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Column: Chicago Cubs need the bullpen to weather the storm in the stretch run

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:00 GMT

Some fans might have been wondering where Chicago Cubs closer Adbert Alzolay was Monday night when Mark Leiter Jr. came out in the ninth inning with a two-run lead over the Detroit Tigers.The games matter more as September looms, and Alzolay had converted 14 straight saves.A few hours earlier, Alzolay had gone into manager David Ross’s office at Comerica Park and said he didn’t “feel great” after back-to-back outings the previous two games against the Kansas City Royals.“That was an easy ‘no,’” Ross said Tuesday of his decision to not use Alzolay. Leiter gave up an infield hit and a run-scoring single, but managed to close out a 7-6 win in the opener of the three-game series.Ross’s bullpen decisions have been the topic of great debate this season, though the foursome of Alzolay, Leiter, Julian Merryweather and Michael Fulmer have been instrumental in the team’s rise from mediocrity to realistic postseason contender.The Cubs...

Business, education groups file challenge to proposed ballot question to end MCAS graduation requirement

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:00 GMT

Education and business leaders are backing a letter to the Attorney General opposing the proposed ballot question to end the MCAS graduation requirement, claiming the drafted language is unconstitutional.“The elimination of the passing of MCAS as a statewide graduation requirement would amount to a huge setback for ensuring that all graduates have acquired basic mastery of subject areas to be college or career ready,” said Pioneer Institute Executive Director Jim Stergios in a release. “But the (MTA) goes further in its proposed ballot question, by prohibiting local school districts from choosing to use the MCAS in assessing student competence.”The anti-MCAS ballot initiative in question, filed with the AG’s office ahead of the Aug. 2 deadline, would eliminate the standardized test as a graduation requirement and require districts to instead assess students based on their performance in school.The initiative petition must be approved by the AG and then ...

Patriots training camp Day 28: Mike Gesicki returns to the field, Mac Jones feeds JuJu Smith-Schuster

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:00 GMT

FOXBORO — Here comes the calvary.Patriots tight end Mike Gesicki returned to practice Tuesday after missing eight days with a hurt shoulder. On a day where players wore shells and shorts, Gesicki participated in positional drills and team periods, but was not contacted and didn’t catch a pass during 11-on-11s. He did, however, run well and otherwise look unbothered by his injury.Three other players also returned to practice: running back/wide receiver Ty Montgomery (left leg), running back Pierre Strong (reported concussion) and linebacker Ronnie Perkins. Montgomery ran through positional drills for the first time since the second day of training camp. Perkins earned a sack in his return.Elsewhere, JuJu Smith-Schuster inhaled targets, Mac Jones spoiled his hot start with an interception, two rookies saw brief promotions and Ezekiel Elliott keeps adding more onto his plate.Here are the Herald’s complete practice observations.AttendanceReturned: TE Mike Gesicki, RB/WR Ty M...

Saucy: Winning tomatoes in 38th Massachusetts Tomato Contest

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:00 GMT

Boil the pasta!The state’s 38th annual Tomato Contest yesterday featured some impressive beefsteak-to-Valencia varieties.In the heavyweight division, Verrill Farm in Concord took home the top prize for their Aussie variety weighing in at 2.370 pounds.In the Slicing Category, Langwater Farm in North Easton was the champ for their BHN 589 variety.The Cherry Category went to Red Fire Farm in Montague for their Starlor tomato.Heirloom Category was won by Ward’s Berry Farm in Sharon for their Valencia.Of the 7,241 farms in Massachusetts, 517 farms annually produce more than 5.9 million pounds of tomatoes on 569 acres with a value of approximately $10.9 million, the state says. Get out the salt!Rose Arruda arranges some of the contestants on the tasting table as the city of Boston holds it’s 38th annual Tomato Contest at Boston Public Market on August 22, 2023 in , BOSTON, MA. (Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)

As theft hurts Dick’s Sporting Goods, Massachusetts retailers losing $2 billion a year to ‘organized criminal theft activity’

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:00 GMT

With Dick’s Sporting Goods on Tuesday saying rampant theft is seriously impacting its bottom line, a leading retail advocate for Massachusetts estimated that local businesses are losing about $2 billion a year to “organized criminal theft activity.”Dick’s Sporting Goods reporting that its profit slipped in its second quarter and blaming theft at its stores “is not surprising,” Retailers Association of Massachusetts President Jon Hurst told the Herald.“A number of companies have reported the effect of this organized criminal theft activity on their bottom line,” Hurst added. “We’ve certainly seen more of this organized stealing, and this smash-and-grab.“Stores have actually closed,” he said. “You can only keep a store open for so long when you’re losing money on it.”For the second quarter that ended July 29, Dick’s earned $244 million, or $2.82 per share. A year earlier, the company earned...

Chicago White Sox clean house in front office, firing GM Rick Hahn and executive VP Ken Williams

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:00 GMT

The Chicago White Sox have relieved executive vice president Ken Williams and general manager Rick Hahn of their responsibilities effective immediately, the team announced Tuesday.“This is an incredibly difficult decision for me to make because they are both talented individuals with long-term relationships at the White Sox,” Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said in a statement. “Ken is like a son to me, and I will always consider him a member of my family. I want to personally thank Ken and Rick for all they have done for the Chicago White Sox, winning the 2005 World Series and reaching the postseason multiple times during their tenures. I have nothing but the greatest respect for them as people and appreciate the commitment and passion for the White Sox they exhibited over the years.“Ultimately, the well-worn cliche that professional sports is results-oriented is correct. While we have enjoyed successes as an organization and were optimistic heading into the co...

Lonzo Ball promises ‘I’m coming back’ while shooting down Stephen A. Smith report — but he still isn’t expected to play for the Chicago Bulls this season

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:00 GMT

Lonzo Ball delivered an emphatic message Tuesday as reports continue to fill doubt surrounding his ability to return from a left knee injury: “I’m coming back.”Ball posted a video on social media in response to a report by ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, who claimed on Tuesday’s edition of “First Take” that Ball is still struggling to stand up five months after his third operation to address the knee injury.“I’m incredibly, incredibly sad for Lonzo,” Smith said. “It’s really sad what happened to him. Something went wrong in terms of these procedures that he has had. I don’t think he’ll ever be the same based off of what we’re seeing and hearing. I’ve heard that it’s even hard for him to get up from the sitting position.”Ball’s response was delivered poolside from his home in Los Angeles while standing and sitting repeatedly from a chair on his injured left leg.“Who are yo...

With Everson Pereira in the majors, other Yankees prospects await their opportunity

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:00 GMT

With rumors flying and the Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate holed up in a Scranton hotel on an off day, RailRiders manager Shelley Duncan and hitting coach Trevor Amicone requested a meeting with Everson Pereira on Monday.Those who follow the Yankees have been waiting for the team to call up the outfielder, who is the organization’s third-best prospect and the 80th-best in baseball, per MLB.com. So the coaches wanted to make sure Pereira could tune out the noise.At least that’s what they told him at first.“We just wanted to bring you in and make sure you weren’t getting distracted by all the social media rumors,” Amicone told the Daily News of the message relayed to Pereira. “Just wanted to make sure that you are able to stay in the present and be focused on what’s in front of you and be where your feet are. So we just wanted to sit down and be able to focus you on tomorrow’s starting pitcher.”That’s when Duncan and Amicon...

In-state tuition costs for undocumented students rolls out

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:00 GMT

Joan Shauri didn’t appear nervous as she approached a microphone at Northern Essex Community College in Lawrence.Just after Gov. Maura Healey helped her stow her purse away under the podium, despite the fact it was probably the first time she’d ever stood next to so many state officials for a press conference, when she started to share her story she did so standing straight-backed and without a quaver in her voice.The nursing student was an obvious outlier in a line-up otherwise composed of public figures, visibly far less advanced in years than those around her, and one of the last to speak after about a dozen state officials and college system administrators had explained what brought everyone together Tuesday morning.They’d gathered because for some students, like Shauri, the state has paved the way for them to get a higher education otherwise made more difficult or denied through no fault of their own.Brought to the U.S. from her native Tanzania as a 10-year-old, Shauri told the...

Indianapolis police release bodycam footage showing man fleeing police shot in back by officer

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:00 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department released body camera footage Tuesday showing an armed man fatally shot in the back by an officer as he ran from a traffic stop.Gary Dwayne Harrell, 49, died Aug. 3 following the shooting on the city’s northeast side.The seven-minute video released by police shows Harrell running directly away from Officer Douglas Correll, who is heard saying, “Stop it! Drop it!” Within a second later, with Harrell’s back to Correll and looking away from the officer, Correll fired two shots, and Harrell was hit once. The video showed Harrell dropping the firearm and falling onto grass. It never clearly showed Harrell pointing the gun at Correll, and narration provided on the video doesn’t indicate that he did.A .357 revolver was retrieved from a driveway and carried five live rounds, police said in the video. Police provided aid to Harrell until medics arrived, but he was pronounced dead at a hospital.The Indianapolis Metropoli...