Carpe Diem

Well, stopped clocks and White Sox manager Mickey Mouse can get things right, once in a while. Mouse called yesterday’s start for rookie Nick Nastrini “opportunity time.” [today’s Tribune] Mouse also said, “I always tell our guys, opportunity meets preparation at some point. Prepare yourself for when you get that opportunity. It might be once. One inning or two, but that one inning can get you a second inning. One start might get you a second start and get you a third. A lot of great careers have started off with that one inning.” Nastrini responded by laying an egg, big time. As in seven two-out runs in the bottom of the second inning. Nastrini gave up six hits, four with two strikes; he also walked six batters in 3.1 innings. Sox lose to the Blue Jays, 9-2. This is seizing the moment? Toronto starter Chris Bassitt looked wobbly early on, putting two runners on in the first inning, only for Paul De Jong to hit into a double play; De Jong repeated the feat in the sixth. And for this he bats cleanup, with Andrew Benintendi fifth? Benintendi went 0-for-4, by the way, lowering his average to .186. But, hey, that’s better than Martin Maldonado. He went 0-for-4, too, putting him at .089. Good thing he brings so many intangibles with him.