For once, baserunning is no issue

In celebration of a rare two-game winning streak, I’d like to say two nice things about two much-maligned members of the White Sox organization.
First off, since it was a popular comparison in April, let’s take a look at what Scott Podsednik and Juan Pierre are doing in May:

  • Pierre: .342/.381/.392, 9-for-10 SB, 7 BB, 9 K
  • Podsednik: .256/.293/.384, 6-for-9 SB, 5 BB, 19 K

Pierre’s still lagging behind by 38 points of OBP on the season, but it’d be a pretty competitive wager trying to figure out who would finish the season ahead in that column (provided Pods qualifies for the batting title).
More remarkable than his turnaround at the plate is how much more comfortable he looks patrolling left.  During the first two weeks, he was starting to pull up well short of of the warning tracks, much less any fences.  Now he’s stealing home runs and crashing over sidewalls.
UZR is a shaky stat for outfielders over a whole season, so it doesn’t mean much when looking at six weeks, but it’s still cool to note that Pierre is tied with Carl Crawford for the best UZR among left fielders, and Alex Rios is leading all center fielders.
This is one aspect of Kenny Williams’ wishcastastic offseason plan that seems to be coming to fruition.  Pierre and Rios have covered plenty of ground this season, and now Pierre is joining Rios among the few consistent offensive contributors.  Since both are under contract through 2011, it’s pretty important, even if there’s plenty of room for improvement elsewhere.
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You know who might be the biggest benefactor of the offseason plan?
Jeff Cox.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but when Mark Teahen was thrown out at home on Saturday, I think it marks the first time Cox had sent a runner to his death at home this season.
And it wasn’t even a bad send!  Chris Coghlan made a perfect throw, and Teahen appeared to be safe regardless.
Thinking about the bad baserunning plays, the ones that come to mind weren’t under Cox’s jurisdiction.  He’s shown good judgment this season — I can’t think of any egregious sends, nor any instances of Coxblocking with ACL-snapping late stop signs.
It’s showing up in the baserunning numbers.  According to Bill James Online, here’s how the Sox have scored in bases gained:

  • 2007: -40
  • 2008: -20
  • 2009: -20
  • 2010: +7

And it would’ve been +8 had A.J. Pierzynski’s eighth-inning double on Thursday bounced off the fence instead of over it.
It’s also worth pointing out that the Sox are bunting better.  They just haven’t followed up with hits to cash them in.
A lot’s been made about the possibility of firing coaches in order to shake things up, but for the first time since he’s been manning the third base box, I can’t come up with a case that portrays Cox as a problem.
The season’s still young, but considering Minnesota’s third base coach, Scott Ullger, has had a big hand in giving the Sox two head-to-head wins, I feel it’s appropriate to give Cox a little credit.  He’s had a better start to his season than any of his colleagues.
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Slowly but surely, Ozzie Guillen is expanding Sergio Santos’ role in the White Sox bullpen.
Santos is responding by not showing any response.  He’s still throwing scoreless innings and playing his saxophone.

On Saturday, Guillen used him on back-to-back days for the third time this season, and this was only the first time he was called upon to protect a tight lead on the second day.  He allowed only a two-out single.
Guillen likes the cut of his jib, and who wouldn’t? He’s been the surprise of the season, and with the command he’s showing, endurance seems to be the only concern.
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Minor league roundup:

  • Charlotte 3, Columbus 2 (12 innings)
    • Dayan Viciedo doubled twice and struck out twice over five at-bats. He committed an error (dropping a throw).
    • Jordan Danks went 1-for-4 with an RBI and two strikeouts.
    • Clevelan Santeliz is back in action, throwing 1 1/3 scoreless innings, striking out two while allowing just a hit.
    • C.J. Retherford went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts.
  • Mobile 4, Birmingham 0 (Game 1, 7 innings)
    • Brent Morel went 0-for-2 with a walk.
    • Christian Marrero was hitless in three at-bats.
    • Jhonny Nunez was hit around for three runs on seven hits over 4 2/3 innings. No walks, two strikeouts.
  • Birmingham 4, Mobile 3 (Game 2, 7 innings)
    • Making his 2010 debut, Brandon Hynick allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits over four innings. He issued no walks, struck out one batter and induced seven groundouts.
    • Morel singled twice, stole his fifth base and struck out.
    • Marrero walked once and struck out twice.
  • Winston-Salem 11, Lynchburg 4
    • Eduardo Escobar says the cycle is overrated: He singled, tripled and hit two homers, driving in four.
    • Brandon Short went 2-for-4; Jon Gilmore went 1-for-5.
    • Justin Greene singled and hit a solo shot.
    • Nathan Jones limited damage: 5 1/3 IP, 9 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 K.
    • Kyle Bellamy struck out three over 1 2/3 scoreless innings. A double was the only damage.
    • Dan Remenowsky allowed one run (solo homer) on four hits over two innings, striking out three.
  • Asheville 13, Kannapolis 4
    • Kyle Colligan filled a box score, going 3-for-4 with a homer and two RBI. He added a walk and his seventh steal, and struck out once.
    • Trayce Thompson went 1-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts.
    • Miguel Gonzalez went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts. Brady Shoemaker walked once and K’d twice over four ABs.
    • Andre Rienzo struck out five over two innings, and that’s good.  But he walked four and allowed three hits, leading to four runs, and that’s bad.
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dpritchett47

I know Kenny made that great trade for John Danks, but did anyone else notice what Clayton Richard and Gio Gonzalez did yesterday?

chisoxt

Many cite the fact that the guys that Kenny had given up in past trades have never come back to haunt us. But, I had a fealing that the trades in the past few years (Gio, Fautino De Los Santos, Sweeny and Richard) would come home to roost. This was a much more acclaimed group of players, and Kenny has managed to squander them with very little to show for it. Yeah, I know, everybody loves Kenny because he is intense and he makes trades as if he were a meathead fantasy roitisserie league player. I just wish we could get a more responsible and patient general manager.