The Promised Land

By all accounts, Moses was a very good leader, but he was not allowed into the Promised Land. I doubt anyone would confuse Rick Renteria with Moses. Which leads to the question, should Renteria be allowed to manage the pretty much rebuilt White Sox? Off of last night’s 5-3 loss in ten innings to the Indians, the answer is a resounding No. The Sox were ahead 3-1 with two out in the tenth when Francisco Lindor lined a ball to dead center field. Luis Robert jumped…and missed the ball. It’s a catch Adam Engel probably makes. If the game’s important, Engel’s in center and Robert moves over to right. If the next five games are important, Engel is in the lineup and Nomar Mazara is on the bench. Back to the game. Closer Alex Colome needed all of six pitches to get through the ninth inning and should have been back out for the tenth. Supposedly, he didn’t on account of back spasms. OK, so let’s say it’s two out and the switch-hitting Lindor is up. Why does he get to bat left-handed, his stronger side? If you don’t trust Jace Fry to turn him around and the game’s important, bring in Dallas Keuchel. All I know is Matt Foster gave up the (catchable) double to Lindor and then walked the next batter, bringing up switch-hitting Jose Ramirez. Instead of Foster facing Ramirez, in comes Joe Shlabotnik, or his 21st century equivalent, right-handed reliever Jose Ruiz. And what does Ruiz do? He puts a ball right where Ramirez can drive it for a three-run walk-off homerun. If you’re afraid to turn around Ramirez with Fry, then why not bring in Lucas Giolito? It’s one batter, and Giolito keeps the ball high in the strike zone, where Ramirez can’t drive it. Your thoughts, Rick? And, while you’re at it, tell us what’s up with Luis Robert, whose average is down to .225 to go with 68 strikeouts, including three last night. What exactly are you doing to help Robert out of his hellacious slump? The same thing you’re doing with third baseman Yoan Moncada, who’s batting an even worse .221? I’m not a doctor, but it seems to me Moncada hasn’t recovered from his bout of COVID-19. He should be playing at most every other game with Yolmer Sanchez and Danny Mendick spelling him. Oh, wait, Mendick was sent down for Ruiz. The Promised Land is great, if you can get there. Just ask Moses.