José Abreu appeared on from the dugout Friday after one other disappointing night for the Chicago White Sox, who had simply misplaced 7-2 to the Arizona Diamondbacks at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Less than 40 video games stay within the common season because the Sox entered Saturday with a .500 document and in third place within the American League Central, 4 video games behind the AL Central-leading Cleveland Guardians.
Belief and unity have been on the veteran first baseman’s thoughts Saturday because the Sox attempt to make a push for a 3rd straight playoff look.
“If we truly believe we can do it, then we’ll do it,” Abreu mentioned via an interpreter earlier than Game 2 of the weekend collection in opposition to the Diamondbacks. “It’s only a matter for us to consider it. It’s baseball. We have been coping with a whole lot of accidents and different stuff, however that’s baseball.
“We just have to believe that we’re able to do that, that we’re able to get into that really good stretch and compete. But we have to believe in that. We have to believe in ourselves.”
The Sox have been looking for consistency all season. They received 5 straight from Aug. 12-16 however misplaced seven of their subsequent 9.
“It’s just part of baseball,” Abreu mentioned. “You’re going to face good issues, dangerous issues. You’re going to expertise good and dangerous issues, however you need to recover from that and hold going.
“You have to face those challenges with love and with passion for yourself and for the game. That’s the only way that you can approach that and try to overcome that.”
Abreu leads the American League with 146 hits and is third with a .307 common however mentioned “this probably hasn’t been my best season, but I still believe in the thing I can do and how I can perform. I know I can perform at a really high level.”
Asked why he thought it wasn’t his finest season, Abreu mentioned: “My stats, especially RBIs (59) and homers (14), aren’t where I want them to be. And because I think I could have done more for this team. But you prepare for having better results, you can’t force them.”
Abreu continues to help off the sphere. Teammates reminiscent of Liam Hendriks mentioned Abreu’s message throughout a gathering within the earlier homestand that included supervisor Tony La Russa and members of the management group stood out.
“My point in that meeting was if we believe that we can do it, we can do it,” Abreu mentioned. “The success is in the unity of a team.”
And he believes the staff believes.
“Of course,” Abreu mentioned. “If it wasn’t that way, we wouldn’t be here. I think we believe it. It’s just a matter of we have to keep believing it. There is a saying in Cuba that it’s not done until it’s done. Until that happens, we’re going to keep fighting and believing it.”
It’s the same message, Abreu mentioned, La Russa has supplied to the staff.
“Everybody knows how the old guy is and what he represents,” Abreu mentioned. “We all love him. His sense of unity and his sense of household is one thing that’s round us, is round this staff. It doesn’t matter what the individuals from the skin say, the followers can say no matter they need to. It doesn’t imply that what they are saying is true.
“We support Tony. We appreciate Tony and the effort he put to put us in the best position to succeed. The message is just one, and it’s the same message for everyone.”
La Russa on Saturday used his 2011 St. Louis Cardinals, who trailed the Atlanta Braves by 10½ video games in late August for the National League wild-card spot, as a constructive instance.
“Ten back with 30 to play, and we got in and won the whole thing, so it’s entirely possible,” La Russa mentioned. “Just don’t ever give in and never give up.”
Added Abreu: “We have to keep grinding and keep finding ways to try to win games and do it in a consistent basis.”
Sox place Yoán Moncada on the injured listing
The Sox positioned third baseman Yoán Moncada on the 10-day injured listing with a strained left hamstring, considered one of 4 roster strikes introduced earlier than the sport Saturday.
The staff additionally reinstated Leury García from the IL, recalled pitcher Davis Martin from Triple-A Charlotte and positioned starter Lance Lynn on the bereavement listing.
Moncada suffered the damage Thursday in Baltimore. His IL stint is retroactive to Friday.
“We just can’t play short (a player) all week,” La Russa mentioned concerning the Moncada transfer. “It’s not healing. I might have one of those games where we run out of players and he’s got to go out there. It’s not worth risking. Fortunately, Leury is healthy and ready to go.”
García had been on the IL since Aug. 17 with a decrease again pressure. Martin began Saturday, filling in for injured right-hander Michael Kopech (left knee pressure).
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Source: www.bostonherald.com