Maybe the White Sox want to make Robin Ventura's actual record look good compared to his pythag?
Either that, or the Sox just need to turn to the next page on the rebuilding effort already.
The latter seems more likely, although the former is a consequence regardless. The Sox lost their third whopper in five games, all to different opponents. They've been outscored 51-11 over that stretch, and just about everybody can take a share of the blame.
Starting pitching: While Roenis Elias used fastball-in-changeup-away to great effect over his 5⅔ innings, Scott Carroll gave up seven runs over his five frames. His problems were both control (three walks, one HBP) and command (three homers).
Offense: The Sox mustered just five hits all night. Dayan Viciedo continued to audition for the Mariners with a two-run homer to right center in the sixth inning, which cut the Mariners' lead to 5-2. But after that, only Alexei Ramirez's eighth-inning double put something on the board.
Bullpen: Once again, the bullpen allowed at least one run in each of the four innings it covered. Eric Surkamp, who pitched to a sacrifice bunt for his only batter of the night, was the only one of four Sox relievers to escape unscathed.
The Sox started Leury Garcia and his .216 OBP in the leadoff spot in place of Adam Eaton, who was recovering from his run-in with the U.S. Cellular Field fence. It's hard to expect a lot of thunder when that's the case, but if the Sox could only replace a roster spot or two, Ventura would've had a few viable leadoff candidates to audition. Alas.
Bullet points:
*Jose Abreu was plunked twice, leading Maikel Cleto to plunk Kendrys Morales to start the eighth. Both benches were warned, and Lloyd McClendon was ejected. More on this later.
*Conor Gillaspie booted a routine grounder for an error in the seventh inning, which added insult to Andre Rienzo's injury. He was drilled with a comebacker during his one-third of an inning, showing that things can always get worse for him.
*Rienzo will have time to lick his wounds in Charlotte.
Andre Rienzo optioned to AAA Charlotte to make room for Zach Putnam to return from DL tomorrow.
— Colleen Kane (@ChiTribKane) August 8, 2014
Record: 55-61 | Box score | Play-by-play | Highlights