AL Central Update
By Tom Brew
Inspin
Contributing Writer
The red flags were small, like tiny little sprinkler markers, but they were small red flags all the same.
There’s been no major panic on the South Side of Chicago, but there’s certainly been some reason for concern. In the last month or so, the White Sox’s stellar starting rotation has been anything but overpowering. The group that directly led the White Sox to their first World Series title since 1917 last fall hasn’t been zipping through the league anymore.
But as the All-Star break nears, there seems to be some bright spots shining through the gloom and doom. Two critical starters at the front and back of the rotation, Jose Contreras and Jon Garland, seemed to have figured some things out. If the rest of the rotation can do the same in the second half, then bet on the White Sox getting back to the World Series.
Here’s some interesting facts about Chicago’s five starters:
JOSE CONTRERAS: Lost in his 9-0 start and a winning streak that nearly stretches a full calendar year is that Contreras has been giving up a lot of runs. Prior to his 6 2/3 innings of scoreless ball Tuesday against the Orioles, Contreras had given up three runs or more in six consecutive starts, a total of 27 runs in just 37 2/3 innings. Practically unhittable through May 4th, when he went on the disabled list with a bad back, his ERA has soared from 1.41 to 3.31.
FREDDY GARCIA: With the exception of a four-hit, eight-inning shutout of the Cardinals on June 22, Garcia has allowed three runs or more in all seven of his other starts. He has given up 34 runs in 43 1/3 innings in those seven starts. He also has given up 14 homers in that stretch.
JAVIER VAZQUEZ: Vazquez has given up three runs or more in five of his past six starts and has given up 30 earned runs in those six starts over 36 innings. His ERA has gone from 3.56 to 5.15. He has given up 56 hits in those 36 innings.
MARK BUERHLE: Buehrle has been the steadiest of White Sox starters, allowing two earned runs or fewer in 11 of his 17 starts. But what’s been disturbing, especially if you’re looking ahead to the playoffs where one start is all you get, is that Buerhle has been absolutely rocked on four occasions, giving up six runs or more. Minnesota tagged him for seven runs in the first inning in May, and the Cubs tagged him for 11 runs and 13 hits over five innings last Sunday. There are days when he just doesn’t have it.
JON GARLAND: Garland has turned around his season with four straight wins, all in impressive fashion. Prior to that, he had an ERA over 6.00 and was in danger of losing his spot in the rotation. Things have gotten better for him, and that’s good for everyone. He’s keeping the ball down again, and he’s been tough to hit.
Pitching coach Don Cooper deserves a lot of credit for getting Garland turned around, and he seems to have put Contreras back in his place too.
Cooper corrected a flaw in Contreras' delivery, and it led the shutout Tuesday against Baltimore. "He was playing around with too many arm angles," Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "Coop got him to throw from just the two angles and stay with it."
Getting things fixed is critical. The White Sox still trail Detroit, and you know the Yankees and Red Sox will hang around all year to fight for a wild-card spot with the White Sox if that’s all that’s left.
"We have a tough schedule ahead of us," said Guillen, who team faces the Red Sox this weekend befor the All-Star break. "That's why these guys have to dig in and play all the way to the end. Just don't say because you have a few days off you can relax. We're still in the pennant race behind Detroit, and they know it. We have to come out and win and not worry about the rest of the league."
Contreras was more satisfied Tuesday with regaining his pinpoint control than winning his 17th straight decision, tying him with Minnesota's Johan Santana (2004-05) for the second-longest streak since 1986 (behind Roger Clemens' 20-game streak from 1998 to 1999).
Contreras reverted to using overhand and sidearm deliveries after toying with a three-quarter angle that made him less dominant against batters.
"That was the old Jose Contreras, before his past few outings," catcher A.J. Pierzynski said, referring to his 5.31 ERA after coming off the DL on May 21. "He's back to dropping down and doing it with authority and not being caught in between."
And for the seventh time in his 23 starts during the streak, Contreras didn't walk a batter.
"Night and day," first baseman Paul Konerko said of Contreras' control transformation. "Everyone always saw it. When it wasn't clicking, no one knew why.’’
Same with Garland, who was an All-Star this time last year and seems to be rounding into form again. He pitched great Wednesday night in a 4-2 win over Baltimore
"Of all his starts, this was the best one," Guillen said. "Hegot a lot of ground balls. If Jon throws strikes from the start, he's goingto be tough because his sinker affects the hitters and he can work in different ways."
VERLANDER STILL LEARNING: Everyone seems to be impressed with the start of Tigers rookie right-hander Justin Verlander.
Everyone, that is, but Verlander himself.
“I think I can do better," he said Wednesday. “I think I could have given our team a better chance to win a couple of starts."
Verlander might have trouble getting a second for his opinion. He has a 10-4 record and a 3.01 ERA, best among American League right-handers. In 17 starts, he's made 12 quality starts (at least six innings, no more than three earned runs).
Verlander accepts that he won't have his best stuff in every start – but only to a point.
"I'm not saying I'm a great one, but in the history of baseball, the great ones still gave their team a chance to win when they didn't have their good stuff," he said. "That's what I need to do. When you get your team into the late innings without your best stuff, that's baseball. That's pitching."
By Tom Brew
Inspin
Contributing Writer
The red flags were small, like tiny little sprinkler markers, but they were small red flags all the same.
There’s been no major panic on the South Side of Chicago, but there’s certainly been some reason for concern. In the last month or so, the White Sox’s stellar starting rotation has been anything but overpowering. The group that directly led the White Sox to their first World Series title since 1917 last fall hasn’t been zipping through the league anymore.
But as the All-Star break nears, there seems to be some bright spots shining through the gloom and doom. Two critical starters at the front and back of the rotation, Jose Contreras and Jon Garland, seemed to have figured some things out. If the rest of the rotation can do the same in the second half, then bet on the White Sox getting back to the World Series.
Here’s some interesting facts about Chicago’s five starters:
JOSE CONTRERAS: Lost in his 9-0 start and a winning streak that nearly stretches a full calendar year is that Contreras has been giving up a lot of runs. Prior to his 6 2/3 innings of scoreless ball Tuesday against the Orioles, Contreras had given up three runs or more in six consecutive starts, a total of 27 runs in just 37 2/3 innings. Practically unhittable through May 4th, when he went on the disabled list with a bad back, his ERA has soared from 1.41 to 3.31.
FREDDY GARCIA: With the exception of a four-hit, eight-inning shutout of the Cardinals on June 22, Garcia has allowed three runs or more in all seven of his other starts. He has given up 34 runs in 43 1/3 innings in those seven starts. He also has given up 14 homers in that stretch.
JAVIER VAZQUEZ: Vazquez has given up three runs or more in five of his past six starts and has given up 30 earned runs in those six starts over 36 innings. His ERA has gone from 3.56 to 5.15. He has given up 56 hits in those 36 innings.
MARK BUERHLE: Buehrle has been the steadiest of White Sox starters, allowing two earned runs or fewer in 11 of his 17 starts. But what’s been disturbing, especially if you’re looking ahead to the playoffs where one start is all you get, is that Buerhle has been absolutely rocked on four occasions, giving up six runs or more. Minnesota tagged him for seven runs in the first inning in May, and the Cubs tagged him for 11 runs and 13 hits over five innings last Sunday. There are days when he just doesn’t have it.
JON GARLAND: Garland has turned around his season with four straight wins, all in impressive fashion. Prior to that, he had an ERA over 6.00 and was in danger of losing his spot in the rotation. Things have gotten better for him, and that’s good for everyone. He’s keeping the ball down again, and he’s been tough to hit.
Pitching coach Don Cooper deserves a lot of credit for getting Garland turned around, and he seems to have put Contreras back in his place too.
Cooper corrected a flaw in Contreras' delivery, and it led the shutout Tuesday against Baltimore. "He was playing around with too many arm angles," Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "Coop got him to throw from just the two angles and stay with it."
Getting things fixed is critical. The White Sox still trail Detroit, and you know the Yankees and Red Sox will hang around all year to fight for a wild-card spot with the White Sox if that’s all that’s left.
"We have a tough schedule ahead of us," said Guillen, who team faces the Red Sox this weekend befor the All-Star break. "That's why these guys have to dig in and play all the way to the end. Just don't say because you have a few days off you can relax. We're still in the pennant race behind Detroit, and they know it. We have to come out and win and not worry about the rest of the league."
Contreras was more satisfied Tuesday with regaining his pinpoint control than winning his 17th straight decision, tying him with Minnesota's Johan Santana (2004-05) for the second-longest streak since 1986 (behind Roger Clemens' 20-game streak from 1998 to 1999).
Contreras reverted to using overhand and sidearm deliveries after toying with a three-quarter angle that made him less dominant against batters.
"That was the old Jose Contreras, before his past few outings," catcher A.J. Pierzynski said, referring to his 5.31 ERA after coming off the DL on May 21. "He's back to dropping down and doing it with authority and not being caught in between."
And for the seventh time in his 23 starts during the streak, Contreras didn't walk a batter.
"Night and day," first baseman Paul Konerko said of Contreras' control transformation. "Everyone always saw it. When it wasn't clicking, no one knew why.’’
Same with Garland, who was an All-Star this time last year and seems to be rounding into form again. He pitched great Wednesday night in a 4-2 win over Baltimore
"Of all his starts, this was the best one," Guillen said. "Hegot a lot of ground balls. If Jon throws strikes from the start, he's goingto be tough because his sinker affects the hitters and he can work in different ways."
VERLANDER STILL LEARNING: Everyone seems to be impressed with the start of Tigers rookie right-hander Justin Verlander.
Everyone, that is, but Verlander himself.
“I think I can do better," he said Wednesday. “I think I could have given our team a better chance to win a couple of starts."
Verlander might have trouble getting a second for his opinion. He has a 10-4 record and a 3.01 ERA, best among American League right-handers. In 17 starts, he's made 12 quality starts (at least six innings, no more than three earned runs).
Verlander accepts that he won't have his best stuff in every start – but only to a point.
"I'm not saying I'm a great one, but in the history of baseball, the great ones still gave their team a chance to win when they didn't have their good stuff," he said. "That's what I need to do. When you get your team into the late innings without your best stuff, that's baseball. That's pitching."
