Merkin Newsletter: TA for MVP? 3 predictions for '22

Hello! Welcome to the White Sox Beat newsletter. Scott Merkin has covered the White Sox for MLB.com since 2003. Follow him on Twitter @scottmerkin and Facebook and listen to his podcast.

My powers of perception, my prognostication prowess, seem to be on the fritz.

Here’s a minor example. In Sunday’s White Sox victory at Comerica Park, after Michael Kopech threw 69 pitches over four innings and finished by retiring seven straight Tigers, I suggested on Twitter the right-hander might return for the fifth. Manager Tony La Russa sent reliever Kyle Crick running in from the bullpen for the bottom of the inning.

I’m also the “expert” who gave you Gonzaga, Purdue, Arizona, and Iowa in the men’s basketball Final Four, with Arizona beating Purdue. I did pick Michigan to win three games in the NCAA Men’s Tournament, and they won two. So all is not totally lost.

I’m not giving up. Here are three predictions to bookmark so you can tell me in October, “Scott Merkin, you were, and you are, a psychic genius.” You can e-mail me if you prefer.

Tim Anderson wins the American League MVP
The difference Anderson makes was noticeable by watching his season debut Sunday following a two-game suspension to open the 2022 season in Detroit. He has a great understanding of his swing (more on that to come next week), and his presence is rightfully being recognized across the game.

“He’s as dangerous as any leadoff hitter in baseball,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said of Anderson. “It’s the energy he brings. It’s the bat-to-ball skills. It’s the threat at the very beginning. And kind of figuring out what he’s bringing to the game every game is tough.

“Is he going to be aggressive? Is he going to be patient? When he decides to swing, he puts the bat on the ball and puts pressure on you. It’s not easy to keep control of him at the plate or on the bases. It’s the reason he’s leading off, and it’s one of the better teams in the American League. Getting their sparkplug back, it changes their lineup.”

Detroit or Minnesota will make the playoffs
The White Sox remain decidedly the best team in the AL Central, but the division will be much improved. Good enough, in fact, where one of these teams will reach the postseason. I picked Detroit before the season started.

Blue Jays-White Sox ALCS
Talk about the highest of entertainment value.

BACK TO CHICAGO

Let me know any White Sox home opener traditions you have followed over the years or a consecutive home opener streak you’re adding on to after reading this week’s newsletter. I’ll add in some of your replies in the April 19 newsletter edition.   

BIG-MONEY BANKS

Tanner Banks left the media waiting briefly following a 10-1 White Sox victory over Detroit on Sunday afternoon. But it was a 100 percent excused, encouraged, and expected absence for the left-handed hurler.

After being selected in the 18th round of the 2014 Draft and throwing 743 1/3 innings over 168 Minor League appearances, Banks made his Major League debut with two scoreless innings. The 30-year-old rookie wanted to find his wife before she left for the airport to celebrate the moment and he finally did — in the parking garage outside the stadium.

He got the traditional clubhouse beer shower for his first successful outing but was still somewhat soaked despite being in dress clothes for the flight when he talked to reporters.

“Now, I’m sweating,” Banks said with a laugh, referring to running around trying to find his wife.

Banks walked Victor Reyes to open the eighth, before striking out Spencer Torkelson, Tucker Barnhart and Robbie Grossman. He fanned Harold Castro in the ninth, ending the game on Miguel Cabrera’s long fly ball to left, falling a few feet short of Cabrera’s 503rd career home run. In the search for his wife, Banks also happened to run into Cabrera postgame.

“I saw him in the hall, and I said, ‘It’s a great day for the wind blowing in,’ and he smiled at me,” Banks said. “I threw that, and I was like, ‘Crap,’ and it hung up in the air and hung up in the air and hung up in the air. Fortunately, Eloy (Jiménez) was camped there underneath it.

“The confidence, knowing that my stuff is good enough and ultimately remembering that moving forward, but tomorrow is another day. There’s more work to be done and preparing myself to go out and do it again.”

IN THE CITY
I’ve been around forever, and I’ve seen all the Major League cities, so I’m going to try to drop a recommendation or two from each place I hit.

For Detroit, it’s a place once called Roma Café, now known as Amore da Roma, originally made known to me by Mark Gonzales, who happens to be the only reporter in Chicago media history to cover Cubs and White Sox World Series titles as a primary beat writer. The authentic Italian restaurant is located on 3401 Riopelle St., has great selections and massive portions. I can vouch for the meatballs, the salad and the lasagna based on our group’s visit there Thursday.

And with my return to Chicago, along with the White Sox returning home, let’s not forget Harry Caray’s. Great atmosphere, great food, and a must during baseball season … or any season.

Tell them Scott Merkin sent you. It probably won’t get you anything, but I’m interested in the reaction.

TRIVIA

In the 2010 Opening Day game against Cleveland, which also happened to be the home opener, Mark Buehrle made one of the greatest defensive plays in franchise history by deflecting a Lou Marson grounder back to the mound goalie style and then flipping the ball on the run between his legs with his glove to first baseman Paul Konerko. But in that 6-0 victory, who was the only White Sox player to have a multi-hit performance?

• A. Alex Rios
• B. Carlos Quentin
• C. Gordon Beckham
• D. Paul Konerko

QUOTABLE

“These guys, they’re too close, they like each other too much, they like to compete, too tough. It’s not going to get away from us because of the chemistry. But it’s not automatic, fellas. It’s not automatic. Don’t get careless.” — a cautious but upbeat La Russa on the White Sox bouncing back to win two games in Detroit after Friday’s tough loss.

“When he’s ready, I’m sure he’ll be banging on the door, and we’re going to be banging on the door of Triple-A (Charlotte) to let us know when they think he’s ready as well and we’re going to go from there.” — pitching coach Ethan Katz on Johnny Cueto, who will need to face Minor League hitters in three or four starts before joining the White Sox.

TRIVIA ANSWER

A: Beckham finished 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. Quentin also scored two runs, while Konerko and Rios homered. 

LUIS ROBERT PLAY OF THE WEEK

We’re going consistency instead of spectacular. The White Sox center fielder had five hits over the opening series victory, extending his hitting streak to four dating to last season. He picked up two stolen bases and scored three runs. But one word of caution: Try to phase out those head-first slides.

VAULT

May 8, 1984

Before moving into this week’s clip involving a great moment from Harold Baines’ Hall of Fame career, please check out the story I wrote for Monday on Baines now being almost one year removed recovery-wise from a heart and kidney transplant. Harold and his wife, Marla, will be at the White Sox home opener on Tuesday.

It’s absolutely inspiring to see the work done by the doctors and full medical staff at Johns Hopkins and the love and togetherness of the Baines family, equaled by Baines’ current commitment to becoming a spokesperson for organ donation. As for Baines on the field …

Let’s go back to 1984, for a team managed by La Russa, and a home game lasting two days against the Brewers. The contest began on May 7 but finished in 25 innings on May 8, allowing Tom Seaver to be the winning pitcher during both games completed that day. Seaver pitched the final scoreless inning in the extended affair behind seven scoreless from Juan Agosto and four from Al Jones. But it was Baines’ walk-off homer against Chuck Porter with one out in the 25th that gave the White Sox a 7-6 victory. Baines finished 2-for-10 in the game, while Tom Paciorek went 5-for-9.

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