SAN FRANCISCO — Enjoy Garrett Crochet while you have him, White Sox fans. And don’t blink while you do.
Crochet has been limited to an average of 3 1/3 innings and 60 pitches in his last seven outings as precautions are taken by the Sox and the All-Star left-hander alike to protect his valuable arm.
He understands it. It doesn’t mean he has to like it.
“I don’t think anybody really likes [being limited],” Crochet said after he allowed two runs in four innings in the Sox’ 6-2 victory Wednesday against the Giants, both of the runs coming in his last inning. “Last start was 58 pitches, this one 57. I’d like to think my workload capacity is built up higher, but I understand this is uncharted territory. We’re preparing for the future.”
Crochet, who’s at 128 2/3 innings in 26 starts, struck out four, walked one and allowed four hits, throwing 38 of 57 pitches for strikes.
“We’re going to keep him on a limit each time out,” interim manager Grady Sizemore said, offering no change in the ongoing plan for Crochet. “That will probably slowly decrease as we get closer to the finish line here.
“He was really good. I know he’s frustrated. He doesn’t want to be getting pulled out early like that, and he knows it. That makes it harder for him when you want to compete, but he’s been a pro about it, and he keeps us in the game.”
The Sox (31-97) scored four runs in the ninth to break a tie, and four relievers combined for five scoreless innings to win the last game of a 2-4 road trip that started with a win in Houston.
Crochet appears to have a valuable and lucrative career ahead, most likely with another franchise as general manager Chris Getz proceeds with a rebuilding plan that could involve a trade unless the Sox do the unexpected and sign him to a long-term deal. It’s generally not the Sox’ style to do such things, especially with pitchers who will command the type of cash Crochet will on the open market.
He will be paid for what he can do every fifth day, but value extends beyond that, Sizemore said. As he transitioned to starter from reliever on a staff with fewer veterans, Crochet’s clubhouse presence became bigger in spring training, even before he won the job as Opening Day starter.
“Guys gravitate toward him,” Sizemore said. “Out there during BP when he’s not throwing, he’s out there shagging, he’s getting his staff with him. He’s showing how much of a leader he can be. It’s not easy transitioning into that role from reliever to starter, and it’s also not easy to have to deal with all the trade talk and to be put on a pitch limit or innings limit.
“That’s a lot for a young player to handle. He hasn’t complained, just shows up ready to work, positive and just competes, too. When he goes out there, it’s a lot of intensity, a lot of energy, and guys feed off that. You can see guys want to play really hard for him and really try to get him a win.”
Even though he performs every five days, Crochet’s stature has been needed in an incredibly bad season like this one for the Sox. Sizemore has taken notice.
“He’s been a positive influence every day out there,” Sizemore said. “He’s had a great year; he got to make his first All-Star appearance. He’s well-liked. I don’t think there’s a guy in that clubhouse that doesn’t have anything but positive things to say about him.”
“It’s something that comes natural,” Crochet said. “I don’t try to be any type of way other than who I am. It’s cool to hear from him, yeah, but it’s just being myself.”
