Jason Segel texted 'Forgetting Sarah' Marshall
White Sox right-hander surprised to hear from star of 2008 comedy
CHICAGO -- Evan Marshall now has a Hollywood connection.
As the White Sox reliever was sleeping Saturday morning, he received a text from Jason Segel, the star and writer of the entertaining 2008 comedy "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," from which Marshall took his “Forgetting Sarah” Players' Weekend nickname. Segel, who was doing a night shoot for a show in Philadelphia, congratulated Marshall on his scoreless outing Friday while wearing the special jersey.
“It was quite the surprise,” Marshall said. “His producer had my number, and he reached out and said how awesome the jersey was and he wants one signed that he can wear.
“He’s a movie star. I wasn’t expecting anything from him. But he seemed like a really good guy, and in talking to his producer, everybody seems to love him the same way I kind of do. It was cool he reached out.”
Marshall plans to get that signed jersey to Segel, who also found great fame playing a character named Marshall on the sitcom "How I Met Your Mother."
“I had a couple of extras made,” Marshall said of the Players' Weekend jerseys.
Could Anderson win a batting title?
Tim Anderson has a .332 average, which would have him second in the American League, if he had the required number of plate appearances, trailing only the Astros' Michael Brantley (.337).
Anderson needs another 111 plate appearances to qualify by the end of the season for that title, which would be another sign of his immense growth in 2019, but it's not exactly something he thinks about.
“Not really. I just try to take it a day at a time, and if it happens, it happens,” Anderson said. “I just try to stay consistent in what I do and finish the year strong.
“With the way I've been preparing, I just try to be consistent in my work. Just come to the ballpark every day trying to get better and understanding what people are trying to do to me, and I have a plan.”
Anderson is 21-for-48 with five doubles, one home run, and seven RBIs during his 11-game hitting streak, with eight multi-hit hit efforts during the streak. He is hitting .394 (39-for-99) with nine doubles, two homers, eight RBIs and 20 runs scored in 23 August games, and his average has been above .300 for all but two days in 2019.
Jimenez returns
After missing the first two games of the series vs. the Rangers with a right hip flexor, Eloy Jimenez returned to the White Sox lineup Saturday. He was slotted in at designated hitter, and he'll be in that spot until he’s back at 100 percent.
“As soon as we feel he's completely comfortable enough to move around the way he needs to, he'll absolutely be back in the outfield,” White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. “He's taped up, but he's improved enough to be able to go out there. I'm going to be very cautious with him, and I'll keep my eye on him and see how he's doing.”
For the first time since June 24 in Boston, the quartet of Jose Abreu, Anderson, Jimenez and Yoan Moncada played a full game together.
“Yesterday, someone came in and said, 'When was the last time you guys had them all in together?' And I didn't remember,” Renteria said. “So, it's nice to see them all in there. Hopefully, they have a nice game, and everybody has some fun.”
Anderson’s special bat
Anderson received a specially designed Players' Weekend bat reading “Rip It, Flip It,” courtesy of Victus. It’s the only one he has, though, so he’s not using it in game action and instead will make it part of his playing memorabilia.
Anderson is also a big fan of the White Sox Players' Weekend uniforms.
“I think we need to make this part of our collection. They're sick," Anderson said.