By Way of Comparison

And the young shall lead them. Rookie Sam Antonacci tripled in the tying run with two out in the bottom of the ninth yesterday afternoon against California. One inning later, second-year player Colson Montgomery delivered a walk-off single. White Sox 3 Angels 2 for a Sox sweep. Antonacci isn’t setting the AL Central on fire, but he exhibits an intriguing skill set, heavy on contact and hustle. He has nine hits in 40 at-bats for a .225 BA, with four walks; five runs; and six RBIs, including yesterday. He also has a double, two triples and an inside-the-park homerun. Did I mention a .347 OBP? Now, compare that to Fernando Tatis Jr., the one who got away. Tatis is hitting .250 in 112 at-bats with eleven runs and thirteen RBIs. The thirteen walks help elevate his OBP to .323, but the 32 strikeouts are more than a little concerning, especially when you consider Tatis has yet to homer. Tatis is averaging just south of $24.3 million a year, part of a fourteen-year deal with the Padres worth $340 million. The Sox travel to San Diego for their next series. This could be interesting.