Yoan Moncada took it like he takes everything else – in stride.
Calm and collected through the rough, eye-opening times of 2018 and the same during his superb first half of 2019, Moncada isn’t upset, miffed or disappointed about not making the AL All-Star Game despite numbers that are worthy.
“It wasn’t on me,” Moncada said Sunday through translator Billy Russo. “It was something I couldn’t control. I did all that I had to do. I had a very good first half.”
To his credit, Moncada says an unsatisfactory 2018 season, his first full one in the majors, was on him. He didn’t sit on his hands after striking out 217 times while putting up productive but unsatisfactory numbers. He went to work early in the offseason to fix things, became less passive at the plate and the results were evident as early as spring training even as he transitioned from second base to third.
Moncada, 1-for-3 with a walk and single in the Sox’ 3-1 win over the Cubs Sunday, goes into the All-Star break with a career-high 13-game hitting streak, the longest active streak in the majors. He needs one home run, 13 RBI and 18 extra-base hits to match his 2018 totals of 17 homers, 61 RBI and 55 extra-base hits. His numbers batting right-handed, his weaker side, have improved as well.
“I don’t want to jinx the kid, but he’s on pace to have a pretty good year in all facets -- cutting down on strikeouts, homers, RBIs, on-base, everything you would want to look for,” manager Rick Renteria said. “It’s all playing forward, and hopefully it continues. He’s trending in the right direction.”
Jose Abreu, James McCann and Lucas Giolito are going to the All-Star Game Tuesday in Cleveland, so the Sox are well-represented.
“We couldn’t do it this year. Maybe next year,” Moncada said.
Those are the next steps, “as well as being a champion,” Moncada said.
Next for Cease
Renteria hasn’t shared how his rotation will line up starting in Oakland Friday, but Dylan Cease, who made his major league debut with five innings of three-run ball Wednesday against the Tigers, indicated he’ll pitch the fifth game out of the break, which would be in Kansas City next Tuesday.
That’s a long layoff, during which time Cease will meditate daily, as is his habit.
“It’s one of those things where there’s a structure, it’s a stability through my day so no matter what I’m going to do that during the day,” Cease said. “You feel that accomplishment but at the same time, I feel like it’s helping me so it’s kind of a double whammy.”
Cease’s interest was piqued a couple years ago by a YouTube video, and he took particular interest in an Indian Yogi from Tennessee named Sadhguru.
“I don’t know if I can quantify what it does for me,” he said. “But I enjoy doing it so I’m going to at least tell myself it’s helping.”
Palka returns to Charlotte
Outfielder Daniel Palka was optioned to Class AAA Charlotte after the game. Palka, 1-for-45 this season, is 0-for-10 since being recalled from Charlotte June 28. The Sox will make a corresponding move Friday, possibly catcher Welington Castillo (oblique strain) coming off the injured list.
