White Sox notes: Frazier returns, bullpen woes, Royals

Todd Frazier wasn’t within earshot of Rick Hahn when the White Sox general manager told media Tuesday that he would do everything in his power to better equip the roster for a run to and well into the postseason.

Frazier was probably on a cot somewhere, losing the end of a battle with a nasty virus that had gone through his family and caused him to miss his first game as a White Sox Tuesday. But he read Hahn’s comments that resonated through the clubhouse in a good way.

“Without a doubt. I know he believes in us,’’ Frazier said Wednesday. “He wouldn’t have made all those moves in the offseason. He wants to win just as badly as we do. He’s been doing a great job in getting the guys that we need. I know he’s probably in his office right now focusing on what we need or what we don’t need. Kudos to him.’’

Frazier, whom Hahn traded for shortly after the winter meetings in December, was back in his customary 4-spot lineup Wednesday. He knows there’s much to be said for a deeper roster and with it would come no concern about what a new personality will do to a clubhouse chemistry.

“Not at all,’’ he said. “We had seven, eight new guys come in during spring training and it seems like we’ve played with each other all year long and all of our careers. So another guys comes in, he’s going to step up and playing the Chicago way whether he likes it or not. That’s basically it. No cockiness about it. A guy comes in here and they know the record we have. It’s bottom line: come in here, dominate and focus on the next day.’’

Bullpen woes

The Sox bullpen has been pinned with four losses while giving up 18 runs (16 earned) on 24 hits and four homers in Sox streak of five losses in six games before Wednesday. Before that, relievers were 3-0 with a 1.89 ERA over 19 games and 52 1/3 innings.

Matt Albers, who enjoyed a career-high 30 scoreless appearances streak that overlapped last season and this year, has taken the loss in his last three outings, allowing six runs on six hits in those games.

“I feel good and I know I’m throwing strikes,’’ Albers said Wednesday. “I just have to execute a little bit better and get the ball down.’’

About Tuesday night

Umpire Tony Randazzo on manager Robin Ventura’s argument that Carlos Correa interfered with catcher Alex Avila on George Springer’s steal of second in the 11^th inning Tuesday: “I just felt like he didn’t hinder or impede his throw to second base.”

Avila threw over Correra, who crossed home plate, without making contact. Had Randazzo determined interference, Springer would have been called out. Correa struck out on the pitch for the second out, and Evan Gattis hit Matt Albers’ 0-2 pitch for the game-winning homer.

Here come the Royals

Probables for the weekend series against the Kansas City Royals: Friday, Dillon Gee vs. Jose Quintana; Saturday, Danny Duffy vs. Miguel Gonzalez; Sunday, Yordano Ventura vs. Carlos Rodon.