Tigers 5, White Sox 2: A night to forget

Tonight’s effort by the White Sox makes for an easy Top 10 loss nominee for 2021. A performance by the White Sox that should be balled up and tossed into the garbage can. Hopefully, never repeat itself in what is a contending season. An absolute clunker. 

Let’s start with the eye-opening stat. Detroit committed five errors in this game. Five. Both runs scored by the White Sox were on a terrible field attempt by Jeimer Candelario in the first inning and an awful throw by Candelario in the third inning. Despite the defensive gifts, the White Sox offense went 0-for-13 with runners in scoring position. All they could give their ace starting pitcher was a measly two runs of support. 

It appeared at first that’s all the runs Lucas Giolito needed. After making the mistake of continuing to challenge Miguel Cabrera with fastballs in the first inning that ended up as a solo shot, Giolito found his rhythm. From the second to the sixth inning, all the Tiger’s offense could muster was a walk and two singles against Giolito. 

In that sixth inning, Detroit was threatening to tie the game as Cabrera pulled a hard grounder heading to left field. Tim Anderson made the diving stop that kept Robbie Grossman at third base preventing the game from being tied. Facing Jonathan Schoop, Giolito threw three changeups that demonstrate his masterful ability to command the pitch. A big-time strikeout to leave the game-tying run 90-feet away and a barbaric roar from Giolito coming off the mound. 

The seventh inning was a different story. 

Despite not getting more run support, the White Sox will find themselves in 2-1 ballgames in 2021. It’s something that this team, despite all of the experience from their manager, needs to learn how to win low-scoring games. 

Giolito’s pitch count was piling up closer to triple digits after spiking a fastball on 3-2 to leadoff hitter Willi Castro. Then Akil Baddoo battled for nine pitches before flying out to Adam Eaton in right field. Giolito just needed one more grounder for a double play to end the inning with one out and catcher Wilson Ramos coming to bat. 

Instead, Ramos hit a liner that split the gap in center field. As Billy Hamilton chased after the ball, Castro scored from first base to tie the game at 2-2. Giolito threw over 100 pitches, and Codi Heuer warmed up in the bullpen; that should have been the end of his night. 

Except it wasn’t. Tony La Russa opted to let his ace figure out a way to get out of the seventh running on fumes. On the very next pitch, Goodrum swung hard at a slider that appeared to jam him. As the ball continued to carry in right field, Eaton’s knee buckled on him on the warning track. Falling to the ground went Eaton, and Goodrum’s fly bounced off the top of the right-field wall and into Detroit’s bullpen for a two-run homer. 

Did La Russa pull Giolito after the home run? Nope. 

JaCoby Jones, on the next pitch, lined out to center field. It wasn’t until Giolito walked Robbie Grossman on four straight pitches that La Russa strolled to the mound and called for Heuer. In Giolito’s last seven pitches, Detroit racked up a double, two-run homer, and a walk. His final line was 6.2 IP 5 H 4 ER 3 BB 7 K on 114 pitches. 

Somehow, Jose Urena lasted through seven innings despite the poor defense behind him. Pitching around seven hits and three walks, Urena generated 15 grounders to just three fly balls. That type of ground game leads to four double plays turned by the Tigers infield. 

White Sox had the game-tying run hitting in the eighth inning with runners on first and second, but despite having Andrew Vaughn on the bench, La Russa stuck with Hamilton and Leury Garcia to hit for themselves. Of course, they both struck out. 

It was a terrible night. 

Game Notes:

  • Yermin Mercedes went 2-for-4
  • At least the Kansas City Royals and Minnesota Twins lost. 

Record: 12-10 | Box Score | StatCast

Take a second to support Sox Machine on Patreon
42 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Shingos Cheeseburgers

I dunno six maybe seven more errors by Detroit and the Sox might have gotten within striking distance

Shingos Cheeseburgers

I’ve found myself having to step back a few times and reconcile that yes this is the crest of a five year rebuild, yes this this the most heralded Sox team of the past 15 years, yes they have a ton of fun players, and yes they were a playoff team last year with the fact that most projection models thought preseason this was an 83-89 win team that was a coin flip to win the division.

They’re good but not great and that was before injuries and it becoming clear that they aren’t going to be winning games on the margins based on strategy. 12-10 is a 88 win pace over a full season so it’s very possible what we’ve seen is who they are.

metasox

Injuries are always a wildcard. But so far, this division isn’t shaping up to be a juggernaut

Trooper Galactus

88 wins might actually win the AL Central at this rate. Wouldn’t be the first time.

This team is just frustrating. By most metrics, they’re an offensive and pitching juggernaut (AL Run differential, Team wRC+, Team FIP-,…etc). Easily a top 5 team in MLB…..it’s just that always always someone drops the ball. The offense will clobber ten runs a game against great pitchers and then barely score against mediocre ones. The rotation can throw no hitters one night to giving up a crooked number the next. It never all seems to coalesce.

Trooper Galactus

They’ve spent all of April losing on the margins, and it sucks.

MarketMaker

if you think that down 3 in the 8th with the tying run coming to the plate you should bat back to back guys who are a combined 12/69 with no XBH, you too could manage the white sox (assuming you’re friends with the owner)

Trooper Galactus

TLR must have really been enamored by Hamilton’s career .248/.306/.325 slash line against RHP coming into the night. Gotta go with the favorable matchup there. Between that and Leury’s .240/.280/.346 line, something’s GOTTA break in their favor, right?

Trooper Galactus

I’ve really tried to credit TLR when due, but tonight was an absolute shit-show of mismanagement on his part. Between a crap roster, hanging Gio out to dry, and opting not to sub out two of his worst hitters in a late, critical situation is just a ludicrous waterfall of failure. These are not 20/20 hindsight matters; they are being called out in real time and rightfully so.

HallofFrank

Yes. This was his worst game of the season. I was half paying attention, half reading a book, and in real time I was confused why Giolito was about to pitch to Ramos (and more exasperated with each batter after) and frustrated that Hamilton and García hit instead of Vaughn. Frankly, it didn’t get a great start either, with starting Lamb over Vaughn in the first place.

texag10

I want Vaughn to start as many games as possible but credit where credit is due, Lamb went 1-2 with a walk so he actually contributed on offense.

HallofFrank

Sure, but just because it worked out doesn’t make it a good move. And it may not have worked out—you never know how the game is different if Vaughn, the better offensive player, starts instead of Lamb.

texag10

I mean, Vaughn probably still slots into the 7th spot in the lineup, but maybe he drops down to 8th. Lamb got on base 2 out of 3 times and didn’t leave any runners stranded. Lamb in the lineup instead of Vaughn was not the issue last night.

HallofFrank

I never suggested it was “the issue,” but only pointed out that La Russa’s night didn’t get off to a great start—and only got worse.

Still, it is *an issue* that a better offensive player didn’t start for reasons passing understanding. I mean, he probably doesn’t do better than Lamb did, but he could have and we don’t know how that might have impacted the game.

patrick

And with as bad as the pitching has been on the backend especially, I think they need to maximize all the run scoring potential they can.

itaita

Turned the game off when Leury dove out of the way of the pitch thrown at his legs. I know what was going to follow. It was very Venturian to keep Giolito in way past the sell by date but at the same time the way the bullpen has been going those runs are probably scoring anyway.

jorgefabregas

This may be hyperbole, but I really don’t think that any other major league manager coaching today would have left Giolito in after Ramos’s hit. I think the dividing line for most managers would be whether they left him in to face Ramos or not. And I’m not saying that TLR was necessarily wrong to push his luck against Ramos there. But leaving in Giolito in after he’s given up the tying run and he’s thrown 100 pitches and gone more than 6 innings on the day after an off-day so most relievers are available—that’s nuts. That’s playing to win tomorrow when you have a tie game on your hands at home today and there may be no need for high leverage relief innings tomorrow.

asinwreck

La Russa needlessly endangering Giolito’s health in an April game is incompatible with the one-ply roster Hahn assembled. It makes me hope that decisions about pitching get transferred to Katz before more damage is done.

murf3132

This game was so frustrating. Not only to watch, but to watch people debate on twitter whos fault it was.

Was it the offense’s fault for not cashing in with all the extra base runners and errors by the Tigers?

Was it TLR fault for leaving Gio in too long?

Everyone is arguing like there can only be 1 answer when it should be both. Yes, the offense didn’t take advantage of opportunity after opportunity. The Sox should have had at least 4 runs by the 5th inning if not way, way more.

But as a manager, it is your responsibility to realize that your offense is struggling to cash in runs. And honestly, to me, Gio wasn’t firing on all cylinders all night. He barley was hitting 95. I’m fine with letting him start the 7th. I’m fine with letting him go til they tied it up in that inning.

But to let him keep throwing after multiple hard contacts, over 100 pitches, after he was a bit down on Velo all night is so inexcusable. Especially after an off day with a majority of your ‘high leverage’ relievers (who knows which is which at this point) rested.

This is a team loss. Is it on the offense? Absolutely. They need to be better with how many opportunities they were given. Is it on TLR. Absolutely. Even with the the offense struggling you had a lead or at worst a tie to work with and mismanaged not only the pitching but also the hitting to finish out the game(Larry and Hamilton? C’mon man). Be better Tony.

This team is fine. It will be good. It’s had injuries, it’s had people slumping between defense, offense and pitching(bullpen). But this team should have 2-3 more wins than it does right now directly because of the manager. That is frustrating

HallofFrank

You’re right that it’s not an either/or, but TLR should take more of the blame/frustration because, frankly, his job is so much easier. As frustrating as it is to watch the hitters fail over and over, hitting a baseball is hard. Taking Giolito out in that situation or pinch hitting Vaughn in the 8th aren’t difficult decisions.

I know managing is difficult and it’s easy as a fan to sit back and criticize, but this game was the hitting equivalent of being up 3-0 and swinging at 3 pitches way out of the zone.

metasox

I understand not wanting Leury and Hamilton batting. But are Collins and Vaughn really options anyone is excited about? Leury may be more likely than any of them to hit for power at this stage. And Hamilton as likely to keep the line moving

Jim Margalus

Average exit velocities in 2021:

Vaughn: 94
Collins: 91.6
García: 80.6

There’s a reason why García bunts every opportunity that makes sense. He’s got nothing this year.

HallofFrank

I guess it depends on what you mean by excited, but both are obvious upgrades. Here’s wRC+ since April 6th: Vaughn, 144; Collins, 95; Hamilton, 71; Garcia, 32.

Frankly, down three in the 8th inning, it’s borderline inexcusable that *both* weren’t pinch hit for with obvious upgrades on the bench and Gonzalez ready to be a defensive sub.

Trooper Galactus

It’s beyond frustrating. Managers are not supposed to have outsized impacts on game outcomes, and TLR has consistently had an obviously negative one only a month into the season. Sure, the players need to execute, but hitters are gonna have off days, the opposing pitchers are gonna have their good days, and so on. Playing baseball is hard and the outcomes are hardly predictable.

But in-game management is not exactly a difficult science. Sure, fans will always second guess some decisions, but most times there is sufficient reasoning or justification and there are arguments to be made for various moves. Last night was not a case of an either/or situation; TLR was just flat out WRONG. By his own admission, he was playing for a single, basically the minimum outcome, using two players with career batting averages in the .240 range. His own pitcher said he was out of gas. Unlike hitters making solid contact, these should not be difficult things to figure out in the moment.

mikeyb

Boy that game just all around sucked. The Tigers did everything they could to blow it, and the Sox said no thank you. La Russa has been just as bad as I imagined he would be; this team is going to have to play fantastic baseball to overcome his horrible managing.

Also, sure would be nice if Abreu would hustle out of the box once in a while. Doesn’t need to be every at bat. Maybe if he hits a slower grounder with 1 out and runners on first and third? Yeah, that would be nice.

Hopefully Robert is back by the end of the week, the Sox take the next 2 from the Tigers, and we all just forget this game ever happened.

Trooper Galactus

Abreu has shown hustle, but given his age, size, and importance, I’m not stressing it if he picks his spots.

roke1960

There is one large $72 million hole on this roster- Yasmani Grandal. He is virtually unplayable right now. He has not had a good at bat in what seems like two weeks, and his catching has been well below average. It’s pretty sad when Zach Collins now seems to be a better option behind the plate. And except for one game, Abreu has been putrid. And I don’t want to hear that lame excuse that its early. You’re the freakin’ MVP! Act like one.

HallofFrank

I think they’ll both be fine and Yas is even hitting the ball hard, but, yeah, I wouldn’t mind to see Collins get a few more starts while Yas finds his way out of this slump.

texag10

My concern still exists with Yas. Sure he is still hitting the ball but he is hitting grounders twice as often as last year. That’s not great when you are constantly facing a shift.

Shingos Cheeseburgers

A combination of a potentially nagging injury from spring and aging feels very 2011 Adam Dunn-ish

roke1960

Hitting the ball hard? He rolled over 3 tailing fastballs and grounded them right into the shift. I don’t care how hard you hit it, if you are trying to pull sinking, tailing fastballs, you going to hit them on the ground into the shift. And with runners on first and someone who is super slow and doesn’t look interested in running hard, that’s a recipe for disaster. Even Stone knew the pitch that led to the last DP was going to be sinking and tailing away from him. The whole left side is open- go with the pitch and get an RBI single.

HallofFrank

Right, which is why I said he’s in a slump and I’d be cool with starting Collins more in the meantime. My point was that there’s still reason to be optimistic that he’ll turn it around. For reference, his slash line is .122/.267/.286, but his expected slash line is .231/.365/.508. He’s been tough to watch so far, but I’m confident he’ll turn it around.

knoxfire30

Been holding off on going scorched earth on TLR but that’s some of the worst god damn bullpen management I have ever seen. Giolito was toast in the 7th leadoff walk, couldnt finish the 2nd batter of the inning after having him down 0-2 until pitch like 10 or 11, then a double that ties the game…. You then leave him in, in a tie game when he is totally shot to give up a 2 run homer, THEN you compound it and let him face two more guys, what the hell was Tony thinking!!!! You just gave your entire back end of the bullpen 2 days off and you only had 9 outs to cover, 8 after blowing the lead. Beyond stupid.

No need to mention the atrocious hitting with runners in scoring position, and I have no idea what is going on with Grandal but every day it looks like he is playing with the passion of a guy who just tied up old yeller out back and had to put him down.

Jim Margalus

Slow guys with knee problems always look uninspired. (See: Konerko, Paul.)

texag10

It felt like with Robert out, Abreu was trying to play a little bit of hero ball last night at the plate. Maybe he just wasn’t seeing Urena well but his ABs looked a little off to me.

BenwithVen

This was a fan murdering game. Just excruciating to watch.

GrinnellSteve

The only thing that allowed me to get out of bed this morning after that debacle was the knowledge that Rodon is a good bet to pitch a no-hitter tonight.

dwjm3

We need to just bounce back and win the series. If we win the next two after sweeping Texas I feel we can say we took care of business against the cellar dwellers.

Hulksmash

Because of scheduling issues and some problems with my cable, this was the first game I actually sat down to watch this season.

Hopefully my cable goes out again, because that was–in 30+ years of watching Sox games–probably the most brutal game I’ve ever seen. Jeez-us.

lifelongjd

Yas and Abreu were just awful. I don’t get the approach with Vaughn at all. Just as it seems he’s figuring it out, they sit him.

vince

I’m sure glad we looked the other way on coach drunky’s DUIs to get this sort of hall of fame person managing.

Last edited 2 years ago by vince