Athletics 14, White Sox 4: A Case of the Wednesdays

The White Sox pulled the short straw this afternoon — the really, really, REALLY short straw.

The Oakland Athletics clobbered the South Siders at Camelback Ranch, 14-4. It’s not Opposite Day, but it sure felt like it.

Starter Lance Lynn was abnormally inconsistent through five innings. This was not his worst outing, but his pitches seemed quite temperamental and often at odds with the strike zone. (though the strike zone didn’t do Lynn any favors, either). He gave up five hits, three earned runs and struck out four.

To reiterate something that has been said before: This is only spring training. Lynn can wash his hands of this and start anew tomorrow, but as the season gets closer, the nerves begin to bubble.

Chicago’s bullpen also failed to keep their promises of being the ”best in the biz” by giving up 11 runs in four innings, with six of those runs tagged to young relief pitcher Will Carter in relief of Lynn. Carter is not expected to make the roster and will most likely spend the next year in the minors. Codi Heuer and Evan Marshall also both made appearances — Heuer gave up a run, and Marshall drew blanks.

Eloy Jiménez exited today’s game in the top of the second inning after trying to rob a home run. He was removed with left shoulder discomfort and will be further evaluated with an update tomorrow. Take a look, if you can stand it.

Chicago’s offense poked nine hits and snagged two walks, with Tim Anderson leading the way with two hits, continuing his hot streak . Opening Day starters Yasmani Grandal, Andrew Vaughn, and (perhaps) Jiménez all tallied singles as well. Oakland’s Sean Manaea went 5 ¹⁄₃ innings, with five hits, an earned run and three Ks. The Sox did have a glimmer of hope, scoring two off of Oakland pitcher Birch Smith in the seventh, but that fire was doused fairly quick.

Today wasn’t great for the White Sox. Besides Anderson’s two hits and Billy Hamilton’s speed in the outfield, there wasn’t much to brag about. It was quite ... the opposite.

P.S. to Eloy Jiménez

As South Side Sox’s Brett Ballantini put so eloquently in his article about the injury posted as the young clubber was still shuffling off the field, Eloy needs to “STAY AWAY FROM THE FENCE.”

There is no doubt Eloy has incredible athletic ability. The man can wear every gold chain in the world around his neck and still smoothly trot around the bases after hitting a monster smash, but it’s clear the outfield is not his forte. This was an awkward attempt to make a play outfielders have made 1,000 times before. Eloy had every reason to give it a shot, but with too many reasons comes a greater chance of injury. Given Eloy’s tendency to damage himself in the outfield, and to avoid Billy Hamilton being a full-time starter or thrusting Andrew Vaughn into a position he may not like, let’s follow through with Brett’s idea to pin a note in Eloy’s locker with the “can and can’t do’s” of left field.

The Sox can’t afford to lose a stud like Jiménez. His smile (and bat) is what keeps this team going!

The White Sox are back at it, surely sans Eloy in left, Thursday afternoon, hosting the Reds. It’s a 3:05 p.m. CT start, on whitesox.com and ESPN 1000 radio.