The Brewster

Regular Season, Final Week: Sept. 27-29

Last Week’s Results


9/27: Chicago Black Sox @ Des Moines Kernels - Win, 4-1.
Black Sox Win, 4-1, at Des Moines
W: J. McClain (2-1) L: R. Rodríguez (2-4) S: G. Sosa (38).
HR – None

9/28: Chicago Black Sox @ Des Moines Kernels - Loss, 5-10.
Des Moines Topples Chicago, 10-5
W: R. Lizardo (2-0) L: P. Kemp (8-5) .
HR - DM: T. York III (11), A. Williamson (10), C. Yang (37), N. Yokoyama (48)

9/29: Chicago Black Sox @ Des Moines Kernels - Win, 4-2.
Black Sox Upend Kernels, 4-2
W: A. Moelling (13-11) L: T. Karnes (5-14) S: G. Sosa (39).
HR - CHI: T. Durán (17), R. Clements (10), S. Fradesso (23)

Heroes of the Week

Pedro Ávila, OF: 7 AB, 4 H, 0 HR, 4 RBI, .571 AVG, 1.339 OPS
John McClain, SP: 1 Win, 7.2 IP, 1 BB, 4 K, 1.17 ERA
Sebastian Fradesso, OF: 12 AB, 4 H, 1 HR, 2 RBI, .333 AVG, .968 OPS

Zeros of the Week

There are no Zeroes in a stretch where we wrap up a 90-win season and second place in the Heartland Division. We'll save this feature for the week after Hawaii sweeps us out of the playoffs ...

Record as of the End of Regular Season Play
W-L Record for Week 27: 2-1, .667
Overall Record: 90-72, .556
Position in Division Standings: In 2nd place in the Heartland Division, 20 games behind Yellow Springs.
Position in Wildcard Standings: In 2nd place in the Frick Wildcard race, playoff position clinched.

Hot Take

Ninety wins.

That was unexpected and welcome, indeed. The goal of the franchise has been to build a club capable of contending for the playoffs every season, and the 90-win mark has been one of management’s most important milestones.

The next milestone? Rinse and repeat. And repeat. And repeat.

If the Sox can build an organization capable of hitting 90 wins (or at least coming close) every season, it should be in the playoff picture just about every year. Once you’re in the playoffs, crazy breaks can catapult you to success or dash you on the rocks of failure (just ask Yellow Springs).
But none of that can happen if you don’t make the playoffs to begin with, so that’s the overriding goal. Be good enough, year in and year out, to be in the playoff hunt.

Chicago has committed to getting there, more or less, through pitching, which is an admittedly risky way to go. The team overwhelmingly targets pitchers in the amateur draft, and crosses its fingers that its prospects will make it through the minor league system unscathed.

That approach has been a mixed bag, so far. While the likes of David Bates, Gilberto Cordero, Gilberto Sosa and John McClain look to be paying dividends, the Sox have also lost some promising youngsters to injury:

• Andresa Frederico was a bright (45/65) SP prospect as recently as 2040, but a series of injuries has left him fragile and a likely career minor leaguer.

• Hidetada Yamamoto was a promising (30/60) second round pick in 2042, but suffered a torn labrum in April and still is 3 months away from resuming baseball activities. He now projects as a 40/45 bullpen arm.

• Jeremy Smith, taken in the third round in 2042, was a 35/60 prospect at the start of the year, but developed bone chips in his elbow and was sidelined for two months. He now shows as a 35/55 prospect, and team officials are hoping he doesn’t slip further.

• Most worrisome of all, of course, is RP Francisco Salgado (75/80), who underwent elbow reconstruction surgery in May and still has 4-5 months on the injury list before he can resume throwing. What he’ll look like after his rehab is anyone’s guess.

Still, given the advantage that Black Sox Park affords hurlers in the form of depressed batting averages and home runs for offensive players, building through pitching and defense is the most logical approach.

And with McClain and AAA Pitcher of the Year Romeu Tameiro figuring to join one of the league’s best pitching staffs next season, hopes are high that the Sox can reach their goal of contending for the postseason again in 2044.

But let’s not start thinking about next year too soon: after all, the Sox aren’t done with this season just yet.

Playoffs, baby!

If you can avoid it, just don't let Hawaii sweep us out in 3 ...

The Week Ahead
The Geoghegan Round


2 Games vs. Hawaii at Chicago


2 Games at Hawaii (if all are necessary)


1 Game at Chicago (if necessary)