White Sox lose fourth straight, but Hahn pleased with start to season
Heading into Tuesday night's game against the Minnesota Twins with a .500 record, general manager Rick Hahn did not view this evolving White Sox team as being "mired in mediocrity."
Those were Hahn's words of choice last year, when a veteran Sox team was 46-48 in late July.
A fourth straight losing season brought sweeping changes, and even more are expected by the July 31 nonwaiver trade deadline and beyond.
The White Sox (15-16) fell to the Twins 7-2 at Guaranteed Rate Field, their fourth straight loss. All things considered, Hahn is content.
"I think all of us are very pleased with the work (manager) Ricky (Renteria) and his staff have done thus far this year, both from a pregame preparation standpoint through the way the game is being played between the lines standpoint, which is ultimately translating to perhaps a little better record than a lot of people outside that clubhouse predicted for this team," Hahn said.
"From the things that we've stated early in spring training, well actually going all the way back to the organizational meetings through spring training that we felt were important this year, creating the right environment, creating the right culture, focusing on the things that are important to us going forward as an organization, I think Ricky and his staff have done a great job with that and we're really pleased with where the club sits."
The Sox were sitting with a 2-0 lead over the Twins in the third inning on RBI singles from Tyler Saladino and Jose Abreu.
Minnesota pulled in front with 3 runs in the fourth off White Sox starter Mike Pelfrey, powered by Kennys Vargas' 2-run homer to right field.
The Twins broke the game open with 4 runs in the sixth off relievers Dan Jennings and Chris Beck.
Moncada mania:
It's no secret the White Sox would benefit from another year of salary arbitration by keeping No. 1 prospect Yoan Moncada at Class AAA Charlotte into July.
General manager Rick Hahn said there are other reasons to keep Moncada on the farm for now.
"We think the world of his talent and future and we think he is responding to the challenges we put ahead of him, but we're not going to rush this," Hahn said.
"As satisfying as it may be for all of us to see him out there even tonight at the big-league level because it gives you that shot in the arm and shows there is progress in the rebuild, it's not in the long-term interest of Yoan Moncada or the club.
"He'll be here when he answers all the questions we have for him with the developmental standpoint at the minor-league level.
He's done a good job but there is a benefit to letting him answer all of those and continue the repetitions at that level until that next stage takes place at this level."