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| Ervin Santana |
I'm glad Tuesday's 10-5 Sox loss to the Tampa Bay Rays was an afternoon game, as being at work spared me from the majority of the agony. Although, Jace Fry's 46-pitch slog of a relief appearance in the top of the ninth inning spanned most of my 45-minute drive home from the office.
That's a little too much bad radio with Ed Farmer for me. The game ended at 5:06 p.m. local time, which means the nine-inning game took four minutes short of four hours.
Sox starting pitcher Ervin Santana didn't survive the fourth inning. He worked only 3.2 innings, allowing seven earned runs on seven hits. He walked three and struck out one. He threw only 45 of his 88 pitches for strikes and gave up three home runs.
Tampa Bay batters drew eight walks, and I don't even want to count how many three-ball counts there must have been in that game.
The Sox are 1-4 on the homestand and 3-7 for the season. They have received poor starting pitching in every single one of the these five home games. Here's a look at the last pass through the rotation:
Reynaldo Lopez: 5 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 5 Ks, 4 BBs, 3 HRs allowed
Lucas Giolito: 4.1 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 4 Ks, 4 BBs, 1 HR allowed
Ivan Nova: 2.1 IP, 7 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 2 Ks, 1 BB, 0 HR allowed
Carlos Rodon: 4.2 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 9 Ks, 5 BBs, 0 HR allowed
Santana: 3.2 IP, 7 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 1 K, 3 BBs, 3 HRs allowed
So, Sox starters have a 13.50 ERA on this homestand. That's not going to get it done. In fact, it's completely unwatchable, watching this team get buried in the early innings day after day.
Personally, I've grown tired of the alleged "positive trajectory" the Sox claim to be on. They think they are positioning themselves to compete for "multiple championships."
Frankly, I think they are positioning themselves to alienate the few fans they have left. Yes, Tim Anderson and Yoan Moncada are swinging the bats well. However, with so little pitching in place and not much beyond Dylan Cease in the pipeline, this looks more like a express elevator straight to hell than a "positive trajectory."
How About all the SRIKEOUTS! ,Along with the BAD PICTHING
ReplyDeleteThe Sox have struck out 96 times in 10 games. That seems high, but it's actually around league average, the modern game being what it is. I definitely think poor pitching, both starters and relievers, is the biggest story line so far.
ReplyDeleteLook on the bright side. At least there should be no serious consideration of an extension for Rodon. The guy can't control his fastball nor his emotions. He isn't starting pitcher material until he controls himself. I won't consider the rebuild complete until everyone from the 2016 roster is gone.
ReplyDeleteI may make an exception for Anderson, in part because the system has nobody close at that position anyway.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know the record for most walked-in runs in season because I think we are on pace to demolish it.
ReplyDeleteI would not seriously consider an extension for Rodon because he has yet to prove he can stay healthy for a whole season. That's where it begins and ends for me with him. He can't be trusted to be on the mound 30 times a season, plain and simple.
ReplyDeleteDon't know what that record would be. But I do know the White Sox led the American League in walks issued in both 2017 and 2018. They ranked fourth in the AL coming into Wednesday, but they were just four off the league lead, and all three teams ahead of them have played more games.
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