Chicago Sports
Posting Date: May 6, 2008
White Sox Could Use Shower of Hits, RBIs
April showers are supposed to bring May flowers. But what the Chicago White Sox could use is a downpour of hits, preferably with runners on base.
The White Sox have just completed a six-game road trip with no victories in trips to Minneapolis and Toronto. Not that the pitching staff didn’t try to curb the tide. The White Sox starting staff has a startling 2.98 ERA. The bullpen is an improvement over last year.
But the Sox enter May on shaky ground. The saving grace is that defending division champ Cleveland and Detroit are battling injuries and poor starts from C.C. Sabathia and Justin Verlander, respectively. Going into Tuesday’s action, the White Sox are in second place with a 14-16 record, two games behind Minnesota.
The main problem for the Sox is not only a lack of hitting, but clutch hitting as well. Suddenly they are not drawing as many walks. After dropping two games to Minnesota, facing the Blue Jays was not going to be the magic antidote with their formidable starting staff.
The Sox had a winning record in April on the strength of the overall pitching, high on base percentage and clutch hits. But perhaps the solid start masqueraded problems. The Sox were hitting .242 during April and have dropped to .236, which is last in the American League. The 3.66 ERA is keeping the Sox in games, but for how long?
Manager Ozzie Guillen’s orchestrated rant got a lot of news play over the weekend. Actually, Guillen is frustrated because his lineup lacks speed and has no alternatives. Jerry Owens is putting up nice numbers in the minor leagues. But Guillen, as of now, has no place for him. We agree with Guillen that it would not be wise to call Owens up to sit on the bench.
The reason Owens is still in the minors after suffering a leg injury in the spring is because left fielder Carlos Quentin, purchased from Arizona for a minor leaguer, has been the most consistent Sox hitter. Sidelined for most of the spring with a shoulder injury that kept him in the minors while with the Diamondbacks, he appears more than healthy. As of Tuesday, he led the American League in homers (eight) and had 22 RBIs.
In short, Quentin cannot be taken out of left field, which means former Oakland A’s product Nick Swisher patrols center. Jermaine Dye is a fixture in right.
Other problems surfacing is Juan Uribe at second base. Uribe, who moved to second when Orlando Cabrera arrived to play short, was the best option at second base. That is not saying much since Alexi Ramirez was untested in the major leagues since arriving from Cuba and Danny Richar was sent to the minors after suffering a rib injury.
Uribe has played sold defense but his all-or-nothing approach at bat is maddening, along with his mental lapses on the basepaths. Uribe hesitated and went back to third on a slow grounder early in a 1-0 loss to Toronto Monday night. Uribe would have scored if he went immediately. It cost the Sox a run and another game.
Uribe is hitting 181. Pablo Ozuna replaced Joe Crede, who had a migraine headache, at third. He hit into a game-ending double play with the bases loaded Monday night. Ozuna is hitting .172. Guillen did not have many other alternatives. In fact, seven players are hitting under .250.
While this is no time to panic, the Sox hitters have to regain their focus, make contact and go up the middle. But right now, the Sox are too slow on the basepaths, leave too many runners on base and lately have been playing subpar defense.
Of course, this is no time to get complacent. This is eerily similar to last year when the Sox went into the tank by mid-May. Injuries and malaise did them in last year. In 2008, it is a matter of the Sox taking some early leads and manufacture some runs. The pitching has been better than expected but the offense has to wake up
Because sooner or later, Cleveland and Detroit are going to get back on track. Minnesota has a nice blend of speed and contact hitters.
If anyone deserves more playing time it is Brian Anderson, who is an outstanding outfielder and is hitting .281. And that is the problem with Sox right now. Is this the best team the Sox can field? Will Owens be leading off eventually so Swisher, who has been struggling with a .204 batting average, can bat down in the order?
A shower of hits would be welcome.