Sox Still Not Swinging, Skid Hits Six
In another wasted John Danks gem, the White Sox fell 2-1 to the Tampa Bay Rays Tuesday, bringing the team’s losing streak to six games.
I don’t want to take away from James Shields, who was on fire yesterday. No team was going to score more than a couple runs against him the way he was throwing.
Regardless, the offense struggled yet again, only managing four hits as the Rays righty tossed a complete game.
Adam Dunn went 0-for-4 with three more strikeouts. He’s whiffed thrice in each of the last two games, and twice in each of the four games before that. This can’t all be pinned on him, as NOBODY in the lineup is hot, but as the big offseason acquisition, he will be under the microscope all season.
Manager Ozzie Guillen is now considering dropping Dunn in the lineup in hopes of igniting things with a mix-up, but I think that’s not the only move that needs to be made. Gordon Beckham is struggling mightily of late in the No. 2 hole after a torrid start. Switching him out with Alexei, even just for a few games til Gordo starts hitting again, wouldn’t be a terrible idea.
Ozzie loves having Ramirez down in the lineup because of his propensity to drive in runs, but something needs to change to get these guys swinging the bat. Using the “contact” argument against Alexei right now is a moot point because Beckham has struck out 11 times in the last 10 games, Ramirez only three times.
Phil Humber takes the hill for the White Sox Wednesday as the team tries to avoid a third straight loss to the Rays. Wade Davis is on the mound for Tampa Bay.
The White Sox finish up the four-game set Thursday and then head to Detroit for a three-game set this weekend.