Let's try a positive post for once.
When the Sox finally do break out of this monumental slump, how do we think its going to happen?
My best guess is that it will be quick. I expect it to come on the road, and to come against a halfway decent pitcher.
The Sox for whatever reason will start to see the ball better. The hard hit balls will find grass instead of gloves. The loopers will fall into holes instead of looking like weak pop outs. Runners in scoring position will actually feel like they might score.
It will be effortless. Everything will just click. And this team made of more than $125 million worth of talent will finally start looking like it.
But when will it happen?
For that, I have no answers. I don't even feel safe enough to make a guess.
The only thing I do know... it won't be Friday.
A fellow tweeter said to me, "I've never seen a matchup that a team is more likely to be no hit than actually win the game." And the sad thing is. He's absolutely right.
So maybe it'll be Saturday that the Sox break out. Maybe Sunday. Or next Sunday, or the one after that. But whenever it is, it's going to be something to see. We just have to hope the Sox can maintain it when the shift in mentality does come.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Names of Pitchers the Sox Have Lost To
Here is a list of starting pitchers that have recorded wins against the Sox. I'll also post their record and ERA.
Justin Masterson 5-0, 2.25 ERA
Jered Weaver 6-1, 1.39 ERA
Tyler Chatwood 2-1, 4.94 ERA
Dan Haren 4-2, 1.76 ERA
David Price 3-3, 3.95 ERA
James Shields 2-1, 2.14 ERA
Wade David 3-2, 2.77 ERA
Justin Verlander 2-3, 3.75 ERA
Brad Penny 2-3 5.23 ERA
Max Scherzer 4-0 3.82 ERA
Bartolo Colon 2-1, 3.00 ERA
CC Sabathia 2-1, 2.68 ERA
Jake Arrieta 3-1, 5.01 ERA
Chris Tillman 1-2, 5.25 ERA
Zach Britton 5-1, 2.63 ERA
Francisco Liriano 2-4, 6.61 ERA (No Hitter)
Nick Blackburn 2-4, 4.41 ERA
If you take out wins against the Sox, the opposing starters have a 33-30 record. Take out the good pitchers (Haren, Sabathia, Weaver, and Shields) and the starters are 23-25.
Here are the starters the White Sox have beaten.
Fausto Carmona 3-3, 4.43 ERA
Carlos Carrasco 1-1, 4.97 ERA
David Price 3-3, 3.95 ERA
Jeff Niemann 1-2, 5.60 ERA
Jeff Niemann 1-2, 5.60 ERA (2 out of 3 Sox wins over a 12 day span were against Niemann)
A.J. Burnett 4-1, 3.93 ERA
Jeremy Guthrie 1-4, 3.00 ERA.
7 wins against starters. Only 1 has an ERA that's any good. 2 more have ERA's just under 4. And the other 4 wins are against pitchers that aren't good.
The Sox have a 7-17 record against opposing starters.
These are the guys you spend hours scouting. The guys you make the adjustments to face. The guys you get to face 3 or 4 times a game. And yet the Sox cannot figure out any of them.
Only Carmona and Niemann have the Sox truly cracked.
Pathetic and embarrassing. And I'm a fan. Imagine how Greg Walker must feel. Nevermind, he probably feels fine.
"If I'm not in the can with a team playing this poorly, I'm invincible."
Justin Masterson 5-0, 2.25 ERA
Jered Weaver 6-1, 1.39 ERA
Tyler Chatwood 2-1, 4.94 ERA
Dan Haren 4-2, 1.76 ERA
David Price 3-3, 3.95 ERA
James Shields 2-1, 2.14 ERA
Wade David 3-2, 2.77 ERA
Justin Verlander 2-3, 3.75 ERA
Brad Penny 2-3 5.23 ERA
Max Scherzer 4-0 3.82 ERA
Bartolo Colon 2-1, 3.00 ERA
CC Sabathia 2-1, 2.68 ERA
Jake Arrieta 3-1, 5.01 ERA
Chris Tillman 1-2, 5.25 ERA
Zach Britton 5-1, 2.63 ERA
Francisco Liriano 2-4, 6.61 ERA (No Hitter)
Nick Blackburn 2-4, 4.41 ERA
If you take out wins against the Sox, the opposing starters have a 33-30 record. Take out the good pitchers (Haren, Sabathia, Weaver, and Shields) and the starters are 23-25.
Here are the starters the White Sox have beaten.
Fausto Carmona 3-3, 4.43 ERA
Carlos Carrasco 1-1, 4.97 ERA
David Price 3-3, 3.95 ERA
Jeff Niemann 1-2, 5.60 ERA
Jeff Niemann 1-2, 5.60 ERA (2 out of 3 Sox wins over a 12 day span were against Niemann)
A.J. Burnett 4-1, 3.93 ERA
Jeremy Guthrie 1-4, 3.00 ERA.
7 wins against starters. Only 1 has an ERA that's any good. 2 more have ERA's just under 4. And the other 4 wins are against pitchers that aren't good.
The Sox have a 7-17 record against opposing starters.
These are the guys you spend hours scouting. The guys you make the adjustments to face. The guys you get to face 3 or 4 times a game. And yet the Sox cannot figure out any of them.
Only Carmona and Niemann have the Sox truly cracked.
Pathetic and embarrassing. And I'm a fan. Imagine how Greg Walker must feel. Nevermind, he probably feels fine.
"If I'm not in the can with a team playing this poorly, I'm invincible."
Sox Lose, Have You Heard That Before?
Well, we thought the Twinks were struggling. We thought this could be our chance. But a no hitter and a lapse in defense costs the Sox 2 games they could have really used.
Let's do an exercise. Everyone close your eyes. Make strong fists with both of your hands. Now Raise your hands above your head, shake them rapidly, and yell your 4 letter word of choice.
Feel any better? Yeah, me neither.
This team has sunk to new lows. The worst team in baseball comes in to your stadium. and what do the Sox greet them with, "Hey, we're the worst team in baseball. Not you. Jerks. And we're about to prove it to you."
The Sox have no chance in any game right now. Why? Because they don't think they can win. Pitchers know they must throw a perfect game to win, because it's the only way to upstage the other guy's no hitter. Hitters think a one run lead is a mountain. And they forget to play the field each and every inning.
There's no life. There's no will. There's no want. There's no need. We'll just keep losing and collecting our paychecks. And no one will be held accountable because everyone is so bad.
It's basically a labor strike. "You can't fire us all, you wont have anyone left."
And nothing is looking like it will change.
So soak it in Sox fans. These are your 2011 White Sox. And until someone does something different, out of the box, they'll be the same 2011 White Sox all year long.
Let's do an exercise. Everyone close your eyes. Make strong fists with both of your hands. Now Raise your hands above your head, shake them rapidly, and yell your 4 letter word of choice.
Feel any better? Yeah, me neither.
This team has sunk to new lows. The worst team in baseball comes in to your stadium. and what do the Sox greet them with, "Hey, we're the worst team in baseball. Not you. Jerks. And we're about to prove it to you."
The Sox have no chance in any game right now. Why? Because they don't think they can win. Pitchers know they must throw a perfect game to win, because it's the only way to upstage the other guy's no hitter. Hitters think a one run lead is a mountain. And they forget to play the field each and every inning.
There's no life. There's no will. There's no want. There's no need. We'll just keep losing and collecting our paychecks. And no one will be held accountable because everyone is so bad.
It's basically a labor strike. "You can't fire us all, you wont have anyone left."
And nothing is looking like it will change.
So soak it in Sox fans. These are your 2011 White Sox. And until someone does something different, out of the box, they'll be the same 2011 White Sox all year long.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
No Words
I can't even come up with a coherent sentence right now. I'm really that mad, embarrassed, disappointed, disgusted, I can go on all night.
So I leave you with one sentence tonight, and maybe I'll be able to expound on this travesty more tomorrow.
Fire Greg Walker. NOW!!!
So I leave you with one sentence tonight, and maybe I'll be able to expound on this travesty more tomorrow.
Fire Greg Walker. NOW!!!
Monday, May 2, 2011
The Only Thing Worse
The only thing worse than the Sox are the Minnesota Twinks.
As bad as we know the Sox have been, amazingly the Twinks are actually playing worse than the Sox. The Twinks are on a 6 game skid. And are somehow a half game behind the Sox.
The Twinks are hitting .230. Sox? .240.
How about pitching? Twinks ERA 5.06. Sox? 4.44.
Suddenly you don't feel so bad about how the Sox are playing huh?
Well. Something has to give in this brief two game set on the South Side.
Tonight the Sox finally looked like a Major League Team. It's been more than a week (last Sunday) since the Twinks have looked any good.
Yet somehow, I have a feeling this will come back as an important series. If 1 team wins both games, it could be a huge jump off point. Would it surprise you if in September it's Sox vs. Twinks for the division title? Me neither.
So these are big games. Yes the Sox are playing poorly. Yes the Twinks are playing poorly. But these games count. These games are important. And these games could easily go a long wayu for whoever wins them.
The pitching matchups are pretty even. Struggling Liriano vs. struggling Edwin Jackson. Then tough luck Danks vs. struggling Nick Blackburn.
Either team can win both of these games. But the Sox actually seem to have the upper hand... somehow. I'm not exactly sure how, but they really do. Now let's just hope they can couple it into a pair of wins, and begin to turn this damn thing around.
As bad as we know the Sox have been, amazingly the Twinks are actually playing worse than the Sox. The Twinks are on a 6 game skid. And are somehow a half game behind the Sox.
The Twinks are hitting .230. Sox? .240.
How about pitching? Twinks ERA 5.06. Sox? 4.44.
Suddenly you don't feel so bad about how the Sox are playing huh?
Well. Something has to give in this brief two game set on the South Side.
Tonight the Sox finally looked like a Major League Team. It's been more than a week (last Sunday) since the Twinks have looked any good.
Yet somehow, I have a feeling this will come back as an important series. If 1 team wins both games, it could be a huge jump off point. Would it surprise you if in September it's Sox vs. Twinks for the division title? Me neither.
So these are big games. Yes the Sox are playing poorly. Yes the Twinks are playing poorly. But these games count. These games are important. And these games could easily go a long wayu for whoever wins them.
The pitching matchups are pretty even. Struggling Liriano vs. struggling Edwin Jackson. Then tough luck Danks vs. struggling Nick Blackburn.
Either team can win both of these games. But the Sox actually seem to have the upper hand... somehow. I'm not exactly sure how, but they really do. Now let's just hope they can couple it into a pair of wins, and begin to turn this damn thing around.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
An Embarrassment
Chicago is a city that boasts a semifinal football team, a basketball team with a legitimate to win the title, and a hockey team that's defending champs and almost pulled a 0-3 upset in round one this year.
It's also home to the sorriest team Major League Baseball has. The White Sox have now lost 4 in a row. They've also dropped 15 of the last 19. Over that time that have been shut out 3 times, they've scored 1 or 2 runs in another 8 of these games. That's 11 games out of 19 they scored 2 or fewer. And just 2 that they've eclipsed 5. TWO.
I honestly feel bad for each and every Sox fan. Myself included. Each an every night we keep coming back. My friend (Alex922107 from Twitter) said it best, "I get the feeling the White Sox are like that ex girlfriend you know is bad for you but you keep going back to"
I feel bad for the coaches who probably have to feel about as hopeless as the fans.
I feel horrible for Kenny Williams and Jerry Reinsdorf who have given their "All" to make this team competitive.
I feel bad for anyone who has to cover this team for a living. Actually I feel bad for anyone who has anything to do with this sorry team.
The White Sox are NOT a poorly run organization. They have a great owner. They have a star General Manager. The manager is a World Series Champ and a one-of-a-kind baseball mind. I can go on and on.
But right now, the product on the field is letting everyone down. Not one person can be proud of being a part of the White Sox organization. No one.
So what to do? Well, at this time, nothing. I've been vocal about saying we need to fire a coach. Or send a player down. Or do do something else radical. But right now, I really don't think any of it would help.
The Sox are pathetic at three out of the four phases of the game of baseball. Hitting, Fielding, and Bullpen, all would are receiving flunking grades.
So right now, the only thing to do is wait it out. Hope that the law of averages will even everything out. Because you can't change everything, so the best thing might actually just be to change nothing.
It's also home to the sorriest team Major League Baseball has. The White Sox have now lost 4 in a row. They've also dropped 15 of the last 19. Over that time that have been shut out 3 times, they've scored 1 or 2 runs in another 8 of these games. That's 11 games out of 19 they scored 2 or fewer. And just 2 that they've eclipsed 5. TWO.
I honestly feel bad for each and every Sox fan. Myself included. Each an every night we keep coming back. My friend (Alex922107 from Twitter) said it best, "I get the feeling the White Sox are like that ex girlfriend you know is bad for you but you keep going back to"
I feel bad for the coaches who probably have to feel about as hopeless as the fans.
I feel horrible for Kenny Williams and Jerry Reinsdorf who have given their "All" to make this team competitive.
I feel bad for anyone who has to cover this team for a living. Actually I feel bad for anyone who has anything to do with this sorry team.
The White Sox are NOT a poorly run organization. They have a great owner. They have a star General Manager. The manager is a World Series Champ and a one-of-a-kind baseball mind. I can go on and on.
But right now, the product on the field is letting everyone down. Not one person can be proud of being a part of the White Sox organization. No one.
So what to do? Well, at this time, nothing. I've been vocal about saying we need to fire a coach. Or send a player down. Or do do something else radical. But right now, I really don't think any of it would help.
The Sox are pathetic at three out of the four phases of the game of baseball. Hitting, Fielding, and Bullpen, all would are receiving flunking grades.
So right now, the only thing to do is wait it out. Hope that the law of averages will even everything out. Because you can't change everything, so the best thing might actually just be to change nothing.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Help A Brother Out
Mark Buehrle was the 4th consecutive Sox starter to go out and throw an absolute gem against one of the most explosive offenses in the AL.
Yet not 1 of the starters has gotten more than 3 runs of support.
Even though the Sox have won 2 of those 4 games, they are going to need to start scoring some runs to relieve the pressure on these guys.
Hawk always talks about "pressure pitches" or a "pressure pitch count." When game are within 1 or 2 runs, every pitch is a pressure packed one. Same goes when your team is down.
Humber was awesome. But every single pitch he threw, he was in danger of losing the ballgame for his team. Same goes for Gavin.
For Buehrle and Danks, they doth threw a bad pitch early, and all of a sudden they have to be perfect from there on in, or else they have no chance (and in both their cases, even perfect wasn't enough).
Not hitting stinks. Obviously it's bad because it's hard to win games when you consistently put zeros on the board. But it's even worse because of the toll it puts on your pitching staff.
The Sox pitching is good. I mean real good. And they are going to be unbelievable when they can get some support. But if the offense keeps taxing them all like this, they are going to run out of gas soon...
And we all know what gas costs now a days.
Yet not 1 of the starters has gotten more than 3 runs of support.
Even though the Sox have won 2 of those 4 games, they are going to need to start scoring some runs to relieve the pressure on these guys.
Hawk always talks about "pressure pitches" or a "pressure pitch count." When game are within 1 or 2 runs, every pitch is a pressure packed one. Same goes when your team is down.
Humber was awesome. But every single pitch he threw, he was in danger of losing the ballgame for his team. Same goes for Gavin.
For Buehrle and Danks, they doth threw a bad pitch early, and all of a sudden they have to be perfect from there on in, or else they have no chance (and in both their cases, even perfect wasn't enough).
Not hitting stinks. Obviously it's bad because it's hard to win games when you consistently put zeros on the board. But it's even worse because of the toll it puts on your pitching staff.
The Sox pitching is good. I mean real good. And they are going to be unbelievable when they can get some support. But if the offense keeps taxing them all like this, they are going to run out of gas soon...
And we all know what gas costs now a days.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Super Lilli
I asked for someone to step up. And it came from the absolute most unlikely of all places.
Not only from one of the most unlikely players, but also in the craziest way.
I cannot ever think of a time where the player of the game is unquestionable a pinch runner. And not for his pinch running. And not for coming up with a big hit 3 innings after running. But for his defense. IN RIGHT FIELD.
Brent Lillibridge made not 1, but 2 game saving catches in right field. Instead of the E7's and the blown saves we've grown so accustomed, turned straight on it's head.
2 magnificent plays, and 2 consecutive saves from the same guy.
But what I loved most about the way this game ended, were the reactions of the White Sox players. Lilli punched the ground in excitement, AJ jumped like a 9 year old, Konerko even gave a big fist pump.
You finally saw some life in the eyes of the Sox. On the Konerko HR it looked like Quentin was going to pull a muscle with his fist pump.
The Sox looked like a team. They looked like they cared. They looked like they could see the light at the end of this poor play tunnel.
And it came at the hands of 2 huge defensive plays, 1 massive HR, and a whale of a pitching performance from Gavin Floyd.
That's the kind of game Sox fans were hoping they would get to see all year. And hopefully it's the first of many great wins.
Oh yeah, and all of this came on the biggest stage in baseball, at Yankee Stadium.
Tonight was fun... now let's keep it going.
Not only from one of the most unlikely players, but also in the craziest way.
I cannot ever think of a time where the player of the game is unquestionable a pinch runner. And not for his pinch running. And not for coming up with a big hit 3 innings after running. But for his defense. IN RIGHT FIELD.
Brent Lillibridge made not 1, but 2 game saving catches in right field. Instead of the E7's and the blown saves we've grown so accustomed, turned straight on it's head.
2 magnificent plays, and 2 consecutive saves from the same guy.
But what I loved most about the way this game ended, were the reactions of the White Sox players. Lilli punched the ground in excitement, AJ jumped like a 9 year old, Konerko even gave a big fist pump.
You finally saw some life in the eyes of the Sox. On the Konerko HR it looked like Quentin was going to pull a muscle with his fist pump.
The Sox looked like a team. They looked like they cared. They looked like they could see the light at the end of this poor play tunnel.
And it came at the hands of 2 huge defensive plays, 1 massive HR, and a whale of a pitching performance from Gavin Floyd.
That's the kind of game Sox fans were hoping they would get to see all year. And hopefully it's the first of many great wins.
Oh yeah, and all of this came on the biggest stage in baseball, at Yankee Stadium.
Tonight was fun... now let's keep it going.
Build on Last Night
Tonight the Sox have a nice pitching match up. Gavin Floyd vs. Ivan Nova.
Nova has a 7.63 ERA this year and a 1-2 record.
The Sox have got to pick it up offensively if they want to win. Dunn looked much better last night, Konerko is still doing well, and Carlos is the best hitter on the team.
To start scoring more runs, the Sox are going to need one more guy to really step up. Pierre would be probably the perfect scenario, but I would really like to see Rios get going.
Alex is mired by a miserable 1 for 23 streak. But this is a guy who has the talent to have some success.
If Alex can somehow turn into a .300 hitter from this point forward, the Sox will finally have the potent middle of the lineup they had hoped for.
Tack on a bit more from Juan, Beckham, and Alexei, and the Sox will be right back on board where they were at the beginning of the year.
It seems to be slowly coming back. Dunn was the first one to get back on the horse, and now the rest need to get it going.
But if the offense doesn't come around, tonight's the night. Bulls Game 5 at 7, and I heard there's a big game another sport people care about around Chicago. I wouldn't know about it. But yeah, that's on at 9.
Go Sox, Go Bulls.
Nova has a 7.63 ERA this year and a 1-2 record.
The Sox have got to pick it up offensively if they want to win. Dunn looked much better last night, Konerko is still doing well, and Carlos is the best hitter on the team.
To start scoring more runs, the Sox are going to need one more guy to really step up. Pierre would be probably the perfect scenario, but I would really like to see Rios get going.
Alex is mired by a miserable 1 for 23 streak. But this is a guy who has the talent to have some success.
If Alex can somehow turn into a .300 hitter from this point forward, the Sox will finally have the potent middle of the lineup they had hoped for.
Tack on a bit more from Juan, Beckham, and Alexei, and the Sox will be right back on board where they were at the beginning of the year.
It seems to be slowly coming back. Dunn was the first one to get back on the horse, and now the rest need to get it going.
But if the offense doesn't come around, tonight's the night. Bulls Game 5 at 7, and I heard there's a big game another sport people care about around Chicago. I wouldn't know about it. But yeah, that's on at 9.
Go Sox, Go Bulls.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Wins A Win, But
Winner winner chicken dinner. The Sox are back in the right column. But look what it took to get there.
It took a near no hitter from your 5th starter.
It took a nerve-racking 8th and 9th innings as you tested your new closer.
It took a double that was nearly caught, followed by 2 ground outs that could have been line outs.
But it all added up to a win.
Finally someone stepped up for this team. And that someone was Phil Humber.
But there are still major problems.
The Sox have still only scored 15 runs over their past 8 games. 9 of the 15 came in 1 win. The Sox still only got 5 hits in their 30 AB's.
They need to start hitting. NEED.
We'll take this one. And it might go a long way in discovering the eventual closer of this team. But we can't get too excited, and cannot even come close to thinking we've turned it around.
The pitching was there tonight. The defense was there tonight. The hitting was not. 2 out of 3 will win a lot of games. But when 1 phase will ALWAYS not be there, it's incredibly difficult to sustain.
The hitters have got to come around. That's the only way this team can get going.
Nice win today, but the lack of hitting is still a real problem.
It took a near no hitter from your 5th starter.
It took a nerve-racking 8th and 9th innings as you tested your new closer.
It took a double that was nearly caught, followed by 2 ground outs that could have been line outs.
But it all added up to a win.
Finally someone stepped up for this team. And that someone was Phil Humber.
But there are still major problems.
The Sox have still only scored 15 runs over their past 8 games. 9 of the 15 came in 1 win. The Sox still only got 5 hits in their 30 AB's.
They need to start hitting. NEED.
We'll take this one. And it might go a long way in discovering the eventual closer of this team. But we can't get too excited, and cannot even come close to thinking we've turned it around.
The pitching was there tonight. The defense was there tonight. The hitting was not. 2 out of 3 will win a lot of games. But when 1 phase will ALWAYS not be there, it's incredibly difficult to sustain.
The hitters have got to come around. That's the only way this team can get going.
Nice win today, but the lack of hitting is still a real problem.
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