Tagged: US Cellular Field
The Cuban Revelation: the Jose Abreu move is more than paying off in Chicago
Way, way back in my MLB Season Preview Series, I lamented how quietly the Chicago White Sox had quietly limped to a 99-loss season in 2013. In doing my research for the post, I’d been surprised to see quite how bad they had been, and wondered how they had pulled off such anonymous incompetence. I figured it had been their anemic offense, something an influx of exciting new players would help cure, and thus get the Pale Hose back on the national radar. Using that logic, I wrote about Adam Eaton as the key to Chicago’s turnaround.
In a way, I was right; Eaton has been every bit the leadoff force that many predicted of him back before injury derailed his 2013 season in Arizona (and before Kevin Towers traded him at his lowest value). In a larger respect though, I was dead wrong; while Eaton’s arrival has undoubtedly had a positive impact on both sides of the ball, it has been the South Sider’s other notable offseason addition that has garnered baseball’s attention so far. One month into his major league career, 27-year-old rookie Jose Abreu has crushed his way into the wider consciousness, and, in the words of Jonah Keri today, “turned a moribund White Sox team into a must-watch outfit every night.”
Signed to a six-year, $68 million deal back in October (the largest in White Sox history in terms of total money), the acquisition of the right-handed slugger was deemed “a calculated risk, but one we had to take,” by none other than Chicago GM Rick Hahn at the time. Even after putting up video-game numbers in Cuba (Abreu batted .316 with 19 home runs and 60 RBIs over 83 games in 2013, while posting a .479 on-base percentage and a .604 slugging percentage*), there were still concerns over how his perceived ‘long’ swing would hold up against American League competition, the usual cultural shift worries, and whether the heavy expectations upon his shoulders (he’d be replacing beloved face of the franchise Paul Konerko at first base) would further impede his production translating. That “bold and aggressive” move though, is looking like a stroke of genius on the part of Hahn so far in 2014.
Abreu has been sensational during his first four weeks in the majors, obliterating pitches and setting all sorts of records along the way. With a major hat-tip to ESPN’s Stats and Information crew, through last nights games:
– Abreu’s 10 home runs are the most by a White Sox rookie in any month, and the most for a White Sox player since Konerko had 11 in 2001 (Jim Thome hit 10 in 2006).
– His 31 RBIs set an MLB rookie record for March/April, beating the previous mark set by… Albert Pujols. His impressive total also established a new franchise record for the opening month, topping Konerko’s mark of 28 in 2002, and has tied Frank Thomas for the most by a White Sox player in any month (Thomas had 31 in August 2003)**.
– And (as illustrated in this excellent piece) he’s just destroying the outside pitch: Eight of his 10 home runs have come against pitches on the outer half of the plate or off the outside corner, which along with his .797 slugging percentage against similar pitches, give Abreu the highest marks in baseball (His six extra-base hits against pitches out of the strike zone rank second only to Mike Trout).
Less statistically significant, but still valid: he’s destroyed at least one backstop phone, been called ” the best player in the world … ever … right now,” by Evan Longoria (admittedly after he hit the above walk-off grand slam against Grant Balfour and the Rays on Friday), taken pretty good pitchers by the names of David Price, Justin Verlander and Chris Archer deep already, and taught Danny Salazar to never, ever, hang a breaking ball again.
More than anything though, Abreu has awakened the Pale Hose offense from its 2013 slumber; along with Eaton, he’s at the forefront of a lineup which leads the majors in runs scored (143), and is largely responsive for keeping Chicago afloat at .500 in the AL Central (especially considering how ace Chris Sale is out and the rest of the team’s pitching stinks – only Arizona have allowed more runs). His monstrous impact has even made Hawk Harrelson more exclamatory than usual. So while it’s a cert that he won’t keep up his torrid pace of record-making (if he hits 62 homers and 193 RBI, I’ll turn vegan), Abreu has already achieved something I thought far more improbable; almost single-handedly, he’s made the White Sox watchable again.
* Numbers which actually made it a below-average year for the big righty. Including postseason appearances, he batted .392 over the 2010-13 seasons, with 133 home runs, 337 RBIs, 311 runs and 278 walks.
** Per the Elias Sports Bureau, the Cuban defector is the first rookie with 10 homers and 30 RBIs in a calendar month since Al Rosen and Luke Easter both did it for the Cleveland Indians in June 1950.
Hello Baseball! Adam Eaton’s Welcome Edge.
After having my Baltimore preview rendered irrelevant the day prior, Jackie Bradley Jr. thankfully didn’t find himself traded/injured/prematurely-retired by the time my 2014 MLB Season Preview rolled around to Boston yesterday. From one promising center fielder to another then, as today I focus on Adam Eaton – one of the many young players the Chicago White Sox will be hoping break out this year. They could sure use some impetus in 2014.
Did you know the White Sox last 99 games last year, and compiled the third worst record in the majors? I’m guessing if you’re a Chicago fan, sure you already did – I don’t mean to rub it in. I was just surprised. Obviously Detroit were a good team in winning 93 games and the AL Central, and both Cleveland and Kansas City defied the curses placed on their respective towns and improved, but finishing behind lowly Minnesota? I had no idea the Sox had sunk so low.
And therein lies the problem. Despite finishing fourth in the AL in ERA+ (their 108 being tied with Boston), Chicago traipsed through 2013 devoid of inspirational hitting or defense; their OBP mark of .302 was second-worst to only the historically abysmal Astros, whom also redeemed the Sox (-72) from the ignominy of being ranked last in Rtot (Total Zone Total Fielding Runs Above Average). With nominal ‘Face of The Franchise’ Paul Konerko in the twilight of his career, Adam Dunn doing Adam Dunn-like things, and an otherwise uninteresting flotsam of role players, Chicago lacked the identity necessary for public concern. Enter Eaton.
After batting a combined .375 with 59 XBH (7HRs), with 48 RBI, 130 runs scored and 44 stolen bases in 130 games with Class AAA Reno and AA Mobile, as a member of the Diamondbacks organization in 2012, expectations were sky-high for Eaton entering last year; Keith Law tabbed him his top potential impact rookie, while Baseball America ranked the former 19th round pick as Arizona’s third-best prospect, the best hitter for average in the system, the fastest baserunner, and the best outfield arm. After suffering an injury to his left ulner collateral ligament in March however, Eaton was limited to just 66 games in which he slashed only 252/.314/.360. Having seen AJ Pollock develop into a competent starter in his absence, (and perhaps Eaton’s apparently abrasive locker-room personality) when the opportunity arose for Arizona to acquire the power bat they had for so long craved, their once-hyped prospect was deemed expendable.
Acquired in December’s three team trade that saw Mark Trumbo go to Arizona, and Chicago effectively swap Hector Santiago for Eaton, Chicago’s GM immediately alluded to his new center fielder’s fiery disposition: “This is a dirtbag baseball player… This is a guy who has been described to me by someone with words I can’t use. But we were looking to give us an edge that we were lacking a little bit in recent months.” More than just his scrappy attitude however, Eaton’s potential for a significant on the field impact makes his acquisition a good piece of business relative to Chicago’s climb back to relevancy; with his salary under team control through the next two seasons (he’s first eligible for free agency in 2019), Eaton represents the latest step in Chicago’s effort to build a foundation for future success through youth, joining the likes of Avisail Garcia and Jose Abreu as a cog which should still be in place as part of the next relevant Sox team. The 25 year old’s arrival in center field also makes the defensively shaky Alejandro De Aza surplus to requirements – if traded at the right time, his departure could further net Chicago a useful young piece or two.
In taking advantage of Arizona’s curious policy of selling players at their lowest value (Justin Upton anyone? Trevor Bauer?), Chicago have cheaply procured a multi-faceted piece they sorely lacked ever since Juan Pierre left town – a prototypical leadoff fitter, strong outfielder, and threat on the base paths. At 5-foot-8 and 185 pounds, Eaton will primarily be expected to dig in and do whatever it takes to get on base – improving that ghastly 2013 OBP – from which he can then showcase his famed all-out attitude; “If I’m on first base I’m going to score for my guy because I want him to get an RBI,” said Eaton in January, “I don’t see playing the game any other way. I may be out of this game in five years because I’m playing so hard, but that’s the only way I can play and the only demeanor I can bring to this team.” The attitude comparisons to AJ Pierzynski are almost too obvious, but it’s clear that Eaton is ready to step into the shoes left vacant as Chicago’s resident irritant. Sox fans can dream of a similar victory parade moment as Pierzynski’s immortal 2005 ‘thanks for putting up with me’ quote; I’ll be content with measuring Eaton’s impact by my capacity to recall Chicago’s 2014 record next year.
The Dugout Perspective 