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Chicago Tribune
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
As Wrigley's first K-pop band, Stray Kids leaves its mark on Chicago and concludes ‘dominATE' tour
Despite the sun having set and a cool breeze drifting through the stands, the tens of thousands of Stray Kids fans in Wrigley Field were just as energetic as they'd been when the band burst onstage two hours before. 'No regrets, I love this feeling / Down on this road call it the social path,' they belted along with the eight-member Korean boy band to 'Social Path,' the title track from the group's third Japanese-language extended play. Green streamers and flares burst from the stage. The crowd roared, frantically waving around their lightsticks — Bluetooth synchronized electric wands that cast the Friendly Confines in a neon green glow. Thursday evening marked Stray Kids' Wrigley Field debut, as well as the stadium's first time hosting a K-pop group in its history. Fans from across the Midwest gathered in Chicago for the group's 12th and final U.S. show in its 2024-25 'dominATE' world tour. The group last performed in Chicago during Lollapalooza in 2024. In front of a sold-out Wrigley Field audience, Stray Kids performed nearly 30 songs, ranging from hyperactive rock bops to nostalgic ballads. The band's musical range and crowd work exceeded expectations, many fans said. Wearing a 'K-pop dad' shirt, Ryan Linke said the band's 'energy and just how they interacted with everybody' really stood out. The 37-year-old manufacturing safety manager flew to Chicago from South Dakota to take his daughter Kiylie to her first K-pop concert. 'They actually made you feel like you were a part of them during the concert,' Linke said. Audience members jumped to their feet as the band dove into its first set with songs 'MOUNTAINS' and 'Thunderous.' Through the two unabashed anthems, which focus on self-confidence and brushing off criticism, Stray Kids set a gritty, battle-tested energy for the concert. With music spanning hip hop, rock, R&B and other genres, Stray Kids has cultivated a rebellious, individualistic style in a genre that sometimes receives criticism for being too formulaic. The band's members are heavily involved in writing their own songs. For instance, Stray Kids' producing sub-unit 3RACHA, consisting of band members Bang Chan, Changbin and Han, helped make the tracks on their 2024 EP 'Ate.' Those include the title track 'Chk Chk Boom,' which the band played twice on Thursday with loads of fans singing along. Stray Kids also showcased songs from two-member subunits during the concert, ricocheting from punk-inspired hip-hop in 'Burnin' Tires' to desperate, pounding R&B in 'ESCAPE.' The performance also found creative ways to engage the audience's senses beyond just sound: As Changbin and I.N. scrambled onstage for 'Burnin' Tires,' the smell of burnt rubber permeated the stadium air. Between sets, Stray Kids frequently interacted with the audience, leading call and response snippets from their songs and cracking jokes — member Hyunjin Hwang teased the song 'Domino' with a quip about Chicago pizza. There were wholesome moments, too. Toward the end of the concert, band member Felix also led the stadium in singing happy birthday to his mom, who was in the audience. Bang Chan, the group's leader, announced the concert's official end with a deadpan 'The show's over' a little past 9 p.m. But after a fan dance-cam challenge that spotlighted audience members replicating the band's intricate choreography in 'Chk Chk Boom,' 'LALALALA,' and 'Maniac,' the band burst onstage again — this time in Cubs jerseys — for another hour of encores. The band ended the night with 'Haven,' urging their fans to 'Do whatever you want / Break the mold together.' It's not just the concert proper that sets K-pop performances like Thursday's apart from other genres, fans said. The sense of community made people feel cared for, said Anaiah King, a 17-year-old fan from Cincinnati. 'I love how we're all just a little community to where we all like the same kind of music — to where we can all just come together, not even knowing one another — and just taking care of one another,' said King, voice hoarse after the concert. Hours before the doors opened, more than 200 fans had already gathered at Gallagher Way. Many were decked out in red and black, the 'dominATE' tour's colors. With the temperature in the 90s and little shade, concertgoers socialized, commented on each others' outfits and exchanged freebies — fan-made, artist-themed memorabilia including buttons, bracelets, candy and phone charms. Dakota Wisdom, 26, came to Wrigley Field from St. Louis at 5 a.m. Thursday for a wristband that would get her access to the concert's pit. This was her first K-pop concert, which she attended with her boyfriend Daniel McNiell. Though she doesn't speak Korean, Wisdom said she loves Stray Kids' music all the same. 'It almost makes me enjoy the music more,' Wisdom said, waving around a blue handheld fan. 'I don't tune in too much to the lyrics while listening to it — just enjoying it as it is.' Thursday was also McNiell's first K-pop concert. He said he got into Stray Kids because of his girlfriend, but has come to enjoy the music on his own. At one point, McNiell stopped in front of a Power Breezer misting fan to cool off. He said to beat the heat, he'd been drinking Liquid I.V. and lots of water. During Stray Kids' Tuesday concert at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., six people were hospitalized because of heat-related issues. When doors opened at 5 p.m., several blocks surrounding Wrigley Field had been closed off, with throngs of concertgoers trying to squeeze through gates. Erin and Sydney Wiegand — who wrapped themselves in American flags with band members Bang Chan's and Lee Know's faces printed on them — attended their second Stray Kids concert this month on Thursday. The mother-daughter duo from the Cleveland area previously caught the group at its June 10 concert in Atlanta. 'It's just awesome seeing them live and seeing how they can perform this good right in front of you anywhere,' Sydney Wiegand said. For 33-year-old Peter Hong of Wicker Park, K-pop in the U.S. has come a long way since he grew up in the Chicago suburbs. 'It's huge and mainstream — I really enjoy it,' Hong said. 'I appreciate that people are also very accepting of it.' The sheer scale of the audience surprised 17-year-old Emma Lee from Bartlett, who'd come to the concert with her mom and two aunts. 'Wow — there's a lot of people here today,' Lee said while standing under an awning across Addison Street from Wrigley Field. 'That's kind of surprising because it's so hot out. To see Stray Kids, it makes sense.' And even after the concert, many fans were still riding high from the band's and crowd's energy during the show. 'I'm also very happy right now,' Kielee Linke said. 'Because it's been my dream to see them for a while now.'
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Report: Cubs sign veteran pitcher Kenta Maeda
CHICAGO — The Cubs have reportedly signed veteran right-handed pitcher Kenta Maeda to a minor league deal, Baseball insider Yuki Yamada was the first one to report the one-year deal. Maeda was recently cut by the Tigers after posting a 7.88 ERA in eight innings. He struggled mightily for Detroit last year with a 6.09 ERA in 112.1 innings. Advertisement Hoyer and company signed him as a potential depth piece as Steele and Imanaga remained sidelined with injuries. Friday's starter, Cade Horton, the club's top pitching prospect, is making first appearance at the Friendly Confines. Maeda should be reporting to Iowa soon. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
New York Times
23-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
After missing on Tanner Scott, Cubs reshape bullpen and put together ‘a fun team to watch'
CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs went far outside their comfort zone in offering Tanner Scott a four-year, $66 million contract this past offseason. Jed Hoyer's front office typically avoids major long-term investments in the bullpen, viewing the injury risks as too great and recognizing that relievers' performances are inherently volatile. Scott, however, was the exception. Advertisement The free-agent market is also unpredictable, though the past several winters have shown that the Los Angeles Dodgers almost always seem to get what they want. Scott took a four-year, $72 million deal with the defending World Series champs that included a $20 million signing bonus and $21 million in deferred money. On and off the field, the Dodgers are simply hard to beat. Once again, the Cubs are rebuilding their bullpen on the fly. It would certainly look different with Scott, a lefty who has a cutting fastball and nasty swing-and-miss stuff. But it might not be exponentially better at this moment, considering how Ryan Pressly has settled into the closer's job. The weak spots are at the bottom of the bullpen depth chart, which is why the Cubs will keep cycling through relievers. 'They were one of the teams that talked to me,' Scott said before Tuesday's game at Wrigley Field, sidestepping questions about how seriously he considered Chicago and whether the Cubs made a comparable offer. 'It ultimately came down to me choosing the Dodgers. I felt like I fit best here. And I'm happy with my decision.' HAPPER CALLED GAME. — Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) April 23, 2025 Scott then witnessed the extreme nature of the Friendly Confines as the Cubs needed 10 innings to complete a wild 11-10 comeback victory. A crowd of 36,425 watched Shota Imanaga vs. Shohei Ohtani on a pleasant 71-degree evening. Gage Workman, a Rule 5 pick on the roster bubble, committed two costly errors at third base that forced the Cubs to play catch-up. Kyle Tucker and Pete Crow-Armstrong launched home runs, part of a relentless lineup that generated 17 hits. And with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, Scott gave up Miguel Amaya's score-tying home run, which landed in the center-field basket, another welcome-to-Wrigleyville moment. Advertisement 'It's a fun team to watch,' Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. 'Come out to the park and watch the team play because this homestand, they've done some amazing things, and some resilient things, most importantly. You win games like that early in the season, it's a great kind of carry forward for the rest of the season.' Scott's first trip to Wrigley Field was for the Northwestern-Illinois college football game in 2010, an event mostly remembered for the tight layout that forced both teams to run plays toward the same end zone. (Scott, who grew up in Ohio, has a brother who went to Northwestern.) Scott later trained at Tread Athletics with Tyler Zombro, the Cubs' newly hired special assistant who focuses on pitching instruction, research and development. The Cubs had long viewed Scott as potentially the next Andrew Miller, another talented left-handed pitcher who bounced around before fully establishing himself as an All-Star reliever. Right now, though, no other franchise could offer the chance to play for a potential dynasty and work with so much Hall of Fame-caliber talent. Scott also considers Dodgers reliever Evan Phillips a close friend. They previously played together with the Baltimore Orioles, and Scott was a member of Phillips' wedding party. The Dodgers, Scott said, 'were the first team to call me in the offseason,' and the interest was obviously mutual. 'This is a place where people want to play,' Scott said. 'They want to be a part of it. You look at the lineup, you look at the staff, it's pretty good. It's fun. It's a great clubhouse environment where you look forward to coming to work every day.' The Cubs believe they have similar elements in place, but they still have roughly 85 percent of the season remaining to prove that they are serious playoff contenders. In the early going, good starting pitching and an explosive offense have compensated for some of the bullpen issues. The organization's pitching depth will continue to be tested since the biggest deals won't happen until much closer to the July 31 trade deadline. Advertisement 'You make all the phone calls and do all the work on it, but it's highly unusual,' Hoyer said. 'There's only a small handful of teams in baseball right now that are viewing themselves as sellers entering the season. Other teams might be opportunistic, but usually, the tax that would come with it is tremendous. 'April, May, most of June — those are usually the months when you have to deal with things from within. Again, that's why you build depth in the offseason. Because the trade market doesn't really open up that much. You can make small deals here and there. But to get a stabilizing force, so to speak, takes a number of months.' The Cubs shouldn't wait until the last minute. For reference, Scott was traded twice in his career – from the Orioles to the Miami Marlins on April 3, 2022, and then from the Marlins to the San Diego Padres on July 30, 2024. Scott contributed to the Marlins edging out the Cubs for a wild-card spot in 2023, and his addition helped the Padres push the Dodgers to the brink of elimination last October. 'You know going into the season that (the bullpen is) the area of the team that you're going to be constantly working on,' Hoyer said. 'If you have a position on the field that's struggling, you're not very often going to go on waivers and find someone that's going to help you. In the bullpen, it happens all the time. It's never a finished product. I expect that we'll continue to add guys. We'll continue to make some deals.' The Cubs are soon expected to add lefty reliever Drew Pomeranz to their active roster, hoping to catch lightning in a bottle after that minor trade with the Seattle Mariners. Tyson Miller — who became one of the club's top relievers after the Mariners designated him for assignment last May — is making progress in his rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa. So far, the Cubs have demonstrated the next-man-up attitude required to get through a 162-game season. Contributions from all over the 40-man roster and more reinforcements will be needed to get into the October tournament. After Tuesday's walk-off win, Counsell sat down in the Wrigley Field interview room and gave a shout-out to Gavin Hollowell, who was just promoted from Iowa and held the Dodgers scoreless in the eighth and ninth innings: 'Performances like that give you a chance for the magic to happen.' (Top photo of Michael Busch dousing Ian Happ with water after his walk-off hit against the Dodgers: Matt Marton / Imagn Images)
New York Times
09-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Cubs are more than just the Kyle Tucker show: ‘It's not a one-man sport'
CHICAGO — Kyle Tucker is the straw that stirs the drink, but the new star of the Chicago Cubs does not seek attention or credit. While the over/under on his next contract might be half a billion dollars, he says his focus is not on business. He just wants to play baseball and be one of the guys in the Wrigley Field clubhouse. Advertisement 'There are guys in this room who have had a lot of success and a lot of time in this organization,' Tucker said. 'I don't win games by myself. Everyone in here plays their part and plays their role to help our team succeed, whether it's just getting one out or drawing a walk. Or even if you're not playing, just picking up stuff on the bench and trying to help guys with some of our scouting reports. It's not a one-man sport by any means.' Tucker is the biggest difference between this Cubs team and the groups that won 83 games in each of the previous two seasons. He is still learning all the tricky angles of playing right field at the Friendly Confines, but his presence accentuates certain team strengths and covers for some weaknesses. The Cubs are 9-5 after Tuesday night's 10-6 victory over the Texas Rangers, which is an excellent start considering the opening schedule's degree of difficulty. Though it is too soon to draw definitive conclusions — the Cubs have more than 90 percent of their season remaining — there are signs that this offense should be more than just a sizzle reel that Tucker's agency can send to clubs next offseason. The temperatures at first pitch in Wrigleyville have ranged between 34 and 49 degrees within the last week. For context, it was 38 degrees when the puck dropped on New Year's Eve for the NHL's Winter Classic. Fans have to dress as if they're going to Soldier Field. Yet the Cubs have scored 34 runs during those five games, which reflects a more diversified offense as well as an ability to stay patient and focused. 'You have to acknowledge it's going to suck out there tonight,' Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. 'Don't fight it. It's going to suck, and it's cold. And then you go from there.' This roster appears to be well-built for low-scoring games in April, which can swing on an inopportune error or a heads-up base-running decision. The Cubs already had a lot of up-the-middle athleticism as well as a culture of players eager to share information and talk about the finer details within the game. Counsell's decision to hire Quintin Berry away from the Milwaukee Brewers may have taken those attributes to another level. Advertisement Berry, the new third-base coach, is regarded as a base-running expert. He made his name as a designated base-stealer for playoff contenders and then transitioned into coaching, helping the Brewers do the little things better. So far, the Cubs are running wild, stealing 25 bases while getting caught only once. Jed Hoyer, the club's president of baseball operations, described base running as a phase of the game that the coaching staff talks about 'constantly.' 'With anything in life, the things you talk about, the things you prioritize make a big difference,' Hoyer said. 'Those guys have talked about getting good secondary leads, constantly being aggressive, taking the extra base. Your turns at second and third — all that stuff matters.' At 40, Justin Turner is still a productive player who also brings a kind of gravitas as a World Series champion and a Roberto Clemente Award winner. The New York Yankees found ways to use Jon Berti during last year's World Series run. In terms of offensive production, pairing Carson Kelly with Miguel Amaya has flipped the catching group from the bottom of the league toward the top. In recent years, the Cubs cycled through lots of bench players who were either too inexperienced or way past their prime. While Gage Workman, a Rule 5 draft pick, remains on the 26-man roster for now, the Cubs are no longer holding auditions. It's hard when a hitter needs major-league at-bats to develop and might only play once or twice a week. Turner (.830 career postseason OPS) and Berti (102 career stolen bases) add specific skills, some versatility and more know-how. 'It's not an unlimited supply of players,' Counsell said. 'You're just trying to bring in pieces that complement your roster.' Trading for Tucker signaled that the front office felt a sense of urgency to make the playoffs this year. The Houston Astros received a haul of talent — 14 years of club control over Isaac Paredes, Hayden Wesneski and Cam Smith — but the Cubs got the best player in the deal, even if it's only for one season before Tucker becomes a free agent. Advertisement From right to left in the outfield, the Cubs will regularly position Tucker, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Ian Happ, who were all first-round picks by different organizations. The main infield alignment will also feature four players who were drafted in the first round: Dansby Swanson, Nico Hoerner, Matt Shaw and Michael Busch. The baseball industry has valued this collection of talent. The total cost to sign Seiya Suzuki, the primary designated hitter, was roughly $100 million when factoring in the posting fee owed to his Japanese club. Between those first-rounders and Suzuki, the ages range from 23 to 30, putting them in some of the prime years of their careers. 'We're certainly a better team than we were last year, both on paper and in reality,' Hoyer said. 'Now it's about going out there and playing. I think that the offseason is for talking about the team on paper, and the season is for going out and doing it. So now we have to go out and do it.' (Top photo of Kyle Tucker getting high fives after scoring against the Rangers: Matt Marton / Imagn Images)
Chicago Tribune
03-04-2025
- Climate
- Chicago Tribune
What's the forecast for the Chicago Cubs home opener — and how has weather affected debuts since 1989?
The Chicago Cubs are expected to be hot during the 2025 season, but the forecast for first pitch at 1:20 p.m. Friday at Wrigley Field is not. Conditions have varied during season openers at the ballpark. Here's what to expect, plus the warmest and coldest home openers for the Cubs. What's the forecast for opening day on April 4 in Chicago? It's going to be chilly. Though highs could range into the mid- to upper 50s, the National Weather Service forecast calls for temperatures in the 40s near the lakefront. And rain is possible, too. What's normal for April 4 in Chicago? The normal high temperature is 54 degrees with a low of 36, according to the National Weather Service. A trace of rain is usually observed too. Does cold weather matter for a Cubs home opener? Spoiler: It probably makes a bigger difference for fans. Although snow did cause the team's home opener to be postponed a day in 2003 and 2018. Since 1989 — when box scores for Major League Baseball games began to include weather conditions at the ballpark at the time of the first pitch — the Cubs have a 17-19 record in their home openers. The extremes Interestingly, the warmest and coldest home openers for the Cubs happened on the same day — April 8 — but 22 years apart. The paid attendance was listed at 35,393, but the next day's Tribune reported the crowd was 'considerably less' than that due to the below-freezing temperature and the Cubs performance — the team dropped its seventh straight game, a 5-3 decision to the Florida Marlins. 'The Cubs put the show on for the home folks Tuesday, and it was a rerun. They blew it again …' columnist Jerome Holtzman wrote in the next day's Tribune. The Tribune reported one vendor outside Wrigley Field was trying to unload tickets to the first home game of the season — an hour before first pitch. 'Who needs Cub tickets? Less than face value!' Cubs fan Brian Bonic admitted he showed up 'a little underdressed' for the game: 'He was wearing only two pairs of thermal underwear, two turtleneck sweaters and a Green Bay Packers sweatshirt to battle the gusting 31 m.p.h. winds, a 29-degree game time temperature and 1-degree wind chill factor,' the Tribune reported. Cubs players must have been underdressed for the weather too. Holtzman wrote the team had little, if any, aggressive plays during the game. 'If you don't play well against a good team, they're going to beat you,' Cubs manager Jim Riggleman admitted. Taking the brunt of the cold was Cubs center fielder Brian McRae, who said his hands were so numb that he struggled to hold the bat: 'This weather isn't conducive to a lot of hits.' One fan claimed he would show up to the Friendly Confines for the Cubs home opener no matter the weather. 'We're not here because they're (0-7). It's Wrigley Field. The Cubs. Opening day. It's part of the American tradition. We would be here if it was snowing,' Dan O'Toole said. Another fan — a season ticket holder — didn't care about the tradition. He just wanted to stay warm. That's why he and his friends left their seats along the first-base line after the first inning and went to the Cubby Bear bar across the street. After all, he estimated, he had another 80 home games to attend that season. 'It's absolutely too cold to sit there and watch baseball. I had the wind blowing right in my face, and we were in the shade. You can't have a good time when you're frozen,' Ron Rous said. WARMEST: 65 degrees (April 8, 2019) After a 2-7 start — their worst since 1997 — this was the win the Cubs needed. And it was dominant. It was a shutout. It was the largest shutout victory in a home opener in franchise history. It was also the first time since at least 1908 that four pitchers threw at least two scoreless innings in a nine-inning game. The win arrived on a 'picture-perfect afternoon' at Wrigley Field, according to Tribune columnist Paul Sullivan, before 40,692 fans. 'Everything went right for the Cubs, from the weather to the offensive explosion to the bullpen combining for seven shutout innings after (Jon) Lester injured himself scoring during the six-run second,' Sullivan wrote. The hamstring injury would sideline Lester, but not even Cubs manager Joe Maddon was concerned about it after the game. 'Jonny is a great athlete. He got hurt. It happens,' he said. The thing about Chicago weather, though, it changes quickly. Javier Báez — who got a hit on a bounced pitch — didn't like the unsettled forecast for the team's next home game. 'I just saw the weather for Wednesday, and it's not going to be like this,' he said.
