Texas series
Being a journalist, I always find it funny when a team struggles, has one big game, and all the commentators, headline ers and beat guys all decide that the team "busted out of the slump." Take, for example, last night's game. The Sox were coming from one of the hardest parks in the majors for hitters, against three excellent pitchers, without the team's best player. Oh, and they are facing a pitcher with an ERA near seven. Buck Showalter—probably making excuses— said that several Rangers have recently contracted the flu. Inevitably, the headlines reflected something else:
Sun Times:White Sox bats come alive
Tribune: Bats warm to the occasion
Southtown: Big bats ring up victory
Daily Herald: Sox bring their bats
Granted, it's an easy story, and I'd probably do the same thing. The problem is that this might get people's hopes up. (on a side note, I was happy to read that Doug Padilla at least wrote that "realistically it was their escape from Oakland -- that revived the White Sox' offense Monday.") The Sox faced a bad starter (Benoit) in a hitter's paradise. Tomorrow, they will deal with John Wasdin in the series finale, while Jon Garland will have to face Mark Texeira (Gianfortune Banditos* star). Wasdin is also having an awful year, compiling a 7.22 ERA and nearly letting two baserunners per inning reach (1.78 WHIP). So, I have to expect the Sox to play reasonably well and likely win this game. The Rangers can put up some numbers (leading the AL in runs scored), but Garland has pitched reasonably well in his last few starts. In his last three starts, Jon has given up five earned runs, compiling a 2.15 ERA during that time. Small sample size, I know, but, hopefully something to build on.
Shoney pitched OK last night. He looked better than his line, which is probably just me hoping for good things from him. He's really been getting bombed lately, which makes you wonder if he's still hurt, or he's just back to sucking. You never know.
Anyway, I hope they win tonight, because the team gets Cleveland next and the Naps have been knocking the tar out of the ball lately. The offense has scored 34 runs in since the All Star Break and is second in the league in runs scored. Luckily, the pitching staff is 12th in the AL in ERA, due to a mediocre bullpen.
The Sox will have to face Cliff Lee and C.C. Sabathia, two excellent lefties. Each has already beat the Sox once, neither giving up more than a run in the process. Hopefully, the Sox can hit either (or both) of them hard. (I just took a stroll through the sortable stats on each guy on ESPN.com. There really isn't anything exciting to make me think that either Lee or Sabathia isn't going to pitch well. Oh, well.)
Let's just hope the Sox can eke out a win tonight and go into Cleveland on a high note.
*My fantasy baseball team is the Gianfortune Banditos
Sun Times:White Sox bats come alive
Tribune: Bats warm to the occasion
Southtown: Big bats ring up victory
Daily Herald: Sox bring their bats
Granted, it's an easy story, and I'd probably do the same thing. The problem is that this might get people's hopes up. (on a side note, I was happy to read that Doug Padilla at least wrote that "realistically it was their escape from Oakland -- that revived the White Sox' offense Monday.") The Sox faced a bad starter (Benoit) in a hitter's paradise. Tomorrow, they will deal with John Wasdin in the series finale, while Jon Garland will have to face Mark Texeira (Gianfortune Banditos* star). Wasdin is also having an awful year, compiling a 7.22 ERA and nearly letting two baserunners per inning reach (1.78 WHIP). So, I have to expect the Sox to play reasonably well and likely win this game. The Rangers can put up some numbers (leading the AL in runs scored), but Garland has pitched reasonably well in his last few starts. In his last three starts, Jon has given up five earned runs, compiling a 2.15 ERA during that time. Small sample size, I know, but, hopefully something to build on.
Shoney pitched OK last night. He looked better than his line, which is probably just me hoping for good things from him. He's really been getting bombed lately, which makes you wonder if he's still hurt, or he's just back to sucking. You never know.
Anyway, I hope they win tonight, because the team gets Cleveland next and the Naps have been knocking the tar out of the ball lately. The offense has scored 34 runs in since the All Star Break and is second in the league in runs scored. Luckily, the pitching staff is 12th in the AL in ERA, due to a mediocre bullpen.
The Sox will have to face Cliff Lee and C.C. Sabathia, two excellent lefties. Each has already beat the Sox once, neither giving up more than a run in the process. Hopefully, the Sox can hit either (or both) of them hard. (I just took a stroll through the sortable stats on each guy on ESPN.com. There really isn't anything exciting to make me think that either Lee or Sabathia isn't going to pitch well. Oh, well.)
Let's just hope the Sox can eke out a win tonight and go into Cleveland on a high note.
*My fantasy baseball team is the Gianfortune Banditos
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