Week 4 Record: 2-5 (6-16 Overall), 4th in AL Central
Well, White Sox fans, at least the team won a couple games this week! We also got to see a couple nice starts from some of our young guys, as well as a solid week performance from Yoan Moncada. Let’s take a look back at the week:
Game 16: White Sox (4-12) have no answer for Verlander, Fall 10-0
Justin Verlander tossed six scoreless innings in this one, winning his 10th consecutive regular-season decision. He held the White Sox to just 2 hits, and the Astros’ bullpen followed with 3 perfect innings after him. James Shields gave up 7 runs in 5.1 innings. This game was highlighted by Tim Anderson and Justin Verlander exchanging words after Anderson broke up the no-hitter in the fifth inning. Anderson proceeded to try and steal 2B on a 3-0 pitch, but Verlander threw ball 4. Then, Anderson was picked off trying to steal 3B. He made it back safely after getting into a rundown, but Verlander took umbrage at Anderson’s antics (per USA Today’s article):
He steals on 3-0 in a 5-0 game, that’s probably not great baseball,” Verlander told reporters after the game. “Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t, I don’t know. But he celebrated that, though. And it’s like ‘Hey, I’m not worried about you right now. It’s 5-0, I’m giving a high leg kick, I know you can steal. If I don’t want you to steal, I’ll be a little bit more aware of you. But I’m trying to get this guy out at the plate.'”
Anderson slid safely into second, but it didn’t matter since the pitch was ball four. Nonetheless, Anderson continued celebrating with his team down five runs.
“Kind of celebrates that at second base again,” Verlander said. “I don’t even know what he was celebrating.”
After that, Verlander caught Anderson with a pickoff at second base. There was a rundown and while Anderson got back to the base safely, Omar Narvaez was tagged out as the trailing runner.
“Another bad baseball play, in my opinion,” Verlander said of Anderson. “Very thankful that he gave me an out. That’s what I said and he didn’t like that comment but, hey, that’s not my fault, that’s his fault. I’m not going to let the situation dictate what I do out there, I’m going to slow everything down and that’s what veterans can do — see the game, play the game, play the game the right way.”
W: Justin Verlander (3-0) L: James Shields (1-2)
Game 17: Bats stay silent as White Sox (4-13) fall to Astros 10-1
Lucas Giolito struggled to get anything going in this game, as he walked 7 batters en route to giving up 9 runs in just two innings of work. On the other side, Dallas Keuchel tossed 6 innings of one-run baseball. The lone White Sox run came via a Trayce Thompson home run.
W: Dallas Keuchel (1-3) L: Lucas Giolito (0-3)
Game 18: Defending Champs finish off sweep of White Sox (4-14) 7-1
Another day, another lack of offense for the White Sox, who managed just two runs in their series against the defending champions. Reynaldo Lopez turned in a good start, giving up one run in 5 innings of work. But this game was lost in the 7th inning, as both Aaron Bummer and Bruce Rondon struggled in relief.
W: Lance McCullers, Jr. (3-1) L: Aaron Bummer (0-1)
Game 19: White Sox (5-14) snap losing streak behind Fulmer’s solid start
Carson Fulmer needed a good start. He certainly turned in one to start the series against the Mariners, giving up just 2 runs over 6 innings of work, walking only one and striking out 3. The bats came alive for the White Sox in this one as well, as they scored 10 runs on 18 hits. Yoan Moncada fell a single short of the cycle on Dog Day at the ballpark.
W: Carson Fulmer (1-1) L: Mike Leake (2-2) S: Chris Beck (1)
Game 20: White Sox’ (5-15) “Bullpen Day” holds down M’s, but bats are silent
Chris Volstad was called on to make a start in this game, and turned in 4.1 innings of one run baseball. The bullpen armada of Hector Santiago and Nate Jones came in to finish off the rest of the game, both throwing scoreless outings. However, the Mariners’ Marco Gonzales was just a little bit better, threw six-plus scoreless innings. Nothing much from this game, so instead enjoy a look at the White Sox keeping it loose even through this rough stretch.
W: Marco Gonzales (2-2) L: Chris Volstad (0-1) S: Edwin Diaz (9)
Game 21: White Sox (5-16) bested by King Felix and M’s bullpen, Fall 4-3
The White Sox led off this game with a bang, as Yoan Moncada launched his second career leadoff home run, this one off of Felix Hernandez. James Shields turned in a good start, but was bested by Mike Zunino in the 6th, who blasted a solo home run that would be the difference in this game. The White Sox failed to reach base after the 5th inning, dropping the rubber match to Seattle.
W: Felix Hernandez (3-2) L: James Shields (1-3) S: Edwin Diaz (10)
Game 22: Davidson and Company strikes again in KC, Sox (6-16) win 6-3
Matt Davidson has owned KC this year. 5 of his 7 home runs have come against the Royals after hitting two more last night. In total, the Sox hit 5 home runs in 6 innings, while Lucas Giolito worked through 5.2 innings of 2 run baseball. Yoan Moncada set the tone for this game early by blasting his third career leadoff homer and his second in as many games. Trayce Thompson and Wellington Castillo also homered.
W: Lucas Giolito (1-3) L: Jakob Junis (3-2) S: Joakim Soria (3)
Quote of the Week: Don Cooper on Danny Farquhar
You want their pitching and baseball lives to be wonderful,” Cooper said. “You want them to have the careers they are looking for, and that would certainly hold true outside of baseball. I know this: He’s alive, he’s got a chance and that’s what I’m hanging on to. And prayers are more necessary than talk.”
From Colleen Kane’s Chicago Tribune Article
This entire tragedy concerning Danny Farquhar is a not-so-subtle reminder of the fact that the players we cheer on everyday are much more than just entertainment for us, or someone to heckle or complain over. These guys have families and lives outside of baseball too, and we can never forget that. I know I speak for the entire Sox On 35th crew when I say that Danny is in our thoughts and prayers.
Overreaction of the Week: Baez vs. Moncada
This comes in response to a Sun Times article that came across my Twitter feed in recent days. If you don’t want to read the article – or if you’re like me and have reached your free reads for the month – it’s an article that asks which player – Javier Baez or Yaon Moncada – will be better in the long term. The majority – according to the author’s poll – voted Baez.
It’s natural that, once we see two players playing well in the same city, we compare them right away. Both sides of town want to have the best players. The reason this is an over reactionary question is because it is simply too early to be making this comparison. Baez is 25 and has played multiple years in the league, and Yoan is 22 and has STILL yet to complete a full season in the Majors. This won’t be a question anyone can answer for another 3-4 years. So relax on the comparison and just enjoy the fact that both the Cubs and the Sox look to have a long-term 2B locked down.
Stat of the Week: #DaveyMetrics
Thanks to @barstoolWSD for providing these stats on Yoan Moncada:
So, repeat after me: “Jordan, you were right, Yoan Moncada is going to be okay.” Well, in fact, he’s on track to be much better than okay.
Player of the Week
After 314 votes, a WHOPPING 91% of you said…
ESPN.comThis was kind of expected, but still, two weeks in a row as Player of the Week!
Moment of the Week
Yoan Moncada has been sweeping the board lately. After 317 votes, 72% of you voted that his almost completion of the cycle was the Moment of the Week. Thanks to all who voted in these polls!
Weekend Preview: 4 Games in 3 Days against the Royals
Tonight: Reynaldo Lopez (0-2, 1.50 ERA) vs. Danny Duffy (0-3, 5.26 ERA), 7:15 PM CT
Saturday (Game 1): TBA vs. TBA, 1:15 PM ET
Saturday (Game 2): TBA vs. TBA, 7:15 PM ET
Sunday: TBA vs. TBA, 1:15 PM ET
It will be interesting to see how the Sox handle the 26th player they can add to their roster on Saturday for the doubleheader. It is most likely that Dylan Covey makes a spot start in one of the two games. Sorry, no Kopech just yet.
Bold Predictions of the Week:
Thanks again to all who take the time to do these! Here’s my top 5 again:
5. “Kopech gets called up.” – @Flowichh
4. “Tim Anderson will hit at least 3 dingers and steal 5 bases this week.” – @JakeSpiwak
3. “Carson Fulmer gets a quality start with two walks or less.” – @Mattheius2783. HINT: I love Fulmer, so predictions with him almost always get in!
2. “We take 5 out of 7 in Missouri. 4 out of 5 in KC and a split in St Louis.” – @RhoderickTambio and @CarsonStilp. This one is off to a good start!
1. “None of the states walk 4 or more batters all week.” – @harlan6494. Also off to a good start, as Giolito only walked 2 last night.
See you next Friday, White Sox fans! Enjoy your week!
Featured image from Chicago White Sox Twitter account