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Watching Herm Schneider, Robin Ventura and Carlos Sanchez assist Adam Eaton on the long walk from the center field warning track to the White Sox dugout on Friday night, it looked like a concussion might be the issue. The left side of the body crashed into the wall after making a catch in the sixth inning, and without any one body part taking the brunt of the impact, it left viewers to their own visual diagnostic check:
Shoulder? If it were the problem, he wouldn't be using it to support himself.
Hip/knee? He didn't seem to be favoring any leg in his steps, although they weren't the most assured.
Head? It didn't take a direct hit on the wall, but he's got his head and eyes down, so maybe the force of the impact rattled his brain just the same, or maybe just his neck.
Ventura offered an "all of the above" option after the game, including a concussion test:
"He’s pretty banged up,’’ said manager Robin Ventura, who, along with trainer Herm Schneider, helped Eaton off the field. "He hit his hip and felt like he was locked up with his back. That’s why it took so long laying on the ground. There was everything in there. He hit it flush.’’
"It was a great effort,’’ Ventura said. "Running into walls is like his specialty. He’s pretty good at it.’’
Eaton has already played in 151 games this year after getting into 153 last year, so he doesn't need to answer greater questions about his durability, even if the injury/injuries force him out of the last week of action. Watching various White Sox falter over this six-game losing streak, the hope right now is that everybody gets out alive.
Terrerobytes
Jose Abreu is frustrated by the events of this season, but he said he doesn't want to play anywhere else.
"I experienced this in Cuba with Cianfeugos,’’ Abreu said through translator Billy Russo. "We were a losing team the first two or three years but at the end we were one of the best teams and won several championships. That’s part of the process and I hope that will be the process here, too. Sooner rather than later and winning a lot.’’
Abreu added that he didn't know Rick Hahn's plans, but "I'm very sure they'll do their best to compete next year," in case you want to throw that into your circumstantial evidence files.
Latham's Tommy Kahnle is on a roll, with just one run allowed over his last 14 outings, and, more importantly, just four walks to 16 strikeouts over those 12⅔ innings. "Less is more" is winning the day right now, as Kahnle has condensed his leg kick while throwing a little easier:
Kahnle’s command has been noticeably better since he eased off the gas pedal a tad. The differences to his warmup are so distinct that Thigpen watched and wondered if Kahnle, who normally airs it out in the bullpen, was ready to enter a game.
He's still averaging 97 mph or so in this mode, which must be nice.
U.S. Cellular Field is hosting Chance the Rapper's Magnificent Coloring Day, the first festival in the park's history and the first concert in more than 13 years. With more than 44,000 tickets sold, the concert could set the stadium attendance record, which is 47,609 for the 2003 All-Star Game.
Shannon Ryan does a pretty good job laying out the obstacles for increasing African-American participation in baseball at any level. The White Sox' Amateur City Elite program has made a positive impact ...
"People hear you're from the South Side of Chicago and the first thing they say is, 'Oh, that's tough,' or 'Oh, there's a lot of crime,' or 'How did you get out?'" Ray said. "I'm showing I'm from the South Side of Chicago and there is some positivity going on there. It's great to be a first-rounder but I expected to be in (pro) baseball with all the help I got. I knew one of us would do it."
Like the success of the 2015 Jackie Robinson West Little League national championship (later vacated), Ray's ascent has inspired black youth to feel connected to baseball and want to play, some coaches said.
"It has definitely helped," said Coe, of ACE, on Ray being drafted. "I received more phone calls and emails about our tryouts this year than ever before. I (had) three or four messages a day."
... and when squaring this up with the rest of the article, it seems like any momentum is precious.
Yes, Ventura is high up on this list. Ken Rosenthal says, "A mutual parting might be best for all involved; some around the team say that Ventura seems frustrated and tired." Aren't we all.
Vin Scully is heading into the last week of his 67-year career with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He's been the subject of tons of wonderful tributes, and these are two of my favorites. Joe Posnanski does a creative job of summing up just how long Scully's been doing what he's doing, and Keith Olbermann shares some great stories of Scully's off-mic personality:
Legendary is the story of the blustery political commentator who years ago had ‘his people’ advise the Dodgers he wanted to meet Scully because Scully was "number one" in his field. "Everywhere I go, Mr. Scully, I try to meet whoever is Number One because I’m Number One in what I do and it’s important to recognize and salute those of my own stature, and you’re Number One here!" The man bellowed on like this for several moments as the crew in the Dodger booth squirmed. When he finally paused, too impressed with himself to sense Scully’s anger, Scully quietly, politely, and efficiently cut the blowhard into little pieces. "Well then, you’ll want to meet Arthur here, who is our Number One stage manager." The commentator found himself unwillingly shaking hands. "And of course, you’ll want to meet Debbie, she’s our Number One makeup artist." Another unhappy handshake. "And Don, our Number One cameraman—who, coincidentally is on Camera Number One." Again with the handshake. "And in the row behind you, that’s Antonio, our Number One intern…" Witnesses disagree as to how many Numbers One Scully introduced before the man angrily muttered "I gotta go"—but all agreed he was several feet shorter when he went.