FOT (Friend of Tony)

It pays for a player to be a friend of White Sox manager Tony LaRussa. No matter how much you stink up the field, he’s got your back. Take yesterday’s doubleheader in Cleveland, please. In game one, starter Dallas Keuchel gave up ten runs (eight earned) in one-plus inning. At one point, Keuchel yielded eight straight hits, including a grand slam by Jose Ramirez. Not that he thought he pitched all that poorly, no sir. “I’ll take nine singles and a blast,” the lefty said after the game [as noted in today’s Sun-Times]. “Three hard-hit balls all day. First-pitch swings, ground balls, I mean, [it’s] really all I wanted.” What universe does he live in? Oh, it’s the same one where LaRussa says Keuchel “deserved better” and, “I look forward to the next time he gets out there. [So will opposing hitters, Tony.] He came out there with good stuff. [today’s Tribune]” Wait, there’s more. The Sox managed eight hits in two games, losing 11-1 and 2-1. After the first game, LaRussa blamed himself. After two rain-outs in Cleveland, after which “you have to push, and I didn’t push the club like I should have. I take the heat. We weren’t ready to play early [or late, for that matter], and it’s my job to get that done. [Trib]” That must include Tim Anderson’s three errors at shortstop in the first game. Back in the day, Rick Renteria likely would’ve called Anderson out for lackluster play. Too bad Renteria wasn’t a FOJ, friend of Jerry (Reinsdorf). If the owner’s in love with you, it’s easy to take the blame. Right, Tony?