Talk is Cheap

The White Sox got to see what it’s like to be the Tigers last night, giving up ten runs to the Astros in the bottom of the sixth inning of what had been a 3-3 tie. Final score, Houston 13 Chicago 3. At the center of the debacle was Sox purported ace Lucas Giolito, who gave up runs both early (three in the first two) and sort of late (five in the sixth). “Didn’t execute pitches at all,” Giolito told reporters after the game. “That’s really it.” And let’s not forget this gem from purported manager Tony La Russa: “Once it got away, it got away.” [both comments in today’s Sun-Times] Ya think? But fear not, Sox fans. Giolito said on the team website he has “confidence in myself, so I need to keep grinding. I felt like with the mechanical stuff, today was a step in the right direction. When it comes to actually pitching and executing, I need to be better." Otherwise, you’re just deluding yourself, Lucas. Giolito’s ERA now stands at a hefty 4.78. All this time, I thought he was supposed to be thriving under the New-Age approach of new pitching coach Ethan Katz, who employs whispers, analytics, velocity belts and whatnot to get results. Maybe the new boss isn’t all that different from the old boss, after all. If the Sox split the next two games, there’s your fig leaf. If they drop all three, heaven help La Russa. It’ll be the homestand from hell for him and anyone who turns in a performance like Giolito did.