they did what they did,” Renteria said.
Renteria said he expects the Sox to be “a little bit more fired up to go play tomorrow.”
“Today, it was handed to us, right? A pitcher on the other side [Yu Darvish] that was really good, limited what we were able to string together if anything at all.”
Renteria maintains his team hadn’t played poorly or been blown out before Friday’s game, which also included sloppy defense — a dropped third strike by catcher Yasmani Grandal, a drop by Grandal on a tag play, a botched pitcher covering first play between Gio Gonzalez and Jose Abreu and a lollipop bouncing throw to first by lefty Jace Fry stood out.
“It’s not a question of motivation. It’s a question of performance,” Renteria said. “These guys understand what’s going on, trust me. They know where we’re at.”
“It’s not like we don’t know we are a good team,” Cease, who allowed three of the Cubs’ five home runs. “We just have to put it together.
“We’ve had a good season. The last week has been good. We have good players, we don’t need to panic or do anything drastically different. We just have to bring it to the park.”


chicagosun-times--2020-09-25--Chicago cop fires at alleged gunman in Edgewater Beach

A Chicago police officer fired a shot at a person who was allegedly holding a gun during a foot chase @ @ @ @ @ Officers approached two males who were drinking suspected alcoholic beverages in an alley just after @ @ @ @ @ block of North Winthrop Avenue , Chicago police said .
The males ran and during @ @ @ @ @ one of them was holding a gun , police said .
The officer told the @ @ @ @ @ but the suspect turned around and raised it instead .
The officer fired a shot @ @ @ @ @ alleged gunman , police said .
The suspect was taken into custody and officers recovered @ @ @ @ @ were reported , police said .
The other suspect has not been located .
Read @ @ @ @ @ track the city ’ s homicides .

A Chicago police officer fired a shot at a person who was allegedly holding a gun during a foot chase Friday in Edgewater Beach.
Officers approached two males who were drinking suspected alcoholic beverages in an alley just after 9 p.m. in the 5200 block of North Winthrop Avenue, Chicago police said.
The males ran and during the pursuit an officer saw one of them was holding a gun, police said. The officer told the suspect to drop the gun but the suspect turned around and raised it instead.
The officer fired a shot which did not strike the alleged gunman, police said. The suspect was taken into custody and officers recovered the weapon.
No injuries were reported, police said. The other suspect has not been located.
Charges are pending.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-09-25--Yu Darvish caps stellar regular season with shutout against the White Sox

Yu Darvish has been the anchor of the Cubs rotation and when they needed him most after dropping five of their last six games , he did exactly what he ’ s done the entire season .
Darvish benefitted from an early lead with the help of three homers from Kyle Schwarber , Willson Contreras and Javy Baez and once he got into a groove , there was no stopping him .
The Cubs ’ ace tossed seven-shutout innings in his regular-season finale , allowing just three hits , walking one and striking out five.
” 2020 has not only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the Cubs , but will likely end up being the best season of his career .
The right-hander may likely end up being the runner-up in this year ’ s National League Cy Young as Trevor Bauer has all but wrapped up the award , but it shouldn ’ t take away from his stellar season .
While manager David Ross doesn ’ t have a vote , he knows who he ’ d cast his ballot for .
“ It would go to my guy , what are you talking about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ big smile .
“ I ’ d give all my guys every award I could.
” Darvish finishes the regular season as the Cubs leader in strikeouts and tops among the rotation in earned runs allowed , batting average against and BB/K ratio .
Right-hander Adbert Alzolay will start for the Cubs on Sunday , replacing left-hander Jose Quintana who was scheduled to make the start .
Alzolay impressed during his outing Tuesday as he struck out seven over four innings of relief and showcased some electric stuff against the Pirates .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ Quintana ] will be built up to stretch out , so [ we ’ ll ] let him get a look out of the pen before the postseason and then see how we can build him up , ” Ross said .
“ We ’ ll continue to try to balance him getting his pitches and still being able to get some experience of coming out of the pen.
” The Cubs selected the contract of infielder Patrick Wisdom prior to Friday ’ s game .
Infielder Jose Martinez was optioned to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ move .
To make room for Wisdom on the 40-man roster , left-hander Manny Rodriguez had his contract selected from Double-A Tennessee and placed on the 45-day injured list .
Martinez has had a run of tough luck since being acquired at the trade deadline , going 0-for-21 in 10 games this season .
Wisdom was added to the Cubs ’ 40-man postseason roster on Thursday .
When Tyler Chatwood injured his forearm and was placed on the injured list on Sept. 1 , it looked like the right-hander ’ s season was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s recovery has gone better than expected .
Chatwood will throw a bullpen on Saturday .
“ He ’ s working hard to get back , ” Ross said .
“ He wants to help and I ’ ll continue to listen to trainers on that .
I ’ ll put my head in there and watch that tomorrow for a minute .
See how that goes .
I still think he ’ s got a pretty good bit to go .
His heart i isn the right place , though .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Yu Darvish has been the anchor of the Cubs rotation and when they needed him most after dropping five of their last six games, he did exactly what he’s done the entire season.
Darvish benefitted from an early lead with the help of three homers from Kyle Schwarber, Willson Contreras and Javy Baez and once he got into a groove, there was no stopping him.
The Cubs’ ace tossed seven-shutout innings in his regular-season finale, allowing just three hits, walking one and striking out five.”
2020 has not only been the best season Darvish has had with the Cubs, but will likely end up being the best season of his career.
The right-hander may likely end up being the runner-up in this year’s National League Cy Young as Trevor Bauer has all but wrapped up the award, but it shouldn’t take away from his stellar season.
While manager David Ross doesn’t have a vote, he knows who he’d cast his ballot for.
“It would go to my guy, what are you talking about?,” Ross said with a big smile. “I’d give all my guys every award I could.”
Darvish finishes the regular season as the Cubs leader in strikeouts and tops among the rotation in earned runs allowed, batting average against and BB/K ratio.
Alzolay to start on Sunday
Right-hander Adbert Alzolay will start for the Cubs on Sunday, replacing left-hander Jose Quintana who was scheduled to make the start.
Alzolay impressed during his outing Tuesday as he struck out seven over four innings of relief and showcased some electric stuff against the Pirates.
“Just I don’t know that [Quintana] will be built up to stretch out, so [we’ll] let him get a look out of the pen before the postseason and then see how we can build him up,” Ross said. “We’ll continue to try to balance him getting his pitches and still being able to get some experience of coming out of the pen.”
Wisdom in, Martinez out
The Cubs selected the contract of infielder Patrick Wisdom prior to Friday’s game. Infielder Jose Martinez was optioned to alternate site South Bend in a corresponding move. To make room for Wisdom on the 40-man roster, left-hander Manny Rodriguez had his contract selected from Double-A Tennessee and placed on the 45-day injured list.
Martinez has had a run of tough luck since being acquired at the trade deadline, going 0-for-21 in 10 games this season. Wisdom was added to the Cubs’ 40-man postseason roster on Thursday.
Chatwood ramping things up, status for postseason unknown
When Tyler Chatwood injured his forearm and was placed on the injured list on Sept. 1, it looked like the right-hander’s season was almost certainly over, but Chatwood’s recovery has gone better than expected. Chatwood will throw a bullpen on Saturday.
“He’s working hard to get back,” Ross said. “He wants to help and I’ll continue to listen to trainers on that. I’ll put my head in there and watch that tomorrow for a minute. See how that goes. I still think he’s got a pretty good bit to go. His heart i isn the right place, though. I’ll tell you that.”


chicagosun-times--2020-09-25--Cubs crush five homers as the offense leads the way in blowout win over the White Sox

Finding pitches to drive hasn ’ t been the Cubs ’ struggle this September .
Doing damage with those pitches has been another story .
They ’ ve feasted in the past on fastball counts or situations with count leverage , but more often that not this season , they ’ ve been fouling pitches off or missing in those moments .
“ I think when your confidence is down , that ’ s kind of what happens , ” manager David Ross said earlier this week .
“ When things aren ’ t synced up and you ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to hittable pitches.
” With fastball-throwing Yu Darvish on the mound Friday night and an offense looking to break out , something had to give , and the Cubs ’ lineup showed up and showed out , mashing four homers in a 10-0 win against the White Sox .
Kyle Schwarber has struggled like much of the rest of the Cubs ’ hitters in September and entered Friday with a .441 OPS for the month .
In his first at-bat in the second inning , he worked himself into a favorable 3-0 count @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he turned around a 100 mph fastball from Dylan Cease for an opposite-field solo home run to give the Cubs an early lead .
A solo homer wasn ’ t going to be enough , but it did open things up for the rest of the order .
Rallies also have been hard to come by for the Cubs , especially this week , and with two on and two out in the third , it looked like it might be another disappointing inning .
But Willson Contreras made sure that didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homer into the Cubs ’ bullpen for a 4-0 lead .
Things took off from there as Javy Baez added a solo shot in the fourth to make it three straight innings with a homer .
Victor Caratini launched his first homer of the season in the sixth to break the game open .
“ That was huge , ” Contreras said of his homer .
“ Once I hit the ball , I flipped the bat and everybody was having fun .
They were fired up .
Schwarber hit a homer .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ game .
… We were focused .
We had a tough series against the Pirates .
We ’ re just looking forward to having another good game tomorrow.
” Contreras ( 2-for-4 with four RBIs ) continued his big game with his second homer of the night in the ninth inning .
Four of the Cubs ’ five homers came on fastballs — a possible sign the offense is finding itself .
“ I thought they did a good job of just being ready to hit at all times , ” Ross said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think when you get on the fastball , the timing will come on the off speed .
You ’ ll recognize strikes from balls a little bit better .
Just a really nice approach from the group tonight .
Great results , they deserved that.
” While pitching has been the team ’ s strength this month , finding more offense over the final two games would be a boost to its hopes of a deep postseason run .
“ You just keep that hope that we ’ ve got [ two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” second baseman Jason Kipnis said .
“ We ’ re already in the postseason , so let ’ s work on having good at-bats , work on finding a different feeling than what we have going on right now .
So when the time comes , you ’ re not just trying to flip the switch and hope that you can roll it out there and be a new lineup .
”

Finding pitches to drive hasn’t been the Cubs’ struggle this September. Doing damage with those pitches has been another story.
They’ve feasted in the past on fastball counts or situations with count leverage, but more often that not this season, they’ve been fouling pitches off or missing in those moments.
“I think when your confidence is down, that’s kind of what happens,” manager David Ross said earlier this week. “When things aren’t synced up and you’re struggling, that’s what happens to hittable pitches.”
With fastball-throwing Yu Darvish on the mound Friday night and an offense looking to break out, something had to give, and the Cubs’ lineup showed up and showed out, mashing four homers in a 10-0 win against the White Sox.
Kyle Schwarber has struggled like much of the rest of the Cubs’ hitters in September and entered Friday with a .441 OPS for the month. In his first at-bat in the second inning, he worked himself into a favorable 3-0 count. After watching two fastballs for strikes, he turned around a 100 mph fastball from Dylan Cease for an opposite-field solo home run to give the Cubs an early lead.
A solo homer wasn’t going to be enough, but it did open things up for the rest of the order.
Rallies also have been hard to come by for the Cubs, especially this week, and with two on and two out in the third, it looked like it might be another disappointing inning. But Willson Contreras made sure that didn’t happen by lining a three-run homer into the Cubs’ bullpen for a 4-0 lead.
Things took off from there as Javy Baez added a solo shot in the fourth to make it three straight innings with a homer. Victor Caratini launched his first homer of the season in the sixth to break the game open.
“That was huge,” Contreras said of his homer. “Once I hit the ball, I flipped the bat and everybody was having fun. They were fired up. Schwarber hit a homer. I’m glad we won this game. … We were focused. We had a tough series against the Pirates. We’re just looking forward to having another good game tomorrow.”
Contreras (2-for-4 with four RBIs) continued his big game with his second homer of the night in the ninth inning. Four of the Cubs’ five homers came on fastballs — a possible sign the offense is finding itself.
“I thought they did a good job of just being ready to hit at all times,” Ross said. “Getting on the heater – I think when you get on the fastball, the timing will come on the off speed. You’ll recognize strikes from balls a little bit better. Just a really nice approach from the group tonight. Great results, they deserved that.”
While pitching has been the team’s strength this month, finding more offense over the final two games would be a boost to its hopes of a deep postseason run.
“You just keep that hope that we’ve got [two] more games to turn this around,” second baseman Jason Kipnis said. “We’re already in the postseason, so let’s work on having good at-bats, work on finding a different feeling than what we have going on right now. So when the time comes, you’re not just trying to flip the switch and hope that you can roll it out there and be a new lineup.”


chicagosun-times--2020-09-25--Horoscope for Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020

Horoscope for Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020

After 1:30 a.m. Chicago time , there are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions .
The moon is in Aquarius .
Mercury enters Scorpio , where it will go retrograde in mid-October and stay until December .
The result is that your focus on shared property , taxes , debt and anything that you own jointly will be intense for the next few months .
Today Mercury moves opposite your sign , where it will stay until December This is unusual .
The reason for this is that it will go retrograde in mid-October .
Obviously , your focus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more intense in the next few months .
Mercury changes signs today .
Because it will go retrograde in mid-October , it is going to focus on one part of your chart until December .
This means you will work to get better organized ; however , during its retrograde time , being organized will be challenging !
Mercury will change signs and will stay in the same sign until December .
The reason for this long journey in one sign is that it will go retrograde in mid-October .
The result will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might be back in the picture .
As Mercury changes signs today , it indicates that you will intellectually withdraw from the world around you and focus more on home and your inner world until December .
This is because Mercury will go retrograde in mid-October , which will make you think of the past .
( “ Rosebud !
” ) Mercury is your ruler , and today it moves into a part of your chart to stay until December .
This is a long sojourn for Mercury and is due to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mid-October .
During its retrograde time , transportation delays and mixed up communications will occur .
Today Mercury starts to move into one of your money houses , where it will stay until December .
The reason for this long visit is it goes retrograde in mid-October .
This will make you ponder about what it is that you really value in life .
Good to know .
Today Mercury moves into your sign , where it would normally stay for two weeks .
Instead it will stay until December !
That ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mid-October .
During that time you will encounter people from your past as well as deal with misplaced things and silly errors .
( Groan . )
Today Mercury starts to move into a hidden part of your chart , where it will stay until December .
This will actually help you to do research or find solutions to old problems .
( It will go retrograde in mid-October , which explains this long visit . )
You will give a lot of thought to your goals and expectations in life in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in one part of your chart until December .
It will definitely attract old friends and people from your past back into your world .
Today Mercury moves to the top of your chart , where it will stay until December , because it will be going retrograde in mid-October .
This means many of you will be in contact with parents , bosses and authority figures you haven ’ t heard from in a while .
Could be interesting — or not .
Something useful is happening for your sign .
Mercury @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your chart to stay until December .
This will make it easy for you to study and learn .
Because it will go retrograde in mid-October , it will help the study of history and past events .
If Your Birthday Is Today Tennis player Serena Williams ( 1981 ) shares your birthday .
You are warm and friendly and like to maintain harmony with others .
It ’ s your turn for a fun-loving year ahead !
You will be more popular and will enjoy warm friendships .
You will also be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appreciate the everyday happiness and beauty around you .
This year is the time for an important choice .
Choose wisely .

Moon Alert
After 1:30 a.m. Chicago time, there are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions. The moon is in Aquarius.
Aries (March 21-April 19)
Mercury enters Scorpio, where it will go retrograde in mid-October and stay until December. The result is that your focus on shared property, taxes, debt and anything that you own jointly will be intense for the next few months.
Taurus (April 20-May 20)
Today Mercury moves opposite your sign, where it will stay until December This is unusual. The reason for this is that it will go retrograde in mid-October. Obviously, your focus on partners and close friends will be more intense in the next few months.
Gemini (May 21-June 20)
Mercury changes signs today. Because it will go retrograde in mid-October, it is going to focus on one part of your chart until December. This means you will work to get better organized; however, during its retrograde time, being organized will be challenging!
Cancer (June 21-July 22)
Mercury will change signs and will stay in the same sign until December. The reason for this long journey in one sign is that it will go retrograde in mid-October. The result will be that old flames from your past might be back in the picture.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)
As Mercury changes signs today, it indicates that you will intellectually withdraw from the world around you and focus more on home and your inner world until December. This is because Mercury will go retrograde in mid-October, which will make you think of the past. (“Rosebud!”)
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
Mercury is your ruler, and today it moves into a part of your chart to stay until December. This is a long sojourn for Mercury and is due to the fact it will go retrograde in mid-October. During its retrograde time, transportation delays and mixed up communications will occur.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
Today Mercury starts to move into one of your money houses, where it will stay until December. The reason for this long visit is it goes retrograde in mid-October. This will make you ponder about what it is that you really value in life. Good to know.
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
Today Mercury moves into your sign, where it would normally stay for two weeks. Instead it will stay until December! That’s because it will go retrograde in mid-October. During that time you will encounter people from your past as well as deal with misplaced things and silly errors. (Groan.)
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
Today Mercury starts to move into a hidden part of your chart ,where it will stay until December. This will actually help you to do research or find solutions to old problems. (It will go retrograde in mid-October, which explains this long visit.)
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
You will give a lot of thought to your goals and expectations in life in the next few months because Mercury will be in one part of your chart until December. It will definitely attract old friends and people from your past back into your world.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
Today Mercury moves to the top of your chart, where it will stay until December, because it will be going retrograde in mid-October. This means many of you will be in contact with parents, bosses and authority figures you haven’t heard from in a while. Could be interesting — or not.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)
Something useful is happening for your sign. Mercury is moving into a new part of your chart to stay until December. This will make it easy for you to study and learn. Because it will go retrograde in mid-October, it will help the study of history and past events.
If Your Birthday Is Today
Tennis player Serena Williams (1981) shares your birthday. You are warm and friendly and like to maintain harmony with others. It’s your turn for a fun-loving year ahead! You will be more popular and will enjoy warm friendships. You will also be more grateful for your life and will appreciate the everyday happiness and beauty around you. This year is the time for an important choice. Choose wisely.


chicagosun-times--2020-09-26--Kris Bryant crushes grand slam vs. White Sox in return to Cubs lineup

For weeks , manager David Ross has spoken about what having a healthy Kris Bryant back into the lineup could do for the Cubs ’ offense .
In his first game back after missing four games due to right oblique tightness , the former National League MVP didn ’ t disappoint .
Bryant got off to a fast start as he singled in his first at-bat and scored the Cubs first run in the second inning , but that would only be the beginning of his big night .
It appeared like the Cubs would be in danger of wasting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the third , but their third baseman came up with his biggest swing of the season .
Bryant crushed a first-pitch breaking ball from Dane Dunning and sent it deep into the left-field seats for a grand slam , giving the Cubs a 5-2 lead .
The 419-foot blast was Bryant ’ s fifth career grand slam and his first homer since Aug. 12 .
The Cubs hope Bryant can find a rhythm at the plate before the postseason begins next week and duplicate his performance from Saturday .
Bryant has had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entering Saturday with a .195/.283/.301 slash line while also battling various injuries .
“ Just taking precautions early on , taking a lot of caution and making sure it feels right and slowly testing it and seemed to be bouncing back pretty good as I described to you guys , ” Ross said before Saturday ’ s game .
“ After yesterday ’ s work , I think he felt really good .
And you know , talking to him after the game last night .
He wanted to be in there today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in there.
” Major League Baseball suspended White Sox manager Ricky Renteria ( one game ) and right-hander Jimmy Cordero ( three games ) for their involvement in Friday ’ s altercation .
Cordero hit Willson Contreras after the Cubs ’ catcher homered in his first at-bat and proceeded to flip his bat toward the Cubs dugout .
“ I have a lot of confidence in Chris Young and Major League Baseball , his ability to assess the situation in real time , ” Ross said .
“ I know how it looked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looked and Major League Baseball knows how it looked , and it looked really bad .
So they did their job and we ’ ll move on .

For weeks, manager David Ross has talked about what having a healthy Kris Bryant back in the lineup could do for the Cubs’ offense.
In his first game back after missing four games because of tightness in his right oblique, Bryant didn’t disappoint in Saturday’s 9-5 loss to the White Sox.
Batting fifth and playing his customary third base, Bryant singled in first at-bat and scored in the second inning against the White Sox. But that only would be the beginning of his big night.
The Cubs appeared to be in danger of wasting a bases-loaded, no-outs situation in the third before Bryant came up with his biggest swing of the season. He crushed a first-pitch breaking ball from Sox starter Dane Dunning deep into the left-field seats for a grand slam, giving the Cubs a short-lived 5-2 lead. The 419-foot blast was Bryant’s fifth career slam and his first home run since Aug. 12.
“I figured a lot of pitchers try to jam me in with sinkers,” Bryant said. “You try to look for something out over [the plate], but he kind of flips in a slider that he probably didn’t want to throw middle-in. And sometimes, you just see it and you just swing. It just kind of falls into your barrel. I feel like I’ve been waiting all year for one like that just to kind of fall right into my barrel. You know, that felt very good.”
The Cubs hope Bryant, who struck out and flied to center in his last two at-bats, can find a rhythm at the plate before the National League playoffs start Wednesday. He has had a season to forget in 2020, entering the game Saturday with a .195/.283/.301 slash line after battling various injuries.
“Just want to get at-bats,” Bryant said. “Just want to make sure that everything’s feeling good and confident. It’s always nice to go out there and get two hits in your first two-at bats. So that felt good and it feels good to be on top of the [NL] Central.”
“KB going oppo his first at-bat, then hitting the homer there. Like I said, with what we’re planning on doing in the postseason, It’s it’s going to take all of us and Kris is going to be a huge part of what we’re doing in the postseason,” first baseman Anthony Rizzo said.
Ross on Sox’ punishments
Ross weighed in after Major League Baseball suspended Sox manager Rick Renteria for one game and reliever Jimmy Cordero for three after Cordero hit Cubs catcher Willson Contreras with a pitch Friday. The pitch was an apparent retaliation for Contreras flipping his bat toward the Cubs’ dugout after hitting a homer earlier in the game.
‘‘I have a lot of confidence in [senior vice president] Chris Young and Major League Baseball, his ability to assess the situation in real time,’’ Ross said. ‘‘I know how it looked. I think Ricky knows how it looked and Major League Baseball knows how it looked, and it looked really bad. So they did their job, and we’ll move on.’’