Mike McGraw

Chicago

Cubs/Bulls/columnist for Daily Herald in Suburban Chicago ... Econ major, Pitt dad ... How many people were at both Disco Demolition & Fog Bowl?

Articles

Bulls opt for athletic potential of Essengue with No. 12 pick

2 days ago | dailyherald.com | Mike McGraw

Noa Essengue greets NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected 12th by the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the NBA basketball draft, Wednesday, June 25, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger) AP The Bulls used the No. 12 pick of the NBA draft to take a versatile athlete from France, with uncertain potential. Forward Noa Essengue, 18, was the second-youngest player on the draft board, three days older than No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg.
Cubs send Brown to Iowa, activate Hodge

3 days ago | dailyherald.com | Mike McGraw

Cubs starting pitcher Ben Brown pauses on the mound after giving up a two-run home run to St. Louis Cardinals' Brendan Donovan during Monday’s game. AP The Cubs made the move everyone saw coming on Tuesday, sending pitcher Ben Brown down to Iowa, while reliever Porter Hodge was activated from the injured list. Brown seemed to seal the deal by giving up 8 earned runs — on four 2-run homers — in a loss to the Cardinals on Monday.
Mike McGraw’s NBA mock draft

3 days ago | dailyherald.com | Mike McGraw

Duke forward Cooper Flagg is expected to be the top pick in Wednesday’s NBA Draft. AP The first round of the 2025 NBA Draft begins at 7 p.m. Wednesday on ABC and ESPN. The second round is Thursday. Team, Player, Height, Position, School or country 1. Dallas, Cooper Flagg, 6-foot-9, SF, Duke 2. San Antonio, Dylan Harper, 6-6, PG, Rutgers 3. Philadelphia, VJ Edgecombe, 6-5, SG, Baylor 4. Charlotte, Tre Johnson, 6-7, SG, Texas 5. Utah, Kon Knueppel, 6-7, SF, Duke 6.
Bulls should be thinking big with No. 12 pick of NBA Draft

4 days ago | dailyherald.com | Mike McGraw

Will Duke center Khaman Maluach be available for the Bulls with the No. 12 overall pick in Wednesday’s NBA draft? AP First prediction for Wednesday's NBA Draft: Outside of the top two picks, the final result will look very different from most mocks. This just seems to be a year when teams shopping for potential could go in several directions, especially when the Bulls' turn arrives at No. 12. The wish list here is obvious.
Cubs pitchers can’t handle the heat, wind in lopsided loss to Seattle

5 days ago | dailyherald.com | Mike McGraw

Cubs manager Craig Counsell, center, takes the ball from starting pitcher Colin Rea during the sixth inning of Sunday’s loss to the Seattle Mariners. AP The Cubs need to make a decision on the pitching rotation in a few days, since Shota Imanaga should be coming back from the injured list in St. Louis. The most likely roster move is either Ben Brown or Cade Horton will be sent down to Triple-A Iowa, simply because the Cubs have limited pitchers with minor league options left.
Cubs survive extreme heat by clubbing 5 home runs

6 days ago | dailyherald.com | Mike McGraw

Chicago Cubs' Ian Happ (8) hits a three-run home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Saturday, June 21, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley) AP On a dangerous day for baseball, the Cubs found a foolproof plan for winning a game — outhomer the opposition 5-1. The Cubs had some sloppy moments in the wind and extreme heat Saturday, but also rode that breeze to a 10-7 win over Seattle at steamy Wrigley Field on Saturday.
Catcher to manager, with a 20-year wait, natural fit for Barrington native Wilson

6 days ago | dailyherald.com | Mike McGraw

Seattle Mariners manager Dan Wilson pauses in the dugout prior to a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Monday, June 9, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) AP Manager Dan Wilson is a connection to all of the Seattle Mariners glory days. He played on the 1995 team that beat the Yankees in the playoffs, one of the most thrilling finishes in MLB history. He was part of the 116-win squad of 2001.
Imanaga will return in St. Louis; Hodge struggles

6 days ago | dailyherald.com | Mike McGraw

Cubs manager Craig Counsell confirmed Shota Imanaga's next start will be in the big leagues, likely during the upcoming four game series in St. Louis. Imanaga went on the 15-day injured list May 5 with a left hamstring strain. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps) AP Shota Imanaga passed his final test Friday night, on the mound for the Iowa Cubs in Nashville. Cubs manager Craig Counsell confirmed Imanaga's next start will be in the big leagues, likely during the upcoming four game series in St. Louis.
Rare bullpen failure as Cubs fall to Mariners

1 week ago | dailyherald.com | Mike McGraw

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Matthew Boyd (16) throws against the Seattle Mariners during the second inning of a baseball game Friday, June 20, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley) AP Sammy Sosa's return to Wrigley Field featured plenty of home runs, appropriately enough. The visiting Seattle Mariners won this home-run race 4-2, however, and beat the Cubs 9-4 on Friday.
Happy return for Sosa, but Cubs waited too long to make it happen

1 week ago | dailyherald.com | Mike McGraw

FILE — Chicago Cubs' Sammy Sosa (21) and San Diego Padres catcher Phil Nevin watch Sosa's game-winning three-run homer with one out in the ninth on June 2, 1999 in Chicago. (AP Photo/Stephen J. Carrera, File) AP When was the right time for Sammy Sosa to return to Wrigley Field? Why did it take so long? What was the holdup? No one seems interested in answering those questions. Sosa made a long-awaited happy return to the Friendly Confines during Friday's 6-4 loss to the Seattle Mariners.