What, Me Worry?

The Keystone Sox were at it again last night, taking their show to Target Field against the Twins. That vaunted offense managed one run, again, a solo shot from number-eight (!) hitter Andrew Vaughn that actually held up until two out, nobody on in the bottom of the eighth. Hijinx ensued on an 0-2 pitch from reliever Kendall Graveman to the number nine hitter. That would be catcher Ryan Jeffers, who doubled off the wall in left. Graveman then walked leadoff hitter Luis Arraez to bring up Carlos Correa, who hit a grounder deep in the hole at short, “fielded” by Tim Anderson. Please note the qualifying quotation marks. Anderson couldn’t get the ball out of his glove for a force at second and couldn’t throw cleanly to first; that was the first error, along with the first run. Next, Jose Abreu got in on the act by retrieving the ball and throwing it past catcher Reese McGuire. That was the second error, letting in the winning run. Let’s review here—two errors by different infielders on the same play. And let’s not forget that Abreu lost his glove trying to field Anderson’s throw; that, my friends, definitely looked weird. For those of you keeping count, that’s six errors by Anderson at short over the last four games, and sixteen for the team. Guess who leads the majors in that department? But, not to worry. At least that’s what players and coaches are saying; the ship will be righted. I hope so. As soon as that happens, maybe the skipper will relate why he didn’t pinch-hit in the ninth inning, when the Sox loaded the bases with one out. Twins’ reliever Emilio helped by walking two consecutive batters. So, would you have had McGuire—still looking for his first RBI on the season—face him? Consider that the one thing Yasmani Grandal does well is take a pitch; if anyone could coax a third walk, it would be him. But Tony LaRussa stuck with McGuire, who popped out. Jake Burger ended the game taking a close pitch for strike three on a full count, and the bump in the road reached five straight losses. But it’s April, too early to worry. Right?