And Hughes makes three
by Jim Margalus on Aug 3, 2011 6:01 AM CDT
in Analysis
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PrintQ: What do Phil Hughes, Brad Penny and Francisco Liriano all have in common?
A: They've all had their seasons saved by the White Sox offense.
For the third time this season, an opposing pitcher entered a game against the White Sox with an ERA above 8.00 -- and proceeded to shut out the Sox. On Tuesday night, it was Hughes who lured Sox hitters into a succession of rapid-fire outs. He needed only 65 pitches, which, if you extrapolate for another inning, still would amount to under half the pitches Yankee hitters wrung out of White Sox pitching.
Of all the frustrating, miserable aspects of this season, this might be the most blarghsome of all. I mean, look at this:
| Date | Pitcher | ERA* | Rslt | Inngs | Dec | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HBP | BF | Pit | Str | GSc | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 23 | Penny | 8.44 | W,9-0 | GS-7 | W(1-2) | 7.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 6.35 | 25 | 95 | 57 | 76 |
| May 1 | Liriano | 9.13 | W,1-0 | SHO |
W(2-4) | 9.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 6.61 | 30 | 123 | 66 | 83 |
| Aug 2 | Hughes | 8.24 | W,6-0 | SHO |
W(2-3) | 6.0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 6.93 | 20 | 65 | 48 | 70 |
| 22.0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 9 | 1 |
**ERA after start.
And what's worse -- half of those hits probably should've been errors. A scorer spoiled Penny's no-hit bid by giving Brent Morel a single for a grounder that went off Brandon Inge's glove, and on Tuesday, Eduardo Nunez probably should've come up with an Adam Dunn grounder that glanced off his mitt.
That leaves two palpable hits off pitchers who were destined for the bullpen, Triple-A or the disabled list before the White Sox got to them. Right now, if I'm a struggling starter, I circle the next trip to The Cell on my calendar and pray that I still have a job by then. Give the White Sox your wretched refuse from your teeming rotation, and they'll leave the light on for you.
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Sigh.
So, as a contrary indicator, how are we doing against the cream of the league? We are doing well against Verlander.
Just for balance.
The Sox beat Boston Friday night. I thought they were looking good.
So, being in Vegas, I bet them to win the AL pennant. They are 0-4 since. So, next time you need to eliminate a team, ask me who I like.
You make George Castanza proud
"Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it." - Mark Twain
I don't think there's anything else that can be said about this incarnation of the White Sox.
This is the most frustrated and angry I have ever been with any Sox team. And of the Community Elders remember a team that makes you so damn mad because of such underachievement and failure?
To my knowledge, certain things were not known.
-James Murdoch
by 2ndHalfAdjustments on Aug 3, 2011 8:19 AM CDT reply actions
2002 was pretty much horseshit
81-81 very non descript
by Rhubarb on Aug 3, 2011 8:34 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
sounds like a question for Grudgemaster Kenwo
but I’d vote ’96. They hung around Cleveland for the first half, and then gradually slipped away. The ’94 coulda-wouldas were still a recent memory. You could feel the window closing.
I shant be misled a second time
by Nordhagen on Aug 3, 2011 8:42 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Yes Grasshopper - Now Sucks!
"Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it." - Mark Twain
My expectations for 2007 were... horeshit...
but 2007 was nonetheless fan murdering. at least until one point where it become so bad, so sad, that watching games became some sadistic joke.
"keep a weather eye on the horizon, dearest captain of the douche canoe" - BJ
by Shoeless In SC on Aug 3, 2011 9:10 AM CDT up reply actions
horeshit. that's excellent
"keep a weather eye on the horizon, dearest captain of the douche canoe" - BJ
by Shoeless In SC on Aug 3, 2011 9:10 AM CDT up reply actions
is this the character dalton from macgyver?
"keep a weather eye on the horizon, dearest captain of the douche canoe" - BJ
by Shoeless In SC on Aug 3, 2011 9:20 AM CDT up reply actions
Roadhouse
Patrick Swayze’s character. Like a moth to a flame, I’m suckered in by that movie every time it’s on. At least when I had cable I was.
by Name's Dalton on Aug 3, 2011 9:22 AM CDT up reply actions
right!
For anyone with cable you might see it 4-5 times a year… if you’re lucky! It never gets old.
"keep a weather eye on the horizon, dearest captain of the douche canoe" - BJ
by Shoeless In SC on Aug 3, 2011 9:29 AM CDT up reply actions
One of the best mediocre movies
if that makes any sense. It’d be a guilty pleasure if I weren’t so durned proud of lovin’ it. Hell, I named one of my dogs “Dalton.”
by Name's Dalton on Aug 3, 2011 9:50 AM CDT up reply actions
btw, the blind lead singer of the house band in the movie, the Jeff Healey Band...
passed away about 3 years ago. If you’re interested: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Healey
"keep a weather eye on the horizon, dearest captain of the douche canoe" - BJ
by Shoeless In SC on Aug 3, 2011 10:30 AM CDT up reply actions
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Not Jeff Healey! AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
IT JUST KEEPS GETTING WORSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
by winningugly on Aug 3, 2011 10:35 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
2000 was very disappointing to me.
94 wins then swept by the Mariners. Ugh.
It's 106 miles to Chicago, we have a full tank of gas, 1/2 pack of cigarettes...it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses.
Longtime lurker, first-time poster
For me, it was the ‘83 Sox, if only because I was not quite 11 and it was only the second time I had felt such heartbreak (the first being 3 years earlier when my grandpa died). The second-half of that season was magical to a kid my age (Hoyt, Dotson and Bannister were unbeatable it seemed; Britt Burns’ hair! Fisk! Baines! Kittle! Luzinski! All heroes to a boy who lived and breathed baseball.), so for it to end so brutally in that series at Baltimore seemed unfair and traumatic at the time.
I had high hopes for this ‘11 Sox team. Now I’m just continuously aggravated. Yet I check this site every day, multiple times per day (ever since Sox Machine was vacated).
by Name's Dalton on Aug 3, 2011 10:02 AM CDT up reply actions
Welcome. I share your pain of '83.
Trying to score runs with Juan Pierre as your leadoff hitter is like trying to suture a wound in a moving car. You might still be successful -- but why make it so hard on yourself?
It was the first time my roommates in the dorm saw me cry.
White Sox 2011: The season of extraneous body parts.
tito landrum
tito landrum? what the heck is a tito landrum?
thats alex rios
Joe Buck is just White Noise to me. It’s like the game is being called by a CD of whale songs. - mechanical turk
I wish I had the ability to stop caring about the White Sox for the rest of the year,
it’s just been painful and frustrating.
I second that
I’m not sure if I would rather they go off the deep end for better draft position or finish decently.
Who am I kidding, with several of our underachievers being under contract, I would much rather see a strong finish.
by ObsidianXIII on Aug 4, 2011 4:29 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
It's F'in JC, but this is a good piece.
Ozzie’s strategy this year has been….questionable at best, but you do get the feeling he genuinely believes in the team. That’s a really valuable thing in a manager, IMO.
To my knowledge, certain things were not known.
-James Murdoch
by 2ndHalfAdjustments on Aug 3, 2011 8:24 AM CDT reply actions
I didn't even bother to watch the game last night.
I’m getting really apathetic about this team. They’re pissing me off more than any other Sox team I can remember.
by ScottyPods Ver2.0 on Aug 3, 2011 8:35 AM CDT reply actions
I was pissed it was blacked out by MLB.com
in my area. I paid attention via phoney (not a typo). Glad Tosh.0 was an option. I laughed & cried at the same time.
It's 106 miles to Chicago, we have a full tank of gas, 1/2 pack of cigarettes...it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses.
I refuse to play golf because it leaves me angry and agitated.
This year’s version of the WSox makes me feel like I’m playing golf nearly everyday.
White Sox 2011: The season of extraneous body parts.
Is it coincidence that the NYT has an article on Dunn and a review of a book about humiliation on the same day?
Of course it is. But it’s still apt.
Teh Times (yes, I spelled it correctly)
covers the Mets, so they are also used to humiliations galore.
HIRE GREG WALKER!!!!
As pitching coach for opposing teams, he is the best in the business!!!!!!!!!!
by Knoxfire30 on Aug 3, 2011 9:18 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
4 hits in 22 innings against any trio of pitchers is indefensible.
Against those three pitcher it’s unfathomable.
"keep a weather eye on the horizon, dearest captain of the douche canoe" - BJ
not to mention
rodrigo lopez, livan hernandez, jake arrieta. I know they weren’t shutouts, but still…
One of those three is not like the others.
"Many people need desperately to receive this message: 'I feel and think much as you do, care about many of the things you care about, although most people do not care about them. You are not alone.'"
racist.
"keep a weather eye on the horizon, dearest captain of the douche canoe" - BJ
by Shoeless In SC on Aug 3, 2011 10:39 AM CDT up reply actions
You don't need hitting in the post season.
My serenity is inversely proportional to my expectations.
LET’S GO YOU WHITE SOX!!!!!
Two things need to happen
1) We need to lose like crazy. I want a 10 game losing streak. I want to finish at least 10 games under .500
2) Attendance needs to drop. I’d love to see an average of 12,000 for the rest of the season.
Then maybe Jerry will consider a front office or managerial change.
OR...
1) The team needs to win like crazy. Like a 10 game winning streak. Then they can finish at least 6 games over .500 and make the postseason.
2) Attendance will then pick up and KW can re-sign Danks and Buehrle.
"keep a weather eye on the horizon, dearest captain of the douche canoe" - BJ
by Shoeless In SC on Aug 3, 2011 10:33 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Why would a White Sox fan want that? Ridiculous.
by Grinder in Training on Aug 3, 2011 10:37 AM CDT up reply actions
Ridiculous, I know.
Clearly a real Sox fan would want a grenade thrown into the Sox front office and payroll slashed to the league minimum as every vet on the team is traded for prospects.
"keep a weather eye on the horizon, dearest captain of the douche canoe" - BJ
by Shoeless In SC on Aug 3, 2011 10:41 AM CDT up reply actions
That's the Rub
No matter how mediocre I see this team now, I have no idea how it gets better next season, with the three biggest problems (Rios, Dunn and Peavy) still bogging down the payroll with replacement level stats. Remember how Evil Dead and Evil Dead II were basically the same movie?
I wish
They had replacement level stats. You have to start the season giving these guys yet again a long leash as painful as that sounds, however 2012 should be a year where ozzie or whoever is managing needs to realize that in baseball contracts are guaranteed and thus sunk costs. Would you rather run Dunn, Rios, Peavy out there every game and be a 500 team, or would you sit them all down and play guys who are making the minimum but contribute to the team being over 500, for me the decesion is easy, for Owners, GM’s, and Managers that decesion is typically always avoided at all costs.
They have to give those guys a shot to rebound in 2012
a VERY AVERAGE Sox Machine refugee
have to sums it up, really.
they will.
"keep a weather eye on the horizon, dearest captain of the douche canoe" - BJ
by Shoeless In SC on Aug 3, 2011 11:49 AM CDT up reply actions
they were both great movies.
Evil Dead II just took the hilarity and gore to new heights. I’m hoping the 2012 Sox don’t follow the same route.
What may be on the Sox’s side is that the team could possibly improve next year even if Rios, Dunn, and Peavy don’t rebound. If Viciedo replaces Q! in RF and Q! moves to LF to replace Pierre. If De Aza splits time with Rios more often. If Morel is older and better or the Sox go out and get a new 3B. If Beckham finally brings his bat to the ballpark along with his glove. If Danks and Buehrle are re-signed. You get the idea.
It suddenly becomes a ~86-88 win team if Dunn and Rios are even replacement level the whole season. More if they can at least be average.
"keep a weather eye on the horizon, dearest captain of the douche canoe" - BJ
by Shoeless In SC on Aug 3, 2011 11:04 AM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
Peavy is not replacement level
He’s .6 bWAR / 2.1 fWAR – mediocre to pretty good depending on set of numbers is used.
Morel is probably the team’s biggest problem beyond the terrible two. There are essentially no real problems with Sox pitching.
a VERY AVERAGE Sox Machine refugee
While reading your final comment I thought you were going to say:
There are essentially no real replacements for Morel.
When the Sox said they were all-in what they really meant to say was they were all-in on Dunn and Morel at their respective positions in 2011. If Morel’s bat can merely be replacement level then the White Sox will have something positive there due to his plus glove.
"keep a weather eye on the horizon, dearest captain of the douche canoe" - BJ
by Shoeless In SC on Aug 3, 2011 12:01 PM CDT up reply actions
Yeah. It's funny to think that at the beginning of the year I was a bit worried they would have Brent on too short of a leash if he started slow
And now if anything I feel like it was too long pre-Teahen trade.
My father, after complaining about Rios for a while, said he thinks the team should DFA Beckham. I’m pretty sure he has no idea that Brent Morel is worse and in fact may well have no idea who Brent Morel is.
a VERY AVERAGE Sox Machine refugee
that's because the expectation for Morel was so low to begin with...
he’s not a hyped up player and he doesn’t talk to the media. Beckham’s the polar opposite. But DFA Beckham? Sheesh. Sounds like something my dad might say after a bottle of jack daniels.
"keep a weather eye on the horizon, dearest captain of the douche canoe" - BJ
by Shoeless In SC on Aug 3, 2011 12:19 PM CDT up reply actions
OR...
We play .500 and everyone commits suicide or falls asleep at the games.
by winningugly on Aug 3, 2011 10:37 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
isn't that an improvement over what's going on now?
"keep a weather eye on the horizon, dearest captain of the douche canoe" - BJ
by Shoeless In SC on Aug 3, 2011 10:42 AM CDT up reply actions
I wanted the team to win
but clearly that’s not what they want. Now it’s time to be realistic.
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