Austin Wells' leadoff home run (1)
Meet the 'Sodfather': The White Sox groundskeeper who preps for Opening Day like no other
For Roger Bossard, head groundskeeper of the Chicago White Sox, Opening Day is the most important day of the year. Now in his 59th season with the team, Bossard—affectionately known as the "Sodfather"—has perfected the art of field preparation, ensuring the grass is lush, and the infield is game-ready.
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Chicago Tribune
34 minutes ago
- Chicago Tribune
Chicago baseball report: The White Sox have a youth movement while the Cubs eye the trade deadline
The Cubs return to Wrigley Field following a three-city trip where they faced three of the best starting pitchers in the majors. They continue their stretch of 26 games in 27 days with a 10-day homestand that kicks off Thursday with four against the struggling Pittsburgh Pirates. Manager Will Venable returns to face his previous team on Friday when the White Sox begin a three-game series against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. Venable spent 2023-24 on Bruce Bochy's staff as the associate manager. Every Thursday during the regular season, Tribune baseball writers will provide an update on what happened — and what's ahead — for the Cubs and White weeks before the July 31 trade deadline, the Cubs are still in information-gathering mode. Very few teams are fully committed to selling at this point in the season, but president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer and the front office continue to check in and monitor everything. Beyond that, it'll likely be a few weeks before trade activity starts to pick up. But when the market gets moving, expect Hoyer to be involved to improve a Cubs team that sits 14 games over .500 and currently holds a 4.5-game lead in the National League Central following Wednesday's 7-2 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. With how things are trending, addressing the rotation and pitching depth will be a priority for the Cubs leading up to the trade deadline. The loss of Justin Steele for the season and injuries to Shota Imanaga, Javier Assad and Jordan Wicks have tested the Cubs' depth. Imanaga is nearing a return from his left hamstring strain. He will pitch three innings in the Arizona Complex League on Saturday, and if everything goes well, his next step would be a rehab outing at Triple A. Assad (reaggravation of oblique strain) is still not expected to be back until after the All-Star break next month. Wicks sustained a hamstring injury and recently threw live batting practice with getting back to Iowa on the horizon. 'We've definitely taken a lot of hits there, and these guys have held up well, but it's a long season,' Hoyer said Wednesday. 'We're not even halfway through yet, so we have to continue to address that in all sorts of ways, whether it's the trade deadline, small transactions, and hopefully get some of these guys healthy.' Barring any other notable injuries, like season-altering ones on the position player side, the Cubs might also target an upgrade for the bench or a complementary piece. 'I do think, in general, that it used to be that you had some more transactions in the tank in August and September, and now you don't, so you have to think about that aspect of it,' Hoyer said. 'You have to play two months without those transactions. 'This group is a really good group. And it's not just on offense, it's on defense as well.' Edgar Quero provided an insurance run Saturday against the Kansas City Royals with a sacrifice fly to center in the eighth inning of a 4-1 win at Rate Field. The next day, the catcher extended a ninth-inning rally with an RBI single. Quero came through in a DH role during Tuesday's series opener at Houston, driving in two with a two-out single in the third inning of a 4-2 victory. Quero has been a consistent contributor at the plate since being called up from Triple-A Charlotte on April 17. He has a .262/.340/.308 with six doubles and 14 RBIs in 41 games entering Wednesday. Before Sunday's game against the Royals, Quero told the Tribune he was 'feeling pretty good.' 'I'm working, especially behind the plate,' Quero said. 'I had a really good day (Saturday) framing. Helped the guys, that was pretty good for me. 'I work every day, trying to do adjustments. Working with (catching coach) Drew (Butera) and doing early work. Just keep working and doing what I do.' Quero is connecting well with the pitching staff. 'He's been doing a really good job back there,' starter Adrian Houser said on Saturday. Quero is splitting time at catcher with another rookie in Kyle Teel, who was called up from Triple A on Friday. 'He's a great guy to work with,' Teel said on Friday. 'He's really smart and he knows the pitching staff well. We talk all the time and it's just great to be back with him.' Quero has enjoyed mixing with the younger players and the veterans. '(I'm) having fun every day,' he said. With Grant Taylor's arrival on Tuesday, the Sox have 10 rookies on the active roster — the most in the majors according to STATS. Pitchers Sean Burke, Shane Smith, Mike Vasil, Owen White, Brandon Eisert and Taylor, catchers Quero and Teel, and infielders Tim Elko and Chase Meidroth round out the list. Ian Happ felt he was getting close. The Cubs' left fielder hadn't been generating the power numbers as expected through the first 2 1/2 months of the season but believed he was getting closer as they started their three-city, nine-game trip. There were signs that had Happ feeling encouraged. Between the swings he was taking against fastballs and his plate discipline of staying in the strike zone was putting him in a good spot. Happ homered three times in the first two games of the Cubs' series in Philadelphia and finished the road trip with five extra-base hits, featuring four long balls. 'It's nice that when you're struggling, the team's still winning, still producing,' Happ said. 'When you're not getting on base for the guys that drive it a bunch of runs, that sucks. You want to be getting on base for those guys consistently. I know that's something that's tough when you're top of the lineup and you're not on base for those guys and (Kyle Tucker) is hitting with nobody on base.' The switch-hitting Happ hit his first home run off a lefty this season in Monday's extra-inning loss, tying the game in the eighth inning by taking Phillies reliever Matt Strahm deep. 'I feel like I've made a lot of really good right-handed swings this year,' Happ said. 'On the right side, it's been pretty consistent: walking, not striking out, and doing a really good job of hitting the ball hard. It's just been low, and so to get one in the air and see leaving that situation was great.' Mike Tauchman doubled with one out in the third inning Tuesday against the Astros. Meidroth followed with a walk. Both later scored on a two-out single by Quero. Tauchman and Meidroth keep finding ways to get on base at the top of the Sox lineup. Leadoff batter Tauchman came into Wednesday with 14-for-47 (.298) with six doubles, a triple, two home runs, eight RBIs and 11 walks in his last 13 games. No. 2 hitter Meidroth is 12-for-32 (.375) with a double, home run, four RBIs and seven walks in his last nine games. Overall this season, Tauchman entered Wednesday hitting .286 with a .414 on-base percentage in 20 games while Meidroth had a .293 average and .383 on-base percentage in 44 games. 'Just really consistent, quality at-bats where you have guys who control the zone extremely well,' Venable said before Tuesday's game, also including Miguel Vargas in that mix, 'so it's been nice to start your day as an offense with those three guys.' 'When he punched out (Kyle) Schwarber and punched out (Alec) Bohm, that's the Ryan Pressly that we're used to seeing, and I think he keeps getting better, which is fantastic.' —
New York Times
35 minutes ago
- New York Times
Phillies MLB trade deadline primer: 3 early storylines to watch
There is an absolute in the years since Dave Dombrowski assumed control of the Phillies, and that is an active trade deadline. He has engineered 12 deadline trades in four years. He acquired two players — Brandon Marsh and Edmundo Sosa — at the 2022 deadline who are still on his roster. He's obtained others — Ian Kennedy, Rodolfo Castro and Austin Hays — who left less of a mark on the Phillies. Advertisement Dombrowski figures to be active again come July; these Phillies are in deep with a $305 million payroll. They still have flaws. The Phillies entered this season attempting to strike a difficult balance; they did not sign a free agent to a multi-year contract over the offseason, and resisted trading their best prospects. This, then, was a bridge year. The Phillies are trying to win, but without sacrificing everything. It makes this a fascinating deadline for Dombrowski, who has to issue a referendum on this roster's chances for a World Series title. Dombrowski has never been afraid to flip middle-tier prospects in July trades. He has protected his best farmhands at previous deadlines. The Phillies went deep into trade talks last summer with the Chicago White Sox regarding Garrett Crochet, a deal that would have required surrendering a massive prospect package. Those talks fizzled. There might not be a player of Crochet's caliber available at this year's July 31 deadline. Even if there is, Dombrowski has made Andrew Painter untouchable. Other prospects might have since ascended to that status. Here's a primer on what to monitor in the weeks ahead. It's no secret the Phillies will look to fortify their bullpen. It is a familiar need. The Phillies searched for bullpen help at the 2022 and 2024 trade deadlines; they went with 'proven veteran' types like David Robertson and Carlos Estévez. Under Dombrowski, the Phillies have targeted velocity when building a bullpen. They had the hardest-throwing bullpen in baseball in 2023 and the third-hardest in 2024. They've dipped to sixth in 2025 — that includes José Alvarado's high-powered fastballs from earlier this season. They could be hunting in July for more velocity. Dombrowski will go into this trade deadline knowing he'll have Alvarado, suspended by MLB until Aug. 18, for the season's final six weeks. The lefty is ineligible for the postseason if the Phillies qualify. They do not know how effective Alvarado will be upon his return, but that adds a layer to Dombrowski's decision-making. Advertisement So does this: The Phillies might have a surplus of starting pitching, depending on Aaron Nola's health and Andrew Painter's ascension, which could bump some starters to the bullpen in August or September. This matters too: This year's postseason schedule calls for an extra off day during the National League Division Series, which means a team would need only three starters in a five-game series. So a bullpen acquisition at the trade deadline has to be more than a marginal one; the Phillies might not be looking for someone to help them reach October, rather someone who can be trusted to pitch in high-leverage postseason situations. That is a high bar. Whether that pitcher becomes available or the Phillies decide to meet the price remains to be seen. Here lies, yet again, another festering problem. The Phillies entertained an outfield addition at the 2023 trade deadline, but opted to stick with Johan Rojas in center and Brandon Marsh in left. They plucked Hays from the Baltimore Orioles last July, only to see that transaction flop when Hays suffered myriad injuries. They tried another marginal addition over the offseason by signing Max Kepler to a one-year, $10 million deal. The outfield free-agent market has not borne much fruit: Anthony Santander, Tyler O'Neill, Michael Conforto and Jurickson Profar (suspended) have all struggled for various reasons. The only free-agent outfielder from the middle class who has produced, Harrison Bader, is having his best season in years. The Phillies made a bet on Kepler as a bounce-back candidate. They have hidden him against lefties through a platoon, yet Kepler is a below-average hitter overall in 2025. He's played an average left field. If the Phillies want an outfield reinforcement in July, they might have to think creatively again. Many contenders are seeking a right-handed bat. Left field, at least in the past, would be a logical place to stick one. Advertisement The Phillies entered the week tied for 25th in home runs by right-handed hitters. They've averaged 102 homers from righties over the past four seasons. They are on pace for 64 in 2025. The last time they did not have a righty who bashed 20 homers in a season (excluding 2020) was 2015. Slugging numbers are down across the sport, rendering any available power hitter a hot commodity. Some teams could simply double down on pitching and defense. The Phillies have one of the worst defensive outfields in baseball. If they cannot obtain power, maybe they rearrange things to optimize for defense. This qualifies as a good problem for the Phillies to solve, considering how much Mick Abel's stock has risen following a forgettable 2024 season. He's pitched with conviction in the majors. He has emerged as a more confident strike-thrower; it is a transformation that could entice other clubs. Abel, for now, is crucial rotation depth because Nola could be sidelined through the All-Star break. At that point, if Nola is ready, Abel would probably return to the minors. Sometime in July, the Phillies expect Andrew Painter to factor into their rotation plans. That would bump Abel even further down the depth chart. If the Phillies retain Abel, he'd still be on the outside of an initial 2026 rotation projection. The Phillies have Zack Wheeler, Cristopher Sánchez and Nola under contract, with Jesús Luzardo and Painter under club control. All of this must factor into the calculus the Phillies use in assessing Abel's place in the organization. Should the Phillies believe Abel's transformation merits a longer look, they could toy with the idea of him as a reliever for the stretch run, then revisit things in the offseason. The Phillies will receive calls on Aroon Escobar, a stocky infielder who hits the ball hard. The 20-year-old Venezuelan generated interest among clubs at last year's trade deadline despite being sidelined by persistent shin splints. Eduardo Tait, a big-bodied catcher who does not turn 19 until August, is a potential trade chip. Rival evaluators have questioned whether Tait sticks behind the plate, but that is not a universal opinion. The job requirements for a big-league catcher could be drastically different by the time Tait reaches the majors. (Top photo of Dave Dombrowski: Eric Hartline / Imagn Images)
Fox Sports
4 hours ago
- Fox Sports
Astros play the White Sox with series tied 1-1
Associated Press Chicago White Sox (23-45, fifth in the AL Central) vs. Houston Astros (37-30, first in the AL West) Houston; Thursday, 8:10 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: White Sox: Davis Martin (2-6, 3.62 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 48 strikeouts); Astros: Framber Valdez (6-4, 3.07 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 84 strikeouts) BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Astros -263, White Sox +213; over/under is 7 1/2 runs BOTTOM LINE: The Houston Astros and Chicago White Sox meet on Thursday with the three-game series tied 1-1. Houston has a 37-30 record overall and a 23-13 record at home. The Astros have a 17-26 record in games when they have given up a home run. Chicago is 7-27 on the road and 23-45 overall. The White Sox have a 16-9 record in games when they out-hit their opponents. Thursday's game is the sixth time these teams square off this season. The White Sox hold a 3-2 advantage in the season series. TOP PERFORMERS: Isaac Paredes leads the Astros with 14 home runs while slugging .468. Jeremy Pena is 18 for 41 with five doubles, two home runs and six RBIs over the last 10 games. Andrew Benintendi has seven doubles, a triple, six home runs and 23 RBIs for the White Sox. Mike Tauchman is 6 for 34 with two doubles, a triple and two home runs over the past 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Astros: 6-4, .246 batting average, 3.54 ERA, outscored opponents by two runs White Sox: 5-5, .227 batting average, 4.65 ERA, outscored by six runs INJURIES: Astros: Chas McCormick: 10-Day IL (oblique), Ronel Blanco: 60-Day IL (elbow), Zach Dezenzo: 10-Day IL (hand), Hayden Wesneski: 60-Day IL (elbow), Yordan Alvarez: 10-Day IL (hand), Spencer Arrighetti: 15-Day IL (thumb), Luis Garcia: 60-Day IL (elbow), Cristian Javier: 60-Day IL (elbow), J.P. France: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Taylor Trammell: 10-Day IL (calf), Pedro Leon: 10-Day IL (knee) White Sox: Jared Shuster: 15-Day IL (hand), Fraser Ellard: 60-Day IL (lat), Ky Bush: 60-Day IL (elbow), Lenyn Sosa: 10-Day IL (hip), Miguel Castro: 60-Day IL (knee), Jonathan Cannon: 15-Day IL (back), Tyler Gilbert: 15-Day IL (knee), Martin Perez: 60-Day IL (forearm), Drew Thorpe: 60-Day IL (elbow), Prelander Berroa: 60-Day IL (elbow), Jesse Scholtens: 60-Day IL (elbow) ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar. recommended
