The
White Sox announced the signing of ex-Cub Tony Campana to a minor league
contract, and I’m excited. If Campana
makes the team as a spare outfielder/pinch runner, that will give the Sox two
players measuring 5’8,” counting Adam Eaton.
Despite
the steroids’ era more or less over, baseball is still all about big, power
hitters facing power pitchers. This has
resulted in lots of strikeouts and walks to go with arm injuries and the
occasional homerun. Little guys—and who
knows, someday, girls—can alter that equation, if they have plate discipline.
All
a player like Campana has to do is stand there and dare the pitcher to throw
strikes; the smaller the strike zone, the harder that is. When Campana gets on base, he is 66 for 75 in
career stolen bases. Heck, he doesn’t
even have to steal, as long as he goes from first to third on a single.
That
way, everything old becomes new again in the national pastime, as Albie Pearson
and Freddie Patek could tell you.
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