Abreu likes swinging the bat, but not as DH
MILWAUKEE - Jose Abreu didn't get a chance to play third base in the White Sox' three-game interleague series against the Brewers at Miller Park.
Even though he hasn't played the position in five years, Abreu said he was game for moving across the diamond to third.
"I will gladly play if they need me to play third base," Abreu said through a translator. "I'm ready for any decision (Robin Ventura) makes. He's the manager."
The Sox' defense has been porous over the early part of the season, so Ventura wisely declined to play Abreu at third base. With no designated hitter at Milwaukee, Abreu was held out of the starting lineup Wednesday for the first time this season.
Adam LaRoche the White Sox' regular DH, got the start at first base.
Abreu has made 25 starts at first base this season and five at DH. Even though LaRoche has a superior glove, Abreu is not a big fan of strictly hitting.
When he gets older, Abreu doesn't see himself moving from first base to DH.
"Not at all," he said. "I like to play. I like to be in the field every day. For me, that is something that is not in my mind, either now or in the future. I don't like to be DH."
Rodon watch:
After Thursday's break in the schedule, the White Sox play a three-game series at Oakland this weekend.
Carlos Rodon starts the opener against the Athletics after officially replacing Hector Noesi in the rotation. The rookie left-hander does not mind the Sox keeping close tabs on his pitch totals.
"First full season in pro ball, you have to manage innings," Rodon said. "I'm kind of not used to that kind of workload. The most I've thrown is 130 or 150 innings. It gets up to 190 or 200 pretty easily."
Rodon made his first start for the White Sox on Saturday against Cincinnati, and he was impressive. In 6 innings, the 22-year-old lefty allowed 2 runs on 4 hits and had 8 strikeouts.
As the season advances, Rodon is expected to throw more change-ups.
"The first start, it was mostly fastball/slider," he said. "I'm trying to win and those are my two go-to pitches to get guys out with. That's what I use. The changeup is on the side. We can use it, too."
Heating up?
Adam LaRoche entered Wednesday's game with a .232 batting average to go with 3 home runs and 12 RBI.
LaRoche started at first base against the Brewers and hit a mammoth home run in the first inning. If the 35-year-old left-hander starts heating up with the bat, the Sox' offense will get a needed lift.
"It's always tough, a guy that's always played on defense," manager Robin Ventura said of LaRoche's slow adjustment to the designated hitter role. "There's just part of the rhythm of the game that guys get used to, that you're out there doing something for your team, especially when you're as good defensively as he is."