Three takeaways from Liam Hendriks’ large evening on the South Side for the Chicago White Sox.
1. The White Sox offered Hendriks with a closer-like entrance within the eighth inning of his emotional return to the mound Monday evening at Sox Park.
The strobe lights have been in full impact. The video boards have been all-Liam. The walk-in music, an EDM model of Queen’s “We Will Rock You,” was turned as much as 11.
Only one factor was lacking. The Sox trailed the Los Angeles Angels 4-3, so it wasn’t a save scenario.
Manager Pedro Grifol stated earlier than the sport Hendriks wouldn’t be used as a better to get his toes moist in his first recreation again. Hendriks did simply that, exhibiting glimpses of himself whereas additionally permitting a pair of runs and making the Sox comeback try tougher in a 6-4 loss.
Now that his toes have formally been drenched, will Hendriks transfer again into the position he’s most snug in — and the one the Sox have to fill in the event that they intend on truly contending as an alternative pretending?
Predictably, Grifol gave his inventory reply after Monday’s outing.
“We’ll process this as we go,” he stated. “Too early for that answer. We’ll process it as we go and see how he feels (Tuesday).”
The Sox have repeatedly reminded the media they’re in “uncharted waters” with Hendriks’ rehab, as they might be with any pitcher returning solely weeks after ending chemotherapy. If they take it sluggish with Hendriks and keep away from placing him in high-leverage conditions for some time, nobody can blame them for being overly cautious. This is, in spite of everything, his spring coaching.
Hendriks, maybe surprisingly, stated he needed to earn the prospect to get his outdated job again, however plans on getting it quickly.
“I’ll never be OK with mediocrity,” he stated. “I’ll by no means be OK with not being on the again finish of the bullpen. But in saying that, I have to earn it. I don’t need handouts. I have to work. I have to earn it. The guys have been throwing nicely on the market. But on the finish of the day, that’s mine.
“There’s no freebies, there’s no handouts. I will get there and I will earn it myself.”
That’s an ideal angle to take.
But Hendriks already has earned the closing job, and nobody else within the bullpen did it with any consistency throughout his two-month absence. If he’s throwing 96 mph in his first recreation again, he’s already near being himself.
Hendriks, like most closers, wants the adrenaline rush of pitching with the sport on the road with a view to be at his greatest.
The Sox can’t change on the strobe mild show time and again for Hendriks if he’s coming into video games within the seventh or eighth innings with the workforce trailing. It was an acceptable tribute for his comeback recreation, however can be overkill going ahead if Hendriks isn’t the nearer.
Hendriks is unfailingly trustworthy, and admitted Monday he “overcooked” his sliders and “didn’t have the killer instinct”
“Usually when I get two strikes, it’s pretty much a foregone conclusion that I’m punching them out, in my eyes at least,” he stated. “I didn’t quite have that today. It’ll come.”
Putting Hendriks again within the ninth inning ought to convey again that killer intuition.
The Sox are also 22-34 and have the third-worst document in baseball. What have they got to lose?
2. A digital camera crew documenting Hendriks’ comeback was in full pressure upon his return to motion, following him each step of the best way.
One factor that may be tough to chronicle is the outpouring of assist he’s obtained from followers, baseball colleagues and your entire metropolis of Chicago.
Hendriks additionally has been some of the accessible gamers within the Sox clubhouse the final two years, whether or not it’s speaking about baseball issues, abortion rights, gun legal guidelines or different topics he’s captivated with.
The native media has given Hendriks his house throughout his journey again, permitting him to deal with his job with out the each day distraction of discussing it.
His spouse Kristi stated he misses coping with the media and ultimately will probably be again to his outdated methods, sitting at his locker and prepared to speak about something.
“Liam loves to talk to you guys,” Kristi stated earlier than Monday’s recreation. “He will be Chatty Cathy for all time. He actually really enjoys this (media attention). I think this is where he thrives, telling his story. When the game starts, he has white line fever. He’s a completely different person on the field than he is in day-to-day communication.”
Kristi added they may not have finished their journey with out the assistance of the Sox group.
“They have been so incredibly supportive, not just to my husband, but to me,” she stated. “We’re so grateful.”
3. Hendriks little doubt has a post-playing profession as a TV analyst if he wishes.
But he actually ought to take into consideration teaming up with Kristi for a podcast or radio present. She gave the impression of a pure in her interviews and is concerned in varied charity endeavors with Liam, so she is snug talking in public.
And any time your spouse can publicly name you “goofy” and “weird” earlier than your large comeback from most cancers, you understand it’s a fairly strong marriage.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com