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Thanks, but no Danks… It’s time for John to go.

By Patrick K. Flowers Sr.

Aug 18, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher John Danks (50) covers his face as Los Angeles Angels first baseman Albert Pujols (5) rounds the bases after a solo home run in the first inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 18, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher John Danks (50) covers his face as Los Angeles Angels first baseman Albert Pujols (5) rounds the bases after a solo home run in the first inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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John Danks has become virtually an automatic loss when he toes up the rubber for the Chicago White Sox nowadays. The one time first round pick by the Texas Rangers in 2003, and the guy that the White Sox ultimately kept in favor of Mark Buehrle has turned into the sorrows of White Sox fans every fifth day.

Coming into the 2016 season, Danks was slotted to be the teams fifth starter and fans had hoped that he would be able to stumble into a quality start here or there in that role.

Well, that hasn’t quite happened to date as Danks was shelled yet again by the Orioles on Thursday evening at Camden Yards in Baltimore. The 31 year old lefty allowed six runs, on nine hits and two walks over just five innings pitched on Thursday. The loss was his fourth in as many starts this season, as he was skipped twice already due to his ineffectiveness this year.

Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /

Danks now sits at 0-4 with an absurd ERA of 7.25 thus far in 2016. He has been the losing pitching in four of the White Sox seven losses this year, and has fans grimacing every time his spot in the rotation comes up.

Danks has gotten progressively worse as time has went on, and shows absolutely zero chance of becoming a serviceable fifth starter for the White Sox. Dating back to August 7, of last season Danks is 1-11 over 14 starts with an ERA of 5.28 over that span.

Danks is 31 years old, and has been a major league pitcher since the 2007 season when he debuted with the White Sox. Danks has posted a dismal record of 79-104 with an ERA of 4.35 over that span. The kicker to all of that, the White Sox have paid Danks a combined $57 Million dollars to date.

That’s right, the White Sox paid old Johnny boy $57 Million dollars to post a career record 25 games under .500 and an ERA over four. This year the White Sox are not in a position to allow Danks to flounder around at the bottom of the rotation, and get paid a hefty mint to possibly, maybe, stumble upon a win every few starts.

The White Sox have the best record in the American League, and the best pitching staff in baseball to date. They have a clubhouse full of the right guys, who know how to win, and this team is in prime position to reap the benefits of all of those factors with a fun season that looks like it could be special. That is unless John Danks breaking their momentum, every five days send them into a funk.

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Now is the time for Hahn and company to make a move on John Danks… whether it be a demotion to the bullpen to be a long reliever, or an out and out release from the team it doesn’t really matter.

At this point Miguel Gonzalez could use a couple more starts, and if that doesn’t work out the Sox have Erik Johnson, and Jacob Turner waiting in Triple-A Charlotte. Dare I suggest the coveted prospect Carson Fulmer gets some work in the Sox bullpen while the aforementioned names try to stop the bleeding in the five hole of the Sox rotation?

Whatever way Rick Hahn, Robin Ventura, and Don Cooper want to handle it, something needs to happen, and it needs to happen quickly.

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