What I Say

Yesterday, Michael Kopech faced a Cubs’ lineup even more minor-leaguish than the one the Giants threw at him in his last start. No matter, Kopech squandered a three-run lead, giving the White Sox an 8-5 loss in their final Cactus League game. Kopech went 4.1 innings, giving up five runs on five hits and three walks to go with seven strikeouts. Wow, seven punchouts against a bunch of minor leaguers (and Nick Madrigal). Be still, my beating heart, and let’s not forget those five runs. Today’s Sun-Times quotes Kopech saying there were “positive takeaways” from his performance, and he said he’s going into the season “with a clean slate and more of an intentional focus,” whatever that is. All I know is what I saw, pitches in the range of 92-94 mph (per the Times’ estimate), this from someone who once threw a ball 110 mph. Kopech is supposed to start the home opener next week against the Giants, and they won’t be going with scrubs. Major-league hitters will lay off Kopech’s breaking balls out of the strike zone and hammer his flat fastball. You heard it here first. As for the Sox outperforming their PECOTA prediction of 79.9 wins on the season, that all depends on their fourth and fifth starters, Kopech and Mike Clevinger. What could possibly go wrong?