With seven weeks left in the season, it would be easy to downplay the significance of the four-game series this weekend between the first-place White Sox and second-place Kansas City Royals.
But having been in a similar position with Pittsburgh over the last few years, Sox catcher Mike LaValliere knows better.
“I’ve been on both sides of what were supposedly big series,” LaValliere said. “In ’88, we had two series with the Mets shortly after the All-Star break, and everyone played them down. But the Mets took six of eight games and walked away from us.”
If the White Sox are to walk away from the Royals, the first step could come Thursday night at Comiskey Park, when Jack McDowell faces Kevin Appier.
Going into their game Wednesday night, the Royals were three games behind the Sox in the AL West. Royals pitching coach Guy Hansen termed the series “make or break.”
“It’s just as important for us as it is for them,” LaValliere said. “If we sweep them, they’re out of it.”
“It’s important for us to create some distance between us,” Tim Raines added. “And it’s also important to make a statement to the Royals that we’re the best team.”
During the off-season, Royals General Manager Herk Robinson shelled out more than $31 million to sign three free agents to three-year deals: pitcher David Cone, shortstop Greg Gagne and second baseman Jose Lind. The Royals have improved from 18 games under .500 in ’92 at 72-90 to five games over at 59-54 heading into their game Wednesday night game against Seattle.
Gagne and Lind have contributed, but Cone, who signed for $18 million, hasn’t gotten much offensive support. Cone, who will face Alex Fernandez in another intriguing matchup Saturday, has an 8-10 record despite holding opposing hitters to a .227 average, fourth best in the AL.
Here’s how the two West division rivals stack up in the most significant categories:
Hitting: The Royals were third in the league in average at .272 but 11th in runs scored. Kansas City lacks a true power hitter; catcher Mike Macfarlane leads the team with 16 homers. The Sox are sixth in hitting at .268 but have 64 more runs and 36 more home runs than Kansas City. They also have one of the hottest hitters in the game in Frank Thomas, hitting .321 with 29 homers and 93 RBIs.
“Timely hitting will be the difference,” Raines said. “We haven’t done that in recent games, but we have to do it in the next four.”
Fielding: Only one point separates the teams in fielding percentage, with the Royals at .983 to .982 for the Sox. After winning a Gold Glove in Pittsburgh last year, Lind has solidified the Royals’ infield; he has commtted only two errors. Gagne has 10 errors at short, and he’s batting .286, 37 points above his career mark.
Starting pitching: The Royals, with a 4.19 team earned-run average, will throw four right-handers at the Sox: Appier, Cone, Hipolito Pichardo and Tom Gordon. The Sox have a 48-30 record when a right-hander starts, 14-21 vs. lefties. The Sox team ERA of 4.07 ranks second in the AL. They’ll counter with 18-game winner McDowell, rookie Jason Bere, Fernandez and Tim Belcher, coming off his two-hitter against the A’s.
“Our pitching rotation is how we like it,” Sox manager Gene Lamont said. “I’m sure they feel the same way.”
Relief pitching: Thanks to closer Jeff Montgomery, the Royals are 47-0 when leading after eight innings; the Sox are 51-4. The Royals haven’t lost a lead in the ninth in 127 consecutive games dating back to Aug. 25, 1991.
Montgomery, with 35 saves and a 1.69 ERA, has succeeded in his last 24 save opportunities. Sox closer Roberto Hernandez has 24 saves in 28 opportunities, and Donn Pall has a 2.73 ERA in middle relief.
Managers: Lamont and the Royals’ Hal McRae are in their first pennant races as managers. McRae’s celebrated postgame tirade early in the season helped wake up the slumbering Royals. Lamont is as laid back as McRae is fiery, but Lamont is capable of showing emotion when riled, as he proved last week during the tussle in Texas.
