At least the White Sox didn't lose Monday ...

Adam Eaton

As fans, we have to get used to the idea that these early spring games are not going to be nine-inning affairs. Major League Baseball is shortening games to limit contact and prevent COVID-19 infections during a time where results don't matter.

It took the White Sox and Los Angeles Angels two hours and 16 minutes to play five innings Monday, and honestly, that was probably enough for the second game of Cactus League ball. Did these two teams need to stand out there for four hours in what was a poorly pitched affair? Probably not.

Anyway, Monday's game ended in a 4-4 tie. The Angels got one run in the first and three more in the third to take a 4-0 lead. The Sox rallied with four runs in the fourth to force the tie.

I didn't see a single pitch, because the game was over before I got off work, which prevented me from using my free subscription to MLB.tv for the first time. Oh well. 

The good

Some of the good news, based on the box score:

1. Adam Eaton. The new (old) Sox right fielder was 1 for 1 with an RBI in three plate appearances. He was hit by a pitch in the first inning, singled in the third and tied the game at 4 with a sacrifice fly in the fourth.

2. Luis Robert. The center fielder batted leadoff and went 1 for 3. The hit was an RBI double as part of the four-run fourth inning.

3. Leury Garcia. He had a single and a walk in two plate appearances, and he added a stolen base.

The bad

Some of the bad news, based on the box score:

1. Ryan Burr. The right-hander missed all of 2020 with Tommy John surgery, and he probably doesn't figure in the Sox's Opening Day roster plans anyway. But he got shelled for three runs on three hits in the Angels' three-run third.

2. Eloy Jimenez. He was 0 for 3 with a strikeout and didn't get the ball out of the infield. Not that we're really worried about Jimenez. He'll be fine, but other than Burr, he was probably the only guy who had a rough day.