Congratulations to the CHGO Softball Team — led by our favorite harmonica-playing, note-taking manager Mark Carman — on a third-consecutive Kup League championship!

I had the privilege of playing in a couple of games back in July. Unfortunately, in the second game, I suffered a catastrophic injury (probably a low-grade hamstring strain).

Unrelated Fun Fact: Jeff Fisher still got a Super Bowl ring for 1985 despite spending the year on injured reserve.

CHGO Sports 11, Chicago Reader 8

– Patrick Norton

The saga is over. Josh Giddey, 22, and the Bulls have agreed to a four-year deal worth $100 million to keep the point guard in Chicago.

This is…pallatable.

Signing Giddey to a deal worth $30 million per year not only would’ve been an overpay but also an indication that the Bulls couldn’t compute the value of their leverage.

The compromise also shows a willingness to reward a young player who could theoretically be an integral piece of the future core, depending on his development.

And in the event the Bulls want to trade Giddey down the line, the four-year length gives the organization flexibility should they travel that path.

From the outside looking in, it seems like a win for a Bulls’ front office starved for a victory that actually matters. Maybe this is the start of something new…maybe not…we’ll see.

MORE: Will Gottlieb’s in-depth breakdown on the deal

ACCOUNTABILITY: Ben Johnson did something no Bears head coach has done in several years: taking responsibility for his shortcomings after a loss.

Johnson said Tuesday: “I didn't think that I called a particularly great game. I could've adjusted a little bit better to the lack of pressure that (Vikings DC Brian Flores) was giving us. I can do a better job there. At the end of the game, I felt like we could kick it out of the back (of the end zone); we weren't able to get that done. In hindsight, I should've kicked it out of bounds."

It’s refreshing for sure. It’s also eye-opening how low the bar is for what’s considered coaching competence in Chicago.

POLL RESULTS: I asked which unit (offense, defense, special teams, coaching staff) disappointed you the most after Monday night’s loss to the Vikings.

Offense - 62.9%
Special Teams - 20%
Coaching Staff - 11.4%
Defense - 5.7%

Hoge & Jahns’ Insider Analysis: Cadences, pre-snap penalties, play design & more

CADE: The Cubs have a legitimate Rookie of the Year candidate on their hands. Cade Horton continued his dominant stretch with 6.1 innings of one-run baseball. Horton struck out just two but allowed only four hits and lowered his season ERA to 2.70.

The 24-year-old right-hander hasn’t allowed more than two runs in a start since July 9th (10 starts). With the Cubs keeping Horton’s bullets numbered in the second half of the season, his 87 pitches on Tuesday were the most he’s thrown in a game…also since July 9th (94 pitches).

The Cubs’ bullpen made quick work of the final eight outs, and the Cubs’ offense came back to life in the eighth inning, providing four insurance runs.

No home runs and only one extra-base hit for the Cubs (Ian Happ’s double), but Pete Crow-Armstrong had a solid night at the plate in his return to the lineup, going 1-for-2 with a single, a walk and a sacrifice fly. PCA was also hit by a pitch.

Cubs 6, Braves 1

KYLE: The Cubs placed right fielder Kyle Tucker on the 10-day injured list retroactive to September 6th with a left calf strain. Tucker hasn’t played since September 2nd. The club recalled designated hitter Moisés Ballesteros from Triple-A to replace Tucker on the team’s expanded 28-man roster.

CARTER: Cubs general manager Carter Hawkins is a finalist to run baseball operations for the Washington Nationals, per USA Today’s Bob Nightengale. Hawkins reportedly interviewed for the job last week. He joined the Cubs after the 2021 season.

YOUTH MOVEMENT: The White Sox may have lost last night but their youngsters in the lineup continued to impress.

Kyle Teel crushed his seventh home run of the year in the first inning off of old friend Adrian Houser.

Chase Meidroth tacked on an RBI single in the sixth inning before Will Venable was ejected for arguing balls and strikes during Lenyn Sosa’s at-bat. Then Colson Mongtomery scorched an RBI double before scoring the tying run two batters later.

Tyler Alexander surrendered a homer to Rays utilityman Tristan Gray in the seventh and picked up the loss. Yoendrys Gómez allowed four runs in five innings of work.

Rays 5, White Sox 4

THE OTHER MONTGOMERY: White Sox top prospect Braden Montgomery (No. 32 in MLB) will miss the remainder of the minor league season after suffering a fracture in his foot. Montgomery was hit by a pitch in Saturday’s Birmingham Barons game. The team expects Montgomery to return in time to participate in the Arizona Fall League.

CONTRACT UPDATE: Connor Bedard put Blackhawks fans’ minds at ease on Tuesday at the NHL/NHLPA North American Player Media Tour.

Bedard told reporters that despite the fact that he and the Blackhawks have not agreed to a contract extension this summer, “We’re both comfortable with where we’re at. They know I want to be there; I know they want me. So, it’s really not on my mind that much, and I just think when it happens, it’ll happen.”

ONE GAME LEFT: Angel Reese did not play again for the Sky due to a nagging back injury that has caused her to miss several games this season.

In their second-to-last game of the year, only Kamilla Cardoso and Michaela Onyenwere reached double-digit points. Cardoso picked up a double-double with 13 rebounds.

Cardoso and Kia Nurse each finished with a whopping -37 plus-minus despite Nurse playing nine fewer minutes.

With just one game left this season — and with Reese sidelined again by injury — is it possible Reese has played her final game in a Sky uniform?

Aces 92, Sky 61

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