Renteria ejected in third straight home game
Wondering if Rick Renteria has passion for being the Chicago White Sox's manager?
Saturday's game against the Oakland A's should answer any and all questions.
Renteria was ejected for the third straight home game, not that he started any of the beefs with umpires.
On Saturday, he was tossed for defending third baseman Todd Frazier, who was ejected for the first time in his career.
On Friday night, Renteria was tossed for defending shortstop Tim Anderson, who was ejected for the first time in his career.
And on June 15, the Sox's last game at Guaranteed Rate Field before a six-game road trip, Renteria was tossed for defending Avisail Garcia, who was ejected for the first time in his career.
"I don't ever go into a situation arguing with someone to get thrown out," Renteria said. "I don't. Our team has been fighting every day, since Day 1 of spring training. I don't care what our record is, I don't care what the score is, we fight.
"And when you take one of those pieces out of the lineup, you get (bleeped). Excuse me for that. But again, we're all vested in the outcome, everything that goes on, and we want to see these guys have success. I think we just want to make sure they get an opportunity."
After each ejection, Renteria was respectful toward the umpires but he pleaded for them to have thicker skins.
"My respect to all those guys that are calling the plays and doing everything they do," Renteria said. "But I will say again that players need to be able to express their emotions because they're completely vested in the outcome of everything that goes on between the lines. That's just the truth, that's the fact of it."
In the seventh inning Saturday, Oakland's Adam Rosales led off with a groundball to Frazier, who threw across the diamond to Jose Abreu.
Rosales was called safe after Abreu's foot appeared to come off first base. A review upheld the call, but Frazier argued with third-base umpire Jim Wolf and was thrown out of the game
"I said some things that were borderline, I guess," Frazier said. "But at the same time, it's just frustrating, man. It's frustrating. You can't get the call right in New York, too? They've got every different angle. They can zoom in. They can zoom in as close as possible, and to think that they can't make that call, it's just frustrating with the technology we have today."
Shields shelled:
James Shields started for the White Sox Saturday and while he did record his 2,000th career strikeout, he also became the second pitcher in history to allow the first career home runs to three players in a game.
The Athletics' Matt Olson hit a 2-run homer in the first inning, Jaycob Brugman hit a solo shot in the second inning and Franklin Barreto hit a 2-run homer off Shields in the third.
"Yeah, of course, 2,000 strikeouts is pretty special," Shields said after allowing 6 runs on 7 hits and 3 walks in 3 innings. "I've never considered myself a strikeout pitcher. But I wasn't hitting my location with my fastball. Fastball command wasn't very good today. We're taxing the bullpen right now and the starters need to do a better job of going deeper in the game."
Rodon to join Sox?
Carlos Rodon has made 4 minor-league rehabilitation starts and is 0-4 with a 10.06 ERA.
But after the left-hander allowed 7 earned runs on 5 hits and 2 walks in 4⅓ innings for Class AAA Charlotte, it looks like his next start is going to be with the White Sox later this week.
Rodon has been on the disabled list all season with left biceps bursitis.
"Actually, in talking to everybody, he threw pretty well (Friday)," Sox manager Rick Renteria said. "Had a couple miscues in the field that probably limited his outing. He felt good, pain-free, we're very happy with that. According to the reports, the slider was working very well. He's on track to come on back."