Chicago Sun Times

Moon AlertCaution! Avoid shopping or making important decisions from 2 until 5 a.m. Chicago time. After that, the moon moves from Aries into Taurus.Aries (March 21-April 19)You might be tempted to buy beautiful things for yourself and loved ones. If this is the case, do be aware of the restrictions of the moon alert. Most of this day is a poor day to shop for anything other than food and gas.Taurus (April 20-May 20)You’re looking at a powerful week ahead because the sun, lucky Jupiter and your ruler Venus are all in your sign. And after the moon alert is over, the moon moves into your sign as well! Oh yes, it’s all about you! After the moon is in your sign — shop for wardrobe goodies!Gemini (May 21-June 20)This is a popular day! You will enjoy schmoozing with friends and members of groups. However, don’t volunteer for anything or agree to anything important — just enjoy the company of others and get information. See moon alert.Cancer (June 21-July 22)Be aware that most of this day is a moon alert. Furthermore, this is a kind of day where you might be tempted to volunteer for something or agree to do something important. Not good! Wait until the moon alert is over before making commitments.Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)This is an imaginative, freewheeling, playful day! Enjoy discussing lofty topics with friends or people from other cultures. Learn something new. Enjoy exploring more of your world; however, commit to nothing. Wait until the moon alert is over to do business.Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)Be careful because most of this day is a moon alert; and this particular moon alert is taking place in one of your Money Houses. Postpone important decisions about shared property, inheritances, taxes and debt. Do your homework but sign nothing until it’s over.Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)Be cooperative with others today. A friendly approach will serve you best. Don’t be demanding during the moon alert, even if you feel this way. After the alert is over, then it’s all systems go. Until then, tread carefully and just get information.Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)You’re gung-ho to attack this week with energy and focus. Unfortunately, most of this day is a moon alert, which means things will be a bit fuzzy but fun-loving. Postpone important decisions and shopping until after the moon alert is over.Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)This is a wonderful day for artists and anyone doing creative projects because you will find it easy to think outside of the box. It’s also a marvelous day to socialize. Enjoy fun outings as well as playful activities with kids. Be aware of the moon alert.Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)Today you might like to begin this week by puttering around home and taking it easy. Family discussions might take place. If so, be aware of the moon alert, and avoid agreeing to anything important or volunteering for anything until after the moon alert is over.Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)Be careful today. It’s a busy, fast-paced time. You might take short trips and take care of errands and appointments. Check the moon alert above so that you know when to avoid important decisions or shopping for anything other than food and gas. Be smart.Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)It’s important to know that today, the moon alert is taking place in one of your Money Houses, which means don’t shop for anything other than food or gas during that time. Postpone important financial decisions as well. After it’s over, you’ve got the green light!If Your Birthday Is TodayActress Adrianne Palicki (1983) shares your birthday. You’re very intuitive and sensitive. You are also a caring, compassionate person. This year is the first year of a new nine-year cycle for you, which means it’s a time of new beginnings and adventures! Major changes might occur. Keep your eyes open for new opportunities.

The White Sox’ Bryan Ramos hits a sacrifice fly against the Cardinals at Busch Stadium on Sunday in St. Louis.Joe Puetz/Getty Images  ST. LOUIS — Eloy Jimenez knows what Bryan Ramos got to experience this weekend.Watching the White Sox’ top third-base prospect break into the majors, seeing his angst, enjoying his success and understanding the whirlwind of emotion took Jimenez back five years.They were nice memories.“It reminded me of 2019, when I first came up,” Jimenez said after he and Ramos fueled the Sox’ 5-1 victory against the Cardinals on Sunday at Busch Stadium. “He was very anxious but doing well.“He was excited to be here. It’s a privilege to come to the big leagues, and especially when you are Latin. We have the opportunity, but not too many guys make it. But to be one of them is good.”Ramos, called up from Double-A Birmingham on Saturday when Danny Mendick — the regular third baseman after Yoan Moncada went down with an adductor strain — landed on the injured list with a stiff back. Related White Sox third-base prospect Bryan Ramos does more than talk a good game The Sox’ No. 4 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, Ramos made his debut defensively in the last two innings of the Sox’ 6-5 win Saturday and, in the starting lineup for the first time Sunday, lifted a sacrifice fly against Matthew Liberatore in his first plate appearance in the second inning. In a four-run seventh that broke the game open and sent the 8-26 Sox to their fifth win in nine games and second series win in the last three, Ramos singled for his first hit and scored a run.“Last week, we had the Tommy Pham effect,’’ said left-hander Garrett Crochet, who pitched six innings of one-run ball. ‘‘Right now, we have the Bryan Ramos effect, so let’s keep it rolling.”There was a Jimenez effect, too, in the form of a 418-foot home run to right-center against Giovanny Gallegos that broke a 1-1 tie and started that big seventh inning. As manager Pedro Grifol said, things are always better for Jimenez, who homered for the fourth time, when he’s lifting the ball and hitting it to center field and right field.Jimenez noted the success of the Twins and Rays against him in recent series.“So to stay that way, like in ’19, when I had the most homers I hit [31] and pretty much all my homers went to the other side, is good,’’ Jimenez said. ‘‘So hitting the ball that way means I’m getting better.”A few lockers away, in a corner of the visitors’ clubhouse, Ramos was beaming. Like Jimenez, Ramos does his interviews in English. Related Tommy Pham is quickly adapting to White Sox’ clubhouse “I feel like there’s nothing better than this,” Ramos said. “I’ve been dreaming of this since I was a kid playing baseball in Cuba and then was trying to sign in the Dominican Republic. Since then, that was my dream — to get to the big leagues and get a hit and all this. It’s like, I’m way too happy right now.”Ramos said he was keeping it simple at the plate, trying to get the ball in the air for the sacrifice fly and trying to go the other way when he singled to center.“And I get a base hit, perfect,” he said.“I don’t want to try to be the hero; I want to work for the team. My goal was to get the ball to the other side of the field, but I got a base hit, so I’ll take that.”Enduring a historically bad start, the Sox took the victory and their first road series win with open arms.And they’re 2-0 with Ramos, who figures to get plenty of playing time while Mendick is on the injured list.“Ramos is a presence out there,” Grifol said. “He looks the part when he stands in the box. It’s fun to have him here because he’s dangerous. And he can run, and he’s athletic. It’s going to be fun to watch him play.”

The White Sox’ Gavin Sheets hits an RBI double against the Cardinals in St Louis. Sheets doubled two more times on Sunday. Joe Puetz/Getty Images ST. LOUIS — Playing every day matters. Just ask Gavin Sheets, whose 2024 pace has him on track for a career-high 525 plate appearances.After securing a job in spring training that wasn’t guaranteed and after getting regular at-bats as the designated hitter when Eloy Jimenez got hurt, Sheets forced himself into the every-day lineup, even in right field, where he won’t come close to sniffing a Gold Glove.Providing steady production on a team that’s last in the majors in runs will do that. On deck: White Sox at RaysMonday: Mike Clevinger (season debut) vs. TBA, 5:50 p.m., NBCSCH, 1000-AMTuesday: Michael Soroka (0-3, 6.48) vs. Zach Eflin (1-4, 4.17), 5:50 p.m., NBCSCH, 1000-AMWednesday: Chris Flexen (1-3, 4.85) vs. Aaron Civale (2-2, 5.06), NBCSCH, 1000-AM “You definitely keep a rhythm,” Sheets told the Sun-Times of the advantage of playing every day before the White Sox’ 5-1 victory over the Cardinals on Sunday. “But the biggest thing for me is not putting too much pressure on myself with every at-bat. You know your at-bats are coming. It’s not like, ‘Hey, if I don’t get a hit today, I might not play this week.’ You take each at-bat as they come; you’re not as results-oriented. You’re more process-oriented.”Sheets is batting .270/.362/.460 with three homers and an .822 OPS that leads all Sox hitters by plenty — Jimenez is next at .688. Manager Pedro Grifol started the left-handed hitter against Cardinals left-handed opener Matthew Liberatore.Such at-bats are “huge,” said Sheets, who grounded out twice against Liberatore — once at a 101.8 exit velocity — and doubled against left-hander John King in the eighth inning. Related There for the tanking: Embrace the White Sox’ pursuit of being the worst team in MLB history Report: White Sox, Bulls, Blackhawks partnering with Standard Media Group, not Stadium Against right-hander Giovanny Gallegos, Sheets doubled in a four-run seventh. The second double was Sheets’ 10th of the season but his first hit against a lefty in 14 at-bats this season. He was .112/.165/.135 in his career against left-handers going in.“Really, the first time in my career [against] lefties and righties, so it’s been great,” he said. “Embraced it, enjoying the every-day soreness and all those aspects, making the most of it.” Crochet sharpLeft-hander Garrett Crochet pitched six innings of one-run ball, striking out six, walking none and allowing three hits, including Willson Contreras’ homer and Lars Nootbaar’s smash single that caromed off his left shin.“Just wrapped it up between innings and was able to lock it in and get us through six,” Crochet said.“It felt pretty brutal. In my mind when I was doing the warmup pitches I was like, ‘I’m just buying time for someone in the bullpen to get hot.’ But I was able to find my footing there after a couple of throws, felt like I had some stability. Just kind of off the bone, so it was just that immediate reaction that really felt painful.”Crochet threw 88 pitches, 60 for strikes.Dad-gum adductorsInfielder Nicky Lopez, who looked a bit wobbly running out a ground ball Saturday, has some adductor soreness, Grifol said, and was given the day off.“But Nicky is a gamer,” Grifol said. “I’ve seen him play with all types of stuff. He never wants out of the lineup; he plays with pain, through pain. It was my choice, not his, to make sure we calm that down a little bit and get him back to 100%.”Yoan Moncada is on the injured list with an adductor strain, and Jimenez spent time on the injured list last month with an adductor strain, as well.Luis Robert Jr. (hip) is expected to begin his rehab assignment at Triple-A Charlotte in about a week. Related White Sox should be open to all trades, including for Luis Robert Jr., Garrett Crochet Mike Clevinger close to returnThe Sox are officially TBA for their series opener at the Rays Monday, but the plan is for Mike Clevinger to make his season debut. Dominic Leone “feeling good”Reliever Dominic Leone, who left Saturday’s game with low back stiffness after facing one batter, was well enough to throw a medicine ball and baseball Sunday.“He came in feeling good today,” Grifol said.

The Cubs’ Dansby Swanson has been in the middle of a hitting funk this season. Quinn Harris/Getty Images On deck: Padres at Cubs Monday: TBD vs. Yu Darvish (1-1, 3.45), 6:40 p.m., Marquee, 670-AM.Tuesday: Shota Imanaga (5-0, 0.78) vs. Joe Musgrove (3-3, 6.37), 6:40 p.m., Marquee, 670-AMWednesday: Hayden Wesneski (2-0, 0.54) vs. Dylan Cease (4-2, 2.55), 1:20 p.m., Marquee, 670-AM. Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson has struggled at the plate this season. He’s slashing .220/.287/.358 after the Cubs’ 5-0 victory Sunday against the Brewers.Because of Swanson’s proven track record, however, hitting coach Dustin Kelly said the staff can help him with his approach and maintain his movements.The tough part is keeping his confidence up.‘‘We’re also human, and nobody wants to perform better than us,’’ said Swanson, who hit his first home run since April 24 on Sunday. ‘‘At times, you can get so lost in results and numbers that you forget that your main job is to show up as yourself and be committed to who God made you to be. And it was kind of like my message to myself the last couple of days.’’ Related ‘Natural fit’: How Dustin Kelly became the Cubs’ choice for hitting coach Kelly said coaches will watch video with Swanson to try to correct some aspects of his swing. The coaches also have specific markers they look at for each player.‘‘For a lot of our guys, it’s stride length, stride height and hand placement,’’ Kelly said. ‘‘We have a bunch of things that can measure that. A lot of times, it just boils down to using your eyes, like, ‘Hey, am I on time for the fastball? Did I get a good pitch to hit?’ ’’Swanson hadn’t had a hit since Wednesday.‘‘When you’re struggling at the plate, just getting good results, helping your team win, taking a really good swing and getting rewarded for it just feels good,’’ manager Craig Counsell said. ‘‘It’s a total weight off your shoulders.’’On Sunday, Swanson was generating hard contact and hitting more line drives. He’s starting to see signs that his hitting is coming around. ‘‘The last few days, there have been moments here and there where you start to feel a bit better and say, ‘OK, I’m picking it up bit by bit,’ ’’ Swanson said. ‘‘And it’s a good feeling to carry that momentum into the rest of the season.’’Crow-Armstrong’s Team USA experienceSwanson first learned about Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong through Brooks Webb, the vice president of baseball operations for Excel Sports Management and former general manager for Vanderbilt baseball. Webb oversaw the younger U.S. baseball teams, and that experience helped Crow-Armstrong in the field.‘‘[Webb] said he’s always been like this; he’s just always had a good feel for routes, defense and pace of play,’’ Swanson said. ‘‘He’s just born with it.’’With Team USA, Crow-Armstrong said he grew from the tryout process, where he was surrounded by future major-leaguers in Tigers outfielder Riley Greene, Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams and Diamondbacks center fielder Corbin Carroll. Through tryouts, he developed a feel for defense that made him a highly touted prospect.‘‘You call it a kinesthetic feel,’’ Crow-Armstrong told the Sun-Times. ‘‘But that feel gives me the most confidence with my routes because I don’t feel that I have to be perfect on my routes.’’This and ThatRight-hander Kyle Hendricks threw a bullpen session Sunday as he recovers from a strained back. Center fielder Cody Bellinger and right fielder Seiya Suzuki hit and ran the bases.

FitzGerald’s owners Will Duncan and Jess King were not inclined to publicize the break-in at their Berwyn nightclub, but they wanted it known how their staff and community pulled together to not disappoint fans. Berwyn live music venue FitzGerald’s was burglarized early Saturday morning, but the scheduled shows went on as planned the same evening.The club, at 6615 W. Roosevelt Road, dates back to the 1930s and has been FitzGerald’s since 1980. The break-in occurred early Saturday morning, according to a Facebook post by co-owner Jessica King.“No one was here, so no one got hurt, and that’s all that really matters,” King’s post read. “But they took stuff. Including a piece of the lighting system that’s essential to um, every show, and with two Los Straightjackets shows last night, that was a priority to figure out.”King, who co-owns the club with her husband, Will Duncan, explained in her post that word then spread and staff members came in on their own along with some neighbors and helped get things back in order so the shows scheduled for Saturday could go on. Crowds listen to a live band at an outdoor stage at FitzGerald’s on Saturday night. People said there were no visible signs that a break-in had occurred.Will Duncan provided “We bet no one would have even noticed anything was wrong last night if it weren’t for the busted front door,” the post went on to say.Speaking by phone Sunday, Duncan said that along with the broken front door, several laptops and iPhones were stolen, along with a few bottles of alcohol. Duncan said he and King hadn’t intended on going public with news of the burglary, but they were inspired by their staff and neighbors coming together to make sure the nearly 500 people who attended two shows Saturday night weren’t disappointed.Duncan explained that an essential lighting control for the main stage lights was stolen, but the club was able to move the lighting system from its Sidebar to the main stage and a neighbor, Mike Bruno, who rents music and audiovisual equipment, brought over one of his lighting systems to use at the Sidebar.Duncan said the Berwyn police believe the burglary happened between 2 and 4 a.m. Saturday and have surveillance video from surrounding businesses and neighbors. He added that he is now considering installing security cameras inside FitzGerald’s.Lori Portnoy, an Oak Park resident and Fitzgerald’s regular who was at the club just hours before the burglary, said she was glad the story went from a negative one about a burglary to a positive one about the staff and neighbors coming together to ensure the shows went on. She attributed it to the way Duncan has operated the club since buying it from founders Bill and Kate FitzGerald in 2020.“If we could have crafted someone to take over FitzGerald’s from the FitzGeralds they couldn’t have done better than Will,” Portnoy said.FitzGerald’s regular Christine Kutt echoed Portnoy, saying the reason it’s such a tight community is because of Duncan. “That kid has done such a great job with that place. He bought it right before COVID, and not only did he maintain the essence of the place, he actually has improved it.” The owners have applied to add FitzGerald’s to the National Register of Historic Places. The site has been the scene for live music since at least the 1930s.Will Duncan provided Steve Mendel, a Brookfield resident who was at FitzGerald’s on Friday and Saturday night, said he didn’t notice any difference inside the club from before or after the burglary.“The door to the main club was open on Saturday, but I thought it was maybe to get air in the club,” Mendel said. “I found out the door was busted and the place was burglarized from the bass player of Los Straitjackets after the show. It’s a shame.”Others responded in similar fashion in comments on FitzGerald’s Facebook post.“I was at the early Los Straitjackets show and was oblivious to any earlier problems,” Cheryl Brownell wrote. “Thank you to the FitzGerald’s team for helping jump over hurdles.”The Berwyn Police Department said Sunday that the burglary remains under investigation.Also on Saturday, about 12 miles away, the Irish Nobleman Pub, at 1367 W. Erie St. in West Town, and some of its patrons were robbed at gunpoint about 1:45 am. No one has been arrested in that incident, and Chicago police are still investigating.FitzGerald’s is currently under consideration for being added to the National Register of Historic Places after its owners filed paperwork in January.