WHITE SOX

The fourth-annual Insult-A-Columnist Holiday Food Drive raised more than $200,000 for the Greater Chicago Food Depository, and the Rex Rocks team won again.

Cane Guy is Rob Holt of Northbrook, who gained fame at a Sox playoff game in 2021 when he twirled his cane to cast a spell on the team, and seemingly sparked a rally that helped them to win.

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Good morning, Chicago. Here are some of the top stories you need to know to start your day.

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Rob Holt has been walking with a cane because of a sprained knee, but on Sunday he used it for a different purpose at Guaranteed Rate Field.

Rob Holt has been walking with a cane because of a sprained knee, but on Sunday he used it for a different purpose at Guaranteed Rate Field.

Houston was hoping to sweep its way into its fifth consecutive appearance in the AL Championship Series. Game 4 of the best-of-five series is Monday afternoon.

White Sox fans hope Tony La Russa proves naysayers wrong

To some Chicago White Sox fans, Tony La Russa is the key to taking the team deep into the playoffs. To others, the 77-year-old skipper is an uninspiring retread whose off-field controversies make him a detriment to the club.

A video from Game 1 of the Astros ALDS run is now going viral. The video shows a back-and-forth fight between fans at Minute Maid Park on Thursday.

He then tells me that unlike at Wrigley “where it’s all ‘Who’s winning? We winning? What’s happening?’ It’s all people here who all know sports.” Not really all. But OK. Don’t punch me.

The bleachers at Guaranteed Rate Field stretch from Section 160 to Section 164. Relatively minor real estate. Somehow, this White Sox season, it just seemed bigger.

A longtime Astros employee was preparing for the start of the ALDS at Minute Maid Park on Thursday.

Good morning, Chicago. Here are some of the top stories you need to know to start your day.

A jury returned a guilty verdict Wednesday for a man accused of wire fraud and money laundering in a scheme that federal prosecutors say ‘fleeced’ the White Sox out of hundreds of thousands of dollars in ticket sales.

White Sox fans are reminded to arrive early, take COVID-19 precautions while visiting the ballpark for postseason games.

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Matt Olson and Chad Pinder each homered and the Oakland Athletics beat Houston 8-6 Friday night, cutting the Astros’ edge for home-field advantage in the AL playoffs. Houston leads the White Sox by one game for home field in their best-of-five Division Series matchup next week. The AL West champion Astros also own the tiebreaker after going 5-2 against AL Central champion Chicago this season.

Federal prosecutors say scheme fleeced White Sox out of hundreds of thousands in ticket sales.

Oakland right-hander Chris Bassitt promised to return to the mound by season’s end following a frightening 100 mph line drive to the face on Aug. 17.

Oakland right-hander Chris Bassitt promised to return to the mound by season’s end following a frightening 100 mph line drive to the face on Aug. 17.

Broadcasting entrepreneur Jack Walsh co-founded Trio Video, a business that handled remote TV broadcasts for all major Chicago sports teams as well as countless marathons, parades and other events.

Boston Red Sox ace Chris Sale has tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss his next start.

Dodgers lefty Julio Urías (16-3, 3.11 ERA) tries to add to his major league-leading win total when he pitches at St. Louis. The Cardinals are the only Dodgers opponent in the National League that Urías has never started against. With a formidable rotation that also includes former Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer, Clayton Kershaw and David Price along with star Walker Buehler, the Dodgers are competing with San Francisco for the NL West title.

Denise Huguelet, a 67-year-old retired special education teacher from Orland Park who was fatally shot on the Dan Ryan this month, was known for her selfless nature, her unflappable faith and her boundless energy, her family said.

Carlos Rodón allowed one hit through seven dominant innings, Yoán Moncada and Tim Anderson hit solo homers and the Chicago White Sox topped the Houston Astros 4-0 on Sunday.

An update on how players with Corpus Christi ties are in professional baseball are faring during the 2021 season.

The Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox begin at 11:05 a.m. at Fenway Park in the annual Patriots’ Day game.

Good morning, Chicago. Here are some of the top stories you need to know to start your day.

The Twins have lost three times this season -- all of them in 10th inning with the automatic runner on second base.

The Chicago area can expect “waves of showers” Saturday, with more rain possible Sunday.

Good morning, Chicago. Here are some of the top stories you need to know to start your day.

Meanwhile, opening day for the Cubs and White Sox is quickly approaching, and although there will be some fans in the stands, this year will look different from years past. No matter where you’re planning to cheer on your favorite team, we want to hear from you about your favorite opening-day memories. Tell us here.

“We are proud of the important and historic role baseball plays in our country, offering respite during some of the most difficult times or in providing fans with a sense of comfort when circumstances seemed uncertain,” Jerry Reinsdorf, chairman of the White Sox, said in a statement. “We believe this is a moment when baseball can indeed serve our fans and our communities again as we all hope for a gradual return to normal. It’s why we applaud Mayor Lightfoot, the leadership role she and Governor (J.B.) Pritzker have played for our city and state, and the decision today — guided by an unwavering commitment to public health and safety — to allow fans to return to Guaranteed Rate Field for opening day.”

Ruben Torres shovels snow from in front of an office building along Golf Road on Dec. 30, 2020, in Schaumburg. Torres said it was his first time working out in the snow and that with the mix of snow and then rain, "My jacket is wet and the snow is very heavy." (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)

This year has been a lot — and Chicago Tribune photographers have been there to cover it all. The NBA All-Star Game at the United Center. Conference women's basketball titles for Northwestern and DePaul. Wrigley Field pivoting to a food pantry. The United Center was used as an Election Day polling site.

It was a sub-zero Super Bowl Sunday in Chicago in 2007 when then-Senator Barack Obama, clad in jeans and a White Sox cap, introduced 60 Minutes correspondent Steve Kroft to the city's South Side. Mr. Obama's rise was meteoric and 60 Minutes was there to document and report on the challenges and triumphs of America's 44th president. Our broadcast interviewed Mr. Obama more than 12 times after he won the presidency until he left office in 2017. In total, he has appeared on 60 Minutes more than 20 times. Pelley's interview with Mr. Obama airs Sunday, following football on the East Coast and at 7 p.m. PT in the West.

(AP Photo/Aaron Doster)A look at what's happening around the majors Wednesday:___CRAZY EIGHTHow’s this for wild: MLB is set to stage eight postseason games on the same day for the first time. National League clubs will open their best-of-three wild-card series, while four American League teams are already facing elimination after starting Tuesday. With the expansion of the first round from a pair of wild-card games to eight best-of-three series, there are a maximum 65 possible postseason games this year. In the 1960s, there were 66 postseason games in the entire decade, with league championship series starting in 1969. Dallas Keuchel (6-2, 1.99 ERA) starts Game 2 following a successful first season with Chicago.

Gerrit Cole delivered for the Yankees in his first season since signing a $324 million, nine-year contract, going 7-3 with a 2.84 ERA. “We think this is a good matchup.”For all Bieber and Cole have accomplished in the shortened regular season, it will mean little if they don’t perform well to start the best-of-three series. For instance, Yankees catcher Kyle Higashioka has only played 72 regular season games, including just two against wild-card foe Cleveland. Both were injured Friday, sat out the final two regular season games as a precaution, then participated in a workout at Target Field on Monday. They open a wild-card series in Oakland hoping ace Lucas Giolito can play stopper.

(AP Photo/Corey Sipkin)A look at what's happening around the majors on Saturday:PLAYOFF CHASEAfter manager Don Mattingly’s Marlins and the Cincinnati Reds clinched postseason spots, two NL playoff slots are still open with two days left in the regular season. They are hoping to get back on track heading into their playoff appearance since 2008, but the health of Jiménez is a concern. Acquired last month in a big trade with Cleveland, Clevinger left his start against the Angels on Wednesday after just one inning. “We have not ruled out anything for next week and the first round of the playoffs,” Padres general manager A.J. If Clevinger can’t pitch the playoff opener, Dinelson Lamet could start.

The Marlins, Phillies, Cardinals, Reds, Brewers and Giants are the top teams still in contention -- and they’re packed tightly with slots available for one team from the NL East, another from the NL Central and then two wild cards. The Mets (26-31) and Rockies (25-31) are mathematically eligible but need to win out just to have a shot. AL-MOST OVEROnly one playoff spot remains open in the AL, and Michael Brantley and the Astros are on the verge of clinching it. The Twins are trying to seal the AL Central. The Chisox have lost five in a row, dropping them out of the AL Central lead and one game behind Minnesota.

Most players underwent a battery of health checks, not only for COVID-19 but also for any other lingering ailments from spring training, ahead of planned workouts beginning Friday and Saturday. That's going to be different to see and feel as a team, Moncada said. Well have to get creative with how we communicate, said Boone, who plans to make the same speech three or four times. And despite rising numbers of COVID-19 across the country, and a few players opting out, most players and executives have been bullish on the season taking place. They believe in protocols hammered out during lengthy negotiations between MLB and its players' association and are eager to provide fans with some much-needed diversion.

“That’s a tough subject because it’s such a tight-knit community in the clubhouse,”said Keuchel on Mike Fiers coming clean and exposing the Astros. “I don’t really have much else to say about Mike.”Keuchel apologized, but also insisted the Astros were not the only team to steal signs. Yes it was, and I personally am sorry for what has come about the whole situation.”And when asked if the Astros cheated every game? Alex Bregman and Jose Altuve dodged questions about the scandal at Astros FanFest. “I don’t think anyone else from the other teams will come out and say something.. they’ve seen what happens now," said Keuchel.

In the second game of a doubleheader on Tuesday the result of a rain out Monday night starter Gerrit Cole was scratched from the lineup after reporting discomfort in his hamstring. Zack Greinke had just wrapped up his second win as an Astro and the team had been rolling offensively. On Wednesday, it was clear the team was concerned even though reports were circulating that they didn't believe Cole's injury was serious. Still, having a big cushion against the A's and good news with Greinke gave fans less reason to worry. As we pointed out here recently, health is really the only enemy of the Astros down the stretch.

For the first time in regular season play, all fans will be banned from a Major League Baseball game Wednesday when the Orioles host the White Sox at Baltimore's Camden Yards. Chip Reid reports.