White Sox midterm report

[greasywheels121]

White Sox midterm report

 

White Sox midterm report

Team added pitching, now will need hitting down stretch

By Scott Merkin / MLB.com

 

CHICAGO -- The tone was set by Ozzie Guillen during the inaugural news conference when he was hired as manager.

This White Sox team was going to play hard, run the bases aggressively and, most importantly, this group was going to have fun. Mission accomplished by Guillen during the season's first half.

 

Three key games:

• April 28: White Sox 9, Cleveland 8

The White Sox were the comeback kids of the first half, with 25 games won in that manner. But this victory was downright ridiculous. Trailing 8-4 in the bottom of the ninth, the South Siders rallied for five off of a dismal Indians’ bullpen and claimed victory. Sandy Alomar Jr. delivered the game-winning sacrifice fly.

 

• June 26: White Sox 6, Cubs 3

On paper, this game looked like a mismatch with rookie hurler Felix Diaz facing All-Star Carlos Zambrano. But Diaz pitched solid baseball for six innings, and Paul Konerko’s three-run home run provided the margin of victory in the crosstown battle. The White Sox went on to take the home series from the Cubs.

 

• July 1: White Sox 2, Minnesota 1

Johan Santana struck out 12 White Sox hitters, and the South Siders finished with two hits for the entire game. But Carlos Lee’s two-run home run in the first and Jon Garland’s mound dominance were enough to complete the first sweep of the Twins at the Metrodome since 1995.

 

• MLB 2004 midterm report

 

Sure, there were some offensive lulls for the potent White Sox attack. There also were a couple of hiccups from one of the steadiest starting rotations in the entire American League. But from the start of Spring Training until the final first-half game at home against Seattle, the White Sox seemed to foster a different clubhouse attitude for 2004.

 

As a team that's been known to play better baseball in the second half, not to mention a group that already has all seven games against the Yankees off the schedule, the White Sox should be in good position to fight with the Twins right until the end for the Central title. If they get close or move ahead, don't discount another creative move from general manager Ken Williams to strengthen the roster.

 

Club MVP: It has been a team effort that pushed the White Sox near the top of the Central, but Juan Uribe's early burst of energy jump-started the team from the get-go. Uribe seems more comfortable in a clubhouse full of players who speak his native language and has lived up to his vast potential to a level that he missed in Colorado. Uribe set his single-season high for home runs in the first half.

 

Call him 'Ace': It's hard to pick a top hurler out of Mark Buehrle, Esteban Loaiza and Freddy Garcia. Buehrle was known as the left-handed ace and Loaiza as the right-handed ace, prior to the June 27 acquisition of Garcia. The right-hander strengthens the starting five from top to bottom, and gives the White Sox a true No. 1 pitcher with the stuff to dominate every fifth day.

 

Greatest strength: Simply put, the White Sox can hit. Their power surge includes Magglio Ordonez, Frank Thomas, Paul Konerko, Carlos Lee and Jose Valentin, not to mention speed provided by top of the lineup tablesetters such as Uribe, Willie Harris and even Aaron Rowand.

 

Biggest problem: The White Sox could use a little steadier effort from the leadoff position and a little more stability in the bullpen. But their biggest second-half worry is consistency. That concern ranges from a potent offense one week to a severe slump seven days later and even the starting rotation, which can go from six straight quality starts to six straight middle-of-the-road results.

 

Biggest surprise: Guillen mentioned recently how Shingo Takatsu was so off his game during Spring Training that he was in danger of not making the team. Williams claimed, with a smile, that situation wasn't close to happening. But the Japanese import has gone from an afterthought coming into the season to the team's closer. Seeing hitters watch his 59 mph changeup morph into his 88 mph fastball on the next pitch truly has been entertaining.

 

Team needs: Williams already addressed the team's biggest need, adding Garcia in a trade with Seattle to anchor a solid starting rotation. The White Sox also could upgrade at the leadoff position and/or catcher, where Sandy Alomar Jr., Jamie Burke and Ben Davis split time.

 

Oh, doctor: Ordonez missed the final 40 games of the first half and 42 in total. The right fielder suffered a partial meniscal tear in his left knee and is expected back in Oakland to start the second half. Scott Schoeneweis made a trip to the disabled list with an inflamed left elbow, while Valentin and Thomas both suffered hamstring problems. Valentin's injury landed him on the disabled list.

 

He said it: "As long as we win, I hope we have another 100 like that. It makes it exciting. When you believe in yourself and you believe in your team and they believe in each other, they believe they can do some damage." -- Guillen speaking of the White Sox's five-run ninth-inning rally against Cleveland on April 28, erasing an 8-4 deficit and pulling out a 9-8 win. The White Sox came from behind 25 times for a first-half victory under Guillen's guidance.

 

Mark your calendar:

 

July 15-18: at Oakland. The White Sox have won once at Network Associates Coliseum in the past three years.

July 23-25: vs. Tigers. The White Sox play their first of 19 second-half games against the rejuvenated Tigers.

Sept. 20-22 vs. Twins. With no games between the two in August, the final three of six games in September could decide the Central.

 

Fearless second-half prediction: If the White Sox hit, they will win the Central Division. Even with the addition of Garcia at the top of the rotation, this team is offensive-driven and only will go as far as the hitters take it. Garcia completes a very strong front three for the White Sox if they make the postseason. Beware of this team if it gets on a roll.

[CSF]

That Cleveland game was absolutely wild. The Indians hammered Schoenweis hard in that game, and it looked like they were leaving with a 2 game sweep. Mags with the 2 run shot started it, Broussard's error kept it going, and Timo's clutch hit tied it (He's had a couple of those for the Sox in the 1st half). That game showed the Sox are never out of a game completely........unless CC Sabathia is pitching.

[dasox24]

Call him 'Ace': It's hard to pick a top hurler out of Mark Buehrle, Esteban Loaiza and Freddy Garcia.

No it's not. It's Buehrle hands down. You could maybe make a case for Garcia if you want to include his time w/ SEA, but, imo, you can't b/c this is about the top pitcher for the Sox, and Garcia's been just o.k. in his starts so far; nothing spectacular, yet... Lastly, are we sure the guy that wrote this is really a Sox fan b/c how the hell can he even mention Esteban as a possible top pitcher on our team. Jon's even been better than he has so far.