But with an 0-for-4 showing during a 6-2 loss to the Astros on Thursday afternoon at Daikin Park, including three strikeouts, Murakami’s struggles continued offensively.
The slump dates back to the start of August, with Murakami going 13-for-101 (.129) with 45 strikeouts, five home runs, four doubles and eight RBIs since Aug. 5. He has walked 23 times, so the approach remains strong, as do the swing decisions. The results, though, have been absent.
“There’s always good times and bad times throughout the season,” Murakami said through interpreter Kenzo Yagi, after the White Sox lost their third in this four-game series against the Astros. “It’s really important just to keep focusing on the approach every single day.
“One trigger, one little key hitting, would really trigger the success. It’s about finding that one little thing and moving on forward so I can get back on track.”
Murakami is tied with Miguel Vargas and Colson Montgomery for the team lead in home runs with 29. He has reached that lofty total in 105 games, missing 35 due to a Grade 2 right hamstring strain. In this first MLB season after coming over from Japan via a two-year, $34 million deal, the first baseman has fit in seamlessly with Chicago.
Murakami’s presence has made others around him better, even when he’s not getting top of the line results. Proof is in the standings, with the White Sox (73-67) holding a three-game lead over the Guardians (70-70) with 22 to play in the regular season and sitting 1 1/2 games ahead of the Astros (72-69) for the AL’s No. 2 seed.
“We are just really glad that in September, we are at this position,” Murakami said. “We want to not take that for granted but really appreciate where we stand. Just going into each game not thinking about too much about but really focusing on each game, each day at a time. If you keep continuing that, we will end up in a good spot at the end of September.”
“What he’s been to Vargas, and just that comfort, that relationship they have built right away,” White Sox director of player personnel Gene Watson told MLB.com of Murakami. “That impact, it’s a two-player impact. And those two in the relationship they have, it’s really been fun and special to watch and look at what it has done for our lineup.”
Right-hander Luis Castillo is being counted on much like Murakami, albeit at a slightly different level. General manager Chris Getz acquired the right-hander at the Trade Deadline from Seattle, where he had struggled this season, but Castillo had shown in the past to not only be a solid regular season hurler but also an important playoff addition.
Aside from one dominant start against the Reds on Aug. 12, when Castillo struck out 10 over seven innings of one-hit ball, he has yet to consistently show that side for the White Sox. Manager Will Venable spoke with Castillo on Thursday, after he allowed six runs on six hits and two walks over four innings, to reinforce his confidence.
“He’s here to help us and ultimately his job is not to go out there and throw six scoreless innings,” Venable said. “He needs to give us a chance to win. And there’s been a couple in which we haven’t been able to get there. We have confidence in him. We’re going to continue to support him. We’re going to continue to work.”
“That is something I’m still trying to figure out,” Castillo said, as to the root of his 7.52 ERA with the White Sox. “As I’ve said before, I come here every day to try to improve. The good thing is that I feel good. My body feels good. My arm feels good. We’re going to keep trying to figure this out.”
An opener is possible for Castillo and a number of starters as the White Sox view the upcoming contests as almost playoff games, according to Venable. Moving Murakami from his No. 2 spot temporarily won’t necessarily solve the problem of the power-packed hitter making more contact in the zone.
“Even on the normal outs, even if I have a good at-bat and it’s an out, I’ve been a bit negative on the mental side,” said Murakami, who has 81 walks vs. 157 strikeouts. “It’s important for me to think in a positive way, even if it’s an out.
“There are good swings, good at-bats. Just differentiating what I’m doing good and what I’m doing bad even if it’s one out, I think it’s the key for the future.”