What I'm hearing about SoxFest Live

A picture of me and Reynaldo Lopez at SoxFest 2019. Those were the days.

I have no regrets about my decision not to attend SoxFest Live over the weekend. 

The "reimagined event" was held at the Ramova Theater in Chicago's Bridgeport neighborhood, and by "reimagined," I think they mean "cheapened."

Apparently, gone are the days of a traditional fest held at a downtown hotel. Also apparently gone are the days of fans being able to grab the microphone and ask White Sox team brass about whatever topic they wish. 

From what I hear, general manager Chris Getz and manager Will Venable were on stage Friday night at the Ramova, but instead of taking questions directly from fans, the duo fielded "submitted questions" that we read by radio play-by-play announcer Len Kasper.

A similar scenario unfolded on Saturday, but this time it was the TV booth pairing of John Schriffen and Steve Stone reading the questions. As the panel moved along, Schriffen apparently started taking questions from the audience, but it was an awkward scene with nobody holding a microphone.

Imagine that. Schriffen creating awkwardness. 

Attending SoxFest through the years, I always enjoyed the opportunity to get a line with other fans and ask either the general manager or the manager a question. In 2019, I asked then-manager Rick Renteria a question about Yoan Moncada, and Renteria gave me such a detailed answer that it became a story in the following day's Chicago Tribune.

We all had a good laugh when "Jason from Wheeling" was mentioned in the first paragraph of that story.

I never missed a chance to stand up during those panels and ask whatever was on my mind. It's too bad that is gone now, and I think I know the reason why.

Sox brass, and ownership in particular, is extremely thin-skinned, and they were worried that some fan would step to the microphone and offer a question or comment critical of Jerry Reinsdorf. Is it that far-fetched to believe someone might have led the crowd in a chant of "sell the team"? I don't think so.

Rather than risk that, the Sox decided it was best to control the environment and deny some of their most loyal fans a chance to have their say. It's unfortunate, but typical of this organization.

Back when the Sox first announced that SoxFest was coming back, they billed the event as a celebration of the 20th anniversary of the 2005 World Series championship. Alas, Mark Buehrle, Freddy Garcia and Jose Contreras were the only members of the title-winning team to attend the fest.

While fans were no doubt delighted to see Buehrle, in particular, couldn't they have done better than just three guys? 

Here's one positive thing we'll say about the Sox: They announced the promotion schedule for 2025, and it has a number of items that effectively lean into the team's 125-year history. Bobbleheads for Dick Allen, Ray Durham and Luis Aparicio will no doubt be draws for fans.

A statue of Buerhle will be unveiled at the July 11 game against the Cleveland Guardians, and fans who attend the following day's game will receive a replica statue.

The July 13 game will feature a bobblehead of the 2005 starting rotation -- Buehrle, Garcia, Contreras and Jon Garland. That weekend will probably attract the greatest attendance of the season.

But here's the problem with the promotions: As good as they are, a lot of these promotions are for the "first 7,500 fans" or the "first 10,000 fans." 

Would I like a Ray Durham bobblehead? Sure, but I'm not going to get in line three hours early and fight to be among the first 7,500 into the stadium.

And what if you go to the game hoping to snag one of these promotional items, only to arrive at the gate and be told that there are none left?

You're out of luck, and then you're still stuck watching a Triple-A roster flounder at the big league level. Look at this roster and tell me this group isn't destined for a third straight season of 100-plus losses.

Good promotions are nice, but ultimately, we need a much better team on the South Side of Chicago. Neither Getz nor Venable have said anything yet that convinces me that I should care about the 2025 team. 

Getz is leaning into his highly-ranked farm system, and I guess that's fair. But I don't live in Charlotte, Birmingham, Winston-Salem or Kannapolis. 

I live just outside of Chicago, and I pay big league ticket prices. Therefore, I expect a big league team and a big league experience at Rate Field. When will fans receive that?

White Sox make flurry of roster moves

Craig Kimbrel

White Sox general manager Rick Hahn finally met the media Friday for his season-ending press conference, and I'll have some reactions and takeaways from that before the weekend is over.

But first, let's go over the roster moves that were announced:

Pitchers Evan Marshall, Jimmy Cordero and Jace Fry were outrighted to Triple-A Charlotte. All three become free agents.

Marshall hasn't pitched since June 29 and will need Tommy John surgery in the offseason. There's some chance the Sox will bring him back on a one-year deal with a club option, if they think he can help them in 2023. The veteran right-hander faces an uncertain future.

Cordero missed all of 2021 after having Tommy John surgery. The hard-throwing reliever was famously overused by former manager Rick Renteria during the 2020 season, and no one was surprised when he ended up injured. It wouldn't be a shock to see the Sox sign him to a minor league deal and take a look at him in spring training.

Fry has never been able to throw enough strikes to stick in the major leagues. I would not expect him back with the Sox in 2022 under any circumstance.

Left-hander Anderson Severino, 27, was added to the 40-man roster before he became a minor league free agent. Severino split his 2021 season between Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte. He struck out 53 batters over 45.2 innings combined at the two levels. In effect, he replaces Fry as the left-handed reliever who could get called up from Charlotte in the event of a bullpen injury.

Outfielder Brian Goodwin was outrighted to Triple-A Charlotte. He is a free agent. He batted .221/.319/.374 with eight home runs and 29 RBIs in 72 games for the 2021 Sox. Goodwin's production dried up the second half of the season, and a back injury kept him off the playoff roster. He likely does not figure in the 2022 plans.

In an expected move, the Sox declined the $6 million contract option on second baseman Cesar Hernandez. After being acquired in a midseason trade with the Cleveland Indians, Hernandez struggled both with the bat and with the glove. In 53 games with the Sox, he batted .232/.309/.299 with three home runs and 15 RBIs.

Hernandez fell out of favor with manager Tony La Russa to the point that he did not start either of the first two games of the playoffs. That was a clear indicator that he would not be asked back for 2022.

Finally, the first part of the Craig Kimbrel debate is over. His $16 million contract option has been exercised for 2022. The veteran reliever, who was acquired midseason in a deal with the crosstown Cubs, was a huge disappointment with the Sox.

He had a 5.09 ERA in 24 regular-season games on the South Side, and a 9.00 ERA in his three playoff appearances. The poor performance came after Kimbrel posted a dominant first half of the season on the North Side, where he had a 0.49 ERA and 64 strikeouts in 39 games and 36.2 innings.

Does that mean Kimbrel is part of the 2022 Sox bullpen? Don't count on it. He's likely to be shopped in the offseason, with the Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Angels among the teams who could be interested.

This series of moves leaves the Sox's 40-man roster at 33 players.

Will we hear from the White Sox GM this week?

Anyone else find it odd that White Sox general manager Rick Hahn hasn't yet given his end-of-season address to the media? 

The season ended Oct. 12, and today is Oct. 25. Thirteen days, and we've not heard a word from the front office on what they thought of the ALDS loss to the Houston Astros.

By way of comparison, last year, Hahn addressed the media 10 days after the Sox lost to the Oakland Athletics in the wild card round. And what an address it was, as former manager Rick Renteria and former pitching coach Don Cooper got fired.

Given that major changes were announced, that delay was understandable. But this year, there's little reason to believe any firings are forthcoming. Maybe I'm wrong, but I guess you never know.

Now, to be fair to Hahn, the league office often frowns upon teams that are no longer playing making news while the playoffs are going on. Maybe league etiquette is the cause of the silence to this point.

However, the World Series matchup is set now. Houston is going to play the Atlanta Braves, starting Tuesday night. Monday will be a slow news day for MLB. Will we hear from Hahn? 

Tony La Russa charged with DUI, and the White Sox knew this was coming when they hired him

Tony La Russa

New (old) White Sox manager Tony La Russa was charged with DUI on Oct. 28 by the Maricopa County Attorney's Office in Arizona.

According to an ESPN report, La Russa allegedly ran his car into a curb in February, leaving it smoking on the side of the road in the Phoenix area.

The arresting officer reportedly said La Russa was incoherent during the incident, and the veteran manager repeatedly referenced his credentials as a baseball Hall of Famer in an attempt to escape the trouble. 

This is the second drunken driving arrest for LaRussa. He pleaded guilty in 2007 to misdemeanor DUI in Jupiter, Fla.

I think the timeline of this arrest is a little strange. This incident occurred in February, and the charges weren't filed until eight months later. 

Definitely odd, but here's what is known: The charges were filed Oct. 28, but the Sox hired La Russa to be manager one day later anyway. 

Yuck. The Sox are taking a beating in the national media right now, and rightfully so. First off, at least one prominent free agent says he won't play for La Russa for any amount of money.

Secondly, one drunken driving arrest is one thing -- people make mistakes -- but two such incidents is a trend, and that's not somebody you want running your baseball team. That's somebody who has a problem.

And third, this again highlights what a flawed process the Sox used to hire La Russa. It wasn't a legitimate search, with interviews of multiple qualified candidates, with the best man earning an offer.

No, it was a crony hire by one man, owner Jerry Reinsdorf. He regrets firing La Russa 34 years ago, and he's trying to make amends for it, even if he has to undercut his baseball operations department to do it, and even if he brings shame and national disgrace to a proud fan base and every other person who works for the Sox.

Of course, there's still time to do the right thing. La Russa hasn't even hired a coaching staff yet. (What is he waiting for?) So cut ties with La Russa, start over and conduct a search the right way. Allow Ken Williams and Rick Hahn to hire a manager, not Reinsdorf. 

Will that actually happen? Don't bet on it. Oh, and Rick Renteria finished second in the AL Manager of the Year voting today. He has to be among the chorus of people laughing at the Sox right now.

Jose Abreu, Luis Robert, Rick Renteria among finalists for postseason awards

Jose Abreu

White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu is a finalist for American League Most Valuable Player. Center fielder Luis Robert is a finalist for Rookie of the Year, and former manager Rick Renteria is a finalist for Manager of the Year.  

The BBWAA award finalists were announced on MLB Network on Monday night. 

Abreu seems to be the most likely of these three people to win. The other MVP finalists are Cleveland Indians third baseman Jose Ramirez and New York Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu.

Here's a side-by-side comparison of these three players: 

LeMahieu: .364/.421/.590, 10 HRs, 10 2Bs, 27 RBIs, 3 SBs 

Abreu: .317/.370/.617, 19 HRs, 15 2Bs, 60 RBIs, 0 SB 

Ramirez: .292/.386/.607, 17 HRs, 16 2Bs, 46 RBIs, 10 SB 

Abreu led the league in hits with 76. His RBIs and slugging percentage also were league-leading totals. LeMahieu led the league in both batting average and on-base percentage. Ramirez topped the AL with 45 runs scored. 

Robert's competition for the Rookie of the Year award includes Seattle Mariners outfielder Kyle Lewis and Houston Astros pitcher Cristian Javier. 

Here's a side-by-side comparison of these three players: 

Lewis: .262/.364/.437, 11 HRs, 3 2Bs, 28 RBIs, 5 SBs 

Robert: .233/.302/.436, 11 HRs, 12 2Bs, 31 RBIs, 9 SBs 

Javier: 5-2, 3.48 ERA, 12 games (10 starts), 54.1 IP, 36 H, 54 Ks, 18 BBs 

I think what hurts Robert here is his ice-cold September. He was hitting .298 when August ended, but then he hit .136 the rest of the season. Lewis might very well win because he didn't have a prolonged slump like that. 

Renteria is a finalist for Manager of the Year along with Charlie Montoyo of the Toronto Blue Jays and Kevin Cash of the Tampa Bay Rays. Cash led his club to a 40-20 record and an AL pennant. Montoyo's team got into the playoffs despite having to play its home games in Buffalo. Renteria went 35-25, but got fired after the Sox blew the AL Central the last week of the season and made a quick exit from the playoffs. 

I'm assuming Renteria finishes third.

Call it what it is: White Sox fire Rick Renteria and Don Cooper

Rick Renteria

The news Monday was shocking. The White Sox stunned almost everyone in their fan base by firing manager Rick Renteria and pitching coach Don Cooper.

Sure, they called it a "mutual parting of ways," but don't be fooled by the semantics. This was a firing. 

Think about it: Why would Renteria and Cooper decide to leave now on their own accord? Two years ago, they were given a horrible roster than lost 100 games. They didn't step aside after that, so there's no reason to think they would want to leave now, just when the Sox are finally starting to field a competitive team.

General manager Rick Hahn is famous for his lawyer talk, and he's obviously dancing around the fact that these guys didn't get the job done. And, there's no reason to think they would get the job done in the coming years.

The Sox were 33-17 when they woke up on the morning of Sept. 18. A playoff position had been secured. Then, regular season and postseason combined, they went 3-10 the rest of the way. They lost the American League Central Division title to the Minnesota Twins, despite having a three-game lead with 10 games to play, and they made a quick exit from the playoffs against the Oakland A's.

You can't run from the fact that this was a collapse, nor can you run from the fact that decisions and development failings by Renteria and Cooper were significant contributors to that collapse.

A 5-4 loss to Cleveland on Sept. 24 is the one that cost the Sox the most in the division race. Renteria used Carlos Rodon in relief, trying to protect a 4-1 lead in the seventh inning. Rodon was just back from a significant injury, and he hadn't worked out of the bullpen in years. 

Predictably, Rodon lost the game. Renteria's defense for that move? Rodon "only needed to get one out" (he never got it), and the Sox wanted to see if he could handle such a situation before the playoffs.

OK, that's somewhat defensible. A playoff position had already been secured, and there is some merit to the argument of trying to see what, if anything, Rodon had to offer. Turns out, he had nothing to offer, so the correct thing to do is leave him off the playoff roster.

Instead, we saw Rodon again in relief, in a winner-take-all Game 3 in Oakland. The Sox were leading 3-2 when Rodon entered. Moments later, the Sox were trailing, 4-3. Once again, the justification was that Rodon "only needed to get one out." He never got it. The Sox lost, 6-4. Season over.

Making such an egregious mistake twice in a week, with a season on a line, that's the type of decision-making that gets a manager fired. Not to mention, Renteria started Dane Dunning in Game 3 of the playoffs, a defensible decision, but he had somebody warming up after Dunning gave up a leadoff single in the first inning.

If you have that little confidence in a starting pitcher, then don't start him. Dunning did not give up a run, but he was pulled with two on and two out in the first inning -- after throwing only 15 pitches. Not a good decision.

Renteria's moves in the playoffs had panic written all over them, and his body language in the dugout was quite bizarre. He was squatting in the ready position, acting as if he was playing shortstop, not managing the team. It made me anxious looking at him, so I wonder what his players thought of all that.

And let's not absolve Cooper. Yes, it's great that he resurrected the careers of Esteban Loaiza, Jose Contreras and Matt Thornton. But that stuff was 15 years ago now. 

Sox fans, how do we feel about the development of Dylan Cease and Reynaldo Lopez these days? Not good, right? At best, these two young right-handers have stagnated, and you can make a strong case they have regressed.

It's unfortunate that Dunning was put in such a tough spot in Game 3. He's a rookie coming off Tommy John surgery, yet he was still considered a better option than Cease or Lopez, who have more experience, but have failed to take the next step under the dinosaur Cooper, who had been with the Sox organization for 33 years -- 18 of them as pitching coach across four managerial regimes.

At some point, it's time for a different voice on the pitching front. That time is now. And at some point, it's time for a manager who is more than just a respected figure in the clubhouse -- Renteria was that. To win a championship, a team needs a manager who has some feel for handling a pitching staff -- Renteria was not that. 

It's time for Hahn to go find that guy.

Adam Engel foils Minnesota's defense; Sox beat Twins in series opener

Adam Engel

The White Sox have scored an American League-best 81 runs in the seventh inning or later, and that's a great habit to get into. Most of the offense has come in the form of bashing the ball off the wall or over it.

However, Adam Engel's RBI single that gave the Sox the lead in the bottom of the eighth inning of an eventual 3-1 win over the Minnesota Twins on Monday was somehow more satisfying. Maybe this particular hit felt cathartic because Engel outsmarted the Twins, and for years, it seems as though the Twins have been outsmarting the Sox.

Not on Monday. 

With the score tied 1-1 in the eighth inning, Minnesota reliever Taylor Rogers walked Yoan Moncada and Luis Robert to put runners on first and second with nobody out. Rogers is left-handed, so Sox manager Rick Renteria wisely sent Engel to the plate to pinch-hit for Nomar Mazara. 

Engel has laid down 16 sacrifice bunts in his career, so he's certainly no stranger to being asked to bunt in a situation such as this. In fact, he attempted to bunt the first pitch from Rogers and fouled it off.

However, Engel noticed that the Twins were expecting the bunt, and they put the wheel play on. For those unfamiliar, the wheel play involves having the third baseman charge hard, while the shortstop sprints from his position to cover third base, leaving the middle of the field vacant.

In a first-and-second situation, batters are taught to make the third baseman field a bunt. You don't want to bunt down the first-base line in that spot, because it's too easy for the first baseman to field the ball and sling it over to third to cut down the lead runner. 

The wheel play provides the defense with a better opportunity to cut down the lead runner at third on a bunt up the third-base line. The idea is to have the third baseman field the ball and throw it to the shortstop covering third for the force. 

As an offensive player, how do you counter the wheel play? Well, you show bunt, get the shortstop moving, and then slap a grounder through the middle of the infield for an RBI single. That's precisely the play Engel executed, and it ultimately won the Sox a critical September game.

Engel hit the ball roughly where Minnesota shortstop Jorge Polanco normally would be standing. However, Polanco had vacated his position to cover third base as part of the wheel play. With all his momentum heading toward third, he had no chance in hell to reverse course and field Engel's grounder. 

Moncada scored easily from second to make it 2-1 Sox, and moments later, Tim Anderson doubled off the fence to score Robert. 3-1 Sox, and Alex Colome made the lead stand up in the ninth inning.

It was an unbelievable win for the Sox, because the Twins probably should have scored 10 runs given all the opportunities they had. Consider these facts:

• Sox pitchers combined to walk 10 Minnesota hitters over nine innings.
• The Twins stranded 15 runners.
• The Twins left the bases loaded three times.
• The Twins went 2 for 16 with runners in scoring position.
• Sox pitchers walked Minnesota's No. 9 hitter, Ehire Adrianza, three consecutive times. Adrianza is batting .183 this season.
• Minnesota's MVP candidate, Nelson Cruz, stranded nine runners himself. He twice came to the plate with the bases loaded and failed to deliver both times. He also grounded into a double play with runners on first and third.
• Sox pitchers stupidly walked three consecutive batters in a tie game in the top of eighth inning to give Cruz a bases-loaded chance. They got away with it.

The Sox missed their share of opportunities, as well. They went 3 for 13 with runners in scoring position and stranded 12 runners. Two of the three hits came in the aforementioned bottom of the eighth inning.

Really, this might have been the most poorly pitched 3-1 game in the history of baseball. It very easily could have been 11-9, but the Sox will take it.

Going into Tuesday's play, the Sox (31-16) hold a two-game lead over the Twins (30-19) in the American League Central Division.

White Sox manager Rick Renteria is burning up his bullpen unnecessarily

Rick Renteria

The White Sox entered Tuesday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates with a 99.6% chance of qualifying for the postseason.

So why is manager Rick Renteria treating every game as if it is the seventh game of the World Series?

The Sox lost, 5-4, to the last-place Pirates, but the way they got there was more concerning than the loss itself. Was it really necessary to burn through five relief pitchers to try to win this game? Not in my world.

Starter Dylan Cease got a quick hook after throwing only 79 pitches. He took a 3-2 lead into the sixth inning, and he gave up a leadoff single. That would be all. Not sure why.

Codi Heuer, pitching for the third time in the past five days, was able to finish the inning without giving up the lead.

Enter Matt Foster, who worked a 1-2-3 seventh inning. Foster was pitching for "only" the third time in the past six days, so I thought he might have another inning in him.

Nah.

Renteria needed to go to Evan Marshall, who was pitching for the fourth time in the past five games, for the eighth inning. Marshall gave up two runs to surrender a 4-2 lead and couldn't finish the inning. Ross Detwiler entered and managed to strand the go-ahead run on third base.

But Detwiler gave up two singles to start the bottom of the ninth. Enter Jimmy Cordero, who has appeared NINE TIMES in the past 12 games. A passed ball, an intentional walk and an error later, the Sox were in the loss column.

Good thing Renteria pulled Cease early to make sure the Sox won this one, huh?

The Sox have played 42 games, and Cordero has already made 21 appearances. Marshall has pitched 20 times, and Steve Cishek has pitched 18 times. All three of these men have more appearances than they do innings pitched.

And that doesn't even get into the 40-pitch outing Alex Colome had in Friday's win over Kansas City. Colome was then asked to save the game Saturday night, too, which he did, but at some point he might wear out as well.

Would it kill Renteria to let guys pitch more than one inning? Would it kill him to let a young pitcher like Cease work his way out of his own trouble for once?

The Sox are in really good shape to make the playoffs. But will the bullpen have anything left for October with this kind of usage, or overusage, as the case may be?

Forget about October. Who is going to pitch in relief Wednesday? Probably at least one or two guys who pitched Tuesday night, and that's a problem.

It's time for Renteria to back off the throttle a little bit. He's got to stop micromanaging so much, even if it means losing a few more games.

White Sox continue to waste everyone's time with lousy performances

Dylan Cease

Change the game? More like change the channel.

The White Sox continue to make their fans wish this 2020 season had never gotten off the ground. The South Siders fell to 1-4 Tuesday with two lousy performances in a doubleheader at Cleveland.

The Indians took the opener, 4-3, and won the nightcap, 5-3.

Both games were characterized by horrendous starting pitching by the Sox. The Indians scored two in the first inning in Game 1, and three in the first inning in Game 2. For those wondering, the Sox have now been outscored 13-1 in the first inning through five games.

That is not a recipe for success.

Game 1 starter Dylan Cease didn't make it through the third inning. He gave up as many hits (seven) as he got outs. He allowed four runs, including homers to Francisco Lindor and Bradley Zimmer.

And, oh yeah, the Sox offense stinks too. They left 11 runners on base in the one-run loss and twice failed to score when they had bases loaded with one out. Cleveland starter Aaron Civale totaled a career-high nine strikeouts, and Indians pitching racked up 14 strikeouts overall.

This reminds me of 2018, not the competitive Sox team we were told to expect in 2020.

You know what else reminds me of 2018? Nicky Delmonico hitting in the cleanup spot in Game 2. Yep, that happened. You start to wonder whether manager Rick Renteria is trolling fans with these lineups.

It doesn't help that two starting outfielders, Eloy Jimenez (concussion protocol) and Nomar Mazara (COVID-19, I presume) are currrently unavailable. But Delmonico hitting fourth is not good lineup optimization.

Of course, the starting pitching was again horrendous in Game 2. Carlos Rodon put the team in a 3-0 hole in the first inning. He lasted 3.2 innings and allowed five runs on four hits.

The first time through the rotation, Dallas Keuchel was the only Sox starter to last five innings. That's also the only time the Sox have won a game.

My preseason prediction of 27-33 is looking pretty optimistic right now. Of course, the Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers -- two teams that lost more than 100 games last season -- appear on the Sox's schedule 10 times each. You'd like to believe the Sox could go 12-8 or 13-7 against those two clubs.

If that happens, they'd only need to go 14-26 against all other teams to reach my lofty prediction. So far, they are 1-4.

It's still doable, right? What a mess.

White Sox at Cleveland postponed; Rick Renteria tests negative for COVID-19

Progressive Field in Cleveland

The series opener between the White Sox and Cleveland Indians was postponed Monday because of rain.

The game will be made up Tuesday as part of a straight doubleheader, starting at 2:30 p.m. The regularly scheduled game will begin about 45 minutes after the conclusion of the opener.

The pitching matchups will remain the same, with Dylan Cease and Carlos Rodon scheduled to pitch for the Sox (1-2). The Indians (2-1) will go with Aaron Civale and Adam Plutko.

Renteria reportedly OK after COVID-19 scare

If the game had been played Monday night, Sox manager Rick Renteria would not have been at the ballpark.

Renteria woke up Monday with "a slight cough and nasal congestion," and he opted to undergo tests at a Cleveland hospital before going back to the team hotel. Reports later in the evening indicated Renteria tested negative for COVID-19.

Perhaps the skipper was just suffering because of the high mold count in the area after the recent rains. While we may object to Renteria's usage of Nicky Delmonico in the everyday lineup, we certainly want him to remain healthy.

Health is especially a concern for all with postponements Monday of games between the Baltimore Orioles and Miami Marlins, and the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees.

A substantial COVID-19 outbreak has occurred within the Marlins, and the MLB season is teetering on the brink. The Phillies are testing all their personnel and quarantining themselves for the time being, as well, because they just hosted Miami in a three-game series over the weekend.

I've been watching a lot of games over the weekend, not just the Sox, and I've noticed plenty of spitting, high fives and hugging after home runs. Mask wearing and social distancing in dugouts seems to be mixed, much as it is in society at large. It makes me wonder whether players are truly taking protocols seriously, and hopefully, the wake-up call has sounded. If not, the 2020 season might not last long.

As far as Renteria has been concerned, I haven't seen him without a mask since baseball resumed. It does seem as though the Sox manager takes the health crisis seriously, and I don't foresee him being the cause of things falling apart.

Lopez to injured list; other roster moves

White Sox pitcher Reynaldo Lopez has been placed on the 10-day injured list after an MRI showed right shoulder inflammation. Lopez pitched only two-thirds of an inning and gave up four earned runs Sunday in a 14-2 loss to the Minnesota Twins.

Right-handed relief pitcher Ian Hamilton was recalled from the Sox's alternate training site to take Lopez's place on the roster. It is expected that Gio Gonzalez will move from a long relief role into the starting rotation.

In another roster move, the Sox designated third baseman Cheslor Cuthbert for assignment and purchased the contract of infielder Ryan Goins.

Kopech files for divorce

White Sox pitcher Michael Kopech filed for divorce from Riverdale star Vanessa Morgan. The couple were only married for six months before parting ways. Morgan is pregnant, so there is a lot going on in Kopech's life right now.

The right-hander opted out of playing this season earlier in July.

Nomar Mazara is out. Now what for the White Sox in right field?

Nomar Mazara

White Sox right fielder Nomar Mazara did not play in either of this week's exhibition games against the Cubs. Manager Rick Renteria described Mazara as being "under the weather."

Today, Mazara was placed on the 10-day injured list. No explanation has been given. We can speculate on what's going on, but what we know is that Mazara will not be in the lineup for Friday's season opener against the Minnesota Twins.

In fact, he won't be eligible to return until Aug. 1, so what do the Sox do in right field in the meantime? In a 60-game season, a good start is even more important than usual. And it's especially crucial for the Sox, given that they start the season with the Twins and the Cleveland Indians -- the two clubs that are expected to be the front-runners in the AL Central.

Well, I guess it depends on who the second baseman is. Will it be prized prospect Nick Madrigal or veteran utility player Leury Garcia?

If it's Madrigal, then Garcia can fill the gap in right, perhaps as part of a time share with Adam Engel. Perhaps Garcia, a switch-hitter, starts against right-handed pitchers, while Engel, a right-handed hitter, starts against lefties.

Here's a look at the platoon splits for each player in 2019:

Garcia vs. RHP: .264/.294/.348
Garcia vs. LHP: .311/.344/.443

Engel vs RHP: .201/.272/.326
Engel vs LHP: .313/.360/.482

The numbers tell us Garcia is stronger from the right side of the plate. But Engel's numbers against righties are pathetic, while Garcia's are acceptable. For me, it then makes sense to play Garcia against righties.

And while Garcia performed just fine against lefties, Engel hits them harder, so I would give him the start on the rare occasions when the Sox face a lefty starter -- there aren't a lot of them in the AL Central, and Minnesota's Rich Hill is probably the only one the Sox will see during the season's first week.

But, what if the Sox decide to hold Madrigal back for service time or some other reason that I'm not thinking of? Then Garcia is the second baseman, and Engel is the best choice in right field.

I'm cringing a little bit as I look at the lineup for Wednesday night's exhibition against the Milwaukee Brewers. Garcia is at second base. OK, perhaps the Sox are tipping their hand at what they are going to do at that position.

But then in right field, it's not Engel. It's ... Nicky Delmonico? The career .227 hitter who doesn't have a position he can play competently? Ugh.

I'm not a huge Engel fan, but at least he's a good outfielder. Engel is certainly not the best hitter, but he brings one major league-caliber skill to the team -- his glove.

What exactly does Delmonico do well?

I'll be disappointed if someone other than Garcia or Engel is getting time in right field during Mazara's absence.

Lindy's Sports picks White Sox to win AL Central (!)

It's baseball preview season, and the first magazine I received in the mail was from Lindy's Sports (pictured).

Would you believe it if I told you they picked the White Sox to win the AL Central? Seriously, they did. They picked the Minnesota Twins second, the Cleveland Indians third, the Kansas City Royals fourth and the Detroit Tigers last.

They've also got Rick Renteria winning AL Manager of the Year, and center fielder Luis Robert winning AL Rookie of the Year. I guess when you think about it, if the Sox are going to win their division, those two things become that much more likely, right?

Not surprisingly, Lindy's has the New York Yankees and the Houston Astros as the other two AL division winners. The AL wild cards are the Twins and the Tampa Bay Rays, with the Yankees predicted as the AL champion.

That's certainly fair. I'm guessing the Yankees will be the most popular pick to win the AL this season.

But I'm somewhat surprised that a national outlet is believing the hype on the Sox, an unproven team that very much is relying on internal improvement from young players. I can see a scenario where the Sox contend, sure, but I wouldn't predict it. My expectations are for the team to pull its record up to .500 or slightly better.

I'm not expecting them to challenge the Twins, who were a 101-win juggernaut in 2019. I do not expect Minnesota to win 101 again, but I won't be shocked if the Twins win, say, 93 games.

Do you think the Sox have a 21-game improvement in them? Because that's what it would take for the South Siders to reach 93 wins. I'd say that's a stretch.

But Lindy's lauds the Sox's "young players with high ceilings," and notes that Minnesota's "rotation is not good enough to cover for subpar infield defense."

I sure hope that assessment is correct. I just wouldn't go to Vegas with that one.

Carlos Rodon as a reliever? He doesn't think so ...

Carlos Rodon

White Sox left-hander Carlos Rodon doesn't have a reputation for durability. While he has quality pitches and his results have been respectable, the five-year veteran has never made more than 28 starts in a season.

And in the past three seasons, Rodon has not made more than 20 starts. In 2019, the former first-round pick made only seven starts before injuring his left elbow, requiring season-ending Tommy John surgery.

That means Rodon won't be available until the second half of this season in the best-case scenario. The Sox have planned accordingly. With Lucas Giolito, Dallas Keuchel, Reynaldo Lopez, Gio Gonzalez and Dylan Cease projected as the Opening Day rotation -- and Michael Kopech likely to push for a spot sooner rather than later -- there doesn't appear to be any room for Rodon, even if he makes a healthy return come July or August.

Does that mean Rodon is destined for the bullpen? With his velocity and outstanding slider, those two pitches could play nicely in the late innings. However, the pitcher doesn't see himself in that role.

“In my heart, I think I’m a starter,” Rodon told MLB.com's Scott Merkin. “I’m not a bullpen arm. Yeah, I could throw 100 mph, but I’m not a bullpen arm. I know I can be a starter. I’ve shown it in the past. Yes, I haven’t been as durable as I can be, but people have seen me eat eight, nine innings.

“So, why would you take that away from me when you know I can throw? I know this sounds kind of arrogant, going into the eighth inning, you know I throw 98 mph. I think the White Sox think the same way.”

Rodon also indicated he has no intention of stepping aside and conceding a rotation spot to any of his teammates.

“This is not a jab at any of my teammates, but I hope to God they know I’m coming. It’s a competition,” Rodon told Merkin. “Whoever is best is going to have the job.

“That’s a statement to boost my teammates. I don’t want my job taken away. But just know that I’m right here and I’m going to come back, and I’m coming back for my job. I know it’s not going to be handed to me, but I’m coming for it.”

Actually, I commend Rodon for this attitude, and I am pulling for him to make a full recovery and be the pitcher he was drafted to be. For a long time, I've longed for the Sox to have competition for spots in the starting rotation.

Take Lopez, as an example. He had a terrible 2019, and there were times he probably deserved to be demoted to the bullpen, and manager Rick Renteria at times questioned Lopez's focus. However, Lopez remained in the rotation because there was nobody else who could conceivably take his spot.

When that happens, guys are maybe a little bit too comfortable. When you've got five rotation spots, and only two or three guys who are worth a damn, that's a serious problem.

But when you've got seven guys battling for five spots, and all seem like reasonable options, that's actually not a problem at all. That's exactly the scenario you want.

I hope Rodon backs up these words and pushes hard to get his job in the rotation back. That would be a terrific development for the Sox.

Rick Hahn continues to talk like a lawyer at SoxFest

Rick Hahn

Maybe I'm a bad White Sox fan. I won't allow general manager Rick Hahn to have his "victory lap."

I don't care if he "won the offseason." Until the team has a winning season *on the field* under his leadership, I'm not going to give him credit for much of anything.

So, I wasn't of the mindset to give him his round of applause at SoxFest this weekend. I didn't boo him when he was introduced, but I didn't cheer him either.

And I didn't lob him a softball question during the town hall with him and manager Rick Renteria on Friday night at McCormick Place.

When I stood before the crowd, I noted the Sox have a top-heavy farm system. The top four prospects -- Luis Robert, Michael Kopech, Andrew Vaughn and Nick Madrigal -- all are quite good. So good that we expect to see three of the four in Chicago this season. Then, there's a steep drop-off.

Quick, can you name the No. 5 prospect in the Sox organization?

My question for Hahn on this topic was twofold. First, is he concerned that he won't have the prospect capital to get the "finishing piece" at the trading deadline, should the moon and stars align and the Sox find themselves in contention going into the second half of the season?

Second, is it a point of organizational emphasis to improve in the draft? After all, most of these top young players we're talking about have been acquired one of two ways -- through the trades of topnotch major league talent, or tanking to get a high draft pick.

If this rebuild is truly going to work, don't the Sox have to hit on more of their second- and third-round picks?

Hahn basically told me he's not concerned about either of these things. He feels the lack of minor league depth is mostly attributable to injuries. It is true that several prospects have had injuries, including Dane Dunning, Zack Burdi, Jimmy Lambert and Luis Basabe.

The general manager expressed optimism that as guys get healthy, the system will prove to be much deeper than it seems. I'd like to believe that, but with the track record the Sox have, I'm not going to believe it until I see it. Citing injuries is always an irrefutable argument. It's not as if we can deny that they occurred.

On the second point, Hahn noted that a recent report found that the Sox rank second in all of baseball for the decade of 2010-19 in terms of WAR by drafted players. This is true, but let's understand that most of that WAR is tied up in just a handful of guys.

Chris Sale's career WAR is 45. Marcus Semien's career WAR is 20, and while he's a former Sox draft pick, he didn't blossom until he was traded to Oakland. Tim Anderson's career WAR is 10. Nobody else the Sox have drafted in the past decade has a career WAR above 6. For the record, the oft-injured Carlos Rodon is the next-best guy on this list.

Does that sound like a good draft record to you?

Once again, top-heavy, a few big hits, but a lot of misses. Hahn insisted his draft guys are doing their job. But for me, it's just unfortunate that Anderson is the only former Sox No. 1 draft pick who is actually helping at the big league level at present time. We need to see more of these homegrown guys come up and deliver. Let's hope Madrigal does that this season.

I'm sorry, but I can't help but be cynical about a GM whose record is 491–642 over seven seasons.

White Sox part ways with Omar Vizquel, add 7 to 40-man roster

Omar Vizquel

The White Sox on Wednesday announced that Omar Vizquel will not be returning as a manager in their minor league system for the 2020 season.

Vizquel enjoyed his best success as a manager during the 2018 season, when he led High-A Winston-Salem to an 84-54 record and a first-half division championship. He was named Carolina League Manager of the Year.

In 2019, Vizquel was promoted to manage Double-A Birmingham, but he was unable to duplicate that same success. The Barons finished 64-72.

"We felt that it was best for both sides to make a change," Chris Getz, White Sox director of player development, told MLB.com. "Listen, Omar, ultra-talented player, very good instructor, created a good environment for our players. We just felt with where things are at, our player development system, that it was time to go separate ways. But not only for himself, but for the organization as well and we wish Omar well. He was a positive influence while he was here."

The Sox fan reaction to this news has been overwhelmingly negative, and frankly, I'm a little surprised. Vizquel's team had a subpar year, and several outfield prospects of note -- Blake Rutherford, Luis Gonzalez, Luis Alexander Basabe and Micker Adolfo -- stalled this season. To be fair, Adolfo got hurt again, and what's a manager to do? But expectations were higher for this Birmingham group in 2019.

In general, I think the fan discontent stems from the long-held belief that Vizquel would eventually replace Rick Renteria as the manager in Chicago. I've never quite understood why that was the assumption, nor have I understood why it is just assumed that Vizquel would do a better job than Renteria has.

Clearly, Vizquel had a better playing career than Renteria, but that doesn't amount to a hill of beans when evaluating someone as a manager.

I'm left to conclude that some fans simply want Renteria gone. They believe anyone would be better, and they're just pissed off that Vizquel is no longer an option.

Sox add 7 players to 40-man roster

Rutherford, catcher Yermin Mercedes and pitchers Dane Dunning, Jimmy Lambert, Zack Burdi, Matt Foster and Bernardo Flores had their contracts purchased by the Sox on Wednesday. The seven players were added to the 40-man roster, bringing the roster to the maximum 40.

As a result, these men are not available to other clubs in the Rule 5 draft. Notable players who were not protected included pitchers Alec Hansen, Zach Thompson and Spencer Adams.

Mercedes was the big question mark. He batted .317/.388/.581 with 23 home runs and 80 RBIs in stops at Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte. He can hit, but he's poor defensively, and that seemed to be preventing him from getting a call to the majors.

If he had been exposed in the Rule 5 draft, it seems likely that a rebuilding team would have snagged him and given him a chance as a designated hitter. Now, he'll stay in the Sox organization, but the club has a logjam at catcher.

Even with Welington Castillo gone, there are four catchers on the 40-man -- James McCann, Zack Collins, Seby Zavala and Mercedes. It wouldn't be surprising to see a trade of one of these players who is not named McCann -- who is the presumed starter in 2020.

For me, Dunning, Lambert and Burdi are the no-brainers here. All three pitchers are coming off injuries, yes, but that would be all the more reason for a rival club to snag them in the Rule 5 draft and hide them on the injured list for half a season.

Dunning is the No. 5 prospect in the organization. Lambert ranks 18th and was thought to have a chance to make the majors in 2019 before he got hurt. Burdi is a former first-round draft pick.

Too much has been invested in these three players to risk losing them for nothing.

Charlotte Knights blow opportunity to go to Triple-A playoffs

If you've been watching White Sox games lately -- and you deserve a medal if you have -- you have probably noticed that the TV broadcast team of Jason Benetti and Steve Stone has been touting the potential benefits of a deep playoff run for the Sox's Triple-A affiliate, the Charlotte Knights.

It was hard not to feel as though Benetti and Stone were preparing fans for the inevitable -- the fact that top prospects were not going to be called up for September, and that "going to win a championship together" would be ideal for the better players on that Charlotte roster.

Well, guess what?

Charlotte lost eight of its last nine games and blew a four-game lead in the wild-card race over the last 10 days. So, I guess you might say the Knights had the experience of "choking together," and we can only hope the players involved will deal with the situation better should they receive such an opportunity again.

The losing streak was characterized by a three-game sweep at the hands of the Durham Bulls, the team that ultimately took the playoff spot away from Charlotte. Here's a true story: Manny Banuelos and Carson Fulmer basically blew it for the Knights.

Banuelos made a rehab start Aug. 27 and got shelled for seven earned runs over four innings. He gave up seven hits, including three home runs, as Durham beat Charlotte, 10-6.

The very next day, the Knights took a 2-1 lead into the seventh inning, only to see Fulmer come on and allow three of the four batters he faced to reach base -- two on walks and one on a hit. Two of those runners ended up scoring as Durham topped Charlotte, 3-2.

If the Knights win either of those two games, they are in the playoffs, Durham is not, and the season continues for two of the Sox's top prospects -- Luis Robert and Nick Madrigal.

Instead, Robert and Madrigal are going home without a September call-up -- money and service time are most important, you know? -- while Fulmer and Banuelos hysterically were the only two men the Sox called to the big leagues on Sept. 1.

Both these two failed pitchers were seen on the mound Monday, giving up runs as the Sox lost, 11-3, to the Cleveland Indians. With the defeat, the South Siders (60-77) tied their season-worst losing streak at seven games. Will these guys ever win a game again? It doesn't seem like it.

For the record, the Sox did make some call-ups on Tuesday now that Charlotte's season is over. Zack Collins is back, as he should be, and Danny Mendick is rightfully getting a shot. With Jon Jay going on the 60-day injured list with a hip problem, Mendick was added to the 40-man roster.

Let's hope both Collins and Mendick get some playing time from manager Rick Renteria. It would be nice to have more information on these two players going into the offseason. Can Collins be on this roster as a catcher in 2020? Is Mendick a viable option as a utility infielder? I don't know, but now is a good time to see what we can learn about these two guys.

Outfielder Daniel Palka and pitcher Dylan Covey also were recalled, in two moves that we need not get excited over. Let's just hope we don't see Covey back in the starting rotation, and let's hope we don't see Palka getting at-bats ahead of Collins.

Why is Yoan Moncada still in Charlotte? Zack Collins? Luis Robert?

White Sox third baseman Yoan Moncada started a rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte at the end of last week. Through three games with the Knights, he was 4 for 12 with a home run.

Then, he didn't play Sunday night, so I figured he was flying to Minnesota to join the team for its three-game series with the Twins starting Monday night.

After all, the Sox lost three out of four over the weekend to the Los Angeles Angels. They could use the help.

But no, Moncada is playing for Charlotte (again) on Monday night. Why? Who knows?

In other news from the farm, Zack Collins was named International League Batter of the Week. The left-handed slugger hit .538 (14 for 26) with eight runs scored, three doubles, four home runs and nine RBIs over seven games this week.

This is terrific news, as Collins has been swinging a hot bat since his demotion to Charlotte. Whatever adjustments he is making are working, and I'm in favor of his return to Chicago. Alas, it hasn't happened yet.

Given the Sox's struggles against even mediocre right-handed pitching of late, perhaps the lineup would look better with Moncada and Collins in it. Manager Rick Renteria continues to resort to Jon Jay batting cleanup against right-handed pitchers. This cannot continue.

And then there's Luis Robert, who homered twice Sunday night and homered again in Monday's game for Charlotte. Robert was batting .306 and slugging .639 in 33 games coming into Monday night, and this latest home run is his 12th since his promotion from Double-A Birmingham.

I just don't see what Robert has left to prove in Triple-A. I hope we see him -- and Collins -- in Chicago sooner rather than later. It's time to get ready for 2020, and those two men need to be part of it. 

Sox brass, unfortunately, seems more content to kill time with Jay, Ryan Cordell and Adam Engel all on the big league roster, not to mention Matt Skole, Welington Castillo and Ryan Goins. Well, I guess Goins is making a case to be around in 2020, but the rest of these guys are just filler.

At what point does this rebuild move on from roster filler?