White Sox' Garrett Crochet serious about going the distance
Will Garrett Crochet go the distance, after all?
The All-Star left-hander certainly wants to, even if he gets there taking baby steps to the finish line.
A day after throwing just four pitches against the Rangers before having his 27th start unexpectedly rained out, an upbeat Crochet talked about pitching into September and finishing his first season as a starter with 30 starts, something unforeseen when he was named the surprise Opening Day starter in spring training.
Coming off Tommy John surgery and shoulder problems and having never started in the majors, Crochet figured to be used lightly, but making starts of four innings or less since the end of June is allowing him to stay on a starter’s routine, which he’ll remain committed to after Tuesday’s partial at-bat by the Rangers’ Marcus Semien. Tuesday’s resumed game – the first part of a what was essentially a doubleheader – began with Chris Flexen walking Semien to finish the at-bat with about 150 or 200 fans in the stands at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Crochet will get four or five days off and take some ribbing from teammates for getting a message Wednesday.
Management has been saying Crochet is proceeding start by start and through each one inning by inning, but interim manager Grady Sizemore said Monday a shutdown could be near.
“I’m just speculating, I don’t know,” Sizemore said Wednesday.
Senior advisor to pitching Brian Bannister said Crochet could keep going, and Crochet wants no shutdown.
“Pitching in September would be huge,” he said.
“This would be my second full season ever and my first full healthy season ever. So, it would be really, really special.”
Sizemore suggested Crochet could close it down in the final week, but “for now, we’re just going about like he’s going every five days.”
So Crochet, who in spring training, Crochet said he “joked” with trainer James Kruk that 120 innings would be his floor but 150 attainable, keeps on going.
“It’s kind of what I’m on pace for right now,” said Crochet, who is at 128 2/3 innings over 27 starts. “As soon as I passed 120, I didn’t say anything to him, but I was kind of like, ‘Ha ha, [bleep] it James.'
“Rightfully so, everyone was kind of doubtful I would even make it this far. So it feels really good and very rewarding for all the work that I put in with this staff in the offseason for it to have gotten to this point and still feeling strong.”
The elephant in the room is that Crochet, with two years of contract control, will be dangled as a trade chip in the offseason for a team on pace for the most losses in baseball history.
The losses have been brutal but Crochet’s presence is one who has kept the team for whom his days could be numbered together.
“Regardless of the season we’re having, we’ve been a close-knit locker room through it all,” Crochet said. “Coming to the field every day, I’ve really enjoyed this year. We have a good foundation of guys to build on. And on top of that, selfishly, getting to see myself in the role I’ve always imagined myself in and having success in it, it’s been a good time.”
Tuesday’s rainout, however, not so good.
Pitching coach Ethan Katz told him rain was expected by 8:30 so Crochet figured his short start would get in.
“I don’t think anyone around here is a weatherman, so it is what it is,” he said.
The rain was falling so hard, Crochet couldn’t grip his last pitch.
“Throwing in the rain is one of those things I secretly enjoy,” Crochet said. “I’m like, ‘The hitters must be miserable right now.’ But then when I didn’t have a grip on that last pitch, I was like, ‘Oh, I’m kind of miserable right now.’ ’’
In this miserable season for the Sox, Crochet has made it a little less so for all involved.