Garrett Whitlock’s misplaced yr mirrors that of his Pink Sox, and is simply as troubling

COMMENTARY

The Pink Sox quietly churned on this weekend, walked off twice in Toronto in a sweep that continued their weeks-long development of constructing them simple to disregard.

After 4 straight losses, 10 losses in 12, and 16 in 22, they’re wanting up at .500 with 12 video games remaining. They’re as near falling behind Terry Francona’s Guardians as they’re to getting again previous the Yankees, and out of doors of three with the White Sox, they’ve obtained nothing however playoff aspirants left to face.

Triston Casas joined Jarren Duran on the shelf of younger expertise seemingly executed for the yr, shoulder irritation getting him scratched Friday and despatched again to Boston. Not less than it opened a window for Bobby Dalbec, whose 33 WooSox homers are essentially the most within the system and got here as he performed 5 positions (3B, RF, 1B, SS, 2B) plus DH in an effort to get one other style someplace.

His 178 strikeouts, together with Sunday’s in Toronto, additionally lead the system.

Wilyer Abreu practically made a spectacular catch to maintain Sunday’s recreation alive, however ended up simply along with his arm wrapped in ice after slamming the wall along with his left hand. The Sox are optimistic it’s not critical . . . we will see in Texas, the identical workforce that swept the Jays in 4 final week earlier than Boston arrived to cushion Toronto’s fall.

The Rangers had been swept this weekend by Terry Francona’s Guardians. They’re nonetheless forward of Seattle, which itself was swept by the Dodgers, however spoiler alternative knocks once more.

All these names are a part of the optimism tucked deep in a middling season rising uglier by the day. The “younger core” Sam Kennedy proferred as hope in firing Chaim Bloom is actual, not less than so far as prospect goals go. Ceddanne Rafaela made an unsightly misinterpret in heart on Saturday, however he’s in there. Brayan Bello. Tanner Houck’s ceiling may not be as excessive as some others, however I’m intrigued by what this season may’ve been if not for his fluke harm.

What about Garrett Whitlock, although?

It was Whitlock on the mound Sunday afternoon, tie recreation within the ninth. He went two strikes to all three batters he confronted: After a gap strikeout, Cavan Biggio obtained a full-count sinker on the outer nook and ripped it into left heart.

Matt Chapman practically bit on a putaway changeup down and away, then obtained 95 m.p.h. proper within the coronary heart of the plate. Whitlock has shaved his stroll fee this yr regardless of throwing much less within the zone general, however has no compunction with attacking along with his slider.

Making the contact more durable when he will get caught, as he has a lot this yr.

Within the prime 5 % of pitchers for avoiding barrels throughout his revelatory 2021, he’s within the backside 10 % in 2023. And regardless of nonetheless being within the prime half of arms for ground-ball fee — clearly a precedence for a primarily sinkerball pitcher — his 13 residence runs allowed are a three-season worst, within the fewest innings of his profession.

The caveats come simple, not less than. Whitlock has made solely 19 appearances, his season by no means really getting off the bottom. Coming off hip surgical procedure, he struggled by way of two of three April begins, then missed a month with elbow neuritis. Upon his return, he made it into July as a serviceable member of the rotation till his elbow once more shelved him.

He was poor as a low leverage center reliever in August, hit laborious but additionally victimized by Boston’s abysmal protection — Whitlock’s .344 batting common on balls in play is tied ninth-worst amongst pitchers with 60 innings. And he now finishes the season coping with the grief of his 23-year-old brother’s tragic dying over Labor Day weekend.

Beloved within the clubhouse, Whitlock actually has a spot within the pitching employees going ahead, signed by way of 2026 with a pair of subsequent membership choices. The query stays the place. The Sox have repeatedly confused they assume he has extra worth as a starter, the place Boston has a necessity for a number of additions going into 2024, however his incapacity to remain wholesome makes that problematic.

This was a season the place the Pink Sox sought readability in a variety of completely different locations, Whitlock’s included. They’re leaving it and not using a baseball boss, with out a capability — this weekend however — to play clear baseball, and with out a lot past Bello of their rotation.

If this was a bridge yr, honest to say it wants as a lot restore as many of the different ones round right here.