CHICAGO (670 The Score) – Halfway through the season, the White Sox have been hurt too often by fundamental mistakes and mental gaffes.
The most high-profile meltdown came Monday, when AJ Pollock flew out into the first 8-5 triple play ever recorded in MLB history because of baserunning mistakes by teammates Adam Engel and Yoan Moncada. It ended a rally in a tie game that the White Sox eventually lost to the Twins in 10 innings.
The White Sox's fundamental mistakes are under a bigger microscope because of their power outage at the plate. They're 27th in MLB in home runs and need to manufacture runs to win more low-scoring games. They've hurt themselves with poor baserunning, as they've made 32 outs on baserunning plays this season, the second-highest mark in MLB.
Manager Tony La Russa and the White Sox know they must be a good fundamental baseball team if they're to be a championship contender, which they currently aren't as they sit at 38-41 at the midpoint of the season.
Chicago trails Minnesota by 6.5 games in the AL Central.
"You are not going to be a champion unless you can do those little things," La Russa said. "I think we are a work in progress, but I do see progress. There is no way I am negative about this team. But we are realistic about being a work in progress. We must be improved as a team. As the manager, I will never not recognize where this team's heart and soul are. I believe in these guys. We will get better, hopefully sooner and not later."
Setup man Kendall Graveman stressed that the White Sox must learn from their mistakes by discussing them and holding one another accountable in the clubhouse.
"I don't think as a team, you just don't put it behind you," Graveman said. "You evaluate it and communicate about it. You become as a team better for it. The elephant is in the room, and you need to address it. We have got to get better for it. It's not anybody's fault. Of course we are going to make mistakes. We are human. But if we don't address it as a team and talk about it, that's when we have an issue. We can eventually look back and say that was a positive even though at the time it was a negative. I think as a team there is a baseball IQ mindset that we can all have. I think that is personally what has to happen for a good team. I have seen it, lived it and seen both sides of it. If we want to be a good team, that is what we must have – a collective group to continue to increase our minds and baseball IQ."
La Russa echoed what Graveman shared.
"Part of the way you improve is when you recognize what you are doing wrong," La Russa said. "You work on these things and fix them. I believe they are open-minded and want to get better. You get better by making mistakes, acknowledging them, work on them, fix them. You mix in aggressiveness with good sense. Responsibility starts with the manager. If a play is messed up, I am a part of it. The coaches are a part of it. You also are realistic knowing the ball is in front of you."
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
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