Dispatches from the Front

Clare and Chris went to the Sox-Twins’ game at Guaranteed Rate Whatever yesterday afternoon and sat in a pair of nice seats behind third base. My pregnant daughter admits to yelling at Josh Donaldson only once. Her husband suggests it may have been a few times more. Ever the scout, Clare was impressed by Gavin Sheets. “He’s big,” she said succinctly. (Update: Clare just called to tell me Jake Burger has been called up and Yermin Mercedes sent down. More as this situation develops.) I said Sheets’ size may actually have worked against him in the minors, with people thinking he should hit more homeruns than he has. We both agree he just needs to put the ball in play to be effective. Because this is the year of perpetual injuries, the Sox lost Yoan Moncada in the third inning when he slid head-first into third base on a single by Jose Abreu. The problem was that Moncada dove more than he slid, and ground tends to be less forgiving than water. Moncada rolled over his right hand, leaving it swollen and bruised. He may have to be replaced the next few games. (See above.) Along those lines, Sox manager Tony La Russa moved Andrew Vaughn in from left field to play third for four innings. According to Clare, “Vaughn was playing so deep, he could’ve stayed in left. He definitely did not want to be there.” But my daughter did, and she got to see an 8-5 Sox win as Michael Kopech picked up the win, pitching for the first time in more than a month. All is good in the world of South Siders.