Taste Chicago

Somebody had to win when the Zombie Bulls and Wizards played Wednesday night in the nation’s capital. While the Wizards are still playing guys like Bradley Beal and the former Bulls (though Jabari Parker got hurt in this game), Scott Brooks chose not to play his main guys in the fourth quarter, effectively creating a high-level G League game down the stretch.

It looked like the Wizards were going to pull the game out when they went up 109-104 with just under three minutes to play, but seven late points for Shaquille Harrison and Walter Lemon Jr. heroics in the final minute resulted in a 115-114 Bulls win to snap a five-game losing streak. Lemon hit the game-winning free throws with 1.8 seconds left to cap off a 24-point, 8-assist performance in just his third appearance with the club.

But much of the focus at the end of the game was the Cristiano Felicio gaffe at the end of the game that nearly cost the Bulls the game. After Lemon put the Bulls up 113-112, Harrison blocked a Jordan McRae jumper, but the Wizards got the ball back with 14.5 seconds left and called timeout. With the Wizards inbounding the ball under the basket after the timeout, Felicio was late getting back out on the court as the ball was put in play, resulting in a pair of Chasson Randle free throws following a Harrison foul right under the bucket:

Another view here, with Boylen way out on the court as Felicio sprinted past him:

A pretty massive clown show if you ask me, even though Lemon saved Felicio’s ass in the end.

After the game, Boylen said Felicio was asking one of the coaches if the Bulls had a foul to give, and the head coach seemed confused why the play was allowed to start.

Via K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune:

“They just started without him,” coach Jim Boylen said. “Kind of a strange play, I don’t know what to say on that. They usually don’t ever start until everybody gets out there. And if they do want to start, they give you your delay (of game warning) before they start. I think they thought all 10 guys were out there. And they weren’t.”

Felicio offered up a similar explanation:

“I was trying to see if we had a foul to give. I didn’t see that the play started without me. So I just tried to run back,” Felicio said. “I guess (the officials) saw me running over there and they didn’t know what to do besides running the play. I just thought about running back and trying to play defense no matter what.”

And then there’s this quote courtesy of Sam Smith at Bulls.com, which is just kind of sad: “They don’t talk to me all season; now they talk to me,” Felicio said to Dunn with a sigh.

Whatever the hell happened, it was yet another bad look in a season full of them. Mercifully, there are only three games left in this debacle, and then we can look forward to the lottery and praying for Zion Williamson.

And on that note, the Bulls are effectively locked into the No. 4 spot now, giving them a 12.5% chance at the No. 1 pick.

And you thought there were overreactions on the Cubs slow start to the season. 

I’m obviously joking, but the Toronto Blue Jays really are already selling off one of their most popular players: outfielder Kevin Pillar. The move was announced by the team today:

Pillar, 30, has never been a positive offensive contributor, but his defense in center field has routinely been so far above average that he’s been an everyday starter since the beginning of the 2015 season. In fact, during that 2015 season, Pillar managed to rack up 3.7 WAR, despite a below-average slash line of .278/.314/.399 (94 wRC+). That’s quite impressive.

You can think of him like the Canadian version of Jason Heyward, but at a more valuable defensive position, and not on a huge long-term contract.

Unfortunately – and unlike Jason Heyward – Pillar’s offensive production has gotten even worse over the last three years, and his defense took a bit of a hit, too – at least, according to the advanced defensive metrics. And after starting out the 2019 season with an ice-cold 1-17 with no walks, the Blue Jays decided that was the end of it, and it was time to go in-house.

I framed this as “THEY’RE ALREADY SELLING!” and that’s technically true, but also, Pillar’s lack of offense and potentially declining defensive value softens the “loss” quite a bit. Pillar is under control (via arbitration) for 2019 and 2020 and will make $5.8M this season. Out in San Francisco, perhaps his defense will make him even more valuable.

In exchange for Pillar, the Blue Jays have received infielder Alen Hanson (26-years old, -0.5 career WAR over 243 games), right-handed pitching prospect Juan De Paula (the Giants’ 18th rated prospect according to MLB Pipeline), and Derek Law … whom you might remember better this way:

After posting a 2.13 ERA and 2.53 FIP over 55.0 IP in 2016, Law had a 5.06 ERA in 2017 and a 7.43 ERA in 2018, resulting in a demotion to Triple-A. Law, 25, is not arbitration eligible until 2021 and is under team control until 2024. I suppose he could somehow rediscover whatever magic he conjured for that season back in 2016, but I wouldn’t count on it.

Instead, the Juan De Paula seems to be the real prize for the Blue Jays, here, and it’s not really a bad one. De Paula is only 21 and posted a 1.71 ERA (3.46 FIP) over 47.1 IP at Low-A last year. He probably needs to be tested at a higher level, but that’s not a bad take for someone like Pillar, whose best years are clearly behind him, and whose team is rebuilding anyway.

Here’s a little reminder of what Pillar could do back in the day (this isn’t even all of our Baseball is Fun videos on him … dude was the definition of a daily highlight reel):

Here comes year-round Hopsolution — plus a KZOO-only hazy brew

One of the things I like about Bell’s is that even though they’re a decades-old brewery who produce two of the nation’s landmark beers — Two Hearted and Oberon — they aren’t content to sit back and stagnate.

This year has seen releases of fun beers like Larry’s Latest Sour, an announcement about a new year-round “wheat IPA” coming in February — and now we’re getting a year-round DIPA to add to the mix.

(No, it’s not Hopslam.)

Their Hopsolution isn’t new — we’ve been drinking it since 2010, back when it was an Illinois-specific beer under the Kalamazoo Brewing Company label (the Bell’s way to get back into Chicago after their distribution issues). That said, I’m not going to complain about any DIPA offering from the makers of what some consider the #1 Beer in America…again. I just hope we can get it into cans sooner rather than later.

The NEIPA is a Kalamazoo-only beer, made on the company’s new pilot system and for release at the General Store and Cafe. It sounds like it’s one part hazy beer, one part harvest ale as they’re using Chinook hops straight from the Bell’s hopyard.

As for the golden ale, well, given the way that other golden ales (and light lagers) have gone big this year, I wouldn’t be surprised to see that get exponentially bigger in the months to come.

The release from Bell’s follows:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

September 13, 2018

Bell’s Double IPA joining year-round lineup; exclusive, new releases coming to its General Store

COMSTOCK, Mich. – Two brand new Bell’s beers have been announced for 2019, but Bell’s Brewery has more in store for craft beer fans this fall.

Michigan’s largest independent craft brewery is proud to announce the addition of Hopsoulution, one of its Double IPAs, to its year-round lineup in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin. Hopsoulution was previously a limited, specialty release for Bell’s entire distribution area.

Twelve-ounce bottles, packaged in 6-packs, along with kegs of Hopsoulution will start shipping in September. It will remain a specialty release for the remaining 35 states in Bell’s distribution footprint (plus Washington DC and Puerto Rico), returning in the spring of 2019.

“Our fans have been asking for a Double IPA to be a part of our year-round portfolio. We’re going to start with the Great Lakes region and re-evaluate other markets in the future,” Larry Bell, President and Founder of Bell’s Brewery said.

Remarkably drinkable for a beer with an 8% ABV, Hopsoulution is brewed with several hop varieties for massive aromas of tropical fruit, citrus and pine. A mild caramel malt character and dry finish provide balance.

Also debuting this fall will be two brand new, but limited, specialty releases.

Side Yard Ale (6.8% ABV), a fresh-hopped New England style IPA, will be available exclusively for purchase at the Bell’s General Store and on tap at Bell’s Eccentric Café in downtown Kalamazoo. Packaged in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans, the beer will be brewed with Chinook hops freshly harvested from Bell’s Hop Yard located right next to its Comstock Brewery. It will be released in early October.

Each can will feature one of three labels, each showing a different image of the Hop Yard including one from last year’s harvest.

Tessie’s Golden Ale (5% ABV) will also be a Bell’s General Store and Cafe exclusive. The bottle label features Larry Bell’s Yellow Labrador, Tessie, wearing an Oberon dog collar. It will also leave the brewery in late October.

Both beers will be brewed using Bell’s brand new pilot brew system. Tessie’s Ale will be bottled using Bell’s new specialty bottling line. Both are part of a brand new innovation pipeline – a 12.8-barrel pilot brew system and specialty packaging line designed to fill 12 oz. and 750 mL bottles.

This Pilot Brewery is located where Bell’s original Comstock Bottling Hall was located, the same space where all Bell’s bottled beers were packaged from 2003 until 2016. Bell’s newer and primary Bottling Hall is capable of filling 750 bottles-per-minute.

For more information and for updates, keep an eye on Bell’s website, bellsbeer.com, or join them on social media – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and Untappd.

ABOUT BELL’S BREWERY, INC.

Bell’s Brewery, Inc. began in 1985 with a quest for better beer and a 15 gallon soup kettle. Since then, we’ve grown into a regional craft brewery that employs more than 550 people over a 40 state area, in addition to Puerto Rico and Washington DC. The dedication to brewing flavorful, unfiltered, quality craft beers that started in 1985 is still with us today. We currently brew over 20 beers for distribution as well as many other small batch beers that are served at our pub in Kalamazoo, the Eccentric Cafe. Our ongoing goal is to brew thoughtfully, creatively and artistically. 100% family-owned and independent, we strive to bring an authentic and pleasant experience to all of our customers through our unique ales and lagers. For more information, please visit bellsbeer.com.

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More From Guys Drinking Beer

Source: https://www.guysdrinkingbeer.com/release-bells-is-adding-a-dipa-to-their-year-round-roster-hopsolution-double-ipa-neipa-harvest-ipa/

Bulls vs. Celtics

7pm, NBC Sports Chicago

Bulls go for an actual win streak tonight, with last night’s win over the Magic (albeit a bit lucky) providing the rare two victories in a row.

They face the mercurial Celtics, ‘led’ (quotes approved by Bill Simmons) by Kyrie Irving to a somewhat flat 5th seed so far. They started their post all star game stretch in the midwest, falling to the Bucks in a slugfest after another weird final sequence by Boston. That was two nights ago and they’ve been in Chicago since, whereas the Bulls played last night in Florida. What will win out: rest, or the Chicago nightlife?

For their part, the Celtics likely will have Gordon Hayward back, as he’s listed as probable after missing that Bucks game rolling his (non-destroyed) ankle during a workout occurring at the all-star break.

For the Bulls, looks to be nothing new on the roster and injury front. They’ve been playing downright ok since acquiring Otto ‘ok’ Porter, but we haven’t seen it really against a good team like what Boston ultimately has.

(Copyright ©2018 KTRK-TV. All Rights Reserved.)

When it comes to prospects, part of the fun is trying to identify the next breakout star before he becomes a highly touted, well-known name. Those prospects are often flying under the radar, either because they are coming off injuries, haven't performed up to expectations or are just beginning their pro careers.

With 2019 around the corner, MLB Pipeline has picked one of these types of prospects from each organization as a potential breakout candidate. Some of the names below might be more familiar than others, but they all could jump on the scene during the upcoming season and establish themselves as exciting prospects.

American League East

Jean Carlos Encarnacion, 3B, Orioles No. 15
Encarnacion has the highest ceiling of the four prospects that the Orioles acquired in the deal that sent Kevin Gausman to the Braves at the non-waiver Trade Deadline. The 20-year-old has prototypical third-base tools, as he's already physically strong and knows how to impact the baseball. He offered a glimpse of his potential last year (in his first full season) by slashing .273/.298/.439 with 12 home runs and 46 extra-base hits over 123 games in the South Atlantic League. Those numbers should improve in 2019, provided he can trim his 27.7 percent strikeout rate.

Darwinzon Hernandez, LHP, Red Sox No. 7
Hernandez followed up a strong regular season with an impressive performance in the Arizona Fall League. While the 22-year-old struggled with command -- an issue that has plagued him throughout his career -- walking 66 over 107 innings this year, he racked up 134 strikeouts. In the AFL, Hernandez pitched out of the bullpen -- where his fastball-slider combination can form a dominant pairing -- and yielded only three runs (two earned) over 11 1/3 innings.

Albert Abreu, RHP, Yankees No. 3 (MLB No. 85)
Abreu has impressed when he's been on the mound, but keeping him there has been a bit of an issue. The hard-throwing right-hander has missed time with a shoulder strain, an appendectomy and elbow inflammation over the past two seasons, and was on the disabled list twice in 2018. If healthy in '19, Abreu has three pitches -- a fastball, breaking ball and changeup -- that all grade out as plus and could help him quickly climb through the Yankees' system.

Video: Top Prospects: Albert Abreu, RHP, Yankees

Shane Baz, RHP, Rays No. 6
Acquired from the Pirates as the player to be named later in the Chris Archer Trade Deadline deal, Baz underwhelmed statistically last season in the rookie-level Appalachian League, pitching to a 4.47 ERA, 1.62 WHIP and 59/29 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 52 1/3 innings (12 starts). He still impressed with his raw stuff, utilizing a four-pitch mix that included a low- to mid-90s fastball and three secondaries that project to be above-average or better. Evaluators expect better results from Baz going forward as the young righty's control improves and he refines his breaking balls.

Nate Pearson, RHP, Blue Jays No. 4 (MLB No. 90)
After his brilliant pro debut in 2017, Pearson's first full season came to an abrupt end when he was struck by a line drive and sustained a broken right ulna 1 2/3 innings into his first start at Class A Advanced Dunedin. He was rusty when he returned to the mound in the Arizona Fall League, and struggled initially, before settling in and dominating during the season's final weeks. When he was right, Pearson showed top-of-the-rotation potential, with a legitimate triple-digit fastball, a plus slider and feel for both a curveball and changeup.

AL Central

Luis Robert, OF, White Sox No. 4 (MLB No. 44)
Robert's five-tool potential has never been questioned. However, his enticing skillset has hardly been on display as injuries have hampered his brief career. Robert missed time with minor injuries in 2017, then played only 50 games in '18 after injuring the ligaments in his thumb. Robert showed flashes of potential in the Arizona Fall League, where he hit .324 with two homers, but again missed a few games with a minor injury. If Robert can stay healthy in 2019, there's a good chance he will post huge numbers.

Video: White Sox prospect Robert has path to the Majors

George Valera, OF, Indians No. 5
Signed for $1.3 million in July 2017, Valera carried plenty of hype into his pro debut and got off to a strong start in the rookie-level Arizona League, only to have his season end after six games due to a broken hamate bone in his hand and subsequent surgery. The injury has done nothing to diminish the 18-year-old outfielder's upside, and scouts continue to rave about Valera's gorgeous left-handed swing as well as his ability to apply his power during games at a young age.

Jose Azocar, OF, Tigers No. 19
Azocar's tools have long been tantalizing, and every time he's appeared poised to take a step forward, he's gone backward. He still needs to refine his overall approach at the plate, but he cut his strikeout rate considerably in 2018, perhaps a sign he's ready to head consistently in the right direction.

Kyle Isbel, OF, Royals No. 14
Isbel took a leap forward during his junior season at UNLV, before the Royals took him in the third round of the 2018 Draft. The 21-year-old carried that momentum into his professional debut, where he hit .326 with seven homers over 64 games. Isbel finished the year with Class A Lexington, and his initial success, along with his compact swing and patient approach, could be foreshadowing a big full-season debut in '19.

Yunior Severino, 2B/SS, Twins No. 21
Severino was one of the Braves' prospects who was declared a free agent in the wake of the organization's international rules violations. He signed with the Twins and had a solid 2018 season in the rookie-level Appalachian League. There's considerable offensive upside here, with the chance to hit for both average and power from both sides of the plate.

AL West

Bryan Abreu, RHP, Astros No. 10
Abreu notched 90 strikeouts in 54 1/3 innings this season and could be in store for another big year as he continues to refine his command and work his way through the system. Abreu has thrown only 38 1/3 innings at the full-season level, but with a fastball that sits at 92-94 mph and a curveball that some executives feel is the best in the system, it's easy to see why 2019 could be a big year for Abreu.

Livan Soto, SS, Angels No. 16
Another Braves prospect who was made a free agent, Soto had a solid organizational debut with the Angels in the Pioneer League in 2018, hitting .291. It's his advanced approach at the plate (.385 on-base percentage, 24/24 K/BB), not to mention his defensive prowess, that bodes well for his future.

Sean Murphy, C, Athletics No. 3  (MLB No. 47)
Murphy might have reached the Majors last year if not for a broken hamate bone and subsequent hand surgery in July while in Double-A, which sidelined him for about six weeks. Although Murphy's stellar defense behind the plate is a known commodity and will make him an everyday big league catcher in short order, it's his remaining development as a hitter that makes him a breakout candidate for 2019. The 24-year-old has tools to impact the game offensively, with a line-drive-oriented swing, above-average raw power and advanced feel for the strike zone.

Video: Top Prospects: Sean Murphy, C, Athletics

Jake Fraley, OF, Mariners No. 27
Fraley tore up the Australian Baseball League (1.130 OPS, 13 homers, 39 stolen bases in 40 games) last offseason, but missed the first two months of the 2018 regular season with a toe injury. When he finally got going in June, the left-handed-hitting outfielder posted a .347/.415/.547 line with 30 extra-base hits and 11 steals over 66 games in the Florida State League. That performance put him on the Mariners' radar, and the club was thrilled to land him, along with Mallex Smith, this offseason in the Mike Zunino trade. With a swing that features natural loft, Fraley is a great candidate to break out in '19. However, he'll need to stay on the field to do so after totaling only 151 games across his first three pro seasons.

Hans Crouse, RHP, Rangers No. 4
Crouse's first full season was certainly a success, and something the Rangers hope was a sign of things to come. The 20-year-old posted a 2.47 ERA across two levels and recorded 62 strikeouts and 19 walks in 54 2/3 innings (13 starts). Crouse, who has a slightly unconventional delivery, features a mid-to-upper-90s fastball and a wipeout slider. The right-hander also has a changeup that has the potential to be an average third pitch.

NL East

Freddy Tarnok, RHP, Braves No. 18
That's right, another Braves pitching prospect. Atlanta went way over pick value to sign Tarnok in the third round of the 2017 Draft. He pitched well out of the bullpen in the first half of 2018 (1.26 ERA in 16 games) and scuffled a bit as a starter. But as someone who didn't pitch until his junior year of high school, his ceiling as a future starter is very high.

Isan Diaz, 2B, Marlins No. 9
After joining the Marlins from the Brewers in last offseason's Christian Yelich blockbuster, Diaz, in his age-22 season, produced a .771 OPS with 13 home runs over 119 games between Double-A and Triple-A. Power is Diaz's calling card -- he's hit at least 13 homers in each of the past four years, highlighted by a career-high 20 homers during his 2016 full-season debut -- as he's long impressed evaluators with his ability to drive the ball out of the park to all fields with a Robinson Cano-esque swing. That power could be on display in Miami next season, after the club added Diaz to its 40-man roster.

Ronny Mauricio, SS, Mets No. 6
First, there was Amed Rosario. Next up is top Mets prospect Andres Gimenez. On his way is Mauricio, who signed for $2.1 million in July 2017, and had a strong debut in the Gulf Coast League in '18, until he wore down. He has tools on both sides of the ball and is just starting to figure out how to use all of them.

Francisco Morales, RHP, Phillies No. 13
Morales wasn't as impressive in the New York-Penn League in 2018 as he was during his GCL debut the year prior, but his stuff is still plenty good. He continued to miss a lot of bats (10.9 K/9 in '18) and needs to refine his command to take the next step, perhaps as a teenager in full-season ball for the first time.

Jake Irvin, RHP, Nationals No. 17
The Nats' fourth-round pick from 2018 was sharp during his pro debut, posting a 1.74 ERA with a .211 batting average against over 20 2/3 innings between the rookie-level Gulf Coast League and short-season Class A Auburn. As a durable 6-foot-6, 225-pound righty with a solid three-pitch mix, Irvin has the necessary ingredients to move quickly through the Minors in his first full season, and the potential to develop as a back-of-the-rotation starter.

NL Central

Cole Roederer, OF, Cubs No. 14
Roederer, the Cubs' supplemental second-round pick from the 2018 Draft, got off to a fast start in the rookie-level Arizona League, hitting .275/.354/.465 over 36 games in his professional debut. The 19-year-old has a mature offensive approach and an ability to hit the ball to all fields, and if his stint in the AZL was any indication, he could be in store for a big first full season.

Jeter Downs, SS/2B, Reds No. 7
The Reds selected Downs with the No. 32 overall pick in the 2017 Draft out of the Florida high school ranks, and he responded with a solid first full season in '18 that included 13 home runs and 37 steals. There's more pop to come as he refines his approach, with the possibility of 20-20 seasons.

Tristen Lutz, OF, Brewers No. 5
The No. 34 overall pick from the 2017 Draft showed a dynamic bat in his first full season as he totaled 13 homers and 33 doubles (with a 45 percent extra-base-hit rate) in the Midwest League. While Lutz struck out quite a bit in the process, he still demonstrated a solid approach, as well as pitch-recognition skills that will only improve as he gains experience. With a blend of size, athleticism, tools and baseball skills, Lutz has one of the higher ceilings in Milwaukee's system and could emerge as one of baseball's premier young outfield prospects in 2019.

Cole Tucker, SS, Pirates No. 5
Tucker's full season in Double-A was decent enough, but it's the fact that his second-half OPS was 145 points higher than his first half, combined with his .370 Arizona Fall League average and .442 OBP (third and fourth in the AFL, respectively), that makes him a good candidate to put it all together in 2019.

Video: Cole Tucker talks about his Fall League experience

Elehuris Montero, 3B, Cardinals No. 7
In many ways, Montero broke out in 2018, hitting .322/.381/.529 with 15 homers in the Midwest League to earn a promotion to the FSL before he turned 20. Still learning to tap into his raw power, the third baseman should become more of a known name on the national prospect landscape in '19, especially if he can avoid hitting in Palm Beach's hitting haven and jump to Double-A.

NL West

Kristian Robinson, OF, D-backs No. 12
The D-backs spent $2.5 million to sign Robinson out of the Bahamas in July 2017. In his first full pro season in '18, he hit well enough to earn a promotion from the Arizona League to the Pioneer League, where he held his own. He has tremendous raw power that he should continue to learn to tap into in 2019.

Tyler Nevin, 1B/3B, Rockies No. 11
Nevin put together the best offensive season of his career (.328/.386/.503) over 100 games with Class A Advanced Lancaster during the 2018 campaign. However, Lancaster is an extremely hitter-friendly environment, which may have made some wary of those numbers. If they were, Nevin helped ease those concerns with a .426 average over 17 games in the Arizona Fall League, and he will look to build on that success as he likely moves up to Double-A in '19.

Video: Harding discusses Rockies prospect Nevin

Michael Grove, RHP, Dodgers No. 12
Grove, the Dodgers' second-round pick in 2018, missed all of last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. When healthy, the right-hander has a pair of plus pitches -- a fastball that sits in the low-to-mid 90s and a high-spin-rate slider with tremendous depth. Grove's control improved during his time at West Virginia, but there is still room for improvement as he continues to develop. Grove has yet to make his professional debut and will be coming off Tommy John, so it's unlikely the Dodgers are super aggressive with him, but the 2019 season could be a big one for Grove.

MacKenzie Gore, LHP, Padres No. 2 (MLB No. 13)
Gore, the No. 3 pick from the 2017 Draft, was limited by a recurring blister issue during his first full season and logged only 60 2/3 innings, posting a 4.45 ERA with 74 strikeouts and 18 walks over 16 starts. The 19-year-old southpaw's stuff and overall feel were still plenty good, though, and there's reason to believe he'll be even better once fully healthy, with a chance to move relatively quickly, in 2019.

Heliot Ramos, OF, Giants No. 2 (MLB No. 74)
Ramos has the highest ceiling of anyone in the Giants' system, but a lack of patience at the plate has resulted in some struggles early in his career. Ramos, 19, led the rookie-level Arizona League in slugging (.645) in his 2017 pro debut, but that number dipped to .396 over 124 games with Class A Augusta in '18. Ramos has well-above-average power, but he struck out 136 times in 124 games a season ago. If Ramos can make more contact, allowing him to tap into his power more, his future is bright.

December 21, 2018

Famous for its instrumental virtuosity and heady, sci-fi influenced lyrics, the Canadian prog-rock trio Rush has amassed an obsessive cult following. Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson of Rush join Jim and Greg to discuss the band's remarkable 40 plus-year career. Jim and Greg will also say farewell to the leader of the punk band the Buzzcocks, Pete Shelley, who died earlier in December at age 63.

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Rush

Jim gets to unleash his inner thirteen-year-old this week as he and Greg sit down with Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee of the Canadian prog-rock legends Rush. All three members of Rush are known for their ridiculous virtuosity on their instruments – drum god Neil Peart, Lifeson on guitar, and Geddy Lee, who manages to play bass and synths and sing simultaneously. Lee and Lifeson met in junior high in Ontario and released a couple hard rock albums with drummer John Rutsey in the early '70s. But the band really hit its stride when Rutsey was replaced by Neil Peart, who also became the primary lyricist. They began crafting epic progressive rock concept albums like 2112 and Hemispheres featuring side-length sci-fi suites. The albums Permanent Waves and Moving Pictures brought Rush radio hits in the early '80s, and the band moved into a synth-driven phase. Over the ensuing decades, Rush has continued to evolve its sound and adapt to new styles, while growing a cult fanbase that is intense to say the least. Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson discuss the band's evolving styles, the existence of female Rush fans, and more.

Pete Shelley of the Buzzcocks

Pete Shelley, the leader of the Buzzcocks, died at home in Estonia of a heart attack on December 6, 2018. He was 63 years old. Shelley's work was a major influence on a wide swath of musicians over the past 40 years. Greg points out the Buzzcocks were one of the first punk bands to eschew the safety pins and mohawks aesthetic, showing the movement ran deeper than fashion trends. He calls them "the next generation's answer to The Beatles." Shelley and Buzzcocks co-founder Howard Devoto put on the Sex Pistols' first show outside of London. It turned out to be a confluence of the future of Manchester's music scene with members of Joy Division and The Smiths in attendance as well as Factory Records founder Anthony Wilson and producer Martin Hannett. It was recreated in the 2002 film, "24 Hour Party People."

Jim points out the Buzzcocks' devotion to melody and describes their sound as“the Beatles catalog shoved into two minutes.”He also recounts how Shelley's first solo single "Homosapien" was banned by the BBC for“racy”lyrics. Fans have often wondered if Shelley's early embrace of synth-pop could have led to greater commercial success had the song been played on the radio. Jim plays "Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn‘t’ve)" as a tribute, calling it one of the greatest songs ever. Greg pays tribute by playing "I Believe," which Shelley closed many concert sets with and was an audience favorite.

YouTube

YouTube

Featured Songs

1. Rush, Cygnus X-1 Book II: Hemispheres, Hemispheres, Anthem, 1978
2. Rush, Something for Nothing, Rush, Phonogram, 1974
3. Rush, Finding My Way, Rush, Phonogram, 1974
4. Cream, Spoonful, Fresh Cream, Reaction, 1966
5. Rush, Digital Man, Signals, Mercury, 1982
6. Rush, 2112, 2112, Anthem, 1976
7. Rush, The Fountain of Lamneth, Caress of Steel, Mercury, 1975
8. Rush, By-Tor and the Snow Dog, Fly By Night, Mercury, 1975
9. Rush, Xanadu, A Farewell to Kings, Mercury, 1977
10. Rush, The Trees, Hemispheres, Anthem, 1978
11. Rush, The Spirit of Radio, Permanent Waves, Anthem, 1980
12. Rush, Tom Sawyer, Moving Pictures, Mercury, 1981
13. Rush, Freewill, Permanent Waves, Anthem, 1980
14. Rush, Subdivisions, Signals, Mercury, 1982
15. Rush, Stick It Out, Counterparts, Atlantic, 1993
16. Rush, Roll the Bones, Roll the Bones, Atlantic, 1991
17. Rush, Closer to the Heart, R40 Live, Anthem/Roadrunner, 2015
18. Rush, One Little Victory, Vapor Trails, Anthem, 2002
19. Rush, Limelight, Moving Pictures, Mercury, 1981
20. Buzzcocks, What Do I Get?, Another Music in a Different Kitchen, Nettwerk America, 1978
21. Buzzcocks, Orgasm Addict, Another Music in a Different Kitchen, Nettwerk America, 1978
22. Buzzcocks, Everybody's Happy Nowadays, Singles Going Steady, I.R.S., 1979
23. Buzzcocks, You Say You Don't Love Me, A Different Kind of Tension, Nettwerk America, 1979
24. Pete Shelley, Homosapien, Homosapien, Arista, 1981
25. Buzzcocks, Innocent, Trade Test Transmissions, Caroline, 1993
26. Green Day, Basket Case, Dookie, Lookout!, 1994
27. Buzzcocks, Ever Fallen in Love (with Someone You Shouldn‘t’ve?), Love Bites, United Artists, 1978
28. Buzzcocks, I Believe, A Different Kind of Tension, Nettwerk America, 1979
29. Moses Sumney, Don't Bother Calling, Aromanticism, Jagjauwar, 2017
30. Shame, One Rizla, Songs of Praise, Dead Oceans, 2018
31. Sen Morimoto, Sections, Cannonball!, Sooper, 2018
32. Sen Morimoto, People Watching, Cannonball!, Sooper, 2018
33. Brandi Carlile, The Joke, By The Way, I Forgive You, Low Country Sound/Elektra, 2018

NEW YORK -- The NFL has moved the Minnesota Vikings' game at the Chicago Bears from Sunday afternoon to prime time on NBC on Nov. 18.

That bumps the Steelers at Jaguars game to 1 p.m. ET on CBS. Also moving that day is the matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, now a 4:25 p.m. game on Fox rather than at 1 p.m.

The Bears currently lead the NFC North at 5-3, a half-game in front of Minnesota, which has a bye this week. The Bears will play the early game at the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving less than four days after the night game with the Vikings.

It's the second time this season the league flexed a Sunday game to prime time. Previously it did so to the Cincinnati Bengals' game at the Kansas City Chiefs on Oct. 21.

The Chicago Cubs signed veteran left-handed reliever Xavier Cedeno on Wednesday, according to multiple reports.

Sources told the Chicago Sun-Times that Cedeno agreed to a one-year, $900,000 contract that also includes $300,000 in performance incentives.

Cedeno, 32, compiled a 2-0 record with a 2.43 ERA in 33 1/3 innings over a combined 48 games for the Chicago White Sox and Milwaukee last season. After an Aug. 31 trade to the Brewers, he had a 1.13 ERA in 15 appearances.

Cedeno owns a 10-7 record, three saves, a 3.69 ERA and a strikeout rate of 8.9 per nine innings for five teams during an eight-year major league career spanning 249 relief appearances. He has also pitched for the Houston Astros, Washington Nationals and Tampa Bay Rays.

Becoming the 42nd pitcher in Cubs camp this spring, Cedeno fills the roster spot vacated Wednesday by Kendall Graveman, who was put on 60-day injured list. Graveman underwent Tommy John surgery last summer, and he might miss the entire season.

--Field Level Media