White Sox downplay Moncada controversy
Yoan Moncada controversy?
What Yoan Moncada controversy?
When the White Sox's 22-year-old second baseman was pulled out of Saturday night's eventual 10-1 loss to the Astros in the second inning, he appeared to be in Rick Renteria's doghouse.
Moncada did not run hard all the way down the first-base line after grounding to third base and was removed from the game.
"Manager's decision" was the early explanation, but Renteria apparently reached that verdict after talking to Moncada.
"I sent a message to Yoan?" Renteria asked Sunday morning, repeating a reporter's question. "He was feeling a little uncomfortable with his leg so I made sure he had it checked out. He's doing OK. Obviously, we had everybody make sure he was capable of going today, and he is. So he's in there."
Moncada, who exited Saturday's game with a cramp in his lower left leg, was back in the leadoff spot Sunday after batting sixth on Saturday.
The drop on Saturday was made because the Sox were facing Houston lefty Dallas Keuchel. The switch-hitting Moncada is off to a 2-for-18 start against left-handed pitching with 10 strikeouts.
"It's different because we have faced more right-handed pitchers than lefties, but I also try to keep the same routine on both sides of the home plate," Moncada said through an interpreter. "But it doesn't matter in what order of the lineup I'm playing. I have to do my job to help this team win games."
Fulmer stays upbeat:
Carson Fulmer pitched out of the bullpen Friday night against the Astros, but that doesn't mean the No. 8 overall pick in the 2015 draft has lost his starting job.
Fulmer is still in the rotation and scheduled to take the mound against Seattle Tuesday afternoon at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Starting at Oakland last Wednesday, the 24-year-old righty lasted just 1 inning and allowed 4 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks.
Command has been an obvious issue, but Fulmer said a mechanical adjustment helped him in Friday's relief outing, when he allowed 1 run on 3 hits with no walks and 3 strikeouts in 1⅓ innings.
"I don't really have too many mechanical issues," Fulmer said. "I've pitched the same way that I've always pitched. But this last time out I had a little mechanical issue that I was able to fix. I take a lot of pride in my craft and I'm working extremely hard to get to where I need to be in order for me to put this team in the best chance to win.
"I needed to come out of the bullpen, come out there and eat some innings up. I was definitely able to go out there and do that, but I'm still learning in this game and at this level. Being able to take the best out of every outing is very important and I'm definitely feeling really comfortable going into my next start."