Third-base coach Justin Jirschele had a lot running through his mind in the seconds he had to decide to send Drew Romo home as the go-ahead run in the eighth inning of the White Sox’ win Sunday against the Mariners.
“A lot of things go into it. I do my homework,” Jirschele told the Sun-Times on Tuesday. “So that point of the game, it’s 1-1, it’s two outs, [Miguel Vargas] hits the ball, and [Mariners left fielder Randy Arozarena is] coming full speed.”
Vargas’ fly was measured at only 243 feet, and Arozarena was indeed sprinting to make the catch. But Jirschele didn’t send Romo, not the swiftest of foot, immediately. It wasn’t until Arozarena struggled to get the ball out of his glove that Jirschele sent him.
And that wasn’t all that went into the decision.
“Nobody’s at third base,” Jirschele said. “The third baseman’s over for the [cutoff throw], so I can bring [Romo] further than, say, on a single where the third baseman’s hanging right there. I gotta make my decision much sooner because I can’t bring him too far; they’ll throw behind him.”
Also, Arozarena wasn’t setting up to make the catch and carry his momentum into the throw, like many players do. He was running toward the ball and threw on the run.
“There’s a big-time difference between a ball where they could be camped [under it] and work behind it versus full-tilt just to catch the ball,” Jirschele said. “He’s flying in to catch the ball, I’m like, all right, let’s try it.”
It worked. Arozarena’s throw sailed over catcher Cal Raleigh, and Romo, oblivious to that, slid into home, stealing a victory for the Sox.
“You’re trying to not make your decision too soon because obviously it was really, really shallow,” Jirschele said. “This is gonna be tough to do here. And then all of a sudden you see him come this way and struggle to get it out, I’m like, all right, I’m taking a shot there.”
Rotation change
Sox manager Will Venable flipped Sean Burke and Anthony Kay in the rotation, moving Kay to Thursday against the Royals and Burke to Friday against the Cubs.
“Burkie’s been pitching deeper into games, gives him a little bit of an extra blow,” Venable said. “It also lines up Kay to pitch again against the Mariners. We like the left-handed matchup. He also pitched well against [the Royals]. So the off day gives us an opportunity to adjust.”
Burke started and struggled last Friday in the 12-8 loss to the Mariners, allowing six runs in 4⅓ innings. He had thrown six, 7⅓ and six innings in his previous three starts, allowing only two runs in that span.
Kay started Saturday in the 6-1 victory, allowing one unearned run in five innings. The Sox head to Seattle after the series against the Cubs.
Notes
Catcher Kyle Teel (strained right hamstring) hit a two-run homer to right field in his first rehab appearance Tuesday at Triple-A Charlotte. He caught five innings and went 1-for-4. Teel is expected to be the designated hitter Wednesday.
Outfielder Austin Hays (strained left calf) ran in the outfield before the game against the Royals. The Sox put him on the 10-day injured list retroactive to May 2, so he’s eligible to come off when he’s ready.
Entering Tuesday, the Sox had led in each of their last 12 games, their longest streak since a 15-game run early in 2021, according to Elias.