Anderson thriving since McEwing's challenge

NEW YORK -- It was approximately six weeks ago when White Sox bench coach Joe McEwing challenged shortstop Tim Anderson. Actually they sort of challenged each other.
"I said how proud I was of him from where he started as a player, as a person, as a family member and as a member of the community, and how well he's matured and got to this level," McEwing said. "Let's take it to the next level now.
"And he has. I couldn't be happier for him. I couldn't be prouder of him. He's learning so much about himself. But he's just going out there and playing. He's not playing to make a mistake. He's playing without one ounce of fear right now. He's playing with total confidence."
McEwing was focused on Anderson's defense, but his entire game really could be viewed in that manner.
Anderson is on pace to become the first White Sox shortstop with at least 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in the same season. He had a six-game hitting streak entering Tuesday and was using his legs as well as his bat for team success.

As for his defense, McEwing equates Anderson's current state to a player in a pickup basketball game who wants the ball and wants to score.
"He's free, he's loose," McEwing said. "He makes a mistake and he knows what he has done and he's accountable for it. The body language from where it was to where it is now, it's on a whole different level."
Plays such as the one Anderson made deep in the hole Monday to take away a hit look spectacular. In reality, Anderson regularly practices them with McEwing.
"When game time comes, they become [easier] but not easy. The more reps I get, I feel like I can get a lot better, too," Anderson said. "Just really being out here and knowing my range and knowing the guys beside me, kind of just really doing my work and taking pride in it."
Moncada looking up the middle
Yoán Moncada's game-tying double and hard-hit grounder deflected by Masahiro Tanaka for an out Monday were not hit up the middle by accident. It's a concerted effort being shown by the switch-hitting second baseman.
"That has been my approach recently," said Moncada through interpreter Billy Russo. "Just think to hit the ball through the middle instead of pulling the ball."

"He's trying to stay on the ball," White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. "He's trying to keep his head over the baseball a little bit more, stay behind the ball, seeing it a little better. He has a ways to go to where he ultimately will be in his all-around play. But he has shown some big improvements on both sides, and I think he'll chip away."
Third to first
• Carlos Rodón has made nine straight quality starts while allowing five hits or fewer, the longest such streak by a White Sox pitcher since at least 1908. His .178 opponents' batting average this season would rank second in the American League with the required innings, and his 2.70 ERA would rank fourth.
• Adam Engel has improved his batting average in each of the last two months. He was hitting .296 in August entering Tuesday after batting .254 in July and .228 in June.