2006 State of the Sox

August 20: Twins 7, White Sox 3

CHICAGO WHITE SOX FORM RECAP

The White Sox failed to gain ground both in the wild card and the division during an important AL Central game against the MINNESOTA TWINS thanks to some lackluster offense and a starting pitcher who couldn’t quell rallies.

JOHAN SANTANA held the Sox to one run over seven innings, with the Sox only scoring on him with a DOUBLE by TADAHITO IGUCHI.  SANTANA scattered SEVEN hits, as the Sox reached base here and there but were not able to put together rallies.  SANTANA won his 15th game of the year.

The Sox starting pitcher, JAVIER VAZQUEZ, had a Jekyll-and-Hyde performance, alternating quick innings with ones where the TWINS racked up hit after hit.  He ran into trouble in the THIRD INNING right after the Sox took the lead, when JASON TYNER reached base by a(n) ERROR BY PAUL KONERKO.  VAZQUEZ came apart after that, allowing three consecutive hits en route to FOUR runs, and the Sox never led again.

The Sox would add TWO runs the rest of game thanks to TWO run-scoring hit(s) by JERMAINE DYE AND JOE CREDE.  Chicago’s wild-card lead is now down to ONE game, and they trail in the division by 5 ½ games.

Record: 73-50 | Box score | Play-by-play

Week in a Box: August 13-19

Given the up-and-down nature of the Sox’s play this past week, it’s going to prove difficult to try to pin down who was the best, and who was the worst.  We’ll give it a shot. 

Player of the Week: Jon Garland.  I couldn’t find one offensive player who didn’t have a hand in any of the Sox’s disappointments this week, but I found a pitcher who fits the bill.

Player of the Weak:  Joe Crede.  Everybody had a fairly average week at the plate except for Crede, who went 3-for-26 this week.  

Pitcher of the Week:  Jon Garland.  Two starts, two runs, two wins. 

Pitcher of the Weak:  Jose Contreras and Freddy Garcia.  Contreras had an inexplicable meltdown against the Twins, and Freddy gets in on the action thanks to his attitude.

Fireman of the Week:  David Riske.  Matt Thornton was the only pitcher to not allow a run, but he only pitched 1-1/3 innings.  Riske allowed one run in 4-1/3 innings, including 2-2/3 innings of shutout ball against Kansas City. 

Gas Can of the Week:  Neal Cotts.  For the second straight week, Neal grabs this one.  Justin Morneau’s bloop single was excusable, but three runs in less than an inning against Kansas City isn’t.

Super Sub of the Week:  Alex Cintron.  Had his highs and lows, but he drove in seven runs in his two starts with two bases-clearing hits.

Super Scrub of the Week:  Nobody.  Every Sox sub had his moments this week; even Sandy Alomar Jr.

Gold Glove:  Joe Crede.  Diving stab against Minnesota.  Diving stab against Minnesota.  Game-ending 5-3 double play against Kansas City.  No errors.

Hands of Stone:  You make the call.  Seriously, I have no idea who to pick.  Rob Mackowiak played two balls into doubles; Jermaine Dye dropped a ball, leading to a run; Alex Cintron didn’t run after a pop-up, leading to a three-run homer; Tadahito Iguchi had a couple of errors; Brian Anderson even had his first major-league error, although it came a day after his hustle preserved a victory against Kansas City.