Yermín Mercedes isn’t going to let any talk of “unwritten rules,” or pitches thrown behind him, affect the way he approaches the game. He’ll still going to approach the game with the joy of someone who spent 10 years waiting for an opportunity to play in majors, and he’s going to make the most of that opportunity.
In short, Yermín is going to keep Yermíning, even if his manager would like him to stop swinging at 3-0 pitches.
That’s the picture Mercedes posted to Instagram ahead of the White Sox’ series finale against the Twins. That post also came after he told the media he was going to stay true to himself, which prompted backlash from Tony La Russa.
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"I'm going to play like that," Mercedes said. "You know, I'm Yermín. I can't be another person because if I change it, everything's going to change."
"I heard he said something like, 'I play my game.' No he doesn't," La Russa said. "He plays the game of Major League Baseball, respects the game, respects the opponents. And he's got to respect the signs. When he gets the take sign, he takes. ... It's a learning experience."
It will be interesting to see what happens the next time Mercedes sees a fastball in the middle of the plate on a 3-0 count, but for now expect Mercedes to continue playing the way that he has through the first month and a half of the season.
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