Your Chicago White Sox

The White Sox were 31-33 heading into last night’s game against the Nationals.  Keeping in mind that the team hasn’t finished above .500 since 2012, that might seem an encouraging mark, but I doubt it.  Why?  Because Sox GM Rick Hahn just doesn’t care.

 

If he did, why would 32-year old Odrisamer Despaigne have gotten the start?  After the loss (more on that shortly), Despaigne has a career mark of 13-25 with a 4.93 ERA.  But, hey, he only gave up three runs in six innings.  Not that Rick Hahn cares.

 

If he did, how come the Sox managed only four hits and a walk off of Anibal Sanchez, who came into the game at 1-6 with a 4.19 ERA?  Sanchez throws junk, which means hitters have to wait him out, make him throw strikes and look for a particular pitch to drive.  That was too much to expect of Sox hitters, but then again, they may just have been doing as the hitting coach tells them, and Todd Steverson doesn’t seem to have much to say, or teach.  Exhibit A: Eloy Jimenez.

 

Take away the 2013 draft—based on a plus-.500 finish in 2012—and this year’s, the Sox still have had five drafts where losing records put them in a good position to net talent.  Yet Odrisamer Despaigne had to be signed as a free agent to plug a gap in the rotation.  Where are the talented minor-league starters?  Oh, that’s right, either they’re recovering from Tommy John surgery (Michael Kopech and Dane Dunning), or Hahn doesn’t want to bring him up.  You know who you are, Dylan Cease.

 

The Sox were down 3-1 going into the seventh, but the final score was 12-1.  What kind of relievers do the Sox have?  Consider the ERAs of three of the relievers from last night: 5.14; 6.20; and 9.64.  Somebody with a 2.16 ERA also pitched, but, trust me, the more he pitches, the higher that ERA will go.  Consider his career 1.37 WHIP and the fact he felt compelled to walk a batter before giving up a grand slam to Kurt Suzuki.  What Red Sox fans say about Bucky Dent we could about Suzuki.  Not that manager Rick Renteria or pitching coach Don Cooper would share that information with Juan Minaya.

Or Rick Hahn would care.