Signed to a five-year, $75 million pact before the 2023 season that still stands as the richest contract in team history, Andrew Benintendi has struggled to live up to that deal as the White Sox have plummeted to the bottom of the sport.
Recently, Benintendi has shown signs of life. Entering Sunday’s game against the Athletics, Benintendi was slashing .284/.358/.552 since July 31, capped by his walk-off home run Saturday.
“It’s really good to see just how he’s handled everything,” interim manager Grady Sizemore said. “There’s always a lot of pressure when you’re signed to a big deal and the center of a franchise and when you get off to a slow start or you have a frustrating year, it can be a lot. It can be taxing physically, mentally. But to see him hit his best stretch here at the end, it’s got to feel good for him.”
The Sox hope that carries over in 2025. Sizemore said Benintendi looks comfortable and dangerous at the plate.
“It’s got to give him a good feeling going into the offseason and make him probably even hungrier to come back stronger and improve and just get better,” Sizemore said.
Grading Grady
Sunday was Sizemore’s 33rd game as interim manager since replacing Pedro Grifol. Asked to evaluate himself, Sizemore countered that he focuses on the moves he wishes he would have made and the ones that didn’t work out.
“All I’m trying to do is learn from each day and get better the next day and try to work together with the players and with the staff to get the best possible version of this team that we can on any given night,” Sizemore said.
Outside of not being able to script games – a lesson reinforced Saturday – one thing he’s learned is something that seems mundane.
“The hardest thing is just reminding the umpires what I’m doing,” Sizemore said. “I always have to tell them when a guy’s going in or when a pitcher’s going in. I always forget to actually tell them the move.”
So long, Oakland
Sunday was likely the Sox’ final game against the Oakland version of the Athletics, who are expected to shift to Sacramento for the next three seasons before a planned move to Las Vegas.
Sox pitcher Chris Flexen grew up in Newark, California, an East Bay city in Alameda County about 20 miles from the Oakland Coliseum. Though Flexen was more of a Giants supporter, he has good memories of the Athletics and their fans, including when he and a high school friend went out to a game early and caught at least 15 balls during batting practice.
Those times appear to be ending in Oakland.
“It’s a bummer on both ends,” Flexen said. “It’s a bummer to sometimes go and see it not be able to get packed or have 20, 30,000 there. I know they did at times and there’s other stuff going on. It’ll be interesting to see them leave Oakland.”
Crochet update
Garrett Crochet is expected to start Friday in San Diego, giving him six days of rest following his appearance last Friday. Crochet has started 30 games this season and thrown 138 innings.