The White Sox are still on the road. After stunning us with a series win in Minnesota, they are now off to Southern California to see the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Again. These two teams just met up last weekend and now will get an immediate rematch. Here is what you need to know for this weekend.

2013 Record: White Sox 17-21, 5th in AL Central. Angels 15-25, 4th in AL West

2013 Series Record: 1-2

All-Time Series Record: 349-349 (The Sox are 164-185 at Anaheim)

The following pitchers are expected to start the four games this weekend: 

Jose Quintana: 2-1, 3.72 ERA, 30K vs. Jerome Williams: 2-1, 3.06 ERA, 20K

Chris Sale: 4-2, 2.88 ERA, 49K vs. C.J. Wilson: 3-2, 3.88 ERA, 47K

Hector Santiago: 1-2, 2.23 ERA, 31K vs. Joe Blanton: 0-7, 6.46 ERA, 29K

Jake Peavy: 5-1, 2.6 ERA, 51K vs. Jason Vargas: 2-3, 4.03 ERA, 34K

Thursday and Friday’s games begin at 9:05 pm. Saturday’s game starts at 3:05 pm and Sunday’s game begins at 2:35 pm. All times CDT.  » Continue reading “West Coast Kindness? Series Preview: White Sox At Angels”

It used to be that when the Sox would be facing the Twins, I could easily make fun of how bad the Twins were playing. Now, not so much. In any event, after an abysmal homestand, here is what you need to know for the upcoming road trip the White Sox are embarking upon:

2013 Record: White Sox 15-20, 5th in AL Central. Twins: 17-17, 4th in AL Central

2013 Series Record: 2-0

2012 Series Record: 14-4

All-time Series Record: 385-420 (The Sox are 175-226 at Minnesota against the Twins)

The following pitchers are expected to start the three games:

Hector Santiago: 1-1, 1.69 ERA, 25K vs. Pedro Hernandez: 1-0, 5.6 ERA, 11K

Jake Peavy: 4-1, 3.03 ERA, 45K vs. Kevin Correia: 4-2, 3.0 ERA, 20K

Dylan Axelrod: 0-3, 4.17 ERA, 22K vs. Mike Pelfrey: 3-3, 6.03 ERA, 15K

Monday and Tuesday’s games begin at 7:10 pm. Wednesday’s game starts at 1:10 pm and is the free MLB dot TV game of the day. All times CDT. » Continue reading “To The North! Series Preview: White Sox At Twins”

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms and mother figures out there. Here at SSHG, we’re glad you are baseball fans and possibly even White Sox Fans. Though, if you’ve abandoned the Sox of late, that is completely understandable because they have not played inspiring of late.

In any event, the Mother’s Day game was a Sunday night affair. Hopefully the mom-types had a chance to do some fun things today before settling in for some Sunday night baseball. Things started off in the game rather hopeful. A crazy comeback to Chris Sale and then a strikeout of Mike Trout. It got me all giddy that the game might be amazing. It was an EASY first half of the inning for Sale. I’m not used to seeing such baseball out of the White Sox. They’ve conditioned me to expect runs to be given up right away. Of course, I had to calm myself because this rare start probably won’t last. Something will go wrong soon to cause this game to be lost. Whether it be lousy defense – as if this team has any other type – or lack of offense.

Early on in the game, Chris Sale was cruising in the game. He was mowing down the Angels hitters and they were not really into trying to work the count. They basically swinging at first pitches and making no contact. It was a thing of beauty to see. Of course, this season the pitching really has not been the problem. The problems with this team have generally been due to poor, uh I mean PUTRID defense and lack of offense. » Continue reading “I Just Expect An L These Days From The White Sox”

It’s not a good sign when I check WhiteSox.com to see who we’re playing and who’s pitching and still think, “We’re probably gonna lose.” Sadly that’s my thought process lately because this team has almost no offensive production. Saturday night was no different when the Sox lost to the Angels, 3-2. » Continue reading “Lack of Run Support Dooms White Sox”

The road? Not a good place. At home? Again, not a good place. The Sox are off the road and once again at home. This time, hoping for something good to happen to them to get the season turned around. Here is what you need to know for the weekend series against the Angels:

2013 Record: White Sox 14-18, 5th in AL Central. Angels 12-22, 4th in AL West

2012 Season Series Record: 3-5

All-Time Series Record: 348-347 (The Sox are 184-162 at home against the Angels)

The following pitchers are expected to pitch this weekend:

Dylan Axelrod: 0-2, 3.60 ERA, 16K vs. Tommy Hanson: 2-1, 3.86 ERA, 17K

Jose Quintana: 2-0, 3.86 ERA, 25K vs. Jerome Williams: 1-1, 3.16 ERA, 17K

Chris Sale: 3-2, 3.42 ERA, 42K vs. C.J. Wilson: 3-1, 3.86 ERA, 44K

Friday’s game is at 7:10 pm, Saturday’s game is at 6:10 pm and Sunday’s game begins at 7:05 pm. All times CDT. » Continue reading “What To Do? Series Preview: White Sox Versus Angels”

A win? In Kansas City? Were we dreaming today in seing the final score from Kansas City today? Nope as the White Sox actually pulled out what seemed the impossible and picked up a 2-1 victory over the PITA Royals in 11 innings. Things as usual didn’t start out well with Chris Sale throwing a ton of pitches early and giving up a run.

Fortunately, he settled down and managed to pitch 7.1 innings. Early on, it looked like he was due for a very short day. As usual, there was no offense to support his efforts once he settled down. It was starting to look like James Shields might get a no-hitter today as he was just cruising.  » Continue reading “White Sox Do The Rare With A Win In Kansas City”

Is it wrong that I have just started to expect that White Sox baseball is going to suck? That there will be no hitting, terrible defense and then something else that will happen to make me want to throw stuff at the television? Today had some moments like that, but then it was very interesting. I thought perhaps I might see the PITA Kansas City Royals perhaps get no-hit.

so Addison Reed wasn’t watching a home run ball sail out today, but those walks sure did suck!

Yes, you read that right. The Kansas City Royals for a while were not getting any base runners. By a hit or free pass. It took until the fifth inning for the Royals to finally break through with a base hit. This coming off the bat of Mike Moustakas. The the flood gates opened for the Royals as another defensive gaffe by Jeff Keppinger allowed the PITAs to take a 3-1 lead. Given how the season has gone, you’d be excused if you walked away thinking, so much for a pretty good pitching performance by Jose Quintana.

But WAIT! The Sox would come back and add four more runs in the top of the seventh inning to take a 5-3 lead again. Could it be that this team has figured out a way to win in Kansas City? All they would need to do would be to hold the Royals down for a couple of innings and then go relax until tomorrow afternoon.

If you chose to think it was over, you’re excused because our guy, Addison Reed, blew it in the ninth inning. Addy was in to close and we’ve come to expect him to make closing a high-wire act. Addison didn’t disappoint today with walking the first two men he faced in the ninth inning. He did get the next two guys out. Unfortunately, Billy Butler came up and hit a double that would lead to those walks to come around and score to tie the game up.

A blown save for Mr. Reed. If he had nailed things down, he would have been tied with the great Mariano Rivera with 11 saves on the season. » Continue reading “Enthralling Baseball? Why Yes As White Sox Bested By Royals”

Hey look! The three-game losing streak is over! Yes, the White Sox managed to pull out a win behind the excellent pitching performance by Chris Sale. Home runs were the deciding factors as the Sox beat the Rangers, 5-2. » Continue reading “Pitching and Home Runs Power White Sox to Win”

My general tears had to wait at least one more night, as AJ Pierzynski was not in the Rangers’ lineup tonight. No, I’m still not over it, but I’m working on it. The Sox traveled to Texas for a three-game series with the Rangers, and it didn’t start well. The Sox lost, 10-6.

Pitching was once again awful. Jose Quintana didn’t have a bad start. He lasted five innings, giving up four runs on eight hits and a walk. He struck out two, but he also allowed back-to-back home runs to Nelson Cruz and Jeff Baker. Matt Lindstrom came on and pitched a third of an inning. He picked up the loss, as he allowed one run on a walk. » Continue reading “Pitching Fails as White Sox Fall to Rangers”

The White Sox will be back at trying to be good at baseball after a much needed day off. As much for them as for fans who have been feeling ill after looking at their play on the recent homestand. The roadtrip begins with a stop in Arlington to face the Texas Rangers. Here is what you need to know for the upcoming three games.

2013 Record: White Sox: 10-14, 5th in AL Central. Rangers: 16-9, 1st in AL West

2012 Series Record: 6-3

All-Time Series Record: 248-230 (The Sox are 107-137 against the Rangers on the road)

The following pitchers are expected to start the three games:

Jose Quintana: 2-0, 2.78 ERA, 20K vs. Yu Darvish: 4-1, 1.65 ERA, 49K

Chris Sale: 2-2, 4.09 ERA, 30K vs. Nick Tepesch: 2-1, 2.53 ERA, 14K

Jake Peavy: 3-1, 3.38 ERA, 39K vs. Justin Grimm: 2-0, 1.59 ERA, 15K

All three games begin at 7:05 pm CDT. » Continue reading “A New Enemy? White Sox At Rangers”