Week 19 Record: 4-2 (46-77 Overall), 4th in AL Central
The White Sox took two of three from both the Tigers and the Royals, and MICHAEL KOPECH HAS BEEN CALLED UP TO THE SOUTH SIDE. He will be making his debut on Tuesday night. Before we get too far ahead of ourselves, however, let’s recap this past week.
Weekly Score Update
Game 118: White Sox 5, Tigers 9 | Box Score
Game 119: White Sox 6, Tigers 3 | Box Score
Game 120: White Sox 6, Tigers 5 | Box Score
Game 121: White Sox 9, Royals 3 | Box Score
Game 122: White Sox 1, Royals 3 | Box Score
Game 123: White Sox 7, Royals 6 | Box Score
Week by the Numbers
7 – Number of runs scored in 7th inning during Friday’s comeback against the Royals
5 – Number of runs Nicky Delmonico drove in on Friday
20 – Number of strikeout across three August starts for Lucas Giolito
73 – Percentage of pitches thrown for strikes in Giolito’s last start
34 – Michael Kopech’s number as he makes his debut on Tuesday night
0 – Number of times I’ve worried about Yoan Moncada this week
Quote of the Week: Yoan Moncada on His Struggles
It’s not of course easy to keep the same demeanor when things are not good. But it’s nothing that you are going to earn getting frustrated. That’s why I always try to keep my demeanor the same way, try to be the same guy every day and just rely on my work, rely on my routine.
Have confidence in the things I’m doing to overcome the struggles and to show all my abilities on the field. That’s what I do. I don’t think getting frustrated is the way when things aren’t going your way.”
– Per mlb.com’s Scott Merkin
This is a rare sort of maturity from a 23-year-old. Yet, this maturity is what makes me so confident that Yoan Moncada will overcome his struggles. Hawk has said it hundreds of times, but your ability to handle an 0-4 game – or several, as in Yoan’s case – says much more about the hitter you are going to be than your demeanor during a 4-4 game does.
He has patience that may fans can learn from as we watch this rebuilding process.
Question of the Week: #FreeEloy?
Now that Kopech has been called up to start Tuesday, I was curious about what fans thought about the chances Eloy gets called up now. So, I asked what everyone’s confidence level was. The results, to say the least, were mixed:
24%: 0-25%
21%: 26-50%
25%: 51-75%
30%: 76-100%
I’m anywhere from 25-75% confident he will be called up. I have no basis for this reasoning, truthfully. However, the White Sox have shown, by calling up Kopech, that service time is not the first thing on their mind when it comes to promoting talent. This “checklist” we all like to job about might just not be completed for Eloy yet – and for good reason too. His stats have normalized over the month of August: .268/.305/.464. Rick Hahn and co. most likely want to see more of Eloy – as they should – before they make the final decision to bring him up. Good call.
Player of the Week
Thanks to all who voted! Congratulations this week to Carlos Rodon! In his only start this week, Carlos threw 8 brilliant innings while striking out 6, lowering his season ERA to 2.69 in 80.1 innings. Rodon has been brilliant since coming off the DL, and has given a renewed confidence in the Left-Hander’s ability to make an impact in the future rotation.
Moment of the Week
Well, this was a pretty easy one. Leading the pack by a WIDE margin, Michael Kopech wins Moment of the Week, simply by being called up! Looking forward to an electric atmosphere out at the ballpark on Tuesday! It will be interesting and exciting to see how Kopech debuts and grows throughout his next 5-8 starts to end the season.
The Week Ahead: An Odd Minnesota Series, and More AL Central Action
Tonight: Lucas Giolito (8-9, 6.15 ERA) @ MIN Stephen Gonsalves (0-0, 0.00 ERA), 6:10 CT
Tuesday: Michael Kopech (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. MIN Jose Berrios (11-8, 3.75 ERA), 7:10 CT
Wednesday: Carlos Rodon (4-3, 2.69 ERA) vs. MIN Kyle Gibson (7-9, 3.51 ERA), 1:10 CT
Thursday – Sunday: Series vs. Tigers… Starters TBD
See you guys at the Kopech Debut! Come find me in Section 139!
Featured Photo: Brandon Anderson (@bson_4) / Twitter