White sox kansas city

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – It was a loss for the White Sox on Saturday, their second straight against the Royals at Kauffman Stadium to open the season. It was a win for Yoan Moncada, making the new third baseman 2-0 on the young season. “I am feeling good,” Moncada said through a translator after the Sox fell to Kansas City, 8-6. “I am carrying over the work I did in spring training. It’s just two games, but I am feeling pretty good.” Shifting over to third this year after playing second base the past two seasons, Moncada played a standout defensive game in Thursday’s season opener, a 5-3 loss to the Royals. The switch-hitter also went 1 for 3. On Saturday, Moncada was 3 for 5 with his first home run of the season, a two-run shot in seventh inning. With two on and two outs in the ninth inning, he made good contact and flied out to right field to end the game. “He’s having really good at-bats,” manager Rick Renteria said. … [Read more...] about Yoan Moncada stays hot, but White Sox lose again

The healing can’t begin until the bleeding stops. For the White Sox, they’re just about out of bandages. As they prepare to open the regular season Thursday at Kansas City, the Sox likely are to post a losing record for the seventh straight year. Picking at another scab, the Sox haven’t been to the playoffs in 10 years. In major league baseball, only the Seattle Mariners (17 years), Miami Marlins (15) and San Diego Padres (12) have longer runs of futility. The Sox embark on a new season with some big question marks in the lineup, starting rotation and bullpen, and an overly patient fan base did not take the news well when star free-agent Manny Machado signed with San Diego in February. The sun always comes up, even in baseball, and the Sox emerged from a pretty dark training camp buoyed by the news that Eloy Jimenez is on the roster. The 22-year-old left fielder should provide instant offense, but he won’t be able to pull the Sox out of their extended slide all … [Read more...] about White Sox looking for bright spots as new season begins

Eloy Jimenez is effortlessly affable, but one subject was draining all of the enthusiasm out of the young outfielder the past six months. Long aware he’s one of the White Sox’s top hitters at any level, Jimenez went so far as to put it down on paper in August. In a story he wrote for The Players’ Tribune under the not-so-subtle headline: “I’m Ready,” Jimenez stated his case for joining the Sox’s expanded September roster. The call never came, ostensibly because he needed defensive polish. In reality, Jimenez was just another young victim of Major League Baseball’s service time system. When asked about being left behind, Jimenez’s ever-present smile would turn to a frown. “It’s not my decision,” he said at SoxFest in January. “If they made that decision, I’m going to accept it, and I’m going to play hard when I get there.” When Jimenez reported to spring training in February, he stuck to the … [Read more...] about Eloy Jimenez, White Sox finalize $43 million, 6-year contract

Joakim Soria, Xavier Cedeno, Luis Avilan. David Robertson, Tommy Kahnle, Anthony Swarzak, Dan Jennings, Tyler Clippard. They all were productive relief pitchers for the White Sox, and they all were traded for prospects during the past two seasons. When it comes to evaluating managers, bullpen usage is a key criterion. That’s why it’s still hard to get a read on Rick Renteria. Rather than make excuses, Renteria has tried to make the most of calling on unproven relievers instead of battle-tested veterans. “It’s given them a chance to respond and show us what they’re capable of doing in particular situations,” Renteria said. Young relief pitchers such as Jace Fry and Ian Hamilton have responded pretty well and might stake claims in the Sox’s bullpen of the future. Others, such as Aaron Bummer, Ryan Burr, Jose Ruiz and Caleb Frare, are trying to prove they belong. The Sox’s bullpen is a work in progress, but the unit should be better this … [Read more...] about Colome, Herrera boost White Sox’s bullpen

When the White Sox play the Royals at Kansas City on March 28 in the season opener, Welington Castillo and James McCann are going to be their two catchers. A year from now, don’t be surprised if they are both off the roster. With Zack Collins and Seby Zavala ticketed for Triple-A Charlotte to start the upcoming season, Castillo and McCann are holding places until the two prospects are ready for the major leagues. Collins, the Sox’s first-round draft pick (No. 10 overall) in 2016, has spent most of the past three seasons refining his defensive skills in the minor leagues. “I would say I’m a totally different player now,” Collins said. “I think I’ve gotten a lot better in the couple of years I’ve been here, offensively and defensively. Obviously, I’ve been working on defense a lot because that’s been the weaker side of my game. But on both sides, I think I’m doing good, and I’m a different player now.” One of … [Read more...] about Collins, Zavala are future behind plate for White Sox