Jose Abreu has been thriving hitting second in the lineup. (David Banks-USA TODAY Sports)
CHICAGO — The lineup card was posted in the Chicago White Sox’s clubhouse Monday afternoon, and first baseman Jose Abreu was listed in the second spot of the batting order for the seventh game in a row.
What started as an experiment by manager Robin Ventura for a game in Detroit during the past road trip is now the norm for Abreu, at least until somebody else shows on-base percentage numbers worthy of that spot.
“I know sabermetrically (you could) put him leadoff or whatever, but offensively, we weren’t really doing anything,” Ventura said. “We could have done anything, really. You could bat him leadoff the way we were going offensively and not really sit there and have to question it, because nobody was really swinging it that good. (I decided to) kind of throw it out there and see how it goes. He’s done well with it.”
The 6-foot-3, 255-pound Abreu isn’t a typical second hitter by any stretch of the imagination. Regardless, he is responding pretty well to the new spot in the order. After going 1-for-4 with an RBI on Monday in Chicago’s 4-2, series-opening win against the Toronto Blue Jays, Abreu is hitting .310 (9-for-29) with a home run, four RBIs and seven runs in the past seven games.
Abreu hit a game-tying single in the White Sox’s three-run rally in the eighth to help left-hander Chris Sale get a win out of his complete game.
“He’s not going to be a bunting No. 2-hole hitter, but you just try to mix it up to where there’s a different feel to it,” Ventura said. “Having him up there earlier, I like the fact that he gets more at-bats. He gets up there more often. We’ve had a lot of opportunities in that two-hole we haven’t (had) in the last few years. Being able to get him in there, whatever happens, happens … but I’m glad he’s sitting there.”
Abreu doesn’t seem to have a strong opinion either way.
“I don’t have control of the lineup,” he said through a team interpreter. “If the team needs me in that spot, I’m good with that.”
He also is starting to see the merits of an extra at-bat here and there.
“To get one more at-bat per game, I think that is good for me and for the team, because I am able to contribute a little bit more,” Abreu said. “The people who make that decision, if they think that I can do the best job for the team in that spot, it’s good for me and I’m ready to help the team. That’s the most important thing for me.”
How long will it last?
It could be awhile if one of the more typical candidates for that role doesn’t start getting on base more often.
“It wasn’t working (that) way, so we might as well try this,” Ventura said. “Eventually it can go the other way if we get two guys (who) start swinging better and getting on base. (Abreu) might go back to three. We’ll see what happens.”
