7:59 p.m.
Everyone knows Michael Kopech throws insanely hard. Now, we know he also has elite spin rate.
— David Adler (@_dadler) August 22, 2018
In his 1st inning, Kopech's 4-seamer averaged *2,629 rpm.* MLB average is 2,262 rpm. Justin Verlander, the highest-spin starter, is averaging 2,613 rpm.
He's gonna get a lot of whiffs.
7:54 p.m.
Kopech’s second inning was also labored, although he ended it with three strikeouts. He had Robbie Grossman down two strikes, then grazed him with a fastball that just nipped his hip. Big Bobby Wilson cracked his bat on a single to left, putting runners on first and second. As rain started falling, Joe Mauer was punched out on a high strike.
Through two: 3 H, HBP, 4 K, 52 pitches/35 strikes (40 fastballs, 11 sliders, 1 change) 50 game score.
During the inning break, the rain picked up, and we’re now in a delay.
7:26 p.m.
Kopech’s first inning started with leadoff singles from Joe Mauer and Eddie Rosario, putting runners on first and third. From there, Kopech got Jorge Polanco on a popup to left, whiffed Miguel Sanó on a check swing, and got Max Kepler to pop out to center field.
All told: 2H, K, 22 pitches/15 strikes (19 fastballs, 3 sliders) 43 game score
Michael Kopech, Filthy 83mph Slider.
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 22, 2018
First MLB K.
[Sano, Not his First MLB Sword. ] pic.twitter.com/7krCgFFkqq
7:01 p.m.
Kopech set for debut. pic.twitter.com/evMGHhOpeX
— Daryl Van Schouwen (@CST_soxvan) August 21, 2018
6:57 p.m.
Hey, look! A Trib reporter at the White Sox game!
Kopech stretching drawing a crowd pic.twitter.com/YmgquUfMmH
— Paul Sullivan (@PWSullivan) August 21, 2018
Hey pards, been out doing yardwork, shopping, errands ... what’d I miss?
First order of business: What the hell, how about some live gamethread action tonight? Not like Michael Kopech’s first Chicago White Sox start doesn’t warrant it. Given the excitement, I’m gonna pop this mofo up about an hour before gametime, so that our SSS compadres (WIN05, Danks for Nothin, Darren Jackson, Michael Kenny, surely others) can check in with a sense of the ballpark excitement.
I’ll try to keep this post fresh with fun tweets and inning-by-inning pitch logs, although the comments probably will be fast and furious enough that no one will bother reading the updates. (That’s cool, though; I can just post the gamethread as my recap, none the wiser ... #ExBeatTrix.)
So, first order of business, today’s White Sox transactions:
#WhiteSox announce four roster moves: pic.twitter.com/pGI5DdkrA6
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) August 21, 2018
Leury is just on the 10-day, but reports are it’s a Grade 2 strain, which puts him out of action three to six weeks. Combine even an aggressive return with September call-ups, and we’ve seen the last of Leury this season. Write down his 0.2 fWAR for the season in pen, folks.
Tyler Danish hasn’t pitched in more than a week, so getting him some reps at Charlotte makes sense. There’s still the matter of having six starters (Kopech, James Shields, Carlos Rodón, Lucas Giolito, Dylan Covey and Reynaldo López) smashed into five spots. I’m skeptical that, barring a waiver trade deal involving Shields, the White Sox are dead set on a five-man rotation; but if Shields is on the South Side for the duration and Don Cooper won’t damn the torpedoes on a six-man, well, seems Covey heads to the pen.
I’d grind my teeth about LaMarre getting the call instead of Eloy, but, sigh, one plum prospect up at a time, ’spose. (Or, read: The full battalion of Eloy jerseys haven’t been screened/stitched/barcoded for the souvenir stands as yet.)
Also, the injury list has lengthened, as José Abreu sits tonight with abdominal pain, and in the manager’s seat ...
The #WhiteSox issued the following medical updates prior to tonight’s game with the Minnesota Twins: pic.twitter.com/ZxKXNYvHID
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) August 21, 2018
Get well soon, Ricky and José!
So, the lineup to scrawl in your souvenir scorecards tonight, for a future Kopech auto:
Your #KopechDay starters!
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) August 21, 2018
⏰: 7:10 PM CT
: @WGNTV
: @WGNRadio
: https://t.co/55ArzXsN5T pic.twitter.com/WJdMvalvz7
And, for the Twinkidinks:
Here’s how Max Kepler and the rest of the #MNTwins line up to open the series in Chicago against the White Sox. https://t.co/Zv2PIR4Hqv pic.twitter.com/TFgeUuuIoU
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) August 21, 2018