Seeing is Believing

Reynaldo Lopez, he of the 4-8 record and 6.34 ERA, vowed to do better the second half of the season, this after giving up seven runs on nine hits in a 11-5 loss to the Tigers yesterday afternoon.  I’m not holding my breath.

What Lopez did not say, what two beat reporters did not mention as well as the Sox TV team, is that our talented, befuddled righty won’t pitch inside to left-handed hitters, of whom Detroit started five; they generated six hits.  It seems pretty clear, to me at least, that Lopez reverts to his fastball as soon as he runs into trouble with his secondary pitches, only he can’t throw his fastball for strikes on a consistent basis; there are way too many 97-mph pitches out of the zone.  Come the fifth or sixth inning, the fastball is down a few mph and very hittable, especially when it’s left on the outside half of the plate to lefties.  Oh, and his in his last start I think, Lopez didn’t leave the mound to cover home on a wild pitch with a runner on third.

The White Sox keep flirting with .500, but general manager Rick Hahn is adamant he won’t make decisions based on a longshot chance at a wildcard spot.  Fine.  That being the case, give Lopez one more start to prove himself.  If he can’t, send him to Charlotte to figure things out.  After all, what’s a rebuild for, if not to see who to keep come the renaissance?