Orioles 9, White Sox 3: Lucas Giolito loses control again

Followed-from work bullet-point recap:

*Lucas Giolito once again lost the concept of the strike zone and wasted no time making the afternoon a lost cause. He had runners on second and third with two outs after Yolmer Sanchez caught Adam Jones off third base, but Giolito immediately negated that break by walking three consecutive batters to bring home two runs. Chance Sisco singled two more home before the inning ended to give Baltimore a 4-0 lead.

*The Orioles didn’t need to score more, because Dylan Bundy went the distance for his second career complete game. He struck out 14 while allowing just two hits and a walk. The White Sox just happened to maximize their lone opportunity because Jose Rondon hit a three-run shot, which only cut down the deficit to 9-3. After that, both offenses were content to get this game over with in three hours.

*Giolito only retired one more batter on the day. The second started with back-to-back homers — Adam Engel lost his glove over the fence trying to flag down the first — and after Manny Machado flied out, Giolito allowed a single an HBP before Rick Renteria had seen enough. Chris Beck walked home another run on Giolito’s tab, giving him this final line: 1.1 IP, 6 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 3 BB, 0 K.

*The Sox seemed to play a sharp defensive game behind the pitchers, especially on the left side of the infield. The battery, not so much. Beck put an error on the board by dropping a flip from Jose Abreu while covering first. Omar Narvaez also allowed a mandatory passed ball. At least Brooks Baseball’s zone suggests that he didn’t hurt Giolito when it came to receiving. He didn’t help him, but he didn’t hurt him.

*Charlie Tilson played his first complete game in the majors, going 0-for-3 with a strikeout.

Record: 15-32 | Box score

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35Shields

I think this really has to be the start that sends Giolito back to Charlotte. He’s had nearly a third-of-a-season’s worth of starts to figure out his command and he still has no idea where the ball is going. His velocity is down and his confidence looks destroyed.

At this point we basically get to see whether the Sox prioritize 1) maintaining Giolito’s confidence and development, 2) bringing Rodon back from injury on a normal schedule or 3) saving money by keeping Kopech from Super Two.

PauliePaulie

Volstad and Santiago could just start throwing 5 days a week.

metasox

Sounds like Renteria is expecting that Giolito will continue to work things out with the Sox:
https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/white-sox/white-sox-sent-down-carson-fulmer-so-why-isnt-lucas-giolito-receiving-same-treatment

PauliePaulie

Longenhagen FG chat today:
Sox considering Singer over Madrigal.Sox looking at College guys at #46. Sox were scouting Duke (Griffin Conine and his 25% K rate) today.

sgp2204

I’d happily take Conine in the second round. That being said, I wouldn’t be thrilled with Singer if either Madrigal/Bohm were still on the board.

PauliePaulie

I’ll never understand Hostetler’s obsession with 1 tool College bats. (if they went Conine)

This draft is loaded with High School talent and taking that risk in the second round is the way I’d like them to go.

And yes, Madrigal > Singer.

Lorenzo Barcelo

Rodon just took a ball off the head.  He seems to be ok?

sgp2204

And just as Rodon was doing his best Chris Sale impersonation, he gets hit with a line drive. Awesome

sgp2204

Zack Collins with a bunt single to put him at 3-3 today. OPS is up to .900 on the season. Very impressive.

jorgefabregas

And a stolen base!

asinwreck

He gives ’em up; might as well take one.

sgp2204

He did throw out 39% of runners last year, and he’s at 30% so far this year… Not too shabby… 

Plus, if he can put up an OPS in the MLB even remotely close to what he has now, I don’t care if he ever throws out a baserunner again. 

Trooper Galactus

I don’t think a 30% CS rate in AA is particularly impressive, but maybe I’m just being unreasonable.

sgp2204

Didn’t say it was impressive, but it’s certainly not bad. 

That being said, I’m not sure caught stealing percentages are the best way to judge a catcher. Stolen bases are waaaay more on the pitcher than catcher. 

jorgefabregas

For whatever it’s worth, the latest revision to BP numbers is pretty kind to him. As if he’s pretty much a scratch defensive catcher.

sgp2204

Make it .909 after adding 3 walks to finish off the day perfectly at the plate. And Eloy got the game winning hit. Solid.

asinwreck

It is never good when the appropriate PA music for your appearance comes from Joy Division.

Milky✌️

My fake podcast question: What broke Giolito’s brain?

tommytwonines

Good news/bad news

Good news: Giolito found his release point. 

Bad news: It’s in Brazil. 

Trooper Galactus

What is Giolito’s release point doing in a Terry Gilliam movie?

tommytwonines

 Sooner we find out the better. 

*trots away with the sound of clacking coconuts echoing through the dugout*. 

sgp2204

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a pitcher look off-balanced so frequently. It looks like he loses his footing and is about to fall over on every single pitch. I’d understand if he was off-balanced because he was trying to get some extra velo, but that’s obviously not the case. No idea what he’s working on out there, but it really shouldn’t be that hard to stay balanced. 

PopeDonnPall

To me it looks like a cringe when he knows he made a bad pitch or a hitter put a good swing on it. I noticed it a couple times in spring. The good news at that time was that the hanging breaking balls and hitters taking ripson him was rare. And I remember thinking – that’s not a good habit to get into. Now he does it all the time. He winces. He squats. He hops. It’s just terrible composure, frankly. It gets him in very very bad habits. I hope they are working on that with him.

sgp2204

Cease with another gem tonight, and Dunning with an awfully White Soxy performance, settling in nicely after having no control in the first inning. 

ParisSox

Ha. You know it’s a true rebuild when minor league talk and draft talk dominate the mlb game recap.  

PopeDonnPall

Who do we think are the Sox tradeable/flippable commodities at this point, if the deadline were upon us? Abreu, yes, as has been discussed. And I’d say that’s about if offensively. You could argue Leury if he’s healthy.
Pitching wise, the pen doesn’t look quite ripe for pickin’. Nate could bring back something decent but I don’t think anything elite. Rondon possibly. Soria and Avilan returns I think would be blah. I suspect we won’t see as much wheeling and dealing this time around.

As Cirensica

I am having hard time deciding who is worse, Giolito or Fulmer

The Wimperoo

Fulmer. Next question.

As Cirensica

If you look at their baseball prospectus profiles, there isn’t a clear distinction for 2018, if all, Fulmer seems to be slightly better

Lurker Laura

Overall, Fulmer. This year, it’s a sad tie. But I do believe Giolito has the higher upside, if he can get back to where he was at the end of last season.

As Cirensica

I also would bet on Giolito having the better career, but the fact these comparison is made is kinda sad. Fulmer is a disaster but he strikeout more hitters than Giolito. Striking out hitters is a good indication of probably usability.

Trooper Galactus

I don’t know that Giolito has the higher upside any longer, though I think he might have a higher probability of reaching his potential. I only say that because most of what he’s thrown just looks like the makings of a back end starter more than anything else. Fulmer, on the other hand, would occasionally throw absolutely filthy wipeout stuff, but he just couldn’t do it consistently.

Lurker Laura

I haven’t given up hope on Giolito. Last year’s performance was too solid. I do, however, think he needs to go to Charlotte for awhile. Rodon coming back up would be good timing for it. (Line drives to the forehead not withstanding,)

Also, good job, Tilson, making it through the game healthy. First things first! Get hits in your next one.

oljeto

A 91 mph fastball and no curve are physical problems– not mental. Give him 2 years at AAA to figure it out.

karkovice squad

Last year was a BABIP mirage. He was due for significant regresssion even if he maintained his talent level.

This year isn’t regresssion to mean talent, tho. It’s indicative of a lower current talent level. He ain’t right.

oljeto

Rondon looking solid.  Move Timmy to Center where the pressure is less and his speed can be fully utilized.  We’re playing 8 against 9 right now, given that Black Hole in Center.
Don’t want to trade him.  His personal qualities are a big plus for the team.

Trooper Galactus

People really need to stop suggesting Tim be moved to center field. It isn’t really any easier, he has no real experience to speak of at the position, and if you think he’s bad at shortstop just wait and see what he looks like trying to judge line drives off the bat.

Greg Nix

He’s also NOT bad at shortstop. Solidly average to slightly above by any metric this year.

Trooper Galactus

Yup. I can understand why he doesn’t pass the eye test for a lot of fans, but like I said, if they think he isn’t hacking it at short (and he is), I don’t see how moving him to an unfamiliar and similarly challenging position is going to improve his defensive reputation with them.