6:18PM: Speaking with The Athletic’s James Fegan (Twitter links) and other reporters after the game, Kopech said his knee is sore and there is some fluid buildup, but an MRI revealed no structural problems. He did feel a small twinge or pop sensation in his knee during his final pitch of the game.
Both Kopech and manager Tony La Russa expressed hope that the injury wasn’t serious, and that Kopech might potentially not even miss a start. For the Detroit series, La Russa said Lynn will now pitch on Monday, Dylan Cease will start Tuesday, and Wednesday’s starter is to be determined.
5:21PM: Michael Kopech lasted only 13 pitches into today’s start against the Rangers, as the White Sox right-hander had to leave the game due to what the Sox later described as discomfort in his right knee. After tossing a strike to Adolis Garcia, Kopech was in visible discomfort on the mound, and departed after a visit from the team trainer.
More will be known about Kopech’s status after he receives testing and treatment, yet for now, it looks like the White Sox have perhaps suffered yet another key injury. With several notable players sidelined for long stretches of time (or even the entire season, such as Tommy John patient Garrett Crochet), Chicago has been unable to get much momentum going, as the club carried a 27-30 record into today’s game with Texas.
Just as it seemed the rotation was finally taking shape with the impending return of Lance Lynn, the White Sox now face another possible absence in Kopech. Lynn had been slated for Tuesday’s game against the Tigers, though Chicago’s rotation will have to be reshuffled since Johnny Cueto (Monday’s scheduled starter) ended up pitching five innings today. An off-day on Thursday should help to settle things, but in the short term, the Sox now suddenly face a bit of a crunch for this series in Detroit.
In his first full year as a starting pitcher, Kopech has an outstanding 1.94 ERA over 51 2/3 innings, though his 4.34 SIERA and 4.49 xFIP aren’t as impressed by his performance. The righty has benefited from a .180 BABIP, and his 12% walk rate is only in the 13th percentile of all pitchers. While some regression was probably inevitable, it also remained to be seen how long Kopech would remain in the rotation, as it seemed likely the White Sox would limit his innings to some extent given Kopech’s lack of work in 2019-20, and his usage as a reliever in 2021.
Losing Kopech is not the problem. Keeping LaRussa is!
This organization is just overhyped. Particularly by its TV crew. Between Stone and Benetti, there is no one in the lineup that they ever find fault with. I thought the ol Hawkeroo was as biased as it could get, but Benetti and Stone are no less different. They make continual excuses for sloppy play, and complain about ball strike calls, as if they only happen to the Chisox. And it’s comical at times how Benetti will actually bait Stone into some fantasy world.
You clearly don’t watch the games, dogbone. Stone and Jason cannot blatantly bash the team who employs them, but they make it clear they are not pleased with the results nor questionable decisions.
I’ll take these two over the clowns the Cubs have providing commentary. They’re far more knowledgeable.
That just simply isn’t true
Hey its the buttsore Dogbone. Still going on about the Sox broadcasting team. Personal gripe? Still no adult friends or other hobbies, as you spend an inordinate amount of time on this site, only posting on stories related to the White Sox. Guess it would be kind of creepy to invite your peers over to mama’s basement for a social exchange tho.
Parents don’t let your talented pitcher-kids throw 100.
I don’t know how his knee was hurt by throwing heat but ok
Some pitchers put a lot of torque on their knees in their delivery.
Thank you Johnny Superscout
Hopefully, it is minor. At least it is a leg injury and not an arm.
I know its easy to blame LaRussa as he shouldnt be managing this team. But, this team has fundamental problems. They are not patient, they are below average defensively and they dont run the bases well.
There is talent here and starting pitching that can get on a roll but its likely going to a bit of a struggle. Windows can be small and honestly I dont think the Sox are really all in and every year you waste…
Thank you Jack Buck
It’s easy to blame LaRussa
He makes it easy. Katz, the Drs and the trainers all suck too. The most injured team in baseball the last 3 years. And that’s saying something.
Mets easily beat that
You reap what you sow…….
The Sox rebuild ignored defense – as they always have under Kenny Williams tenure – prioritizing big burley guys that can hit the all out of the park…..but can’t do situational hitting, run the bases, or exhibit even a semi-decent baseball IQ while on the field.
When your defense gives the opposition extra outs during an era of pitch counting, it forces Sox pitchers to throw ever harder and put even more strain on their arm / shoulder / forearm / wrist trying to get more spin on the ball to K the batter.
Tony Larussa didn’t get into the HOF managing teams like this. He’s a strong fundamental manager, which seems to upset his players and the fans both of whom think MLB is Home Run Derby.
I only watched a part of a Sox game once this year…and it was to check in on the team they were playing. Within 5 minutes the batter hit a pop fly foul towards the stands maybe 30 feet behind 1B. The 1B (Abreu) and the 2B (Garcia) both took off after the ball at full speed looking up as they were running. As the ball came down both guys went into a slide to catch it……and slid into one another as the ball dropped behind them. A wonder both weren’t hurt. Now – the proper way to make a play on a fly ball / popup like that is to watch the ball go up, sprint for the spot with your eyes at field level, then look up for the ball when you get there and make the adjustment to catch it. Neither of those players did that. A week later I saw Bergman of the Astros in a similar situation where he sprinted for a ball 40 or so feet away, stopped, looked up and make the catch. But wait….there’s more…..
Shortly afterwords that inning with a runner on 1B, an opposing batter hit a single to Right Center. Either the RF or CF picked up the ball and fired it on a hop to Anderson that was out of position on the OF grass to make a cut-off as the runner from 1B was attempting to get to 3B (I’m used to Anderson missing cut-off throws…it’s routine). The ball bounced away from Anderson. The 3B had gone to cover the bag. The ball went 10 feet up the line from the 3B bag, and – fortunately – the Pitcher was standing against the stands behind 3B to back up the play….else the runner would have scored.
This has been going on for years with the White Sox. Sloppy play. Little League HR’s given up. This was the first game of the Sox I watched since the CF ran into the SS’s area for a pop-fly, looked down to see what the SS was yelling about (he was calling to make the play)…and the ball hit the CF on the head and landed 20-30 feet away. It was sickening. Don’t know when I’ll attempt to watch a Sox again again. Sloppiest team in MLB for decades now.
It’s Larussa’s fault? Really?
So you’re basing your whole opinion on one game? Which probably one of many this year that was played in a hurricane. Abreu is one of the best in baseball at catching popups anywhere and especially looking over his shoulder. Please don’t watch any more Sox games. It would be like me evaluating my opinion of your intelligence on this post. OK, I’ll have at it. You’re not very bright. There, I’ve seen you’re not a Mensa candidate. The Sox have a bunch of large guys who hit HR’s? Seems to work for the Yankees.
But they don’t have big burly guys who hit home runs. This has been discussed and vetted. Runs have been a problem all year, but even their power comes from disciplined hitters like Abreu, Grandal,
Robert, Anderson and Moncada who arent big swing and miss guys like your Ernest and Julio Gallos. Last year was a great example- 3rd in OBP. 7th in OPS and Runs, 19th in HRs and Ks. But don’t let the facts get in the way of a nice pull stuff out of one’s arse moment. Does he realize Adam Dunn left the building a long long time ago?
He’s just spewing emotional drivel .
He does this with every team and clearly has no clue about any of them. His recent takes on the Phillies and Angels were somehow worse than this one
Half the sonnets and psalms he writes are half -way copy and pasted from his own personal template he uses quite often
Sonnets and psalms, classic. Are they available on EBay? Goodwill? Publisher’s Clearinghouse?
The rapid rise and decline of the white sox… i bet tatis would look a lot nicer on the white sox just about now. Then again, so would cease on the cubs
No matter which team Tatis is employed by, he would still be invisible.
The White Sox have quickly become one of the most flawed organizations in the league. If they miss the postseason this year, it’s time to clean house entirely. I’m talking the whole front office and coaching staff. Then bring in competent baseball minds and trade off just about anyone of value other than Luis Robert and Andrew Vaughn
Not a WS fan, but Rick Hahn seems to be a decent GM.
If Hahn had any hand in hiring TLR, which he probably did, that alone cause to fire. Hahn seems to be good at stockpiling prospects but bad at putting a competent team together.
A few years ago the White Sox looked primed to dominate the AL Central for years to come yet they already find themselves in a huge mess. It might not be all his fault but a lot of the blame falls on Hahn
It’s pretty common knowledge Hahn had nothing to do with hiring LaRussa. He also had nothing to do with the fact that a good portion of the starting lineup/rotation has been hurt at one time or another this year….Anderson, Eloy, Robert, Moncada, Vaughn, Grandal, Lynn, Giolito and now Kopech plus parts of the bullpen as well.
I stand corrected on the TLR hire, I should have looked into that more. However I will not give the team the benefit of the doubt with injuries.
Anderson, Robert, and Vaughn are all very good hitters but the other three not so much. Lynn being out has been a big blow but the rest of the rotation should have been good enough to sustain his loss. Also you can’t really consider Kopech a major injury yet since he just got hurt today and had been exceptional to this point.
All in all, the White Sox are a very flawed team and I don’t see them turning it around
Crochet was a bigger loss to the Sox than Lynn. He was to the Sox what Keegan Thompson was to the Cubs early in the year. He was a Swiss army knife that had many uses.
Lifelong Sox fan. The 2022 White Sox are by far the most disappointing team in MLB this year. The talent is certainly there. Yes, the injuries have been a real problem. Install Luis Robert in the lead-off spot.. Jake Burger is the new everyday third baseman. If/when Moncada returns, have him play 2nd. Second base has been a disaster so far this year. How about a 21st century-relevant manager, too?
Burger is a disaster on defense. But again, so are about half of the other starters.
Other than Adam Engel no one on that team can play their defensive position.
I think he’s a token to meet some sort of MLB Commissioners Office requirement….believe it’s something in the bylaws about not surrounding the Pitcher with more than 7 DH’s.
Moncada is back, he punch hit today. LaRussa made some more puzzling moves today, like taking Lopez out after 2 good innings subbing for Kopech, with 31 year old rookie Tanner Banks, whose only claim to fame is he throws lefty. Then he screwed the rotation by using Cueto. Then, in extra innings of a tied ballgame, brings in Jose Ruiz instead of a real closer – 3 run homer literally was clearing the stands of fans before the ball landed. Sheesh. Also has Abreu swing away with winning run on second and 1 out, which precipitated the extra innings in which Ruiz blew it.
Moncada is “back” from where? He has been off the IL for weeks just can’t hit his way out of a paper bag. Lopez has been pitching relief all year and isn’t ready to pitch more than a couple of innings at a time especially considering he made three appearances earlier in the week.
Not worried about Moncada. He was out for 5 weeks and had no spring training ramp up time. He’s far superior to Burger at a critical position- was a Gold Glove finalist and in the top 3 in WAR at 3b. His timing off- he’s always been a very patient hitter who doesn’t swing and miss- always the dreaded caught looking. Hopeful that when they finally get all the players healthy – TA, Eloy, Grandal, Moncada all together things will click. While results were middling this week- they did average 8 runs a game the last 4 days.
Love it. Lol. Keep counting on Wonderful Yoan Moncada. The fact that Sox fans still believe in the fantasy dust that surrounds him, is comical. Mediocre at best.
None of that explains LaRussa’s demented choices, especially offensively.
Hire Joe maddon
Ha! He would be good here, calm this team down, they are pressing.
Hello Mr. Meniscus
Damn this dude was just dealing vs LAD last week
When was the last time Anderson, Robert, or Jiminez played a full season? I don’t care how good or bad the manager is when you have a bunch of guys that don’t play good baseball and are always “injured” you’ll never win anything. The White Sox are a collection of DHs and guys that love the IL. You can put the greatest manager that’s ever lived on that team and the fans would still complain about him. What I’m saying is that the players suck not the manager. I don’t care how many home runs Jiminez or Robert can hit because they’ll never be healthy enough to hit them. Also Grandal’s bat is absolute garbage and so is Moncada’s. How much are they paying Grandal again? $18 million a year through next year. That’s a ton of money for what he provides which is zilch. Moncada is due almost $80 million through 2025 and for that he’s also providing nothing. But it’s LaRussa’s fault right?
No questions injuries have caused this team to limp through the first 1/3 of the season. The bigger concern is TLR just seems lost and not in control of this team. They seem to be waiting around for manager to fix them, while he waiting around for them to play better. I know it won’t happen but maybe firing TLR will wake these players up and a different voice is needed. Maybe a Cairo or McEwing to to take over as both had incredible careers being utility guys and being ready to play every day. If I was at the helm I’d tell these players no giant gold chains or jewelry flying around unless your hitting ..275+ or ERAs under 3.50.
Kudos to Cueto for stepping up & pitching reasonably well — minus 2 of his first 3 pitches — in a tough situation. I had Johnny down for at least 1 win this week, but now his reward is facing Verlander. Yikes!
This is on the players collectively being overloved (even when most are available) and Hahn’s roster construction. The organization is too insular. “They don’t know what they don’t know”. Short of overhauling FO management and bringing in fresh eyes/guiding philosophies, doesn’t look good. They can try to trade guys like Eloy/Moncada/Bummer the moment they catch fire for a couple week stretch against lesser competition in an effort to make the club more well-rounded (speed/defense/durability), but if Hahn/KW are calling the shots for next few years, it is wishful thinking that everyone in ALC will cooperate by being bad/hurt like 2021. The 4 AL East teams and Astros also remain decidedly better for the next several years. They are smarter….and well financed other than Tampa.
Let’s pump there brakes here a little bit on the Moncada, Ely and Bummer trade bait message. Bummer costing you $3M annually until 2027 and he owns a 3.12 era, Eloy is $7M on average until 2027 with a average OPS of .813 and Moncada $14M average until 2026 with a OPS of .768. I’d say the only underachiever based on expectations and salary is Moncada right now. There is still a lot of season left and if they don’t right the ship, then we have issues because they are locked into this roster for the next 3 years basically.
The Sox will make a nice run. They are not good enough to win a world series but they would be a hell if a lot better if they had Eloy, Lynn, Kelly, Crochet, Anderson and they have lost time with Giolito & Moncada & Robert and now Kopech. The only saving grace is they learned Burger can DH, Mendich is the better option at 2B, and Vaugn will be a stud.