Sox Machine: Chicago White Sox blog

A.J. knocked down; Getz sent down; Richard keeping it down

One day after capturing the hearts of the nation by stealing an obstruction call, A.J. Pierzynski had a night he'd like to forget.

In the continuation of the suspended April 28 game, Pierzynski botched two bunt attempts with a runner on first before striking out on a pitch in the dirt.  It's like the game never stopped for Pierzynski -- he was 0-for-6 with six stranded before the rains came, and with his only at-bat, pushed it to 0-for-7 with seven left on base.

He didn't have much better luck in the nightcap.  He was denied a hit-by-pitch in his second at-bat when home plate umpire Bill Welke ruled the pitch hit the knob of A.J.'s bat and not his hand, and he ended up grounding to short. 

In his final time up, Pierzynski had a chance to provide Bobby Jenks a key insurance run, and instead tapped into a 4-3 inning-ending double play, giving him a total line from both games completed Monday night:

0-for-12, 12 LOB.

I'm sure he'll get plenty of sympathy.

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After the Sox dropped the suspended game, the Sox also dropped Chris Getz from the 25-man roster, calling up Lance Broadway in case Clayton Richard needed a tandem starter.  Fortunately, Richard lasted six innings once again.

It won't be long before Getz returns, but the 10-day waiting period for recalling a player from the minors will eliminate him from playoff roster consideration should the Sox have a playoff roster to consider.

(That's barring usage of the Francisco Rodriguez loophole, but that seems more likely for a guy like Aaron Poreda.)

Getz made the most of his cup of coffee, proving Ozzie Guillen right when he said about the rookie second baseman, "I like the way he does stuff."  There are still plenty of unknowns -- he only got seven at-bats and played second base, not getting a chance to showcase any possible utilityman skills.

He had a hit apiece against a lefty and a righty, struck out only once in seven at-bats, came through in his only chance with runners in scoring position and successfully stole a base in a clutch late-inning situation, which was his only attempt on the basepaths.  As far as first impressions go, Getz didn't make any mistakes in his first go-around.

Joe Crede was also called up before the first game as Dewayne Wise headed to the disabled list.  Crede quickly resumed his popping-up ways, but his defense more than made up for it in the second game.

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We may not see much more of Clayton Richard this year as the Sox shift into four-man rotation mode, but he's making a case to stick around with two wins in his last two starts.

Richard may not be any great shakes, but he has one more win than any of the Sox's fifth starters -- Danny Wright, Josh Stewart, Neal Cotts and Mike Porzio -- did in 2003, the last time the Sox and Twins went head-to-head in September, forcing the Sox to shed a starter in the final month.

I can't say I'll have much confidence when he takes the mound for the foreseeable future, especially with that pickoff move  It's 12 kinds of awful, and when he tried extra-hard to make it effective Monday night, he ended up balking.

Still, there are signs he's learning.  While his line was worse Monday night (3 ER in 6 IP) compared to his previous start (0 R in 6 IP), he was far more effective in hitting his spots.  Check out the charts, one from Aug. 19 and one from Monday:




Not surprisingly, Richard ratcheted down his fastball Monday night, losing one full mile per hour off it, and he did a much better job of keeping it down, holding the Orioles to one extra-base hit.  If Brian Anderson were playing center instead of Ken Griffey Jr., it's possible Richard might've been able to throw another six scoreless innings.  Alas.

He still has a ways to go to develop his stuff -- after all, he started the year as a mere honorable mention in Birmingham's rotation -- but he's making small strides in the meantime.  That's great to see, because if something should happen to the four horses the Sox take into the final month, it's nice to know they won't be completely screwed.

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Minor league roundup:

• Norfolk 4, Charlotte 1 (8 innings)
• Charlie Haeger did Charlie Haeger things, going the distance in defeat, allowing four runs on six hits and three walks, striking out four.
• Josh Fields and Javier Colina each had two hits.
• Royce Huffman hit a solo homer for the Knights' only run.
• Jacksonville 9, Birmingham 8 (10 innings)
• Brandon Allen hit a two-run homer.
• Stefan Gartrell went 3-for-5 with a double, homer and two RBI.
• Robert Hudson also had three hits, including a double.
• Justin Cassell allowed five runs over five innings, but four were unearned.
• Jon Link blew his seventh save, allowing three runs in an inning.   He's in a bit of a rut.
  
• Kinston 8, Winston-Salem 5
• John Shelby went 3-for-4 with a triple and two RBI.
• Salvador Sanchez and Brett Bonvechio had two hits apiece.
• Michael Dubee threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings; everybody else was scored upon.
• Pulaski 8, Bristol 2
• Brandon Short doubled twice and drove in both runs.
• A day after his cycle, Andrew Garcia went 2-for-4.
• Steven Upchurch suffered his first rough outing, giving up three homers over 4 1/3 innings, leading to seven runs.
• Helena 2, Great Falls 0
• Kevin Skogley struck out eight over eight shutout innings, only allowing four hits and a walk.
• Mike Grace had the Voyagers' lone hit, a double.
  
• Kannapolis vs. Greenville PPD