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“Coach Nagy came to us and challenged us,” right tackle Germain Ifedi said. “He said, ‘All right, we’re going to run the offense. Our identity is going to start up front.’ We know if up front we’re not doing it, the offense isn’t going to (work) whether we’re running it or throwing. We just wanted the opportunity to show who we are. I think Sunday was a step in the right direction of, all right, this is who we are.”
On Oct. 5 that year, the White Sox played the Tampa Bay Rays. It was Game 3 in the series and the first home playoff game for the White Sox. The team gave away 40,000 black rally towels. Coming home with two losses in Florida, the Sox won that game 5-3. They lost the series the following night, with the Rays winning 6-2, ending the White Sox’s playoff run.
“We’ve had several discussions in the clubhouse about how stubborn he’s going to be about admitting how he feels for the game (Thursday),” La Russa said. “We’ll just put his hand on the baseball bible and see. But I think for certain, if he’s not in there (Thursday), he’ll be in there (Friday).”
Chicago White Sox broadcasters Jason Benetti, left, and Steve Stone prepare for a game at Guaranteed Rate Field Thursday, July 4, 2019, in Chicago. Benetti and Stone won’t be calling games as the White Sox enter the playoffs, but Benetti said he’ll be following the team closely and has tickets to Game 4 of the upcoming series against the Houston Astros. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
“What needs to be understood the plan and process we had going into this was important,” Nagy said. “When Andy got hurt with his knee, that sped the plan up. I have always said from the beginning, we’ll know and he’s done everything to show us he’s ready for this opportunity.”
They can now pivot to Brewers head of baseball ops, David Stearns, and Oakland A’s executive VP of baseball operations, Billy Beane. The Mets will need permission to speak to Stearns and Beane, as both are under contract. Alderson and Beane have a close relationship, beginning with their time in the Oakland front office in the early 1990s. Alderson, then-GM of the A’s, hired Beane to take over the position in 1997.
“That’s what Connecticut is really good at, making adjustments” said Vandersloot, who 13 assists, five rebounds, a steal and a block in Game 3. “They have players that can do multiple things defensively. … I’m prepared for that. I look a lot to my teammates to make a lot of plays.”
“And my son, Darren, I got to see him play the last couple years in high school and a year in college (at California). I got to go to the Cape Cod League to watch him play and had one of my favorite vacations with him in Alaska. My son tells me that was the greatest trip he’s ever taken — fishing, seeing the midnight sun, seeing the culture. I also went to Montana, my other favorite spot, spent some time with the Cheyenne Indian tribe up there. Started a couple businesses in the meantime, got my winery, Baker Family Wines, going.
Options for the Sox include Giolito (11-9, 3.53 ERA), Lance Lynn (11-6, 2.69), Carlos Rodón (13-5, 2.37) and Cease (13-7, 3.91). But the Sox are waiting to determine Rodón’s status after he dealt with what he called “normal soreness” in his second-to-last start of the regular season.
Ogletree is coming off his best game of the season. He made a game-high 12 tackles (10 solos) with one tackle for a loss and a key breakup of a fourth-and-goal pass from the 5-yard line by Lions quarterback Jared Goff to running back D’Andre Swift. Matt Nagy really praised Ogletree on Monday, and it’s evident he will remain in the starting lineup for the near future even with veteran Danny Trevathan in a 21-day practice window as he returns from injured reserve. Ogletree is second on the defense with 24 tackles, trailing only Roquan Smith (40). That’s not a super telling statistic because inside linebackers should lead the team in tackles, especially in a base 3-4 scheme, but he’s playing well. I’m not sure Ogletree, 30, will cash in big on the open market after the season. Inside linebacker is one of the easier positions to fill, and he will be a year older. Remember, he was a disappointment for the New York Giants after they acquired him in a trade from the Los Angeles Rams, and he couldn’t stick with the New York Jets last season. He’s playing much better now, but at his age and considering positional value, I don’t know that he will cash in big time. Can he do better than the one-year deal for the minimum that he’s currently on? No doubt. But he probably has to play really well to get a multiyear deal.