The spring of our discontent has arrived, and April figures to be an fascinating month for followers of Chicago’s not-so Fab Five.
Four of our skilled groups — the Blackhawks, Bulls, Cubs and White Sox — are all in motion, whereas the Bears are on the clock.
Throw in a mayoral election and a few inclement climate and you’ve got the three staples of the Chicago meals group — sports activities, politics and climate — intermingling. When all is alleged and accomplished, it could possibly be an April for the ages, a month of potential goodbyes and welcome backs, from Jonathan Toews and Nikola Vučević to Jason Heyward.
April additionally marks the opening steps of the six-month slog for our two summer season groups and really properly could possibly be the tip of the road for our winter groups, the 2 occupiers of the United Center. Even for Chicago sports activities followers used to multitasking video games, it’s all the pieces in every single place all of sudden.
The re-rebuild of the Hawks, to not be confused with the Stan Bowman-led rebuild of two years in the past, continues its gradual dying skate towards securing the most effective odds within the Connor Bedard lottery. The Hawks started the “Farewell Jonathan” plotline of their unscripted sequence Saturday night time on the United Center, giving the face of the franchise the primary of his three “last hurrahs” at residence.
The captain both might retire or get nudged into leaving through free company, so the advertising division can start planning “Welcome back, Jonathan” night time subsequent fall. We don’t know Toews’ future, however a behind-the-scenes group video of his journey via the final six video games is nearly assured.
The sub-.500 Bulls, the Hawks’ West Side brethren, end their combat for a play-in spot and the appropriate to lose one other first-round playoff sequence to the Milwaukee Bucks. Executive vp of basketball operations Arturas Karnišovas then will give his annual end-of-season information convention and turns his consideration to the draft and the long-running seek for Lonzo Ball’s alternative.
The Cubs and White Sox, in the meantime, started their seasons with low-grade fan optimism and no love from Las Vegas, hoping to show their constructive spring coaching vibes are purpose sufficient to imagine they’ll stay related come October.
The two most important architects, President Jed Hoyer and normal supervisor Rick Hahn, already are below the microscope. Hoyer actually was on the recent seat on opening day, positioning himself below a warmth lamp within the Cubs dugout whereas speaking with reporters. The metaphors generally write themselves.
Up on the Bears collapse Lake Forest, normal supervisor Ryan Poles is plotting probably the most anticipated draft in Bears historical past whereas Chairman George McCaskey turns his gaze towards his new “consultant,” Ted Phillips. (Not to be confused with … oh, wait, nevermind. It’s truly the identical Ted Phillips!)
It needs to be fairly the smorgasbord of craziness, and for these with out a useful sports activities calendar, right here’s a schedule of a few of April’s must-see occasions.
Monday: San Francisco Giants at White Sox
Michael Kopech faces the Giants within the homer opener as no-nonsense advocate Pedro Grifol will get launched to Sox followers. With Election Day on Tuesday, it’s additionally the final likelihood for mayoral candidates Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson to pledge their allegiance to the Sox.
Tuesday: Atlanta Hawks at Bulls
Huge sport that would decide play-in seeding for each sub-.500 groups. A visit to Miami could possibly be at stake for the No. 8 at No. 7 play-in sport. Forecast is within the 80s.
Saturday: Blackhawks at Seattle Kraken
Last likelihood in 2023 to as soon as once more ask why the Hawks let Eddie Olczyk go away the TV sales space and go to Seattle.
April 9: Detroit Pistons at Bulls
Final Bulls regular-season sport and probably the final residence sport in a Bulls uniform for Vučević, the at all times accountable heart who sacrificed his numbers to be the third wheel of the offense. Karnišovas needs him again, however can he afford him? Practice your “Voooooch” calls simply in case.
April 10: Seattle Mariners at Cubs
Barring rainouts, it needs to be rookie Hayden Wesneski’s first residence look since being named the fifth starter. Is he the Cubs’ finest rookie pitcher since Kerry Wood?
April 10: White Sox at Minnesota Twins
The Twins have been as disappointing because the White Sox in 2022 however at the very least introduced again shortstop Carlos Correa. This sport opens the season sequence, which mercifully was decreased to 12 video games below the brand new schedule.
April 11: Blackhawks at Pittsburgh Penguins
The final Toews-Sidney Crosby matchup? Can you think about the Penguins letting Crosby play in one other uniform? Naaaah.
April 12: Bulls play-in sport, TBD
The No. 9 and 10 seeds of the Eastern Conference face off, with the winner taking part in the loser of the sport between the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds. Assuming the Bulls don’t get the eight seed, this shall be their future.
April 14: Baltimore Orioles at White Sox
Barring a change within the Sox rotation, starter Mike Clevinger will make his residence debut. Making him the No. 4 starter ensured at the very least two highway begins to get his toes moist.
April 14: Philadelphia Flyers at Blackhawks
One final skate for Toews? The Hawks’ season ends on the United Center, and tears little question shall be shed over the potential of the tip of an period.
April 20: Los Angeles Dodgers at Cubs
“Welcome Back, Jason Heyward” night time. Heyward was the uncommon Cubs participant who hit .214 and .204 in back-to-back seasons however by no means was booed at Wrigley Field. A standing ovation, a video-board spotlight bundle and a Cubs reward of an innings window from the center-field scoreboard are normal working process for 2016 gamers upon their return.
April 27: NFL draft. First spherical.
Anticipation mounts after the large predraft cope with the Carolina Panthers moved them from No. 1 to No. 9. Can the Bears break the streak and announce their choose earlier than the Tribune’s Brad Biggs tweets it? Doubtful.
April 28. NFL draft. Rounds 2-3.
Poles watching heats up. The Bears have No. 53 (from Baltimore) and No. 61 (from Carolina) within the second spherical and No. 64 within the third spherical.
April 29: NFL draft. Rounds 4-7.
You’ve come this far, so that you may as properly watch the ultimate six Bears picks, together with No. 258 in Round 7. You can now sleep till the beginning of coaching camp in July.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com