Redemption

The White Sox beat the Cubs again last night, 4-3, in a game that wasn’t nearly as cold or miserable as the night before. But I wouldn’t get too excited. This Cubs’ team has the stink of calculated defeat about it, sort of like the Sox of 2017-19. You can’t beat these guys, you’re in serious trouble. Not that Tony La Russa was committed to winning. Sorry, but bringing Aaron Bummer into a one-run game belies that notion. So, in went Bummer for the eighth inning, and, wala, the Cubs suddenly had runners on the corners with nobody out. After inducing a full-count lineout from Yan Gomes (miracle, that), Bummer yielded to Matt Foster. Once upon a time, that would’ve been greeted with cheers. Then, more recently, with groans. And, now? Cheers again. Foster got a popup and strikeout to end the inning. Foster came out of nowhere as a rookie reliever in 2020, posting a 6-1 record and 2.20 ERA. That was followed by a sophomore slump where the 26-year old righthander couldn’t seem to get anybody out, as evidenced by his 6.00 ERA, while yo-yoing between the Sox and Triple-A Charlotte. Foster was sent packing no fewer than six times. Now, it’s 2020 all over again. Foster is sporting a 0.77 ERA and 0.86 WHIP over 11.2 innings in eleven games. What happened, exactly? After the game, Foster talked about “getting my head in the right place.” Now, as a sportswriter, I’d want to know how, and if pitching coach Ethan Katz was part of the process. Heads are a funny thing. And arms, and pitchers…