Second Chances

If anyone deserves a second chance, it’s outfielder Charlie Tilson of the White Sox.  I mean, the guy comes to the Sox from the Cardinals in 2016 with a shot to take over in centerfield only to tear his hamstring in his first game, thank you James Shields for giving up all those extra-base hits.  Then Tilson suffered two more injuries followed by a so-so performance in his call up last year. 

 

Tilson wasn’t even on the 40-man roster at the start of the season.  Instead, he played the good soldier and went off to Triple-A Charlotte.  But he hit the proverbial cover off the ball--.333 BA, .398 OBP—for the Knights and so earned another chance in the show.  Right now, Tilson is hitting .326, 14 for 43.  What can you say but “Way to go and keep it up”?

 

Yesterday’s starter for Toronto, Ryan Feierabend, had a steeper climb than Tilson to get back to a major-league playing field.  Drafted in 2003, the 33-year old Feierabend last pitched in the majors in 2014, after which he spent four seasons in Korea before signing with the Blue Jays.  I’m guessing it’s the knuckleball Feierabend featured yesterday that earned him this latest look-see.  Again, way to go and keep it up, just not against us.

 

Last but not least is Daniel Palka, sent down by the Sox last month despite hitting 27 homeruns as a rookie in 2017.  And how is DP doing?  Well, he’s hitting .307 with nine homers and 20 RBIs to go along with a .450 OBP.  In comparison, the more recently demoted Adam Engel is batting .194.

I want Palka back, and his stats say it's time.