Some random Tuesday thoughts on the White Sox

Tim Lincecum is headed to the Angels.

The White Sox had their first bad week of the season last week, going 2-4 on a six-game road trip through Texas and New York.

Here's the good news: The Sox had a five-game lead in the AL Central when they left for the trip. They had a five-game lead when they came home. Sometimes, when it's going bad, treading water in the standings is a good thing.

Some other random thoughts:

• The Sox own a league-best 3.17 team ERA, but their team ERA is 5.93 over the past 12 games (6-6 record). Only Chris Sale and Jose Quintana seem immune from the pitching suck bug right now. But perhaps some regression was inevitable.
• The Sox bullpen did not lose a single game through the first 33 games of the season. They have now lost three of the past five games.
• Tim Lincecum's decision to sign with the Los Angeles Angels instead of the Sox isn't worth much heartache. I wouldn't have objected had the Sox signed Lincecum -- what's the harm in giving a guy a one-year deal and taking a chance? But it's also true that Lincecum hasn't had a good season since 2011, is coming off hip surgery, and didn't have a spring training. He probably won't make a start in the big leagues for about a month. The odds of him making a major impact are not high.
• On April 23, Avisail Garcia was hitting .135. In 15 games since, he's hitting .393 with five doubles, a triple, two home runs and 10 RBIs. He has raised his batting average to a respectable .269 after hitting safely in 13 of those 15 games. But every time I feel like Garcia is turning a corner, he follows a good stretch with a slump that disappoints me. I need to see more before I believe in him.
• White Sox prospect Tim Anderson is adjusting nicely to Triple-A competition after a slow start to the season. The shortstop was named International League batter of the week Monday after hitting .432 with three home runs and six RBIs during an eight-game stretch. Anderson's season slash line of .287/.310/.380 is respectable, but also reflective of a rough beginning. However, recency suggests he is starting to figure out Triple-A pitching.