Week 11 Record: 2-8 (26-51 Overall), 4th in AL Central
Well, rough week White Sox fans. Our AL Central rivals took full advantage of a rebuilding team this week. Let’s take a look at some of the events of this week in what has been one of the harder weeks of the rebuild.
(Note: I had a feeling a lot of you wouldn’t want to read through a bunch of recap losses, so we are doing something a little bit different this week!)
Week By the Numbers
60: Runs Allowed by White Sox Pitching
28: Runs Scored by the White Sox
7: Number of Well-Pitched Innings in Lucas Giolito’s start again the A’s
1: Number of home runs Tim Anderson hit on his 25th birthday this week
16: Number of White Sox Prospects called up a level in the minor leagues this week
6: Number of RBI’s Yoan Moncada had in Sunday’s 10-3 win
3: Number of Home Runs White Sox hit on Sunday (Palka, Sanchez, Moncada)
8: Number of Innings Carlos Rodon threw on Sunday
Quote of the Week: Reynaldo Lopez on the White Sox’ Season
It’s unacceptable for us to look the way we looked today,” said Lopez through interpreter Billy Russo. “Nobody is happy about the way we looked today. Honestly, we looked like clowns there, starting with me. But I know we can do better. It’s a matter of us to keep grinding, improving and working hard.”
-MLB.com’s Scott Merkin
I love this. I love the intensity and the accountability that young players like Lopez are beginning to show at this level. Reynaldo is slowly developing as a young verbal leader to take over from James Shields should he be traded in the next few weeks. The players may be losing, but they are clearly not happy with the way they are performing. It’s good to see this.
Moment/Player of the Week
Thanks to all who voted! In quite the down week of baseball, one player shined over the rest. While Lucas Giolito did put on a show in securing the only win of the week for the White Sox, Tim Anderson’s birthday homer – as well as his homer the night before – earned him both Player and Moment of the Week honors. And, we got this awesome bat flip out of it:
An honorable mention, however, should go to Yoan Moncada’s 2-4, 6 RBI effort in Sunday’s game as well. Hopefully this leads to the breakout we’ve all been waiting for since he’s come off the DL.
“Would You Rather” of the Week
The question this week was centered around Dylan Covey, who left his last start early. Early indications are that he wouldn’t miss more than a start or two, but I was curious: If Dylan Covey – or any Sox starter for that matter – had to miss a few games, who would you rather be the starting pitcher for those games? Here are the results:
The results of this poll aren’t all that unexpected to me. I think Michael Kopech could still use a few more starts in AAA – once he’s at the MLB level, I’d prefer that he stays here. What I’m most happy with in the poll is the clear recognition of all the good things Jordan Stephens has been doing in AAA this far. In 8 starts, he has a 3.45 ERA with a 41:13 K/BB ratio. Those are quality numbers from a guy who hasn’t received a lot of attention in the rebuild. Stephens is someone who could develop into a 4th or 5th starter for this team, and I’d love for the Sox to give him a few chances and see what he can do at the next level, even if it isn’t a full time thing.
The Week Ahead: Three Against the Twinkies
Monday: OFF DAY
Tuesday: Lance Lynn (5-5, 4.62 ERA) vs. Reynaldo Lopez (205, 3.59 ERA), 7:10 PM CT
Wednesday: Kyle Gibson (2-5, 3.25 ERA) vs. James Shields (2-9, 4.59 ERA), 7:10 PM CT
Thursday: TBD vs. Lucas Giolito (5-7, 7.01 ERA), 1:10 PM CT
Have a great week, White Sox fans!