GLENDALE, Ariz. — White Sox left-hander Dallas Keuchel expressed contrition again for the Astros sign-stealing scandal also suggested there would be no need to place an asterisk next to the World Series title claimed by the 2017 team he pitched for.
“We’re always going to be World Series champs because we were talented and to me, we earned the right to be World Series champs,” Keuchel said during his first media session of spring training Thursday. “Just because stuff came out about the 2017 Astros doesn’t mean other teams weren’t doing illegal stuff. It just means that we were the ones that were caught.
“The state of baseball, it was what it was at that time.”
At SoxFest, Keuchel was the first former Astro to apologize for the team’s involvement in stealing signs. The subject came up again after Astros players and coaches issued apologies. But owner Jim Crane caused a stir and skepticism by saying the scheme “didn’t impact the game.”
“I’m not here to really dig into anything that happened,” Keuchel said. “Just that’s my feeling. Ultimately it’s up to the individual to show remorse or try to move on. I chose the remorse route because hey, personally, I felt like that was what was owed. I owed it to my family and that’s how I was raised.”
Here to win
Keuchel said he reminded Sox general manager Rick Hahn that he played for four playoff teams in his previous five years and that he didn’t expect any of his three seasons in Chicago to be different.
“He knows where I stand on that and that was a big talking point before I signed,” Keuchel said. “I liked where they were at, where they were headed.”
Keuchel, 32, won the Cy Young Award in 2015 and was an All-Star in 2015. “I really this offseason tried to take care of myself as much as possible with recovery, with diet, with everything,” he said. “Honestly this is the best I’ve felt in a number of years. So that really helps out the mental edge coming in.”
Madrigal ‘off the charts’
Nick Madrigal might not make the Opening Day roster but he might get the most playing time at second base before the season is over. Madrigal struck out only 16 times, but the Sox want to see more plate discipline and perhaps less aggressiveness.
“His hand and eye skill is off the charts,” manager Rick Renteria said. “If he starts to develop and starts laying off pitches and pitchers, oh, man. If you lay something out over the plate, this guy’s going to be able to do something.”
Nick Madrigal spent the offseason in the Phoenix and has been coming to the Sox’ complex for nearly three weeks, wanting to familiarize himself more with the complex.
“This year is going to be exciting for myself and my family,” he said. “Whatever happens, happens. Everything is going to work out one way or another.”
This and that
Renteria was noncommittal about the possibility of a third catcher landing the 26th spot on the Opening Day roster. If former first-round pick Zack Collins’ catching skills were more polished, it would have built a case.
“I believe he’s going to hit,” Renteria said. “I’m not worried about his offense. I just want him to develop that catching skill and put himself in a position where we’re very, very comfortable using him at any time.”
*Reynaldo Lopez is lined up to start the Cactus League opener Feb. 22 against the Angels at Camelback Ranch.
