Notes: Robert on 5-star catch; closer Colomé

CHICAGO -- Luis Robert Jr. clearly has a fairly high bar for every highlight reel play the American League Rookie of the Year Award candidate makes.

In talking Sunday morning about his five-star catch in the bottom of the ninth in Saturday’s 5-3 win, the White Sox center fielder admitted he didn’t initially think it was that good of a play.

• Robert lays out for clutch full-extension snag

“Then after the game, I saw the replay, and then I saw they were showing the play on TV and social media,” Robert said. “That's when I realized, yes, it was a good play.

“It wasn't much time to think about it. As soon as I saw the ball come off the bat, I just went after it. I always do. Every time that I see a ball in the air, I just run after it thinking I have a chance. Fortunately enough, last night, I was able to catch the ball.”

Per Statcast, Robert had just 4.5 seconds of opportunity time to cover 86 feet. Those numbers left Robert with a 15 percent catch probability.

Robert entered Sunday with five Outs Above Average, tied with Kevin Kiermaier and Jackie Bradley, Jr. for most among outfielders. As for Saturday’s play, Robert was in control of his body the whole time, leading him to believe it was nothing extraordinary.

“Sometimes you make a sliding catch and you roll over and hit the wall or something, and those plays that require a whole thing look like they require more effort,” Robert said. “Last night, I didn't have that feel like, ‘Oh, I have to do something really max effort to catch that ball.’”

Colomé ready to work
Alex Colomé threw 40 pitches during a save covering 1 1/3 innings Friday night at Kauffman Stadium and then told manager Rick Renteria he was ready to go Saturday if needed. Colomé also saved that victory -- in just nine pitches with Robert’s help -- but admitted Sunday would be a good time for a day off, especially with the team’s scheduled off-day Monday.

But Colomé quickly added that he would be ready to go again if Renteria called upon him.

“I like to be on the mound. I like to be there,” said Colomé, through interpreter Billy Russo, during a Sunday Zoom session. “I like to feel like I’m doing something.

“I’m always positive. I always fill my mind with positive thoughts, and every time I’m on the field, on the mound, I’m just enjoying that moment. I’m focused on that particular moment. That’s a key for me.”

Since the start of 2019 when Colomé joined the White Sox, he has posted a 2-1 record with a 1.62 ERA and 39 saves in 43 save opportunities. Colomé has struck out 46, walked 16 and allowed a .163 opponents' average over 44 1/3 innings during that time.

Colomé’s ability to close out victories is important for a young, burgeoning team playing even better than the veteran reliever expected back in Spring Training.

“Even though we are playing good right now, I think we can do more and be even better,” Colomé said. “We are working hard to improve and get better every day. We haven’t reached our top potential yet. That’s something we are working on, to finish the season as strong as possible.”

Third to first
• Yoán Moncada had the day off Sunday as part of the team protocol to keep his legs as healthy as possible. “Just one of those scheduled days that we have in line with him,” Renteria said.

• Renteria stated Sunday that the team's focus remains on the game at hand each day. But there also has been thought given to begin aligning the starting rotation with an eye toward the playoffs.

“Obviously, I mean, that would be foolish for me to say we're not thinking about it,” Renteria said. “Right now, we've got to take care of today. We'll work those details out as we continue to get closer to that break.”

He said it
“It’s been a long road up to this point, but we set up in Spring Training with a lot of confidence knowing what our team’s capable of, and now we’re going out and showing it on a nightly basis. Even games that don’t go our way, we bounce back. We’re able to make those adjustments quickly and put a good product out there.” -- Lucas Giolito, on his team sitting at 10 games over .500 as of Sunday morning