The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Let’s start off with the bad from last night, that being the decision by White Sox manager Tony La Russa to have Dallas Keuchel relieve in the seventh inning of a game where the Sox were down, 1-0. The bad is what Keuchel did, giving up three runs on four hits and a walk in just .2 inning. But let’s not forget the good, either. There was Tim Anderson going 2-for-4 with an RBI; Gavin Sheets picking up his 34th RBI on the season in just 159 at-bats; and Yoan Moncada hitting what proved to be the game-winning homerun, a two-out, two-run shot to the opposite field (left) in the bottom of the eighth inning. Take your pick as to which of the above qualifies as the most important going into the postseason. “At least he showed some emotion,” said my daughter of the enigmatic Moncada when I called her to talk about the game. “Sometimes, he hits a homerun, and it’s like nothing’s happened.” Yes, a little emotion is in order here, especially if it helps counter the homefield advantage the Astros finally secured last night with a win over the A’s. Come Thursday, it’s all hands on deck, starting with how the postseason pitching staff is constructed. Rick, Tony, they pay you the big bucks to make the tough decisions. Time to earn your pay.