Sox-ual Healing

Well, we won a game.  We ought to start feeling better about this team, don't you think so?  Well, the relevant question, actually, is do you feel better about it?

All I know is, I'm not convinced.

Look, here's the deal.  We've got a team that has some pretty decent talent.  We have some great fielders-- our infield should be virtually impenetrable on the left side (Crede and Cabrera), and we're decent on the right.  We have the (relative) speed and versatility of Quentin and Swisher (and, on occasion, Brian Anderson), and the canon attached to a human body that is Jermaine Dye.  Not only that, but look at the hitters we're supposed to have.  Jermaine, Paulie, and Thome can all hit the ball several hundred miles, and Crede and Quentin could easily provide the extra run support every team needs.

So why do we suck?

It was only three years ago we won the World Series (as no Sox fan will ever let you forget), and it was a mere TWO years ago that our three, four, and five hitters were the possibly the most feared in baseball.  Remember when you could set your watch by how regularly balls flew out of the park at US Cellular Field, courtesy of Thome, Konerko, Dye, and Crede?  

And yet, even then Sox fans were skeptical.  Why?  Because White Sox fans know baseball, and they know that while home runs can win games, they alone will not get a team to the playoffs.

And so we find ourselves now.  With 47 team HR, the White Sox as a team lead the American League in that category.  In Major League Baseball as a whole, only the Phillies and the Marlins have bombed more balls.  And yet, in terms of total runs scored, the White Sox are tied for 17th in MLB (that's out of 30 teams)-- and we're tied, of all teams, with the Rays.

Any baseball fan of even a little merit will tell you that an invividual batting average of .300 or over is great, and even .270-.299 are just fine.  Dip below .270 and things start getting iffy.  Once you get below .250, you've got some problems.  The White Sox team batting average, as of right now (May 15, 2008), is a paltry .241.  That's good enough to get them ranked at 27 out of the 30 Major League teams.

Shame on us, and woe be unto us. 

Now, granted, the benchmarks I put in the paragraph above are, as stated, for an individual batting average, while the .241, as I mentioned, is the team's average.  Nevertheless, the White Sox aren't hitting as they should be.

As it is, the only member of the team hitting over .300 is Catcher AJ Pierzynski (.304).  Left Fielder Carlos Quentin is pulling more weight than anyone could have expected, at an astonishing .293-- he also has 10 homers, good enough to lead the American League, and for fifth in the Majors.  His 34 runs batted in place him at third in all of baseball, and second in the AL.  Meanwhile, Right Fielder Jermaine Dye (.289, 6 HR, 15 RBI) and 3rd Baseman Joe Crede (.269, 7HR, 25 RBI) have their averages on the way up.  But as for White Sox batting over .250, well, that's it.  Our big dog sluggers, 1st Baseman Paul Konerko and Designated Hitter Jim Thome, seem strangely absent, hitting just .215 and .203-- appallingly low numbers.  They each have 22 RBI, which is nice-- but nice is all that can be said, aside from disappointing.  When Jim Thome, often considered one of the greatest left-handed hitters of our time, is hitting below Juan Uribe (.204), you know you've got issues.

And, speaking of Juan Uribe, I'll have more to say about him in upcoming posts.

But for now, let's take our focus off the negative.  After all, as I said, we did beat the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim last night (I hate them just for the "Calling All Angels" song they play before each game-- and for the stupid Rally Monkey, and, oh right, for their redundant name), and the White Sox might start hitting at any time.  Maybe the 10 hits last night was just the beginning!  Maybe Paul Konerko stealing a base last night was a sign-- the Sox are about to turn it on!

And besides, our pitching has been-- for the most part-- outstanding.  Of our five starters, only lefty Mark Buehrle's ERA looks dreadful at 5.81.  Aside from him, Javier Vazquez (tonight's starter) has the highest ERA at only 3.63.  Our relievers are (mercifully) looking like an altogether different bunch from last year.  All this is wonderful, and I can't wait to see what happens in tonight's game, when the Sox will face former teammate Jon Garland (4-3, 4.30).

One more thing to discuss before I leave you to your devices, and that is the batting order from last night.  It was certainly out of the ordinary, but I can't say I disliked it.  It seemed to get the job done, didn't it?  And when Quentin came up with the bases juiced, was there any doubt he wouldn't come through?  I know there wasn't for me.  Still, I'd like to think that Paulie is going to get in gear sometime (soon, please) and that he'll still be our cleanup hitter.  I'd like to say the same for Thome in the three spot.  But I guess the important thing is winning, and if turning our batting order on its head is the only way, well, I certainly won't be the first to complain.

To the White Sox as a team, I say congratulations on the win-- let's get a streak going.  To Jose Contreras, I say well done on a fabulously pitched game.  Keep it up.  And to Octavio Dotel, way to get us out of that jam.

Until next time, thanks for listening, and...

LET'S GO GO GO WHITE SOX!!! (yes, we need a new song)