White Sox 6, Royals 3: Danks finishes strong

by Jim Margalus on Sep 24, 2011 10:57 PM CDT in White Sox Game Recaps

A White Sox starter finally had the answer for the Kansas City Royals' blazing bats, and the White Sox finally figured out how to win at home. Both were long overdue.

John Danks pitched six strong innings to end a disheartening season on a high note, throwing 7 1/3 strong innings to finish the season 8-12. In the process, he, Jesse Crain, Chris Sale and Sergio Santos combined to limit the Royals to just six hits -- the first time they finished with less than 10 in six head-to-head games.

Danks was perfect through 4 2/3, which gave the Sox time to post a crooked number against Everett Teaford. They struck for four during a pleasantly long bottom of the second, which included an Alex Rios two-run homer, a bases-loaded walk to Juan Pierre, and a sac fly by Alexei Ramirez.

That turned out to be enough by itself, even though Danks couldn't avoid his customary sixth-inning struggles. That's when he gave up all three runs he allowed, which included hits both authoritative (Melky Cabrera's two-run double) and weak (Eric Hosmer's poke through the 5.5 hole).

While Cabrera made it a game with his bat, he also deflated the tension with his baserunning. He knocked Danks out of the game with an infield single deep in the hole, but two batters (and pitchers) later, Sale picked him off to leave Hosmer at the plate. When Hosmer led off the next inning, he was no longer the ~~go-ahead~~ tying run.

Brent Morel provided the insurance, including a no-doubt solo shot in the fourth, and a blistered run-scoring fielder's choice in the eighth.

Record: 77-81 | Box score | Play-by-play

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Morel

Does Morel’s 1000 OPS September harbor good things to come or just a fluke month for a guy with with a 600 OPS the previous 5 months?

by 19172005 on Sep 24, 2011 11:41 PM CDT reply actions

He's way over his head for the month.

But he was steadily improving for the couple months prior to the ‘splosion. So it suggests that he’s learned enough to be a middle-of-the-pack third baseman next year.

Whales! Squids! Sharks! They're everywhere! Hello, I am Poseidon! Now, when people told me I was crazy that thinly sliced roast beef would be a delicious fast-food option, I knew it was the greatest idea, and you can thank me later for Arby's.

by Jim Margalus on Sep 25, 2011 12:43 AM CDT up reply actions

Morel seems to improve (unlike Beckham)

I doubt he can keep up this pace of having a Cabrera’s type of OPS, but he seems not to be the hitter he was in Jun/Jul when he had 4 RBIs total. Right now, I like our third baseman potential more than our 2nd baseman potential although I still believe in Beckham to become a very productive hitter.

by JofpGallagher on Sep 25, 2011 6:16 AM CDT up reply actions

Well, Beckham had a big second half last year after a miserable first.

Morel could very well relapse, for all we know.

by Jim Margalus on Sep 25, 2011 1:06 PM CDT up reply actions

i'll say one thing for morel

he hasn’t packed it in this month

by ruffster on Sep 25, 2011 12:26 AM CDT reply actions

Minor correction:

When Sale picked Cabrera off to end the Royals at bat in the top of the eighth, Hosmer (who was the batter) represented the tying run, not the go-ahead run.

Baseball is life.

by elgonzo4sox on Sep 25, 2011 12:32 AM CDT reply actions

Durp.

Thanks.

by Jim Margalus on Sep 25, 2011 12:43 AM CDT up reply actions

To all Guillen's detractors

Something I read somewhere this morning while sipping my coffee….

In the previous 50 years before Guillen became manager of the White Sox, they had exactly four playoff appearances and no World Series titles…that’s four appearances in 50 years. So once every 12 to 13 years, the Sox would make the playoffs.

In Guillen’s eight seasons as manager, they have made the playoffs twice and won a World Series.

I’ll let you do the math on that one.

I think Guillen has been terrible this year, but I am so afraid of more Gene Lamonts, Terry Bevingtons, Jerry Manuels, and Jim Fregosis…. Guillen’s rotating DH was heavily criticized, I think it wasn’t a bad idea, it was just the wrong players. Now, the DH thingy appears messier and costly than before. We won more games with a line up that had Kotsay, and Andrew Jones in it…and Tony Pena was able to pitch more than 100 innings (shudders uncontrollably).
Konerko is bound to regress, next year we need players to step up (Beckham, Dunn, Rios).

by JofpGallagher on Sep 25, 2011 6:37 AM CDT reply actions

2010 called and wants it's Konerko is gonna regress next year talk back.

"That might be how you roll at Camp Anawanna, Budnick. But where I come from, we only salute Old Glory." -moroots on May 23rd

by South Side Expat on Sep 25, 2011 8:58 AM CDT up reply actions 2 recs

doesn't matter. its time he goes.

and its also a lot easier to make the playoffs now than it was for most of those 50 years. and 4 seasons have passed since our last playoff birth.

that is actually a pretty stupid argument. if we had the same system back then the sox would have been in the playoffs in 90 and 91. therefore jeff torborg would have made it in 2 of his 3 years here.

Kenwo4life=ratings. Just call me Mr. USA Today.

by KenWo4LiFe on Sep 25, 2011 9:24 AM CDT up reply actions

they would have made it in 57,58,63,64,65,72

Kenwo4life=ratings. Just call me Mr. USA Today.

by KenWo4LiFe on Sep 25, 2011 9:25 AM CDT up reply actions

I know it was an unfair comparisson considering all you have said

hey…I am not defending OG. He has been awful this year. I agree that the WhiteSox may need a change in management and I included KW as well. However, I don’t believe a new manager will mean that the WhiteSox will become a much better team next year. We still have Rios, Peavy, and Dunn. I still believe Dunn will turn it around. Oh well…compared with this year, “turning it around” can’t be that hard. I have no faith on Alex Rios whatsoever. Honestly, I don’t want to be part of the “I told you so” if the Sox fail capitalizing under new management.

by JofpGallagher on Sep 25, 2011 12:52 PM CDT up reply actions

rios is actually showing he is capable of having a good month.

something dunn has been unable to show.

Rios September: .311/.346/.541 5 homers 11 RBI

Dunn’s best month- May- .204/.356/.347 3 HR 13 RBI (it was the only month he batted above .160)

Kenwo4life=ratings. Just call me Mr. USA Today.

by KenWo4LiFe on Sep 26, 2011 2:11 AM CDT up reply actions

I do hope Rios comes back to be a more productive player

But….we have to face it. Rios has never been a great player. Not even in his best years as a Jay. Never had a more than 90 RBIs season. Dunn has 6 of those. So for Rios standards, a good season seems to be a 85 – 90 RBIs just in that category (I know there is more stats than RBIs…don’t have too much time this morning). He still can run, but I doubt he will ever be capable to steal 30 bases (Had only 11 this year). Rios defense has decayed tremendously. UZR of -0.5 / 2.0 / -8.8 in the last three years. He is clearly in decline, and that’s scary considering how terrible would be to see him declining more next year (shudders). Sorry I didn’t have more time to expand and bring more numbers. Have to go to work. My point is that I don’t think Rios will be ever be a 15 million dollars player or even more, maybe he is inferior to De Aza. There has to be a reason why Jays let him go easily…something I am pretty sure KW will (should) do without the slight hesitation.

by JofpGallagher on Sep 26, 2011 5:49 AM CDT up reply actions

*Rios is a 12 million dollar baby...not 15 like i said above

by JofpGallagher on Sep 26, 2011 6:03 AM CDT up reply actions

i don't think he will be worth his money either...

but i think he will earn more of it than dunn will.

Kenwo4life=ratings. Just call me Mr. USA Today.

by KenWo4LiFe on Sep 26, 2011 8:54 AM CDT up reply actions

This.

There are more playoff spots. The team should make it more often.

"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.'"

by U-God on Sep 25, 2011 9:31 AM CDT up reply actions

don't ever cite bleacher report. it's garbage.

i’d also recommend never reading it.

“i’ll let you do the math on that one.” jesus christ. if you’re going to write that line in an article, you better have done the math yourself already.

by larry on Sep 25, 2011 10:02 AM CDT up reply actions

where in the fuck is 2HA?

this is his responsibility and he is failing.

"michael gilhaney is an example of a man that is nearly banjaxed from the principal of the atomic theory. would it astonish you to hear that he is nearly half a bicycle?" ~~ sergeant pluck

by BuehrleMan on Sep 25, 2011 12:16 PM CDT up reply actions