👋 Good morning!

Happy NFL Schedule Release Day to those who celebrate!

We finally learn where the Ben Johnson era begins later tonight. I can’t believe we’re only a little more than 60 days from training camp.

The CHGO Bears podcast will be live tonight at 7 p.m. for a special schedule release show.

My recommendation? Try your hardest to avoid the schedule “leaks” on social media, wait for the official release, and we’ll see you in the chat at 7 p.m.

Side note: Anybody remember the video the Bears put out in 2018 of rookie head coach Matt Nagy reading the schedule (and broadcast info??) to the team after practice? Electric.

I can’t help but wonder when the Bears will get “a little NBC action” for the first time this year.

– Patrick Norton

Cardiac Cubs Strike Again

After Nico Hoerner’s RBI single put the tying run 90 feet from home, Justin Turner doubled in Vidal Brujan and Hoerner to cap off a three-run ninth inning to walk off the Marlins, 5-4.

• CLUTCH: The walk-off double was Justin Turner’s first extra-base hit in a Cubs uniform. But it continued a trend for the 40-year-old this season with runners in scoring position: 7-13, 6 BB, 9 RBI (h/t: Matt Clapp).
   

• BY THE NUMBERS: Last night was the Cubs’ 11th win of the year when trailing at any point in the game. It was also the club’s second win when trailing entering the 9th inning, accounting for both of the Cubs’ walk-off wins in 2025. Their first came against the Dodgers on April 22 in the 10th inning.
   

• SWINGS & MOISES: Cubs No. 4 prospect Moises Ballesteros paid homage to his prospect ranking with an 0-4 outing in his big league debut. Ballesteros did reach on a fielder’s choice in the 9th and was subsequently replaced by Brujan on the basepaths. The 21-year-old grounded out in each plate appearance.

How can you not be romantic about baseball?

Turner, who’s slashing a brutal .169/.292/.186, became the first Cubs player over the age of 38 to hit a walk-off since Fred McGriff did so in 2002.

The guy was a debatable DFA candidate to make room for Ballesteros on the 40-man roster 24 hours ago!

Speaking of a DFA candidate…

📉 – Julian Merryweather, whose ERA is up to 5.06 after a rough 0.2 IP outing on Tuesday night, allowed three hits, including one home run, and walked two before exiting the game with the bases loaded.

Meanwhile…

📈 – Ryan Pressly’s ERA is still 6.91, but he looked the best he’s looked all season, getting out of Merryweather’s bases-loaded jam before the game could get out of hand. Last night’s comeback is not possible without Pressly.

GO DEEPER: Jared Wyllys on Moises Ballesteros’ long-anticipated debut.

Quick Hits

EXTRAS EXHALE: I laughed when Sean Anderson predicted a 15-13 May for the White Sox. Don’t look now; the Sox are 6-6 to start the month.

After a soul-crushing game-tying blast from Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz to lead off the 9th inning forced extras, the White Sox flipped the offensive switch, scoring four in the 10th, including a three-run bomb from Miguel Vargas.

Tuesday night’s unsung hero? Jonathan Cannon. Cannon hurled six innings of scoreless ball, fanning six Reds batters, and was in line for the win until Steven Wilson surrendered the game-tying blast.

REINSTATED: “Shoeless” Joe Jackson and other members of the 1919 Chicago White Sox, who were found to have bet against and intentionally altered the outcome of the 1919 World Series, have been removed from the league’s permanently ineligible list.

Jackson’s involvement in the scandal has long been disputed, as the outfielder could not write or read and claimed he was conned into being an unknowing participant.

In eight games in the 1919 World Series, Jackson hit .375, clubbing one home run and driving in six runs. Not exactly a great effort to throw the series…

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred also removed Pete Rose from the list.

ERRORS & OMISSIONS: I woke up to a few emails yesterday morning pointing out some glaring omissions from my short list of impactful coin flips in Chicago sports history.

Good call. Yes, the Bulls lost a coin flip to the Lakers in 1979, which allowed Los Angeles to select Magic Johnson first overall in the draft.

But the most significant flip for the Bulls didn’t even directly involve the team. In 1984, the Rockets won a coin flip for the No. 1 pick, slotting the Trail Blazers at No. 2. According to ex-Bulls SVP Irwin Mandel, Houston winning the flip was crucial to the Bulls landing Michael Jordan.

Why? Hakeem Olajuwon was the undisputed top pick entering the draft, and had Portland possessed the first pick and taken Olajuwon, the Rockets would have likely pivoted and selected Jordan. Instead, Houston took Olajuwon first, and the Trail Blazers drafted Sam Bowie. Oops.

Considering that the Bulls likely wouldn’t have landed Jordan with Magic in town, I think it’s safe to say everything worked out all right.

Mark Potash, formerly of the Sun-Times, put together a terrific quick history lesson on the most impactful coin flips in Chicago sports history, which you can find here.

Special thanks to Aaron, David, and Jeffrey for keeping me honest yesterday.

MAILBAG: I’ll be posting another offseason CHGO Bears mailbag on Friday. You can respond to this email (or any of my newsletters) with your questions on rookie minicamp, the offseason, the schedule, etc.

Odd note to end with, but I received a great message from a reader informing me that Chuck Goudie, whom I referenced when talking about Luther Burden III yesterday, is now with NBC 5 Chicago. The problem is I seem to have lost your note, so if you sent me that message, please send me another! Thanks!

30% OFF OUR GEAR
🚨THROUGH SUNDAY🚨

Thank you, Ray! 🫡

Today!

📺 CHGO Blackhawks
2:00 on YouTube

📺 CHGO Bulls
4:00 on YouTube

⚾️ White Sox @ Reds
6:14 on CHSN

⚾️ Cubs vs. Marlins
6:40 on Marquee

📺 CHGO Bears
7:00 on YouTube
🚨SCHEDULE RELEASE🚨

📺 CHGO Cubs
POSTGAME on CHGO Cubs YT

Talk to you tomorrow!