Orioles 6, White Sox 5: The Good, Bad, and Indifferent

Box Score

Good

Gavin Floyd

Floyd was dominant through the first four innings before slowing a bit in the fifth and sixth, but overall, it was another excellent start out of the White Sox No. 5 starter.

After allowing his first hit of the game to Kevin Millar in the fifth inning, Floyd struggled while pitching out of the stretch, not throwing as many strikes. He finally lost his shutout in the sixth when he gave up a two-run home run to Nick Markakis, the first runs Floyd had allowed since his first start of the year. However, the runs were not earned—so at least Floyd's ERA didn't take a hit.

Although, the fact that I'm talking about Floyd "struggling" is just a signal as to how good he's been over his three starts this year.

Carlos Quentin

When the Sox needed it most, Quentin came up with the big hit today.

After Floyd had allowed that two-run home run, Quentin led off the top of the seventh with a long solo home run that put the Sox up, 3-2. 

In the eighth, Quentin added his second home run of the game when he blasted a solo shot out to right to put the Sox up 5-2.

Quentin now has four home runs and 15 RBI through the first 15 games of the season. If that's not a sign that Quentin is healthy, I don't know what is.

Joe Crede

Speaking of lingering health doubts that have been quelled by hot starts, how about Crede?

All he did today was add two more RBI to his league-leading total of 18 on a single and solo home run. 

The single plated the first Sox run while the homer followed Quentin's first to make it a 4-2 game.

If you had told me that Crede would have five home runs and 18 RBI through the first 15 games back in March, I would have laughed and then written an article about how Josh Fields should be starting. Oops.

Jermaine Dye

Dye added another two hits today and really has been one better hitters in this order throughout the first 15 games.

His .357 batting average is an indication of how smart Dye's approach at the plate has been. He's taking what pitches give him, going the other way when a pitch is on the outer half instead of puling it into the ground to third base or shortstop. 

If Dye can keep that approach up, a return to a .300 batting average is a definite possibility for him. The power numbers will likely never return to his 2006 totals, but Dye will be getting—and converting—a lot of RBI opportunities this year if he keeps this up. 

The middle relief

Matt Thornton, Octavio Dotel, and Scott Linebrink combined to once agian successfully bridge the gap from starter to Bobby Jenks. While Dotel and Linebrink weren't at their best, it was certainly good enough to hold the Orioles at bay.

Even though Thornton only faced one batter, he looked impressive in striking out Aubrey Huff. With Boone Logan's emergence, Thornton likely is the No. 2 lefty reliever in this bullpen, but he's still very good at getting outs. Having a guy like him at the back of the bullpen just adds more and more depth to a White Sox bullpen that's looking better by the day.

 

Bad

The defense

Physical errors are part of the game, but today, they cost the Sox three runs.

A fielding error by Paul Konerko in the sixth led to the Markakis home run and a throwing error by AJ Pierzynski led to a RBI double by Luke Scott in the eighth.

This isn't something to be worried about, though—but it also isn't something to gloss over, either, so it ends up in the "bad" category. 

Bobby Jenks

I told myself was going to put him under the "indifferent" category even if he blew the save, but the way Jenks blew it was pretty frustrating. 

After giving up an RBI double to Brian Roberts, Jenks was faced with the tying run on second with Melvin Mora at the plate. 

As the at-bat went on, it seemed obvious that Mora was not going to catch up to Jenks' fastball. A good heater on the inner half likely would have done Mora in, whether it was by a broken bat groundout, popout, or strikeout.

However, Jenks threw curveball after curveball, and eventually, Mora put one in play for the game-tying single on a ground ball up the middle.

It was Jenks' first blown save of the year—something that will happen, yes—but if you ask me, this was one that did not have to happen. 

Boone Logan

For all the good Logan had done this year, today was a huge step backward

Before I go on, though, understand this: Randy Marsh was squeezing Logan. There were at least two pitches that Logan threw that I personally thought should have been strikes.

Anyways, that still doesn't mask the fact that Logan got ahead in counts and then nibbled, not going after the Orioles hitters. By doing so, he walked the first two batters of the inning, got a deep flyout by Aubrey Huff, and then gave up the game-winning hit to Adam Jones. 

Indifferent

Nothing here. This game was good, but then went pretty bad in the ninth and tenth innings. The Sox travel to Tampa Bay tomorrow to take on the Rays at 6:05. 

Also, a shameless plug: Check out my 2008 NFL Mock Draft article. You'll laugh, I promise.