One of Terry Bevington’s first acts as White Sox manager Friday night was to draw up a batting order that for the first time this season had Tim Raines hitting No. 1 and and Lance Johnson No. 2.
Saturday, Bevington reversed his top two batters, putting Johnson No. 1 and Raines No. 2 because a righty, Mike Moore, started for Detroit. Lefty David Wells pitched Friday.
Bevington indicated he will generally follow this policy in the highly important area of “setting the table” for No. 3 man Frank Thomas.
“I’m very big on the 1-2 combination, not just the leadoff man,” said Bevington. “Rock and Lance or Lance and Rock look very, very good there. “
Pitching plan: Bevington has not before worked on a staff with new pitching coach Don Cooper. But he believes he and Cooper are in accord.
“We’ve talked, and Cooper and I believe in pitching inside and being aggressive,” said Bevington. “Overall, we’d rather have our pitcher pitch to his strength rather than to a batter’s weakness.”
Not by the book: Bevington said his managerial philosophy is a cross between playing the percentages and going with his gut feeling. He won’t always follow the standard “book” or be a slave to stats, but he keeps a book on pitchers.
“It’s simplified,” he said. “It keeps track of first-pitch strikes, ground balls, fly balls, hard-hit balls and first batters retired. I’m big on relief pitchers getting the first batter out.”
Free passes: The Sox’s 15-inning victory Friday featured some extraordinary numbers .
The Tigers and Sox combined to issue seven intentional walks, tying an American League record for an extra-inning game. Minnesota and Milwaukee had seven intentional walks in a 22-inning suspended game played May 12-13, 1972. The Tigers issued five of the intentional walks, tying the league record for one team in an extra-inning game.
Sabo waived: The Sox requested waivers on Chris Sabo on Saturday for the purpose of giving him his unconditional release. Sabo had been designated for assignment May 24 when the team signed John Kruk.