When Todd Frazier was acquired, what was expected was that he’d provide power and good defense at third base. With an MLB-leading 17 home runs, he’s certainly delivered on the first part; his defense hasn’t been quite as good as in years past, but it certainly hasn’t been bad. He hasn’t done things in exactly […]
Tag: Chicago White Sox
Two months in, White Sox still waiting on the Jose Abreu they need
For a few moments on Wednesday, Matt Albers stepped up to be the big and lumbering power-hitting presence in the middle of the White Sox lineup that has been missing for most of 2016, and kick-started a cathartic game-deciding rally. The very next batter, Jose Abreu dug in, as a reminder of where that presence […]
Here’s What’s Really Happening with Mat Latos
In mid-April, after witnessing just a flash of what looked like it had the potential to be a brilliant start from White Sox starter Mat Latos, I wrote about what this stretch that Latos was having could mean for his future success in the White Sox’s rotation. Well, six weeks later and the question I […]
White Sox 2, Mets 1: The Matt Albers Game
Most of our time on Earth is pretty pedestrian, a mundane commitment to routine, while we cling to memories of the few cathartic moments that come along, and stay foolishly hopeful for new breakthroughs to come along and convince us that our endless waiting around is worth it. 1. Or so it seems when a […]
South Side Morning 5: Slump busted in just in time
1. The 2008 and 2005 White Sox both dealt with seven-game losing streaks at one point. When the 2005 club did it in August, they immediately ceded four games of their once enormous AL Central lead to the Indians, who would eventually shrink a 15-game deficit into just 1.5 games before being finally beaten back […]
White Sox 6, Mets 4: Finally, a victory
Tuesday night’s game between the White Sox and Mets saw a clash of seven game streaks. Chicago entered with a seven-game losing streak, while Mets starter Steven Matz countered with a seven-start winning streak. Baseball is a funny game and decided to end both with one fell swoop as the Sox came from behind to claw out […]
South Side Morning 5: Life is Hell and death is no escape
1. Jose Abreu‘s OPS for the month May is nearly 100 points better than it was in April, and if he’s lucky, it will only be the third-worst offensive month of his career, rather than the second. He came into this season with three months in his career where he had hit as few as […]
Mets 1, White Sox 0: White Sox sow horrible things, reap them
The losses have at least gained a measure of uniqueness, after a somewhat boilerplate weekend pattern of triumph-nagging, dread-utter desolation. 1. Then again, hanging Jose Quintana out to dry had become old hat before this year, and the round of applause bands get for playing old favorites will likely be withheld this time. The AL leader […]
South Side Memorial Day 5: Disasterpiece Theater
1. If forced to pick a single head-scratching moment from this weekend’s neverending bullpen meltdown–from which Robin Ventura might have come out looking better than expected since absolutely nothing worked–it would have been the fifth-year manager realizing that closer David Robertson was in a crisis on Saturday from which he could not pull himself out […]
Around the AL Central: Winning the division means winning against the division
The White Sox are coming off an 10-game stretch where they went 2-8 against American League Central foes. They are 9-9 against the AL Central this season, however, they’re 6-0 against the Twins and 3-9 against everyone else. To make matters worse, that 3-9 mark comes against only the Royals and Indians, as they’ve yet […]