The White Sox pitching staff could really use standards

To a man — this one, specifically — Dylan Covey and Juan Minaya are inexorably linked in their general inexorability, so it’s kinda fitting that the latter was designated for assignment on Saturday to make room for the former.

Minaya’s season numbers don’t look DFA-worthy, but they’d been trending the wrong way for a solid month. He allowed 10 runs on 18 hits and seven walks over his last 12 innings, and hadn’t really shown signs of getting out of his location funk. He’ll live in White Sox lore in the Jake Petricka ward of fleeting effectiveness, and it’s hard to imagine the next good White Sox bullpen including him, so the loss won’t be felt on an independent level.

It’s just gotta hurt Minaya a little bit, because he’s a victim of standards the White Sox wish they had.

For one, Covey took his place on the roster and failed to complete an inning of work. After a couple of years of seeing decent stretches derailed by injuries, he pinned his problems this time on being too healthy:

“I played with like half of those guys coming up with the A’s and just really wanted to beat them,” Covey said. “Basically for one of the first times this year feeling 100 percent healthy, I think that just feeling of feeling really good and really powerful and just wanting the game so bad, just kind of led to me getting out of rhythm.”

Covey is now 6-26 with an ERA above 6 (6.07) for his career, and it feels like the rebuild won’t really turn a corner until he’s nowhere in the White Sox plans. It’s not particularly personal — the organization keeps resting tis forearms on a hot stove by running him out there as a starter instead of trying an opener, and maybe they’ve lost the capacity to feel pain because the alternatives to Covey are pitchers equally bad or worse — but they’re going to have major problems as long as Covey looks like a potential solution to them.

Moreover, with Minaya out of the bullpen, that’s one fewer mediocre righty for Kelvin Herrera to hide behind.

Pitching for the first time in eight days, the rest failed to do Herrera good on Saturday. He retired only one of the five batters he faced, and gave up a run for the sixth consecutive outing. He can thank Jace Fry for keeping his ERA below 8.00, but I’m not sure how long that’ll last.

Over his last 20 outings dating back to his back spasms in Boston on May 5, Herrera has a 13.50 ERA, and he’s allowed 40 baserunners over those 14⅔ innings. Rick Renteria has done what he can to bury him in the bullpen, but he was already stowing Minaya and Jose Ruiz in the same location. Imagine entering a room, turning on the light and seeing a large lump of right-handed men behind the same curtain bickering over who got there first. It’s a terrible game of hide and seek that’s unfolding, and Bummer, Alex Colomé and Evan Marshall can only distract us from it for so long.

Right now, the only difference between Herrera and the others is the $8.5 million Herrera is owed the next season. And right now, the only Charlotte reliever who hasn’t already auditioned in Chicago is Jimmy Cordero. He’s worth a shot, if only to reward a guy for a 0.55 ERA in Charlotte, but his MLB stats hamper hopes.

It’ll be kinda fascinating to monitor both scenarios, because there’s a shortage of good ideas and unevenly allocated money involved. I used the word “monitor” because there’s no way to dress up what it’ll be like to watch it.

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asinwreck

The 2019 Chicago White Sox: A Large Lump of Right-Handed Men

lil jimmy

We could spend 50 million on a RH center fielder, trade for a RH Left fielder.
Draft a RH’d 2nd baseman, and 1st baseman, to add to our current RH’d Short Stop, Catchers, and current 1st Baseman. What could go wrong?

gibby32

While I generally agree, the proliferation of shifts adversely affect left-handed hitters disproportionately. We have a couple of reasonably effective switch-hitters, Collins as a part-time catcher, and Reed, at least short term. I do want a left-handed hitting right fielder for the future though.

lil jimmy

Madrigal trumps Yolmer. Reed is the answer to a question nobody wants to ask.

gibby32

Of course, Madrigal trumps Yolmer. But there still is Moncada and Leury for switch-hitters. As to Reed, he’s probably nothing. But if we had traded Quintana to the Astros, he would have been a prominent part of the return. Since our main internal first-base guy(s) probably do not arrive until 2021, giving Reed a shot in the interim is not crazy, although he probably flames out in short order. If we establish a left-handed hitting right fielder, I’m ok with a predominantly right-handed hitting lineup.

Trooper Galactus

Gavin Sheets is on a 30-game on-base streak and is hitting .328/.399/.547 since June 1. In Birmingham, no less. He’s playing like 2020 is firmly in his plans.

PauliePaulie

Does anybody know if he’s made swing changes, or is he AJ Reed/Zack Collins 2.0?

Trooper Galactus

I don’t think it was a matter of swing changes so much as adjusting to the more advanced pitching. I think he just needed to get his pitch recognition and timing down.

PauliePaulie

Scouting reports say differently

Smclean09

I think he’s the rare lefty that attacks the ball up in the zone well but hadn’t really gotten a ton of lift. With the ball right now and pitchers abusing Reed and Collins upstairs, I have more faith in Sheets potentially being different if he forces his way up.

And this is from someone that has always been down on him.

PauliePaulie

I agree that his swing is geared towards high strikes. But, like Collins and Reed, will be eaten alive by inside heat if he hasn’t made changes to his swing.

Trooper Galactus

Well, he’s made swing changes to get more loft on the ball and tap into his power, which has improved his slugging, obviously, but I think the biggest thing has just been getting comfortable at the level. Just my opinion.

gibby32

I think Sheets will start 2020 in Charlotte. But, yeah, if he shows up, Reed in unlikely to block him.

Trooper Galactus

If Sheets keeps up his current pace, he’ll be in Charlotte before the season ends.

egib52

I’d be in favor of him going up to AAA. I know he started slow, but I’d see what he can do against the “crafty” AAA pitchers. If he sees the likely AAA ball bump, then you know he may be an option.

lil jimmy

Leury is a part time player on a good team.

So at best,1) Moncada, some 2) LHH Right Fielder and a 3) DH.
It’s like painting the floor and then finding yourself in the corner.
I know you’re old enough to remember to 2000 playoffs. Too Right Handed, and swept away.
If you could count on Collins to Catch, it would help. But you can’t.

PauliePaulie

And the answer invariably comes back, Grandal! Grandal!

Sox putting their faith in Colome and McCann next year will be fatal.

lil jimmy

Grandal would be a nice addition. He should be a top priority this off season.

Trooper Galactus

I would absolutely be on board for that.

gibby32

Grandal would be fine. With McCann it would give you two good defensive catchers. But personally, I believe the Sox are going to count on McCann for more than a part-time role in 2020.

Trooper Galactus

Health aside, Leury has proven himself a perfectly useful up-the-middle starting player.

lil jimmy

Ahead of Anderson, Magrigal, or Robert?

Trooper Galactus

I would presume no, but until those guys are all here and performing Leury is a good option to start and has been our best outfielder this season.

gibby32

As I said above, I am not that worried about being that right-handed. Shifts were not in evidence in 2000.

tommytwonines

Reed is the answer to a question nobody wants to ask.

Is it “Does this shirt make me look fat?”  

Trooper Galactus

Charlie Tilson ain’t doing it for you?

MrTopaz

Is “lump” the collective noun for a bunch of right-handed men? If they’re all relievers, would it be a “Jenks”?

PauliePaulie

With Hansen, Hamilton, Burr, Fulmer, Burdi and Fry, this was the year the ‘pen of the future was supposed to establish itself.
Hope they can find a taker for Colome before regression kicks in.

gibby32

I for one refuse to join the chorus of folk who think they know that “regression” is inevitable.

Trooper Galactus

As good as Colome’s results have been, and as much as he’s been one of the few bulwarks against this team being really, really bad again, I have to admit that he’s never really looked downright dominant.

Patrick Nolan

Regression is never inevitable over a sample as short as a half-season of relief pitching. He could keep getting lucky! But that’s what he’s doing — getting lucky.

tommytwonines

Hansen looked too good for the bullpen, though. Guys like Jeff Passan were calling him a number 1 less than two years ago, wondering if he was better than Kopech. 

Trooper Galactus

If he could ever find the strike zone he would be. Ever since that forearm strain at the beginning of last year he’s been completely lost.

tommytwonines

He had trouble before the forearm strain – a lousy, wild junior year in college is the reason he dropped to the Sox in round 2. If he “fixes” it he’s likely to lose it again. 

Trooper Galactus

I think he sustained an injury before that lousy, wild junior year also. But yeah, even if he rights the ship, you can’t help but feel another capsizing is imminent.

lil jimmy

Matt Thornton was wild in Seattle. He found the strike zone at 29 years old. Hansen could be an excellent bullpen arm.

tommytwonines

@lil jimmy

And like Thornton, he’ll probably be doing it somewhere else. 

lil jimmy

after he gives us eight good years.

tommytwonines

You’re missing the point. Thornton is to Seattle what Hansen is to Chicago. Got it?

Is it me? It’s him, right?

tommytwonines

comment image

lil jimmy

So it is you!

lil jimmy

It’s your opinion. Mine is different. Thornton did pitch for four years after Chicago.
See how that works.

Smclean09

Even when Hansen was on he struggled to repeat his delivery. I was fearful he would kind of fall off at some point while he moved up the ladder. Maybe they can move him to the stretch and he will Glasnow or something?

Willardmarshall

Does Herrera belong back on the IL?

Trooper Galactus

Did Herrera ever go to the IL officially, or was he just given a few days rest? I can’t remember.

Greg Nix

Who could possibly have foreseen that overpaying for a declining setup man wouldn’t turn out well?

Trooper Galactus

Yeah, I didn’t think the Herrera signing was the worst idea, though I also didn’t think a 2-year contract was necessary.

Digger910

I hate to be reactionary but these last two games are giving me the bad feels and moving me into the sell-a-little camp. The Rays look like buyers. Could Colome, eating salary and one of our AA outfielders bring back one of their many many many top 100 prospects? Maybe the outfielder or the catcher?

Make one more rebuild move like that – I appreciate Colome but he’s not essential for next year and beyond – and then start promoting people a level (Sosa, Vaughn, Walker, Steiner, Madrigal, Sheets, Rutherford…Forbes(!!!)). Bring Hansen up, turn him loose and let him figure out his command up here. Bring up anyone else who might be able to catch fire and stick in the bullpen. Bring up Robert. 

We aren’t winning the wild card, the season’s been fun and is a relative success already. Make another move and start looking toward next year. 

PauliePaulie

Rays are a really smart team. Don’t think they’d go for Colome. Maybe the Reds, Phillies or Rockies are buying his first half?
Rockies and Reds could also use a catcher.

Trooper Galactus

Brewers seem like a natural fit also. Have some 100-to-200 ranked talents who fit value-wise (Turang, Ray, Lutz) and an obvious need for a closer.

tommytwonines

Bring Hansen up, turn him loose and let him figure out his command up here

That’s just cruel. Made me laugh, though. 

Digger910

I guess. Why not. He’s mostly struggled on the farm. Throws absolute missiles though. Let him try to throw it as hard as he can at major leaguers. He’s not getting younger. If he doesn’t look able to figure it out, move on. Or maybe it clicks soon while there’s less pressure. 

iowasox1971

The Rays had Colome a few years ago. He was an all-star for them in 2016 and led the league in saves the following year. If they didn’t want him after he did all that for them, why would they give up a great prospect for him now?

Yolmer

Jose Ruiz turning into a good pitcher is my out there prediction for the second half. He’s got the stuff to where it will eventually click for him in my opinion.

Digger910

Yes! He’s super fun isn’t he? Thought the same thing. 

mikeyb

Jose Ruiz is fun??? Man, we have different ideas of fun. The guy who gave up a run in like half of his appearances in the first half of the season? The guy who only had 4 first half appearances without allowing a baserunner (and 2 of those were facing only one batter)? Heh Jose Ruiz would have been near the very bottom of players on the Sox I would have described as fun.

Trooper Galactus

He sure does have the stuff, but man, his command is just not there. Wouldn’t take much for him to turn it around, though.