Thursday, September 14, 2006 - Posts

Mighty Mac

Here's a fun game.  The following lines represent two Sox relievers performances since July 24:


G
IP
H
ER
BB
K
Pitcher A
21
22.1
24
12
11
19
Pitcher B
20
22.2
18
3
3
18

Pitcher A closed out the final game of the World Series, made the All-Star team and became the third White Sox to save 40 games in a season.  Pitcher B was picked up halfway through the season for a couple of minor-league arms. 

Mike MacDougal underwent an MRI on his right shoulder, which explains why he was missing when Bobby Jenks was forced to pitch a second inning with only a 92-m.p.h. fastball.  That didn't work out so well. 

At this point, it could be touch-and-go for Mac the Eighth until the end of the season.  It's what we came to expect, given his injury history.

On the other hand, his performance has far exceeded my expectations, and I was optimistic about the trade.  I thought he might be be a strikeout-per-inning, 3.00-ERA kind of guy, which would've been immensely valuable in and of itself. 

He's been a season-saver.  Now, I actively avoid hyperbole, but I don't think that's overstating how MacDougal has helped the Sox.  Don't just consider what he's done on the mound.  Also consider who Ozzie might've installed in the bullpen had MacDougal never shown up.  Then he becomes even more important.

Now that I think about it, who exactly would be occupying MacDougal's space had Kenny never dealt for him?  Some combination of Sean Tracey, Dustin Hermanson, Charlie Haeger, and Agustin Mont- BAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRF!

Sorry about that.   But when you have to pick between a guy who can't find the plate or a batter's ass, a guy with a balky back, a rookie knuckleballer and a rookie 29-year-old, and he joins a guy who's a homer waiting to happen (Brandon McCarthy), a guy who's starting to pitch as unimpressively as he looks (David Riske) and a flamethrower without a flame (Jenks), it's quite nauseating.

Since MacDougal's acquisition, all the other Sox right-handers have posted a composite 4.73 ERA with a 1.48 WHIP.  They've been even worse in September, with a 9.19 ERA and 2.36 WHIP.  Fortunately, MacDougal's been his best this month, throwing 6 1/3 innings of scoreless ball.  That kind of contribution is hard to top, especially in a pennant race in which the Sox are the ones needing to make up ground. 

I'd like to think I'm not writing his eulogy already, because the Sox have had pitchers check up all right with trainers, only to see them check out pitches, days, weeks later.  Hopefully, this is merely an appreciation for one Sox who's always answered the call during the stretch run.
posted Thursday, September 14, 2006 11:54 PM by Jim with 2 Comments

Bum rush



Above is the list of the White Sox's candidates for ESPN.com's "Hometown Bums," the counterpart to MLB's piece of marketing known as "Hometown Heroes."

There really isn't much of a reason to debate the White Sox's "Hometown Heroes" list, because the conversation begins and ends with Frank Thomas.  Luke Appling, Harold Baines, Nellie Fox and Minnie Minoso all were fine players, but come on. 

This list is a lot more interesting, even though Chick Gandil wins this one easily.  Charles Comiskey was cheap, Albert Belle set some records and then blessed us by leaving, Terry Bevington was a dolt and at least Jerry Dybzinski was running hard, even if it was towards an occupied third base.  Hell, A.J. Pierzynski has done that this year.  So none of them can really hold a candle to the guy who organized the Black Sox scandal.

I do think this list can be filled out better, though.  Here are some ideas to give Gandil a little more competition:
  • David Wells.  Belle was a jerk, but at least he produced.  The Sox paid Wells $9.2 million, and let's just say he wasn't worth it.  The fat sack of crap pitched only 100 innings before pulling his flabby back, and ripped Frank Thomas for not playing through a torn triceps muscle.  After winning five games for the Sox, he averages over 15 wins the next four years.
  • Jaime Navarro.  In his two years with the Cubs: 29-18, 3.62 ERA.  In his three years with the Sox: 25-43, 6.06 ERA.  Total earnings for the Cubs: $4.9 million.  Total earnings for the Sox: $15 million.
  • Sammy Sosa.  He showed flashes of talent, but his otherwise abhorrent play made him expendable.  He had the sub-.300 OBP, the 1:5 BB-to-K ratio, the unspectacular basestealing, and then he was charged with throwing a rum bottle at his wife.  In other words, he didn't have a lot going for him.  Then the Sox traded him to the Cubs, and he discovered steroids and learned how to mug for the cameras, and we wouldn't stop hearing about how great he was for the next eight years. 
  • Hawk Harrelson.  Fires Tony LaRussa, trades Bobby Bonilla, and that was it.  In one year as general manager, he might've set the Sox back five.
posted Thursday, September 14, 2006 12:38 AM by Jim with 0 Comments