White Sox Week In Review: Falling Up

Strike first (then strike second and strike third)

A three-fold test awaits John Danks and the Sox tomorrow, when he faces the best pitcher in the American League, Zack Greinke.

One: Danks must pitch to his capability. After his third start, Johnny D was 2-0 with a 0.95 ERA. Since then, he's 2-3 and his ERA has ballooned to 4.59. More telling, he's only pitched seven innings in one start this year.

Danks gutted out a win last Monday at Anaheim, allowing only four hits and three runs in six innings while walking a season-high six. He was able to limit damage, but to beat Greinke, he must be sharp and have the pinpoint control we've seen him have in the past.

Two: win the third. In the last four series they've played, the Sox have won the first two and dropped the third. The last two were close losses versus the Angels and the Pirates, and tomorrow shouldn't be an exception. All the little things that have been working lately need to happen tomorrow: great defense, timely hits and a good effort from the SP.

Three: extinguish the legend of Greinke. Zack Greinke is no fluke, and don't let anyone outside of Bristol tell you so. He's had great stuff for years, and while he's bounced from the bullpen to the starting rotation, he's worked himself to this position.

And not only is he lights out this season, he's challenged the White Sox on multiple occasions. He's hit Sox players and in a game earlier this year, he threw behind Ramirez twice. He's the main reason the Royals have risen from their former post as doormat of the division.

It's hard to fight back in the batter's box, but the surest way to take a pitcher out of his game is to hit him and hit him hard. Greinke's ERA is 0.41, so knocking him around won't be an easy task. But a win over Greinke, combined with some well-placed trash talk, should send him a message.

To the future

I don't think it's an aberration. The White Sox are looking much more cohesive and polished in their play. My fellow writer and Sox fan JJ Stankevitz recently posted an article criticizing the Sox defense and limited infield range, but they have looked better in that area over the last few games. As an added bonus, they are turning more double plays (which Ed Farmer mentioned they were not doing earlier in the year.)

If the Sox can sweep the Royals tomorrow, they will have dispelled memories of their bad stretch at the beginning of the month. They will also have momentum going into June, and as I always say, June is when the Sox bats (and those Comiskey Park fireworks) start warming up.

Until next time, let the sock fly on.

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