Tim Anderson needs plate appearances to make sure he’s eligible to win the batting title. On Sunday, something else took precedent for the White Sox.
Rest.
Anderson didn’t start Sunday’s series finale against the Angels. Entering Sunday, Anderson’s .334 average led the American League, six points ahead of the Yankees’ D.J. LeMahieu. He also had 446 plate appearances, needing 502 by the end of the year to be eligible for the crown.
After Sunday, there’s 19 games left for Anderson to get the necessary 56 plate appearances, so the Sox were able to start Danny Mendick in place of a resting Anderson without risking his chances at a title.
“Yes, but for me the individual comes first,” said Sox bench coach Joe McEwing, who is managing in place of Rick Renteria. “All of them. Every single guy on this club, you try to put them to where they’re strong and in the best situation to finish out the season strong. It was a great opportunity to give him back-to-back days off and get a chance to see Mendick at short.”
Through Saturday night, Anderson led baseball with 58 hits since Aug. 1 and was hitting .392 over his last 23 games.
Anderson should be back in the lineup Tuesday, after getting planned consecutive days off. McEwing and the Sox hope this helps Anderson finish the season strong.
“Every single one of these guys has been getting after it and grinding,” McEwing said. “We’re asking so much out of them, and during the course of a season they get after it every day.”
Learning experience
McEwing is undoubtedly learning as he takes the reins of the Sox in Renteria’s stead. But McEwing said he’s always learning, regardless of where he’s sitting in the dugout.
“You learn every single day,” McEwing said. “If we ever stop learning we’re in the wrong business or wrong profession.”
He said he learns things from conversations with players and coaches, and as a plan unfolds depending on how the game is going.
“All of that is very important and I continue to learn and see different ideas about how to do things,” McEwing said. “You’re constantly bouncing scenarios, situations off of all of our coaches, whether it’s pinch-hitting, stealing a base, hit-and-running. Just constantly continuing to learn every single day.”
Renteria update
After undergoing rotator cuff surgery, don’t look for Renteria to throw batting practice any time soon.
“He’s going to be in a sling for a while,” McEwing said. “Told him (to) take care of himself and that’s utmost important that he’s taken care of.”
McEwing said he had talked with Renteria on Sunday and the Sox manager sounded great. McEwing relayed that Renteria was was hoping to return Tuesday.
Trout out
Mike Trout (toe) was originally in the Angels’ starting lineup but scratched. Trout left during the fifth inning Friday and didn’t start Saturday, though he pinch-hit and was intentionally walked before being replaced by a pinch-runner.
