Fourteen and Counting

After watching his team lose for their fourteenth straight game (by a fitting score of 14-2 to the visiting Red Sox), White Sox manager Mickey Mouse told reporters, “You know, we battled” against Boston starter Tanner Houck, who had a no-hitter through five. We must’ve been watching different games. How does scoring two runs on four hits and a walk constitute battling in any sense of the term? How does giving up fourteen runs—all earned—on 24 hits constitute battling in any sense of the term? Mouse has to be kidding, some combination of himself, reporters and fans. The Sox are 1-17 in their last eighteen games. That’s a direct reflection on Mouse, who is a direct reflection on owner Jerry Reinsdorf. Things are so bad as to be exciting.