MLB Team Report – Chicago White Sox – INSIDE PITCH
CHICAGO — There are days the streaky White Sox look like contenders.
Then there are stretches like the four losses in five games heading into this week’s All-Star break that leaves Chicago looking like anything but.
The White Sox flirted with .500 much of the season and their current 45-50 mark is eight wins better than at last year’s break and six ahead of their pace after 95 games (39-56) in 2013.
Credit rookie Jose Abreu and left-handed pitcher Chris Sale for much of improvement and overachievement for a South Side team that lost 99 games last year.
Abreu, a 27-year-old first baseman from Cuba, tops the majors with 29 home runs and has twice been named American League rookie of the month and was also AL Player of the Month once. It’s hard to imagine much White Sox success without him.
Sale’s 8-1 record trails only Jose Contreras’ 9-0 first half record in 2006 among best starts in White Sox history. Sale has a 2.08 ERA through 14 starts and has struck out 102 while walking just 16.
Abreu, Sale and shortstop Alexei Ramirez were set to represent the White Sox at this week’s All-Star Game in Minneapolis. Sale was winner of the AL’s Final Vote contest.
Even with Sale, the White Sox rank near the bottom of the American League in ERA (4.17), saves (19) and walks and hits per inning pitched (1.39). And 12 blown saves are tied for third most in the league. Closer Ronald Belisario (3-6) has struggled with a 6.35 ERA and just eight saves in 38 appearances.
Chicago stands 10 1/2 games behind first place Detroit, which seems poised to run away with the division in the second half.
So the only hopes for postseason lie with a wild card berth. And right now the White Sox are seventh in the wild-card standings, 6 1/2 games behind the co-wild card leading Angels and Mariners.
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MLB Team Report – Chicago White Sox – NOTES, QUOTES
RECORD: 45-51
STREAK: Lost one
FIRST-HALF MVP: 1B Jose Abreu leads the major leagues in home runs (29), is tied for third in RBIs (73) and is 14th in the American League in batting with a .297 average with 94 hits. Even a 14-game stint on the disabled list earlier this season with a sore ankle didn’t slow down the Cuban phenom. Since returning, Abreu has hit .313 with 14 homers and 31 RBIs. His 50 extra base hits came in the second fewest games ever. Honorable mention to All Star left handed ace Chris Sale, the only other White Sox untouchable who has posted an 8-1 record and a 2.08 ERA over 14 starts and 95 innings.
FIRST-HALF GRADE: C — After posting baseball’s third worst record in 2013, manager Robin Ventura’s White Sox overachieved so far this season even with sometimes suspect pitching. In the second half the White Sox can’t afford a falloff by 1B Jose Abreu or LHP Chris Sale or LHP John Danks for that matter if they hope to make a run. And better starting pitching from the rest of the staff plus a more disciplined bullpen are a must.
PIVOTAL POST-BREAK PLAYER: 2B Gordon Beckham has been subject of trade rumors, but if he stays he’ll need to find more consistency at the plate. Beckham is batting just .238 for the season after Sunday’s loss to Cleveland. He’s also had hot spells. Beckham batted 272 in May and June but slumped to .100 in July.
BUY OR SELL: If the White Sox opt to look to next year, they do have some talent a contending team might savor. 1B/DH Adam Dunn has never been in the playoffs and his big left-handed bat could be a welcome addition. 2B Gordon Beckham has also been subject of rumors while SS Alexei Ramirez has also been mentioned as a trade prospect despite a sore back and with prospect Carlos Sanchez is waiting in the wings. LHP John Danks is 5-2 with a 2.69 ERA through his last 10 starts. But 1B Jose Abreu and LHP Chris Sale aren’t going anywhere and published reports indicate RHP Jose Quintana and RF Avisail Garcia aren’t either.
INJURY STATUS: INF Alexei Ramirez left a July 12 in Cleveland with an unspecified injury and did not play July 13. But he’s expected to play in the July 15 All-Star Game after his election by players. Matt Lindstrom remains on the 15-day disabled list with an ankle injury but he threw a 30-pitch bullpen session and performed some defensive drills July 12. He’s been on the disabled list since May 20 with a torn left ankle sheath.
TOP PROSPECT: Top prospects in the pipeline include SS Carlos Sanchez, who was called up from Triple-A Charlotte on July 13 and started in place of INF Alexei Ramirez, who has struggled recently with a sore back. Sanchez was hitting .291 with 12 stolen bases with Charlotte and ranked by Baseball America in 2013 as the No. 3 prospect. 3B Matt Davidson, a power hitter with 17 home runs and 38 RBIs in 86 games in Charlotte, was acquired by the White Sox in exchange for Addison Reed. Speedy 2B Micah Johnson has made a quick rise from Double-A Birmingham to Triple-A Charlotte this year where he has a .297 average and six stolen bases in 38 games.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “I would like it to be better. We’ve had spurts where we play well and spurts where we didn’t play that well. We’ve had a lot of games that we could have won that we didn’t win. You wish you were in a better spot. You just come back and clean that stuff up.” — White Sox manager Robin Ventura
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MLB Team Report – Chicago White Sox – ROSTER REPORT
MEDICAL WATCH:
–RHP Matt Lindstrom (subluxed left ankle tendon) went on the 15-day disabled list May 20. He underwent surgery May 23. He was playing catch without wearing a walking boot in late June. He might be able to return in late August.
–RHP Felipe Paulino (right rotator cuff inflammation) went on the 15-day disabled list April 19. He was throwing bullpen sessions in late April. He began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte on May 3. Paulino was pulled from his rehab assignment May 27 due to shoulder soreness.
–RHP Nate Jones (nerve issue in back) went on the 15-day disabled list April 4, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on May 3. He underwent surgery May 5. As of June 10, he was playing catch, throwing from about 70 feet. He was still doing light throwing in early July, though not off a mound. He might be able to return in late July or early August.
–OF Avisail Garcia (torn labrum in left shoulder) was put on the 15-day disabled list April 10, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on April 27. He underwent surgery April 15. He started doing minimal doing baseball-related activities June 13, and he took on-field batting practice for the first time July 7. There is a chance he could return to action this year.
ROTATION:
LHP Chris Sale
LHP Jose Quintana
LHP John Danks
RHP Scott Carroll
RHP Hector Noesi
BULLPEN:
RHP Ronald Belisario
RHP Daniel Webb
RHP Zack Putnam
RHP Jake Petricka
RHP Javy Guerra
LHP Eric Surkamp
CATCHERS:
Tyler Flowers
Adrian Nieto
INFIELDERS:
1B Jose Abreu
2B Gordon Beckham
SS Alexei Ramirez
3B Conor Gillaspie
INF Paul Konerko
INF Leury Garcia
INF Carlos Sanchez
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Alejandro De Aza
CF Adam Eaton
RF Dayan Viciedo
DH Adam Dunn
OF Moises Sierra
