Some rare positivity: Dylan Cease pitches well in Triple-A debut

Let's preface by saying this: Dylan Cease should not be called up to the White Sox until he is ready to pitch in the major leagues. There still are things he can improve upon at the Triple-A level.

That said, it's possible Cease is the best starting pitcher in the organization right now. The Sox's best healthy pitching prospect made his Triple-A season debut Tuesday in Game 1 of a doubleheader and tossed five shutout innings in a 4-0 Charlotte victory over Norfolk.

Cease struck out five, allowed three hits, issued no walks (!) and threw 47 of his 73 pitches for strikes. His fastball sat at 96 mph, and he retired the final 10 batters he faced.

Good start.

Now, it is possible Norfolk isn't swinging the bats very well. The Knights won the second game of the doubleheader, 3-0, with Dylan Covey, Zach Thompson and Thyago Vieira combining on a one-hitter with 10 strikeouts.

I mention this only to put things in proper context. It is only one outing for Cease, but as Sox fans, we are starved for some good news on the pitching front these days.

At the major league level Wednesday, Reynaldo Lopez got his rear handed to him again as the Sox lost, 9-1, to the Tampa Bay Rays. 

Lopez lasted 4.1 innings, allowing eight earned runs on 10 hits. He struck out five, walked four and gave up three home runs. His season ERA swelled to 12.15.

It's concerning. Lopez's 2018 peripherals suggested maybe he wasn't as good as his 3.91 ERA, and a reasonable person shouldn't be surprised by some regression from the right-hander this season. But there's regression, and then there's falling off a cliff.

This is falling off a cliff. Lopez has given up an alarming six home runs in 13.1 innings this season.

The Sox (3-8) did not get a single quality start on the six-game homestand. Sox starters have posted a 14.91 ERA over the past six games. It's a miracle they won one.

As a Sox fan, I've praying to see some credible run prevention on the field. At this point, I don't care if they lose 2-1. I just want to see somebody pitch well, and see some players catch the damn ball and make smart plays on defense.

Stats for White Sox prospects in Arizona Fall League

Luis Robert impressed, Luis Alexander Basabe did not, and Zack Burdi's time was cut short. That's the quick, snap judgment for White Sox prospects who participated in the Arizona Fall League.

Sox prospects played for the Glendale Desert Dogs, who went 12-18 in 30 games, so for better or for worse, all of this represents a small sample size. But here's how Sox prospects did in the desert: 

Robert, OF: .324/.367/.432 with two home runs, 10 RBIs, two doubles, five stolen bases and 13 strikeouts with five walks in 74 at-bats. Robert has battled hand and thumb injuries all season, so it's good to see him show why he's highly regarded. 

Basabe, OF: .180/.333/.180 with no extra-base hits, two RBIs, four stolen bases and 16 strikeouts with 12 walks in 50 at-bats. Hey, at least he's taking his walks! 

Laz Rivera, 2B: .215/.271/.246 with two doubles, seven RBIs, one stolen base, 14 strikeouts and three walks in 65 at-bats. 

Burdi, RHP: 4.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 5 Ks, 1 BB, 0.00 ERA. Burdi, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery, was removed from the roster Nov. 1 for "general fatigue." Burdi's velocity has been sitting at 92-95 mph, instead of his his pre-surgery 97-100 mph, so that's a concern. 

Tanner Banks, LHP: 22.1 IP, 30 H, 14 R, 11 ER, 10 Ks, 5 BBs, 4.43 ERA 

Zach Thompson, RHP: 13.1 IP, 10 H, 7 R, 4 ER, 15 Ks, 6 BBs, 2.70 ERA  

Danny Dopico, RHP: 12.1 IP, 10 H, 9 R, 9 ER, 15 Ks, 12 BBs, 6.57 ERA