Chicago White Sox are putting up runs without Luis Robert and Eloy Jiménez — and mostly without the long ball: ‘Hitting’s contagious no matter who’s doing it’
It would have been understandable if the Chicago White Sox took a dip offensively after Luis Robert joined Eloy Jiménez on the injured list.
Instead, the Sox have scored at least nine runs in five of the first seven games — including Wednesday night’s game against the Minnesota Twins at Guaranteed Rate Field — since announcing Robert suffered a complete tear of his right hip flexor May 2 against the Cleveland Indians.
“It’s somebody different every night getting a clutch hit,” hitting coach Frank Menechino said during a conference call Wednesday. “These are guys coming together, they are starting to find a way to get on base, find a way to get that hit. Grind out at-bats. I’m very happy with the way these guys have been playing the last couple of weeks. These guys are not quitters. They don’t lack work ethic.
“These guys are out there and going about it. I’ll tell you what, it’s been cold and some miserable days. And they are doing exactly what they need to do. As far as hitting goes, I’m happy with everything everybody is doing.”
The Sox entered Wednesday’s game first in the American League in on-base percentage (.342), run differential (plus-59) and runs per game (5.24), third in average (.258) and runs (173) and fourth in OPS (.738).
They are finding ways to produce without the long ball. The Sox were last in the AL with 29 home runs through Tuesday.
“Guys are really starting to learn the strike zone, not chase, and if you’re living by the home run all the time and not being able to produce runs, it’s not conducive to winning baseball,” Menechino said. “When the weather warms up and guys start getting a sweat and start feeling better, the goal is always in the beginning of the season to get as many hits as you can, manufacture runs. The home runs will come just by plate discipline and attacking our sweet spot.”
Designated hitter Yermín Mercedes continues to lead the team, and the majors, with a .381 average through Tuesday.
“Hitting’s contagious no matter who’s doing it,” Menechino said. “You get guys that are starting to hit the ball, all of a sudden I don’t know if it’s a confidence level or whatever happens, but hitting’s contagious. Mercedes has really good bat-to-ball skills, and in the big leagues they’re around the plate more, so that helps him the same way it helps Nicky Madrigal.”
Andrew Vaughn is another rookie heating up. The left fielder was slashing .313/.382/.417 (15-for-48) with five doubles in his last 15 games before Wednesday.
Menechino said the keys for Vaughn have been getting at-bats and getting acclimated to the league.
“The kid played (Class) A ball, the kid played college two years ago,” Menechino said of the 2019 first-round draft pick. “Just being up here, relaxing, working every day, getting comfortable. ... I say it all the time: It takes 1,500 at-bats up here to figure out who you are as a big-leaguer. He’s doing great. His work ethic is there. He’s positive. I couldn’t ask for anything more.”
Vaughn was slashing .257/.361/.357 overall in 23 games through Tuesday. Menechino isn’t concerned that he didn’t have a home run entering Wednesday.
“I’ve told Andrew to hit .300,” Menechino said. “I don’t care if you don’t hit one home run. Hit .300. Work on hitting .300.
“Everybody wants to see the home run and see Madrigal hit a home run. I don’t want to get excited, but (forget) the home run. Let’s hit .300. Then we will worry about the other stuff later.”
Vaughn took care of the other stuff later Wednesday, hitting a two-run home run to left-center in the fourth inning.
Throughout the lineup, Menechino said the hitters are “doing everything I’m asking them to do.”
“It’s still early in the season,” Menechino said. “We have a lot of baseball. Everyone that was here last year forgot we only played 60 games. There was a big rush to get everything done, and I keep telling these guys it’s a long season. We have a long way to go.”
White Sox adjust rotation
Lance Lynn is now scheduled to start Thursday’s series finale against the Twins. Carlos Rodón originally was slated to pitch but has been moved to Saturday against the Kansas City Royals.
Lucas Giolito will pitch one of the doubleheader games Friday against the Royals. The Sox did not announce Friday’s other starter, although manager Tony La Russa previously indicated it could be Michael Kopech. No order has been finalized for Friday’s pitchers.
Dylan Cease is scheduled to pitch Sunday.
La Russa said Rodón had some tightness in his right hamstring and back, and a day off this past Monday allowed the Sox to keep Lynn and Giolito on schedule.
“He could’ve pitched (Thursday),” La Russa said of Rodón, “but ... just don’t want to push it unless you have to, and we didn’t have to.”
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