(670 The Score) The start of the season hasn’t gone like the White Sox hoped.
Their much-hyped bullpen has been charged with each loss in the White Sox’s 3-4 start as the starters haven’t gone deep into games and relievers have squandered late leads. Manager Tony La Russa’s decision-making has been questioned, and the White Sox have played poor defense and been hit by the injury bug. So what does general manager Rick Hahn make of all of those developments?
“There are obviously some things that need to be tightened up,” Hahn said Thursday before the White Sox hosted the Royals in their home opener. "We think especially on the defensive level, this team is capable of a much higher level of play. We expect over the course of 162 that is the level we will settle in at. I am trying to keep a more long-term view of the season.”
La Russa admitted his managing was “lousy” in the team’s 8-4 loss at Seattle on Wednesday, when the game got away from the White Sox as the Mariners scored seven runs in the fifth inning while La Russa rode struggling reliever Matt Foster too long. Hahn didn’t read into La Russa’s decisions or the White Sox's bad day much at all.
“Initially you think about things when a guy has been away from it 10 years, but not after spending six weeks with him in Arizona,” Hahn said of the 76-year-old La Russa returning to managing after not being in the dugout since 2011. “I entered the season with no concerns along those lines whatsoever.”
"Everyone loves to see accountability, whether it's a player, manager or front office guy. Everyone likes to see someone take that responsibility. Tony is probably harder on himself than anyone else is in terms of being critical of his decision-making. So he is probably putting too much blame at his own doorstep for the result. It's not a surprise he is standing up for what he believes in.”
The White Sox hope they can find their groove now that they’re back at home, then they expect to get a key player back. Star shortstop Tim Anderson is on the 10-day injured list after suffering a hamstring strain Sunday. He’s expected to be out another week. In addition to him, outfielder Billy Hamilton has a hamstring issue and utilityman Leury Garcia is dealing with a leg strain.
"We are currently working under the projection that Tim will be back after the 10 days are up,” Hahn said. “There are still some milestones for him to pass. He has not been on the field to take any groundballs yet. Any injury like this, you want to err on the side of caution.”
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.