Of curses, disappointments and offspring

Chicago White Sox, the team that opened the doors to the Major Leagues for him after a long stay in the minors, as a result of that incident in which he hit a home run on a 3-0 count on a pumped delivery from Minnesota Twins infielder Williams Astudillo, who was pitching for the comfortable difference on the scoreboard. Tony La Russa, mentor of the ChiSox, called the attitude of the Dominican rookie, who up to that moment was the sensation of the season, disrespectful to the game. After that reprimand, Mercedes fell into a slump from which he could not recover. Yerminator’ now wanders, like a soul in pain, in the Minors with very little chance, at least for the moment, of ever stepping foot on a Major League field again. His offensive line with the AAA Charlotte Knights (.222 AVE/.347 OBP/.414 SLUG) does not look attractive enough to think that La Russa will call him back to the big team.

SINCE THAT incomprehensible reaction from Tony La Russa, the White Sox, despite having one of the most powerful rosters in the American League, have been left wanting. Last year they were crushed by the Houston Astros in the Divisional Series (1-3) and are currently in third place in the Central division, behind two theoretically inferior teams (Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Guardians). They are on their way to falling out of the postseason despite the increased seeding thanks to the extended playoffs. La Russa, who was brought out of retirement to replace Rick Renteria (helmsman who posted a 35-25 record in 2020 and the franchise’s first postseason appearance since 2008) and take the team to the next level, has stalled despite inheriting a team built and ready for bigger endeavors. As of the close of this column, the White Sox were playing below .500, the product of 23 wins and 26 losses. Is there a Mercedes curse? Or has La Russa, a member of the Cooperstown Hall of Fame as a manager, simply not been able to find the switch to turn on this team that has now gone 17 years without reaching the World Series?

IF CHICAGO has nothing to celebrate, because the Cubs (22-29) are also in the doldrums, uneasiness must be the prevailing mood in Detroit, as the Tigers (21-30) were built to contend in the American League Central division and have done little or nothing to justify management’s off-season moves. While there is still time to rebound – they are 8 games behind the pacesetting Twins – much will have to improve for a team that colleague Jesse Rogers labeled “terrible.” Rogers recently wrote of the Tigers, “Detroit’s biggest problem is at the plate, where they rank second to last in the league in OPS, just above .600 (.611). High-priced free agent Javier Baez saw his batting average drop below .200 (.197) and has just three home runs. In fact, four regulars, FOUR, are hitting below Mendoza’s line, while 2021 promising youngster Akil Baddoo has been banished to the minors. It wasn’t supposed to be this way for AJ Hinch’s Tigers.”

AFTER SIGNING a mega-contract, Lindor had a year to forget in his first season with the New York Mets. His compatriot and friend, Javier Baez, is on the same path in 2022. In the off-season ‘El Mago’ signed a 6-year, $140 million deal with Detroit and so far has not justified the “modest” $20 million check he will earn upon completion of the campaign. If the Tigers have been “terrible,” Baez has been a disaster. No power, no touch, no speed. No opportunity either. In short, Detroit’s investment has been a fiasco so far. Baez’s offensive average is below the Mendoza Line (.197), his slugging percentage is a paltry .236, which translates to him reaching base a little more than twice every ten at-bats. In addition, he has only hit three home runs and towed 13 in 40 games. Not only that, so far he hasn’t stolen a single base, something he did 18, 11 and 21 times in the last three full seasons (2018, 2019 and 2021). Detroit bought caviar and was sold tilapia.