When everybody predicted final month the Chicago White Sox would run away with the American League Central, normal supervisor Rick Hahn voiced concern about the potential for getting off to a “little rocky” begin.
“Just the nature of the offseason, the shortened spring, the steep schedule expectations early in the year were going to create some volatility in the roster and likely in performance,” Hahn mentioned Monday afternoon. “I didn’t quite foresee losing eight in a row followed by (winning) six in a row. But it’s not a total shock that we haven’t quite found our sea legs or that this team hasn’t quite found its identity.”
Actually this Sox crew already had an identification, solid throughout its run to the postseason in 2021. But solely currently have we seen that cocky, us-against-the-world perspective on show.
The return of third baseman Yoán Moncada and reliever Joe Kelly from the injured checklist Monday added to the crew’s swagger. But on the verge of their seventh straight win, the Sox blew a six-run ninth-inning lead and went on to lose 12-9 to the Cleveland Guardians in 11 innings earlier than 17,168.
Michael Kopech dominated — permitting one unearned run on two hits with seven strikeouts in six innings, which matched the longest begin of his profession — however the meltdown denied Kopech his first win.
The Sox led 8-2 within the ninth earlier than errors by Moncada and Tim Anderson and a few shaky pitching by Tanner Banks pressured supervisor Tony La Russa to show to nearer Liam Hendriks with two outs, two on and a four-run lead.
Hendricks gave up a single to Owen Miller to load the bases earlier than Josh Naylor’s grand slam tied it, gorgeous the remnants of the group.
After the groups traded runs within the tenth, Naylor struck once more within the eleventh with a three-run homer off Ryan Burr.
The switch-hitting Moncada may not resolve the entire Sox’s early points hitting right-handers, and Kelly should show he’s completely again about 6½ months after incurring a proper biceps nerve harm for the Los Angeles Dodgers within the National League Championship Series. Still, they’re two invaluable components to this White Sox stew.
The Sox got here residence to summerlike climate Monday to start a homestand in opposition to the Guardians and New York Yankees. Kopech, who has excelled since becoming a member of the rotation after his sabbatical within the bullpen final season, appeared properly on his strategy to his first win earlier than the ninth-inning implosion.
It is sensible the Sox have dealt with Kopech with child gloves — 29 innings in six begins — regardless of a glowing 0.93 ERA. But does supervisor Tony La Russa foresee Kopech throwing into the eighth or ninth inning in any respect this season?
“You’re fooling yourself or somebody if you predict what he’s going to get today,” La Russa mentioned earlier than Monday’s begin. “If he’s cruising, he can pitch seven or eight if he’s having fast outs. If not, possibly half of that.
“We know the reality is this is his first (full) year as a starter. It’s a long season and we’re going to err on the side of caution as far as extending him.”
Kopech confirmed his frustration within the dugout after being eliminated within the fifth inning of his final begin in opposition to the Cubs at Wrigley Field, although he later mentioned he understood the Sox had been searching for his well-being.
It’s laborious to come back out whenever you’re virtually unhittable. Kopech had restricted right-handed hitters to a .114 common getting into Monday’s sport with no extra-base hits in opposition to him.
“I don’t even think he’s brought anything near his ‘A’ game out yet, and he’s absolutely dominated guys,” fellow starter Dylan Cease mentioned Monday. “When he’s clicking on all cylinders, it’s going to be scary.”
Cease, who could also be on his strategy to his first All-Star choice, mentioned Kopech is relearning tips on how to be a daily starter for the primary time since 2018. He missed all of 2019 after Tommy John surgical procedure on his proper elbow and sat out the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
“He’s obviously already a good pitcher, and he had done it for spurts out of the bullpen,” Cease mentioned. “But now it’s the next step of getting through the lineup a couple times. He absolutely has the stuff to do it.”
It has been a minute since Kopech and Moncada grew to become the primary two prospects Hahn acquired for the rebuild when he despatched ace Chris Sale to the Boston Red Sox on the 2016 winter conferences. Injuries and COVID-19-related absences have prevented each gamers from residing as much as the early hype, however it’s straightforward to neglect Moncada has performed solely 4 full seasons whereas Kopech had solely eight profession begins getting into 2022.
If the promised land is on the Sox docket, each gamers should be very important cogs on the trip.
The Sox optioned Jake Burger to Triple-A Charlotte to open Moncada’s roster spot. Kelly took the place of reliever Aaron Bummer, who was positioned on the IL retroactive to Saturday with a proper knee sprain.
“Just kind of a freak thing that happened in Boston,” Bummer mentioned. “Just on the last two pitches felt something. We’re definitely playing it smart. We’re playing it safe this time of the year and not trying to push anything, and it’ll be healthy for the long run.”
Kelly pitched a scoreless seventh in his Sox debut. His well being bears watching after Hahn signed the veteran in March to a two-year, $17 million take care of an possibility for 2024. Kelly as soon as suffered a again harm cooking crawfish for his teammates in 2019.
“He was cooking some Cajun food,” Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts mentioned. “I guess he was standing a little longer than he wanted to. That’s what he told me.”
With their endless sequence of premature accidents, the Sox hopefully can preserve Kelly away from the range in 2022. Hand him some takeout menus from our many superb eating places.
It couldn’t damage. The Sox have turn into specialists in overcoming obstacles the final two-plus seasons, and their early travails might be a mere blip come October.
“One of the beautiful things about this game is over the course of a long summer, the true talent and true ability of the team tends to prevail,” Hahn mentioned.
Summer arrived early Monday, interrupting our depressing Chicago spring.
We can solely hope it’s an extended one.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com