Things aren't looking very good right now. The Sox have yet to win in the 4 games since Jim Thome went on the DL. The offense is sucking to the point where they are going to have to start shooting off the fireworks at US Cellular Field every time the Sox get a guy on base. After a 2 game sweep at the hands of the Mariners, in which the Sox scored a combined 4 runs, they find themselves 5 games back of the first place Indians, and facing down 6 more really tough road games in a row at the Angels and Twins. We're in trouble.
TUESDAY- MARINERS 5, SOX 2
The first four spots in the lineup go a combined 0 for 13. Throw in Joe Crede in the 5 spot and you've got 1 for 17. Granted, this came against Jarrod Washburn, who has been one of the best pitchers in the AL so far this year, but as Wednesday's game would show, the Sox make every opposing pitcher look good.
Game Scores- Sox- Vazquez 54; Mariners- Washburn 64
WEDNESDAY- MARINERS 3, SOX 2
Miguel Batista held the Sox to 2 runs over 7 1/3 innings, and STILL has an ERA over 6. If I never see Rob Mackowiak swing a bat again in my life I think I'd be OK with that. Meanwhile, John Danks continues his march towards 30 losses. He is now 0-4 with a 5.02 ERA, and is considered a "hard luck" pitcher. I dunno, with a 5.02 ERA I think it's a lot more likely that you'd be 0-4 than 4-0. He's tiptoeing very close to Felix Diaz territory in my world.
Game Scores- Sox- Danks 52; Mariners- Batista 61
UP NEXT
AT LA ANGELS (16-13)
FRI- Contreras (44.4 Avg/45 Last)v. Escobar (54.3 Avg/65 Last)
SAT- Garland (54.6 Avg/54 Last) v. Lackey (56.0 Avg/59 Last)
SUN- Buehrle (61.0 Avg/49 Last) v. Colon (54.7 Avg/33 Last)
Seriously, this looks bad. This could be where the wheels really come off. A team that isn't hitting, at all, against anyone, is facing 3 quality pitchers on the road this weekend. The Sox could very, very possibly be at least 7 games out by Monday morning, and with the contract status of this team it's probably not even worth making deals to try and overcome that, which means we'll be thinking in seller mode, which means the Sox won't contend in this division again until 2010. I know, it all sounds very dire, but the prognosis for this team as we stand on here on May 4, 2007 is not a rosy one.
To step back from the ledge for a moment, the Angels offense has sucked just as bad as the Sox has this week. The Angels have dropped their last 2, scoring a combined 3 runs in their last 19 innings against the Royale.
AL CENTRAL ROUNDUP
INDIANS (17-8)
THIS WEEK- 3-0 V. Blue Jays (12-4, 7-6, 6-5)
The Indians are off to a really nice start. They can score runs, and that makes up for a lot of shortcomings in other areas, which the Indians certainly have. Everything about this team screams 2000-2004 White Sox to me though, so I'm not sold on them. Still, at this point I'd much rather have the 2000-2004 White Sox than the 2007 White Sox.
I just don't see how the Indians can keep winning with a rotation as weak as what they have. Westbrook is hurt, Cliff Lee didn't look good in his first start back, Byrd is inconsistent, and Sowers is just OK. Sabathia is untouchable against the White Sox but he's been touchable against everyone else. They're flawed, but it's becoming apparent that the Tigers, Twins, and White Sox all are too, so we'll see.
THIS WEEKEND- 4 AT Orioles (Fri-Mon)
TIGERS (16-11)
THIS WEEK- 3-0 V. Orioles (8-4, 5-4, 3-2)
I know the Sox have not been playing well, but can someone please explain to me why they are always playing the Angels while all the other AL Central heavyweights are seemingly locked in an endless battle for time immortal with the Royale, Oriole and Devil Ray? When does this bullshit end?
THIS WEEKEND- 3 AT Royals
TWINS (15-13)
THIS WEEK- 1-2 AT Devil Rays (9-1, 3-4, 4-6)
Jesus, you mean a team in this division besides the White Sox actually LOST a game? I no believe. Ramon Ortiz finally pitched like Ramon Ortiz in Thursday night's loss, and the bullpen coughed one up on Wednesday night while the Twins were shut down by the surprisingly unhittable James Shields. This team isn't underperforming though. All the stars are hitting reasonably well, and the rotation has been better than it should be given who is in it. Last weekend the Twins took 2 of 3 from the Tigers, and that's fine with me. I think the only way the Sox have a chance this year is if it is a 4 team race, with the Twins keeping the Tigers and Indians from running away from the rest of the division.
THIS WEEKEND- 3 V. Red Sox
ROYALS (10-19)
THIS WEEK- 2-2 V. Angels (1-3, 5-7, 3-1, 5-2)
Ross Gload was 4 for 4 with a triple, 2 RBI, and 3 runs scored in Thursday's win over the Angels. Meanwhile, the Sox DH'd the .050 hitting Alex Cintron in one of last weekend's losses to the Angels. Discuss amongst yourselves.
THIS WEEKEND- 3 V. Tigers
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