In Need of Pitching, White Sox Will Wait a Little Longer
White Sox starting pitching has been poor as of late thanks in large part to veteran hurlers that aren’t panning out to start this season.
While this first month of the season for the White Sox has featured some improvement on offense – particularly from Yoan Moncada and Tim Anderson – it’s no secret to Sox fans that their pitching has struggled.
New White Sox acquisitions Ivan Nova and Ervin Santana – who took the loss in Wednesday night’s defeat in Baltimore – have both struggled. In particular, Nova has struggled with an 0-3 record and 8.42 ERA to begin the season.
In the bullpen, Carson Fulmer has struggled to find the plate – giving up as many hit by pitches as walks – and Jace Fry, heavily reliable at times last year, has a 6.75 ERA.
All in all, an astounding 9 players on the White Sox pitching staff – including four starters (everyone except Carlos Rodon) – have ERAs over 5.
The fact that the Sox need some pitching changes is clear. However, according to an article by Vinnie Duber at NBC Sports Chicago, finding replacements may be easier said than done.
While acknowledging that “Those [pitching] numbers are not acceptable, no matter how in the thick of rebuilding the White Sox remain” Duber also points out that, “The in-organization depth is not ideal, even if Dylan Cease is one of the highest-rated pitching prospects in baseball.”
Cease will likely not be brought up right away with the organization preferring to monitor his development.
Does that make sense? Yes, it does. However, in the midst of a season that is growing more frustrating for fans to watch the pitching staff struggle, development can’t come soon enough.
Sox fans knew there would be some delay when Michael Kopech underwent Tommy John surgery, which will keep him out until 2019. They were and still are excited about Cease, who offers a lot of promise to potentially be one of the best in the game.
Of course, there are free agent options out there – Dallas Keuchel, and Craig Kimbrel – but while the prospects of signing one of these players is entertaining, they do not seem to be in the Sox plans for reasons that may be understandable.
Next. Charlotte Knights Remain Hot. dark
They say that the light is dark just before the dawn. In other words, before things get better, they’ll seem really bad. The future still appears strong in Chicago. However – after losing two of three to the lowly Orioles – that dark light might seem a little too dark right now.