HOUSTON — Chicago White Sox manager Will Venable and bench coach Walker McKinven had a conversation about Shane Smith while the right-hander was dealing again Tuesday against the Houston Astros.
“I told Walker in the fourth inning we need to press pause and appreciate what this guy’s doing,” Venable said Tuesday. “It’s just every outing, I don’t want to say dominant, but he’s efficient, he attacks the zone, he’s hard to square up.”
Smith improved to 3-3 after allowing one run on seven hits in the 4-2 victory at Daikin Park. He struck out four and walked two in the 89-pitch outing.
“It wasn’t the strikeout (Tuesday), but he got soft contact and he just finds different ways to be effective,” Venable said.
Smith continued to build a strong All-Star case, lowering his ERA to 2.37. That ERA is the best among major-league rookies this season. Overall, he ranks 10th in the American League in the category.
Smith, 25, is in the running to be the first Sox rookie to make the All-Star team since first baseman José Abreu in 2014. Smith would be the first rookie pitcher in franchise history to accomplish the feat.
“He’s put a ton of work in, has obviously performed very well and a performance like that should be recognized,” Venable said Wednesday of the All-Star chatter. “So, that’s cool.”
Smith appreciates the conversation, but is focused on making strides with each outing.
“To be in this position, I’m extremely thankful,” Smith told the Tribune on Wednesday. “All-Star Game or not, I’m really happy with what I’ve done. Just want to continue on that path, whatever it looks like. Just want to be at my best every time I go out there.
“If that’s what comes with that, then that’s awesome. I’m not going out there thinking I need to throw well for the All-Star Game. It’s most certainly not at the top of my mind.”
The Sox selected Smith in the Rule 5 draft in December. He shined during spring training and has carried it over to the regular season.
“The trick is to make enough adjustments that you’re getting better each start, but not too many to where you’re losing what makes you good or what works for you,” Smith said. “It’s knowing when to make the adjustments and when to re-think something, but also staying true to what you do well.”
He’s allowed no more than three earned runs in any of his 13 starts.
“I think it’s a testament to just being aggressive,” Smith said after Tuesday’s outing. “There are situations where you’re behind in the count and it’s pretty easy to flip something in and it be a ball and then you’re in a 3-1 count and you’re really pigeonholed. Staying aggressive when you’re behind in counts and just trying to stay consistent is the biggest thing.
“I had a little hiccup in New York (allowing three runs in 3 2/3 innings on May 28 against the Mets at Citi Field) and obviously in Chicago gave up some runs (six, but only one earned on May 16 against the Cubs at Wrigley Field). Each time out is a new thing and you try to be as best you can each time.”
Smith evaluated Tuesday’s outing, saying, “Felt like sometimes you have the fastball, sometimes the slider. The first strikeout was a good one (using a slider to fan leadoff batter Jeremy Peña in the first inning). Maybe left a little too over the plate with two strikes, and I think that’s somewhat of an easy adjustment. But staying aggressive when I needed to be aggressive, not really giving in any at-bats was the biggest thing.”
Smith worked his way out of the second, fourth and sixth innings by inducing double plays.
“Not really getting the punchouts with two strikes as much as I wanted to but to get the somewhat soft contact sometimes,” Smith said. “And those guys were awesome, (shortstop) Chase (Meidroth) up the middle was turning them and (Miguel) Vargas at third turned one, too. (Double plays are a pitcher’s) best friend.”
Venable pointed to Smith’s ability to adapt as one of his strengths.
“I think it was the first start, the changeup was nasty,” Venable said Wednesday. “The next time he was bullying people with the fastball. And then it was the slider. It just shows his ability to adapt and have an understanding of himself and where he’s at that night, making the adjustment and going and performing.”
Smith is enjoying the journey with his teammates.
“Everybody shows up every day and to see that, have that lead-by-example by a lot of guys is something to lean on,” Smith said Wednesday. “It feels like we’ve played a lot of baseball so far, but there’s a lot more baseball ahead for us.
“I’m really looking forward to it and showing up every day with these guys.”
