White Sox Bottom Out, Fall Out of First As Pitching Falters

It all comes back to pitching.  Ozzie Guillen, like any other manager, will say it over and over.  To the casual fan, this may sound like a broken record.  In this the era of the slugger, where ballparks are small, biceps are big, and bats are breaking, that old manager’s reminder may seem off base. 

Seems like it was only yesterday when White Sox fans were pulling their hair out trying to figure out why the team was struggling with a sub .250 team batting average.  Manager Ozzie Guillen’s daily lament was that the Sox were wasting great pitching.  Since then, the bats have heated up, and the White Sox probably should be sitting comfortably ahead the American League Central.

But Ozzie also uttered a few prophetic warnings about the pitching staff.  His message was clear; before the season was all over, the offense may need to bail out the pitching.  That time has come. 

The White Sox, 7-9 since the break, have seen their once league-leading team ERA jump. Seemingly no lead is safe, and no starter is immune to a meltdown in the middle innings.  Through all those offensive struggles, the Sox stayed in first, but after an embarrassing 4-6 road trip, one that they had started 2-0, the White Sox inconceivably are staring up at the low-paid, no name Twins. 

Yes, it all comes down to pitching, and the Sox must hope that theirs will rebound.  Hope lingers, as Javier Vazquez finally won a game, and Jose Contreras is due to come off the DL as soon as this weekend.  But the slide might not end today in KC. 

With the powerful Tigers and Red Sox coming into town, and the weather heating up on the South Side, the White Sox could find themselves plummeting closer and closer to .500.  Of course a few good starts here, and a few nice outing there, and they could climb right back into the top spot.  It all comes down to pitching.  It's time to see just how good the Sox arms really are.