Jun 21, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Chicago White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper (99) talks to starting pitcher Andre Rienzo (64) during the second inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Despite the momentum the Chicago White Sox gained on Tuesday and Wednesday last week with two straight wins against the San Francisco Giants, it was washed away and not to been seen again after their performance over the past four games against the Minnesota Twins.
Honestly, what goes through the mind of this ball club when they leave US Cellular Field?
On the road this season, the White Sox are 14-22, and two of the “road wins” came in Chicago when they played the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Take those away, and in “true” road games, the White Sox are 12-22 on the season.
Jun 2, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Chicago White Sox manager Robin Ventura reacts in the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers defeated the White Sox 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
That is just awful, especially since this weekend they were playing the Minnesota Twins, and showed they need to redesign their pitching rotation and even the bullpen with the way Hector Noesi, Andre Rienzo and John Danks pitched this weekend.
I’m no pitching expert, but I know enough to see there is a problem when your No. 3 through No. 5 pitchers in the rotation are giving up a combined 14 earned runs in three consecutive games, making whatever type of offense the team gets a moot point because they are always battling back from a deficit.
The White Sox most likely will have to go out of the organization if they want to make improvements with the rotation this season, because the prospects in the Minors just aren’t ready.
It’s not like this lack of winning, or lack of not being much over the .500 mark, is something new in the tenure of Robin Ventura.
At the June 22 mark this season, and the past two seasons under Ventura the White Sox are ’14: 35-41, ’13: 31-41 and ’12: 36-34 for an average record at June 22 of 34-39 overall.
Look at that again … 34-39 overall. Five games under the .500 mark.
Team will have to go out of the organization for improvement this season
That’s not a mark of a winning team by any means, and fans should start being or may already be frustrated with this lack of commitment from this organization to put a winning product on the field.
Not all the blame is on Ventura, as he can only manage the players General Manager Rick Hahn and President Ken Williams give him.
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In April, this team was fun to watch because they played with excitement and energy. In May, that excitement started to fade away, but they still managed to win 14 times.
In June … this team has been tough to watch. They are currently 7-11 this month, and in the midst of 16 straight days of baseball, they are currently 2-4 in that stretch of games with a very good Baltimore Orioles team waiting for them.
Overall the White Sox are 35-41 (seven games behind the AL Central first place Detroit Tigers) after 76 games.
The entire organization can be and should be doing a better job, but there is something that just isn’t right with this ball club.
Last season was one of the worst seasons in White Sox history, and sadly this team has just four more wins at this point of the season than it did last year. They’ve played four more games as well than they did at this point too, so basically they are the same type of team they were in 2013 at this point.
In ’13, the White Sox had 41 losses at June 22, and this year is the same thing. This pattern is becoming unacceptable, and those who run the organization need to do something to bring some life back into this ball club, or all of us will be watching a repeat of what occurred last season.
The losses are a little closer on the scoreboard, but a loss is a loss, and the more they continue to lose, the more of a habit it becomes. There have been some really exciting games this season, don’t get me wrong, but the bad games are starting to outweigh the exciting times.
What are your thoughts on this team thus far?