Upon return, Sox figure to look a lot different
After losing to the Royals 2-1 Wednesday afternoon at U.S. Cellular Field, the White Sox headed out on a seven-game road trip to Minnesota and Detroit.
When they return home on Aug. 1, the Sox could have a decidedly different look.
True, they are not nearly as bad as last season, but with a 48-54 record, let's just say the White Sox are not kicking around potential starting rotations for the playoffs.
The nonwaiver trade deadline is next Thursday, when the Sox are wrapping up a three-game series against the Tigers at Comerica Park.
Don't be surprised if players like second baseman Gordon Beckham, starting pitcher John Danks, outfielders Dayan Viciedo and/or Alejandro De Aza, designated hitter Adam Dunn and reliever Ronald Belisario played their last home games in White Sox uniforms on Wednesday.
“They're aware of it,” manager Robin Ventura said of the intensifying trade rumors. “They're aware of what's going on. You see other guys getting traded from other teams, so you're aware of it. Whether you're consciously thinking about it or subconsciously, it's there for everybody who's name has been brought up or popped up somewhere. That's just part of the game.”
Beckham, in particular, looks like he could use a change of scenery as soon as possible.
While he continues playing solid defense, Beckham is now in a 4-for-59 slump over his last 15 games. An 0-for-4 showing against Kansas City lowered Beckham's average to .224.
Danks, scheduled to start against the Twins on Friday, is reportedly drawing interest from the New York Yankees.
“I don't pay much attention to that kind of stuff,” Danks said.
Dunn is in the final year of his contract, and a contending team could likely have the left-handed power hitter/strikeout machine for a marginal minor-league prospect.
Dunn had the lone RBI for the Sox on Wednesday when his single in the first inning off Royals ace James Shields scored Jose Abreu.
After that, hard-luck White Sox starter Jose Quintana and Shields shifted into lockdown mode.
“It seemed like both of them, whenever they got in jams, they were able to kind of amp it up and execute pitches, pretty much flawlessly,” Sox catcher Tyler Flowers said. “When they're both kind of on, that makes it a challenge so you just try to take advantage of whatever situation you can happen to get into, and we weren't able to do that. We didn't really do anything.”
Kansas City scored the deciding run in the ninth inning when Nori Aoki's single off reliever Zach Putnam scored Mike Moustakas.
Center fielder Adam Eaton made a strong throw to the plate and appeared to cut down Moustakas. But as Flowers applied the tag, Moustakas dislodged the ball from the catcher's glove with his knee.