Trial by Fire

Another game, another loss, this one 6-4 to the Orioles because Michael Kopech can’t be expected to control the count. The White Sox record now stands at 15-37, the worst-ever start in franchise history. It also equals the ’62 Mets 52 games into the season. All I have going for me right now is stopped-clock optimism. Ex-GM Rick Hahn got so much wrong (Andrew Benintendi and his .183 BA, for example), but he seems to have gotten it right with catchers Korey Lee and Edgar Quero, currently driving in a ton of runs at Double-A Birmingham. Hahn also seems to have saved his best draft for last. Speaking of stopped clocks, there‘s current-GM Chris Getz, who’s swung and missed on Robbie Grossman (assuming the Rangers didn’t part with a sleeper of a minor-league pitcher); Kevin Pillar; Dominic Leone; and Brad Keller, to name a few. But at least in trading away Dylan Cease, Getz seems to have gotten back an intriguing prospect in 23-year old starter Drew Thorpe, who’s 7-1 with a 1.50 ERA for Birmingham. There I go talking about the minor leagues again. But like I said, this is all I’ve got to keep me off the ledge. Shortstop Jacob Gonzalez has gone 9-for-19 since his promotion while shortstop-to-second-baseman Brooks Baldwin—switch-hitter, switch-hitter!—is hitting .362. All of which leads to the question— How long until players get promoted and/or released?