PHOENIX -- Saturday marks the first on-field look at the team's new primary union rep, left-hander Chris Murphy.
The 27-year-old has a keen mix of the market awareness to know that all the money in this game for pitching is reserved for guys who can start, the self-awareness to know someone like him will have to scrap for such a role, and the environmental awareness to know that a rebuilding White Sox club is his best chance.
"Sink or swim, let's go, it's time to prove myself as a big leaguer," Murphy said of his reaction to being traded to the White Sox in November. "The mentality I have on the mound is I'm going to get you out, even if it doesn't look pretty. That's kind of what I did last year coming off Tommy John [surgery]. Struggled with some walks here and there and at the end of the day I got out of jams, did what I needed to do in terms of just getting guys out. There's no expected numbers in the big leagues, it's just what are you doing for your team."
The Swiss Army knife label has been used on Murphy by White Sox personnel, but Will Venable isn't declaring the winners of any races in February.
"He’s done it in the past, talked about some of his preparation and just that he doesn’t need a whole lot to get ready and that he’s comfortable in different spots," Venable said. "Without looking too far ahead, we want to give him the opportunity to earn one of these rotation spots and going to stretch him out and give him that chance and see where it leads us."
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Of the three outfielders in Saturday's lineup, recently acquired converted infielder Luisangel Acuña might have the firmest hold on a role and roster spot. Based on his lack of a guaranteed contract, Jarred Kelenic would seem to be on the shakiest ground, but he doesn't get talked about like a typical NRI.
"That's probably the area of this roster where there's the most competition and opportunity," Venable said of the outfield. "We'll see how this all shakes out. But certainly having Jarred here, somebody that you look at, his skill set, his track record, kind of being in some situations that maybe just didn't support him the best, we feel strongly that we can support this guy."
Venable said Everson Pereira is feeling better Saturday than he did on Friday, but is still describing him as day-to-day.
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Lenyn Sosa isn't in the lineup, but he did speak to reporters today and professed no crankiness about his lack of role certainty after leading the White Sox in home runs last year.
"My mindset every year, is to get better, to improve my game all around," Sosa said via interpreter. "Trying to find ways to help this team win games, and that’s my focus. I don’t really pay attention to what my role is. It’s just trying to get better every day and do the best for me every day."
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Top prospect Caleb Bonemer is among the minor league extras available for this game. He talked hitting with Sox Machine earlier this week.
Duncan Davitt, Jordan Hicks, Wikelman González, Alexander Alberto and Adisyn Coffey are among pitchers scheduled to appear on Saturday.
First pitch: White Sox vs. Athletics
TV: CHSN
Radio: ESPN 1000 AM (I'm supposed to do an inning with Len & DJ around the fourth)
Lineups:
| Athletics | White Sox | |
|---|---|---|
| Denzel Clarke, DH | 1 | Chase Meidroth, 2B |
| Colby Thomas, LF | 2 | Andrew Benintendi, DH |
| Max Muncy, 3B | 3 | Miguel Vargas, 3B |
| Austin Wynns, C | 4 | Colson Montgomery, SS |
| Darell Hernaiz, SS | 5 | Luisangel Acuña, CF |
| Brett Harris, 1B | 6 | Edgar Quero, C |
| Junior Perez, CF | 7 | LaMonte Wade Jr., 1B |
| Henry Bolte, RF | 8 | Brooks Baldwin, RF |
| Michael Stefanic, 2B | 9 | Jarred Kelenic, LF |
| Jack Perkins | SP | Chris Murphy |
