Trying? No, but Trying

Say this for White Sox manager Mickey Mouse—he can see that things aren’t working. He’s just clueless how to fix them. Speaking to reporters after a second straight humiliating loss, this one 12-4, to the worst—for now—team in baseball, Mouse said, “The whole thing is frustrating. We’ve got to get better. That’s plain and simple,” offered Mouse. If only he had stopped there, but, No, that instinctive need to circle the wagons and protect his players took over. Which must’ve been why Mouse was compelled to add, “It’s not for lack of trying. These guys are out there doing their work. We’ve just got to get better. There’s no excuses. It’s not Major League Baseball. We’ve got to tighten up.” Let me note in passing that saying his “guys are out there doing their work” qualifies as an excuse. But let’s say I’m wrong. Then it becomes a mystery verging on the profound how Sox pitching can give up twenty runs in two games to the worst-hitting team in baseball (as defined by runs scored and BA). Calling Dylan Cease. Per his custom lately, Cease failed to get out of the fifth inning, departing after giving up eight runs, seven earned, on nine hits and five walks. Nick Allen, Oakland’s number-nine hitter, touched Cease for three hits. Allen had four on the night, along with five RBIs, the first time in A’s franchise history that a nine-hitter had been that productive. Oh, and Allen entered the game batting a robust .195. Wait, there’s more. Thirty-four-year old Zach Neal started for Oakland and picked up his third career win; Neal came into the game with an 8.25 ERA. Sox hitters touched him for four runs, two earned, after which thirty-year old Sean Newcomb made his second appearance of the season. Newcomb threw two scoreless innings, leaving Francisco Perez to hurl another two shutout innings. Perez entered the game with an 8.53 ERA, BTW. So, let me ask: This is trying? I’d hate to see what mailing it in would look like.