Chicago White Sox manager Rick Renteria called the club’s decision to postpone its home opener from Thursday to Friday due to rain in Thursday’s forecast a “prudent” and “wise” move.
After an early season run of sloppy defense and fundamentals, the White Sox also will aim to be more perceptive when they take the field against the Seattle Mariners.
“For us to be competitive and to give ourselves a chance, we have to play clean defensive baseball,” Renteria said. “I think these guys know it. We talk about it. Any play that ends up unraveling, we talk about it. We go over the video with them. We make sure they understand exactly what happened in a particular moment and try to correct it.”
The White Sox committed three errors in Wednesday’s 8-3 road victory against the Cleveland Indians, increasing their total to eight errors in five games.
The only team with more errors is the Mariners, who have 13 in eight games after beginning the season earlier than the rest of their big league brethren while opening the 2019 campaign in Japan.
Some of the miscues likely are attributable to growing pains. Yoan Moncada, for one, is transitioning to third base this season after spending much of his developmental days and early career at second base.
“I’m working on my footwork, getting into a rhythm,” Moncada told the Chicago Sun-Times. “Sometimes I stay flat, and my throws go away. I’m working on it. It’s a matter of more reps and getting comfortable. Things will get better.”
Shoddy defense hasn’t yet dampened the outlook for the Mariners, who are off to the best start in franchise history after winning seven of their first eight games and four straight overall. Seattle will enter Friday’s game on the heels of consecutive open dates, giving left-hander Yusei Kikuchi (0-0, 2.53 ERA) plenty of rest.
Kikuchi has limited opponents to a .200 batting average over 10 2/3 innings covering two starts. He will oppose White Sox right-hander Reynaldo Lopez (0-1, 9.00 ERA), who is making his second start.
The Mariners have clicked despite a busy offseason that included various trades of veteran contributors. Seattle’s surge includes winning three of four games against the defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox.
“I think everybody in this clubhouse plays with a chip on their shoulder,” Mariners first baseman Dan Vogelbach told the Tacoma (Wash.) News-Tribune. “And, as you can tell, we have fun, we play with an attitude, and you look forward to coming to the ballpark every day.”
The Mariners owe much of their success to the club’s collective power. Seattle has homered in each game this season, tying a franchise record. Shortstop Tim Beckham and outfielders Jay Bruce and Domingo Santana have hit three home runs apiece, helping Seattle to its team total of 17.
“It’s going to be a fun summer,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “There are going to be some ups and there are going to be some downs, but we have a group of guys that really enjoy playing together, and that’s what stands out right now.”