I had a pretty good feeling about the White Sox going into the season. There is a lot of young talent mixed in with great veterans that GM Rick Hahn signed in the offseason. This season was destined for something unique. Despite my enthusiasm, I knew there was one thing that could hold this team back. Manager Rick Renteria and his poor game-day decisions. Renteria has done a great job since he took over in 2016, but I don’t think he will be the one to get the White Sox to reach their full potential.
Dallas Keuchel (6IP 4H 1ER 2BB 3K 93PC) pitched a fantastic game. He should’ve gotten the win, but Renteria’s misuse of the bullpen blew it for him. Keuchel is ready to rock and roll for the playoffs, using this as his final tune-up heading into the playoffs. On the other hand, the bullpen has all the talent needed for the playoffs. But Renteria continues to make head-scratching moves that put the White Sox in jeopardy of losing their home-field advantage.
The White Sox scored on Cleveland’s starter, Zach Plesac, clawing their way to four runs to take a 4-1 lead. Yoan Moncada, who has been struggling all season, led off the inning with his second triple in as many days. Nomar Mazara had the other big blow in the inning as he knocked in two of the three runs in this inning. Mazara has also been a season-long slump for the White Sox. If these two players can start hitting for the White Sox, this offense might finally get back to being the dominant offense that has carried this team all season and had teams scared about seeing them in the playoffs.
Renteria decided to go with Jimmy Cordero to start the bottom of the 7th inning. It’s hard to understand Renteria’s fascination with Cordero. Despite his 4.74 ERA, he keeps throwing him out there. Cordero gave up three straight singles and two outs. Renteria decided to go to Carlos Rodon. The same Rodon, who just came off the IL on Thursday, to come in and try to get the final out.
Rodon gave up a two-run single to let the lead fall to 4-3. Rodon hadn’t lost the game yet; he still had a chance to get out of the inning with the lead intact. He allowed Jose Ramirez to rock a double to left-center field that scored two runs and gave Cleveland the 5-4 lead. Rodon had been sidelined for seven weeks before tonight’s game and hadn’t relief pitched in five years. For Renteria to pull, this move makes zero sense.
I get it; at the end of the season, when you know you’re going to be in the playoffs, you try players out in different situations to see how they react. I just wish it didn’t have to cost us a game. The White Sox activated Aaron Bummer (1IP 1H 0ER 0BB 1K 11PC) before Thursday’s game. He will be the guy being put in for big situations once the playoffs start.
The last regular-season series for the White Sox will be against their cross-town rival, the Chicago Cubs. They don’t have that much to play for right now. The Cubs are pretty much locked in to being the third seed in the National League when their first playoff series begins on Wednesday.
Dylan Cease will look to get back into the postseason rotation after his worst start of the year last Sunday. In his final tuneup before the playoffs, the Cubs will run out Cy Young contender, Yu Darvish. The Cubs don’t need this series as much as the White Sox, but that doesn’t mean they will let up.