Better, But...

Baseball can be the most patient of professional sports, when it wants. Ex-White Sox reliever David Robertson hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2019, but the Rays see enough to sign the 36-year old to a contract. Ex-Cub Jake Arrieta looks like he hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2019, which is what a 5-11 record and 6.88 ERA will do t perceptions. And still the Padres see enough, or think they do or are so desperate for pitching, that they signed Arrieta to a minor-league deal. Arrieta is expected to be promoted in time to face the Rockies on Wednesday, in Denver. Good luck with that. And then we have soon-to-be 28-year old rookie catcher Seby Zavala of the White Sox. After a bitter cup of coffee with the Sox in 2019 (nine strikeouts in twelve at-bats), Zavala has surged ahead of Zack Collins to take over as the number-one catcher in the absence of Yasmani Grandal. With what he’s done offensively (.230 BA, four homeruns and thirteen RBIs in just 61 at-bats), Zavala will probably assume the number-two role once Grandal returns from his injury-rehab assignment. Last night, Zavala went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored in a 5-2 Sox win over the A’s. Best of all, he laid down a perfect safety squeeze in the sixth inning to score Luis Robert from third. Like I’ve said, it’s the small things that add up. This is not to ignore Zavala’s defensive issues; last night also saw his seventh passed ball in a mere 24 games. That’s not good, sort of like Dallas Keuchel going all of five innings. Like I’ve said, short starts lead to tired relievers. That’s not a good thing, although the nine strikeouts racked up by Michael Kopech, Craig Kimbrel and Liam Hendriks were fun to watch, especially when Kimbrel struck out two batters with runners at second and third in the eighth inning. Postgame, Hendriks said something about his slider somehow tipping off his fastball. Maybe. Reynaldo Lopez gets the start tonight in place of the injured Carlos Rodon. That will require a reserve of fastballs and sliders if the Sox want to take the second game of four in this series.