Don't blame the bullpen for the offense

OK, gang, let’s make a pact: The next time Hawk Harrelson says an offense is only as good as its bullpen, somebody strangle him.
Scott Linebrink and Randy Williams aside, the White Sox bullpen did everything one could reasonably expect to win a game on Friday night. Four innings of one-run ball is perfectly acceptable, and some might give Tony Pena a scoreless 11th as well, considering everybody but the umpire thought he struck out J.J. Hardy.
I have to work early tomorrow, but here’s a prediction.  Combining the following elements…
*Over the last three games, the White Sox offense has scored just two runs over 14 innings of opponents’ relief pitching, and the “hitters” have looked the part.
*Tony Pena was “forced” to throw 59 pitches over three innings because Ozzie Guillen is afraid to use J.J. Putz in consecutive games.
*Matt Thornton has appeared in all four games so far.
*Randy Williams has to face multiple batters in three straight games.
…and I think we’re going to be saying goodbye to Jayson Nix, and hello to Erick Threets.
If the Sox offense were better, this year’s bullpen would be fine.  If the bullpen were any better, the Sox would still be tied at 3 with Cleveland.
Cut it out, Hawk.
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Minor league roundup (The Nuts Don’t Fall Far From The Tree Edition):

  • Charlotte 3, Gwinnett 1
    • Carlos Torres struck out eight over six scoreless innings .He allowed a walk and four hits.
    • Clevelan Santeliz was inconsistent, allowing two hits and two walks and striking out two over two innings. He gave up the lone run.
    • Tyler Flowers went 2-for-4 with a double and a K; Jordan Danks went 2-for-5 with a double and three strikeouts.
    • Dayan Viciedo doubled and struck out; C.J. Retherford drew two walks.
  • Carolina 11, Birmingham 3
    • Starter Jhonny Nunez gave up five runs on eight hits and a walk over four innings. He struck out four.
    • Brent Morel went 1-for-4 with a double.
    • Cole Armstrong hit a solo homer.
  • Kinston 5, Winston-Salem 0
    • Starter Nathan Jones struck out five over 4 2/3 innigs, but gave up three runs (one earned) on six hits and two walks.
    • Hector Santiago went four up, four down, striking out three.
    • Santos Rodriguez walked two and struck out two over a scoreless inning.
    • Jon Gilmore went 1-for-3 with a walk.
  • Rome 4, Kannapolis 0 (Game 1, 7 innings)
    • Miguel Gonzalez went 1-for-3.
    • Kyle Colligan went 0-for-1 with a walk and an HBP.
    • The other college OFs wish they were plunked. Both Brady Shoemaker and Nick Ciolli went 0-for-3, with Ciolli striking out three times.
    • Ryan Buch struck out one in a scoreless inning of work, allowing a hit.
  • Rome 1, Kannapolis 0 (Game 2, 7 innings)
    • Colligan’s double was the only hit.
    • Ciolli and Juan Silverio struck out two times in three at-bats apiece.
    • Shoemaker drew a walk.
    • Kyle Bellamy struck out one in a perfect inning.
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bigfun

Jim – just got back from the game and you are dead on. They are who we thought they were.
Also Pierre and Vizquel have some kind of wager about who can make the most deflating, sad, rally-killing outs. Any chance Ozzie will start playing Vizquel less and batting Rios leadoff?

mechanicalturk

Ozzie may be pushing for a 13th reliever because his offense can’t get it done, but in this instance I’m hoping we can trust Kenny to see the real problem. He already let Ozzie forgo a real DH, and we know he’s wary of the offense. I’m hoping he stops Ozzie from adding another pitcher and maybe trades for Cust now that he’s cleared waivers. (Yeah, we all know it won’t happen because Ozzie isn’t ready to give up on the three horsemen of the apocalypse, but if he’s not going to play Nix when his teams have back-to-back 11th inning games, when exactly will Nix play? He’s out of options, Cust is just sitting around costing money for the A’s, a Cust for Nix plus maybe a little cash seems like a reasonable way to upgrade the offense.)
It’s supposed to be a little warmer tomorrow. Does anyone know the precise freezing point for the Sox’ bats?

knoxfire30

precise freezing point for the sox bats is somewhere between greg walker and harold baines

timmeh

I completely agree Jim, When I heard Hawk say the bullpen let the team down again, I was started screaming at the TV.
One thing of note, the White Sox as a team have a BABIP of .192, that’s Alex Rios of last year territory…

ricksch

Okay, so now we’re only FIVE games in. Still, this team has been rather painful to watch. They’ve already squandered three very good starts and one so-so start they could have won (Peavy’s). Chone Figgins instead of Teahen. Johnny Damon instead of Pierre. Anybody instead of Kotsay/Jones. It’s called approaching this game to win, instead of “let’s patch over the holes with garbage and hope these flagging, mediocre players suddenly have up seasons.” Maybe Hawk’s right. Bullpen has to be flawless and pitch at least 5-6 innings before this dead-dog offense can score.