Luis Robert Jr. struck out swinging towards Yusei Kikuchi within the sixth inning Wednesday towards the Toronto Blue Jays.
It started a stretch to neglect for the Chicago White Sox wherein 10 of the ultimate 11 batters struck out within the 8-0 loss on the Rogers Centre. The solely batter who didn’t strike out throughout that interval, Elvis Andrus, grounded out to second within the eighth inning.
The Sox struck out 17 occasions Wednesday. They struck out seven occasions in Thursday’s 14-5 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Not a lot has gone proper for the Sox, who at 7-19 had been off to their worst 26-game begin since 1950 (6-20).
General supervisor Rick Hahn mentioned Thursday that whereas the problems have diversified, “I think if I have to touch on one fundamental issue, it would be the command of the strike zone and controlling the strike zone.”
Hahn mentioned plate self-discipline stays a precedence.
“I know the drills are focused on that, I know (the coaching staff is) pulling guys aside for early work and (the) reemphasis on what we’re trying to accomplish and each night they’re going out there with a specific plan,” Hahn mentioned. “The execution has left something to be desired at times, especially as the losses started mounting. But I don’t question the preparation, focus and prioritization done by the coaching staff.”
The Sox proceed to have the very best Outside the Zone Swing Percentage (O-Swing%) within the majors at 37.5% coming into Friday. According to FanGraphs, O-Swing% equals “swings at pitches outside the zone/pitches outside the zone.”
Last yr, the Sox had the second-highest O-Swing% at 36.5%.
“It’s a label that has stuck and that’s the way they game plan against us,” Sox supervisor Pedro Grifol earlier than Thursday’s sport. “The solely manner for us to enhance on it’s to do the work and go on the market and execute and belief the work we’re placing in. That’s the toughest factor to do. You are available, you get the work performed, you might have a plan after which the onerous factor is to go execute a plan. It’s actually onerous. These guys are throwing onerous, they’ve obtained a number of pitches which might be performing some various things and that’s going to take slightly little bit of time. They’re engaged on it and so they’re going to get this.
“They’ve done this before at this level. Obviously they’ve chased at a high rate, but they’re putting the work in and I’m confident we’re going to continue to get better at it and were going to put good (at-bats) together.”
The Sox had been slashing .191/.250/.318 of their final 17 video games. They had 49 runs throughout that interval, a mean of two.9 per sport.
“We’ve played (25) games, it doesn’t define who we are,” Grifol mentioned earlier than Thursday’s sport. “It just defines a stretch where we haven’t been who we are. But they’re going to get back to who they are and they’re going to get back to doing the things that not only got them here, they’re going to get back to doing the things that have kept them here and made them the players they are.”
Garrett Crochet prepared for subsequent step in rehab
Reliever Garrett Crochet will begin a rehab task Sunday as he strikes a step nearer to coming back from Tommy John surgical procedure.
/The left-hander/ will spend time with Double-A Birmingham after which be a part of Triple-A Charlotte. Whenever he makes his first look, it is going to be his first minor-league sport.
“Excited to ride the bus,” Crochet joked Friday at Guaranteed Rate Field. “I talked to a bunch of guys in (the clubhouse), and they’re giving me a hard time about it, but I’m excited.”
The group’s 2020 first-round draft choose, Crochet joined the Sox from the Schaumburg coaching facility that September and remained within the massive leagues. He underwent Tommy John surgical procedure final yr after exiting a spring coaching sport with a torn left ulnar collateral ligament.
Crochet was at Guaranteed Rate Field as part of a well being check-in.
“It’s huge,” Crochet mentioned of what’s forward. “Had a lot of help along the way from a lot of the trainers down in (Arizona), from my wife, teammates motivating me along the way. It just means the world. I just can’t wait to get back here and be permanent.”
The Sox introduced a pair of minor-league offers Friday, signing outfielder Clint Frazier and reliever Bryan Shaw. Frazier is with Charlotte. Shaw will head to the group’s facility in Arizona earlier than becoming a member of Charlotte. The Sox additionally outrighted pitcher A.J. Alexy to Charlotte.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com