Players show love for new skipper Sizemore, but White Sox open homestand with loss
The White Sox may be closer to pulling it all together, but Friday's opening game of a long homestand featured another lowlight-reel play, limited clutch hitting and futile comeback. The final result was a 5-2 loss to Detroit.
“We want to see wins but also we want to also see these guys competing and be in every game,” manager Grady Sizemore said. “Guys are doing that. We're still going to make mistakes and some of these young guys are still learning. We're not playing our best ball, but we're trying to get to that point.”
General manager Chris Getz joined the team on the recent road trip and got a closer look at Sizemore, who was elevated from the coaching staff to replace Pedro Grifol two weeks ago.
“I look into the dugout and they're all working together to make decisions on the field,” Getz said before the game. “It's very refreshing to see and I think players have responded pretty well. So excited ... knowing we're in good hands to get us to the end of this season.”
During batting practice several players wore T-shirts featuring a photo of Sizemore in his playing days. Not really an action photo, more like Sizemore, in a Cleveland uniform, walking away from the camera. The new gear seemed to signal an appreciation for the interim manager, which goes both ways.
“I got a good laugh from it,” Sizemore said. “I'm happy for the support I've gotten back from them since this has all happened. This is just another example of us having fun and enjoying it. They're making it easy for me.”
This game was tied 2-2 until the Tigers scored twice in the seventh. A pop fly that fell between three White Sox fielders in center led to another run.
The ninth inning could have been interesting. The first two Sox batters, Lenyn Sosa and Brooks Baldwin, smashed deep flyballs that were caught one step short of the wall, then Nicky Lopez was robbed of a hit by Detroit shortstop Ryan Kreidler, who made a diving catch on a line drive up the middle. Alas, this was loss No. 98 on the season.
White Sox starter Chris Flexen gave up a couple early runs, then settled in and delivered a quality start. An RBI single by Sosa and run-scoring double from Korey Lee evened the score in the fourth inning. The Sox had plenty of chances to take the lead but went 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position.
Here are a few more notable comments from Getz, first on whether top prospect Colson Montgomery will make his big-league debut in September:
“Haven't made that decision yet. We're looking for a little bit more consistency in the bat. There have been some positive signs along the way, but most importantly we want to make sure he's foundationally in a good spot before we challenge him at the major-league level.”
On status of the managerial search:
“We're still getting organized, building our criteria that we're looking for. Obviously, names come in left and right to various people throughout the organization. We want to put pen to paper on what the attributes are going to be for our future manager and then we'll go out and target those individuals.”
On the off-season plan after a disappointing summer:
“We're just committed to doing what's right for us long term and we've got to stay the course, not cave based on pressures or noise outside of the organization, and do what's right for us, so we can be successful in the future.”
Minor-league news:
White Sox first-round draft pick Hagen Smith is scheduled to make his affiliate debut Saturday at High-A Winston-Salem. The left-handed pitcher from Arkansas was the No. 5 overall pick in the July MLB Draft. … Getz said Yoan Moncada, out since April 9 with an adductor stain, will leave Sunday to start a rehab assignment in Charlotte.