Chicago @ Cleveland preview
Progressive Field
Last Meeting ( Aug 30, 2010 ) Chi. White Sox 10, Cleveland 6
The Chicago White Sox went this same route last summer and it’s also paying huge dividends this year. After all, their waiver claim of Alex Rios has worked so well, the Sox are trying it again.
Only this time, they don’t have time to wait. They need Manny Ramirez to produce now.
It’s rare to see a team claim a player on waivers and then receive him without having to give up any sort of compensation. The White Sox have now pulled it off in consecutive seasons. They took Rios away from Toronto last season when the Blue Jays wanted out from under his massive contract.
Rios has responded this year with some of the best numbers of his career. He is batting .295 with 19 homers, 78 RBIs and 28 stolen bases. On Monday, Rios had five hits - including a home run - as Chicago posted a 10-6 victory in 11 innings over the Cleveland Indians.
Now the White Sox are prepared to do this again.
Acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers for virtually nothing after the team placed him on waivers last week, Ramirez is expected to join his new team on Tuesday in the city where his career began.
Ramirez spent his first seven seasons in Cleveland, where he became one of the most dangerous right-handed hitters in the game. The 38-year-old Ramirez admittedly is no longer feared like he once was, but the slugger still has pop and will bat fifth for the White Sox.
The veteran also joins a club which is managed by Ozzie Guillen.
Ramirez’s famous “Manny being Manny” personality could fit right in with Guillen, the most outspoken and unpredictable manager in the game. The White Sox have assembled a collection of bold personalities who mix well under him.
Guillen called Ramirez misunderstood and doesn’t believe he’ll create any sort of problems in the clubhouse. The White Sox just hope there is a little magic left in his bat. Ramirez hit .311 with eight homers and 40 RBIs in 66 games for the Dodgers this season, all while making three trips to the disabled list.
Chicago’s victory on Monday pulled it within four games of the idle Minnesota Twins in the AL Central, although it came with a scare. Second baseman Gordon Beckham left the game in the seventh after being hit on the right hand with a pitch.
X-rays were negative and Beckham was diagnosed with a bruise, although his return is uncertain. He is listed as day-to-day.
The White Sox will send another midseason acquisition to the mound Tuesday in Edwin Jackson, who is 2-0 with a 0.96 ERA in four starts since being acquired from Arizon.
Jackson struggled in his four months in the National League, going 6-10 with a 5.16 ERA for the Diamondbacks. He did have a no-hitter to his credit.
Jackson has also pitched well against Cleveland throughout his career. He is 5-1 in 10 career appearances - nine starts - against the Indians.
Cleveland will counter with Justin Masterson (5-12, 5.23 ERA), who once was a teammate of Ramirez when the two were with the Boston Red Sox.
The right-hander will vie for his second straight victory on Tuesday. Masterson permitted two runs in six innings in a 3-2 triumph over the Oakland Athletics.