Eaton playing with broken digit
The White Sox played their 100th game Monday. For center fielder and leadoff man Adam Eaton, who has missed time with various foot, leg and hand ailments, it was Game No. 78.
Eaton’s latest injury is a broken middle finger on his right (non-throwing) hand.
He hurt it making a headfirst slide in Boston two weeks ago but has kept the extent of the injury quiet.
“I’ve been trying to hold the bat a little differently and swing it differently,’’ said Eaton, who singled in his first two at-bats, walked and stole his 10th base in the Sox’ 3-1 win Monday over the Royals.
He wore a protective brace on the hand while running the bases and will let the corner outfielders take some of the routine balls they can get to.
“It’s something you deal with,’’ Eaton said after the game. “You have to play through it, and anybody else in here would do it.’’
“His style is to play hard,’’ said first-base coach Daryl
Boston, who coaches the outfielders. “Let the chips fall where they may. We’re a better team with him on the field. If you ask him to back off, then he’s not providing the spark and the energy. It rubs off on everybody when you see a guy playing hard.’’
Trade talk vexing Beckham?
The non-waiver trade deadline is next Thursday, which could mean a final countdown has begun for second baseman Gordon Beckham.
Manager Robin Ventura suspected two weeks ago that trade rumors were a distraction for Beckham, and that probably hasn’t changed. Beckham, who was 0-for-3 with a sacrifice fly that scored the Sox’ third run, is in a 4-for-51 slump in his last 13 games and in a 16-for-120 (.133) rut over his last 32, numbers that haven’t enhanced his trade value.
‘‘You hear about it enough, and [it can be a] distraction,’’ Ventura said. “Hopefully it’s not.’’
“He’s a big boy; he’ll be all right,’’ team captain and friend Paul Konerko said.
“It’s part of the gig. You have to block out a lot of things and do your job. It shows that other teams see value in him.’’
Cooper to miss more time
Pitching coach Don Cooper missed his second consecutive game with vertigo.
“It’s possible he won’t be here for a few days,” Ventura said. “I’ve never had it, but by listening to him, it doesn’t sound very good.’’