ARLINGTON, Texas — Jose Abreu sat in his corner of the visitors clubhouse at Globe Life Field Sunday morning, preparing his bats for a game against the Rangers, as he always does. The morning after a White Sox loss, Abreu was smiling, laughing, kidding with teammates, not an unusual sight but one more common than 2018, when the Sox lost 100 games.
Abreu is “absolutely” enjoying 36-39, a record worthy of not much except for the improvements and hopes for better days accompanying it.
“For all of us who have been here for a few years, we are in this moment now where we are realizing all the process is coming together,” Abreu said through translator Billy Russo. “Now with all the kids playing good we still have plenty of room to improve and that’s exciting. We are just scratching the surface of what we are able to do. Now, it’s our responsibility, the old guys, to guide these young guys and try to push them and try to get them better every day.”
Abreu singled in the Sox’ three-run eighth inning Sunday, a rally that brought the visitors to within a run, but the Rangers tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the inning and held on for a 7-4 victory to take two of three games in the series.
Center fielder Delino Shields misplayed Eloy Jimenez’ liner two batters after Abreu’s single, allowing two runs to score and put the tying and go ahead runs in scoring position. But Yonder Alonso and Tim Anderson struck out, ending the threat.
Right-hander Ivan Nova allowed five runs — three earned — over six innings. The Rangers’ Tim Federowicz and Danny Santana hit homers against him in the second inning, Santana’s coming after a costly error by Alonso at first base.
Abreu, 32, has played on losing teams in each of his five seasons since signing a six-year, $68 million contract as a free agent out of Cuba. His contract is up after the season, but indications are the organization wants him to continue his career in a Sox uniform. The feeling is mutual from Abreu, as it always has been.
Coming to the ballpark every day just feels different in 2019, he said before the game.
“I think so, especially on my part,” Abreu said. “It’s a motivation. Now we are surrounded by young guys and they are pushing you to work harder than before. This moment you see all the guys doing their job, all the guys getting to the level of production that you think they can do and the team playing the way it’s playing, you start to realize, ‘Hey, we are not that far behind in the Wild Card spot. Maybe we can do something.’ “
Abreu has also been around enough to know the reality of the Sox’ strengths and weaknesses. Perhaps with the starting pitching’s ERA of 5.52 — second to last in the major leagues — in mind, he retreated when asked if the playoffs were possible:
“We are going to keep working,” he said.
Abreu entered the game batting .254 with a team-high 17 homers and 54 RBI, which ranks fourth in the AL.
Robert on roll
Class AA Birmingham outfielder Luis Robert, the No. 5 prospect in baseball per MLB Pipeline, was 3-for-6 with a home run, three RBI, two runs scored and two stolen bases Saturday. The MVP in the Southern League All-Star Game Tuesday, has homered in a career-best three consecutive straight games.
“I haven’t talked to him because I wanted to give him his space,” Abreu said of his Cuban countryman whose locker was next to Robert’s during spring training. “I don’t want him to feel the pressure or be over-excited because we are watching what he’s doing, but I definitely have an eye on him and I’m very excited, very proud to see his development. Especially because I’m part of this organization but also because he’s a Cuban too and that made me very very proud. I’m exited for him to come.”
