White Sox will be ‘nerve-racking’ opponent in postseason, Yasmani Grandal says

“A team like this team that runs everything out, can steal, bunt, hit the long ball, string runs together, is pretty much never out of a game, that’s pretty nerve-racking for somebody else,” White Sox catcher Yasmani Grandal said. | Orlin Wagner/AP

The White Sox won’t bring a ton of postseason experience to the playoffs but that isn’t necessarily going to be a bad thing, catcher Yasmani Grandal said.

Grandal, who has played in the last five postseasons with the Dodgers and Brewers, said the Sox’ youth is one of the things that makes them dangerous.

“A team like this team that runs everything out, can steal, bunt, hit the long ball, string runs together, is pretty much never out of a game, that’s pretty nerve-racking for somebody else,” Grandal said Thursday before the Sox clinched their first playoff berth since 2008.

Grandal, Edwin Encarnacion, Nomar Mazara, Jarrod Dyson, Dallas Keuchel, Reynaldo Lopez, Gio Gonzalez, Steve Cishek comprise the list of Sox with postseason experience. Grandal and Keuchel played in the World Series.

Ten Sox players made major league debuts this season — including relievers Codi Heuer and Matt Foster and second baseman Nick Madrigal — have made important contributions. And they have been fueled by playoff-starved Jose Abreu, Tim Anderson, Alex Colome and James McCann as well as young players such as Eloy Jimenez, Lucas Giolito and Yoan Moncada who just establishing themselves as young stars.

The narrative among the young Sox is that, with first place to protect in the AL Central, they are playing playoff baseball now.

The intensity is up, but of course that’s not the case.

“The playoffs are completely different to what we’re playing right now,” Grandal said. “I don’t think for us this is a playoff mentality right now. The stakes in the playoffs are slightly higher, intensity gets way up there. For now, [the young players] just seem relaxed, they seem like they’re confident in what they’re doing. And that’s a positive. You want to see that on a daily basis.”

Yasmani Grandal of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates in the clubhouse after defeating the Cubs 11-1 in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series at Wrigley Field in 2017.

Shortstop Tim Anderson (right) and first baseman Jose Abreu have not played in the postseason, but will for the first time in two weeks.

And to prepare for the pressure of the postseason? Just keep “trying to win every game we play,” manager Rick Renteria said.

“Whether we fall into the first seed or however it plays itself out, I know it’s important to us to continue to play good baseball.”

“You don’t need to be ‘ready’ ’’ for the playoffs, Grandal said. “Ninety percent of these guys have never been there. So don’t try to get ready for it or amp up for it. Take it one step at a time and if it ends happening, great. We know we can come back next year and do it all over again. If it doesn’t, we got experience under our belt and then we can come back next year and do it all over again.

“Any team is capable of winning it all. It’s not who’s hot during the season, it’s who gets hot in the postseason. ... And that’s pretty much what postseason baseball is: If you get hot during the postseason, you’re going to make a run at it and go all the way through it.”

This and that

Prior to the game, the Sox recalled right-hander Jose Ruiz from Schaumburg to beef up their bullpen and optioned infielder Danny Mendick to Schaumburg.

*Renteria said he would wait till after Thursday’s game to reveal probable pitchers for the weekend series against the Reds in Cincinnati. Rookie right-hander Jonathan Stiever is slated to start Friday.

*Dyson started in right field in place of slumping Nomar Mazara. Entering the game, Dyson was 4-for-12 with a home run and double lifetime against Twins right-hander Kenta Maeda.