Breaking News

I nearly jumped out of my chair last night. You just don’t expect the phone to ring at 10:30. Let me note here we have a landline in the kitchen, a beautiful piece of analog technology from Western Electric, without doubt the nicest-looking red wall phone on the block. Once upon a time, we went with a landline on account of elderly relatives. Now, I’m pretty much that elderly relative. Anyway, Clare called to tell me the White Sox had traded centerfielder Luis Robert Jr. to the Mets for two prospects, second baseman Luisangel Acuña and pitcher Truman Pauley. In other words, a soon-to-be 24-year old infielder and a twelfth-round 2025 draft-pick out of Harvard. Of course, Sox GM Chris Getz is all excited about Acuña and pretty much made him sound like the second coming of Nellie Fox. We’ll see. But it is worth noting Acuña stole sixteen bases over 95 games and 175 at-bats for the Mets last season. The real news here is 2021’s totally in the past. No more Robert or Eloy Jimenez in the outfield. On a more recent note, no more Mike Tauchman and probably not much Andrew Benintendi, at least not in the outfield. A Gold Glover in left for the Royals in 2021, Benintendi now looks more like Eloy out there. So, who’s in the outfield come Opening Day? Don’t know, but it should be interesting. My guess is that Brooks Baldwin will get a long look at one of the corners, and Acuña may get a crack at centerfield, where he’s played some in the minors. Also keep an eye on Sam Antonacci and Braeden Montgomery, both of whom could hit their way onto the team. Speaking of daughters making phone calls, in May of 2017 I was standing in line to get into a Frank Lloyd Wright house when Clare called to tell me the Sox had signed Robert. It was a big deal back then. Things change.