Swinging and missing the mark
Moncada trying to avoid the strikeout record
CLEVELAND — Yoan Moncada almost got through a game without striking out.
After reaching base four times in his first five plate appearances in the White Sox’ 5-4 victory in 11 innings Thursday against the Indians, he whiffed for the 206th time with 10 games to play with two runners in scoring position and two outs in the 10th inning against submariner Adam Cimber.
That put the talented 23-yearold switch-hitting second baseman 17 strikeouts shy of record holder Mark Reynolds (223) of the Rockies in 2009 and 16 short of Adam Dunn’s franchise mark set in 2012. It’s a dubious distinction Moncada could do without, but manager Rick Renteria won’t be going out of his way to prevent it by limiting Moncada’s at-bats down the stretch.
If it stings a little, so be it. “Sometimes allowing somebody to fall as low as they can possibly fall might be the biggest thing they get to move them forward,’’ Renteria said. “Sometimes it’s, ‘We don’t want to hurt his feelings.’ No, by all means, hurt his feelings. Let him appreciate the frustration of what that’s about, so he can appreciate how important it is to have a certain approach or mindset or sense of urgency.’’
In an era in which increasing strikeouts are shrugged off as no big deal, Renteria has no use for the whiff. Give him a productive out, he says.
A centerpiece of the Sox’ rebuild, Moncada had a productive night with a walk and three hits, including a two-run double off the wall in the second inning against righty Josh Tomlin. The Sox won on Matt Davidson’s single in the 11th that scored Yolmer Sanchez (double). Hector Santiago (6-3) pitched three scoreless innings of relief as the Sox won for the first time in nine games at Progressive Field.
James Shields allowed home runs on consecutive pitches to Francisco Lindor and Michael Brantley in the third but nothing else in six innings, and Omar Narvaez hit his ninth homer. The Sox’ bullpen, however, gave up the lead in the eighth.
In his first full season, Moncada is one of eight players (12 times) to surpass 200 strikeouts, a list with some good current names on it such as Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. Kris Bryant fanned 199 times as a rookie.
On the plus side, Moncada is not a chaser of bad pitches. He has a patient eye.
“The stats are the stats; I’m not sitting here, going, ‘I’m leading the league in strikeouts,’’’ he said last week. “I’m just trying to focus on getting better.’’
Renteria said Moncada might one day laugh off the huge whiff total. And he doesn’t care at all about the number, only Moncada’s approach.
“Is he adjusting to moments and situations?’’ Renteria said. “At times I see it, at times I don’t. It’s the inconsistency with which he’s approaching those two-strike atbats that I’m more concerned with.
“He had some really good atbats from both sides of the plate tonight.’’
Renteria touts Moncada’s 17 home runs, 28 doubles, six triples, 11 stolen bases and 60 RBI. He has an improving .231/.309/.397 hitting line and has reached base in 25 of his last 27 games, batting .294 during that stretch.
“Some people think this is a lost season for him, but it is not,’’ Renteria said. “He is going to grow and come out of this.’’
And deal with the strikeout record if it occurs.
“Remember, there are different ways of motivating people,’’ Renteria said. “There’s a pat on the butt, and there’s a kick on the butt. Maybe this will be a kick on the butt. But I’m not going to give up on that kid. No way. He has way too much talent. And one season is not making or breaking him.’’