Week 8, May 19-25
Last Week’s Results
5/19: Chicago Black Sox @ Yellow Springs Nine - Win, 8-7.
Black Sox Need Extra Innings to Top Nine, 8-7
W: G. Sosa (1-2) L: S. Pérez (0-1) .
HR - CHI: R. Wattson 2 (11), J. Cote (1) YS9: R. Chenoweth (8)
5/20: Des Moines Kernels @ Chicago Black Sox - Win, 5-11.
Black Sox Topple Kernels, 11-5, as Figueroa Shines
W: J. Nicto (1-2) L: E. Lópes (2-6) S: F. Salgado (1).
HR - CHI: J. Figueroa (4)
5/21: Des Moines Kernels @ Chicago Black Sox - Loss, 6-2.
Kernels Earn 6-2 Win Against Black Sox
W: A. García (1-1) L: F. Salgado (1-1)
HR - DM: J. Aranda (4), H. Cruz (4)
5/22: Des Moines Kernels @ Chicago Black Sox - Win, 3-14.
Black Sox Bonk Kernels, 14-3
W: P. Germán (4-4) L: G. Palmer (3-3) .
HR - DM: C. Yang (10), J. Aranda (5) CHI: J. Figueroa 2 (6), A. Budding (10), S. Fradesso (7)
5/23: Omaha Cyclones @ Chicago Black Sox - Win, 3-4.
Black Sox Rally to Eke Out Win
W: B. Smith (1-1) L: T. Simonnet (0-1) .
HR - OMA: E. Morales (12) CHI: A. Budding (11)
5/24: Omaha Cyclones @ Chicago Black Sox - Win, 2-4.
Black Sox Bridle Cyclones, 4-2
W: R. Tameiro (4-0) L: T. Dooley (4-4) S: G. Sosa (14).
HR - OMA: J. Montaño (2) CHI: D. Dave (14), T. Durán (8)
5/25: Omaha Cyclones @ Chicago Black Sox - Win, 0-3.
Black Sox Top Cyclones, 3-0, Behind McClain
W: J. McClain (4-3) L: A. Kondo (3-2) S: F. Salgado (2).
HR - CHI: A. Budding (12)
Heroes of the Week
José Figueroa, OF: 23 AB, 9 H, 3 HR, 7 RBI, .391 AVG, 1.326 OPS
Aarnaud Budding, DH: 30 AB, 9 H, 3 HR, 6 RBI, .300 AVG, 1.097 OPS
Joaquin Hebner, 1B: 30 AB, 11 H, 0 HR, 1 RBI, .367 AVG, .911 OPS
How Things Stand
W-L Record for Week 8: 6-1, .857
Overall Record: 24-27, .471
Position in Standings: In 5th Place in the Frick Heartland Division, 11 games behind Yellow Springs.
Run Differential: -17
Team Hitting
AVG: .241, 11th in the FL
OBP: .298, 15th in the FL
SLG: .431, 10th in the FL
Runs Scored: 226, tied for 8th in the FL
Team Pitching
Staff ERA: 3.98, 6th in the FL
Starters’ ERA: 4.22, 8th in the FL
Bullpen ERA: 3.59, 7th in the FL
Runs Allowed: 243, 11th in the FL
Hitting Leaders
AVG: Tomás Durán, 3B: .304
OBP: Tomás Durán, 3B: .360
HR: Diesel Dave, C: 14
RBI: Diesel Dave, C: 35
WAR: Rocky Wattson, 2B: 1.8
RC/27: Aarnaud Budding, DH: 7.74
Pitching Leaders
Wins: 3 tied with 4
Saves: Gilberto Sosa, 14
ERA: Amayas Moelling, 2.67
K’s: Amayas Moelling, 44
K/27: Amayas Moelling, 2.32
WAR: Amayas Moelling, 1.3
Hot Take
OK …where was I? Ah!
Phoenix!
No, no. That was yesterday’s gag.
Today’s topic: home cooking, and how Chicago had barely gotten a taste before last week’s 6-1 tear.
Want some numbers? Here you go. In April, Chicago played 20 games on the road, versus just 7 at home. Then, before last week, the Sox played 9 road games in May, vs 8 at home. So, let’s fire up the Black Sox Math-O-Meter and do a little figuring … that was 29 road games to open the season and 15 home games.
Is it possible that road/home disparity had a little something to do with Chicago’s gross suckage over the first couple of months here?
Maybe. Of course, until last week, they didn’t do especially well in Black Sox Park: 5-10 – although it’s worth noting that 5 (or fully half) of those losses were at the hands of Yellow Springs and Nashville, who both opened the season scorching hot.
But let’s not make too many excuses here: the Sox have struggled at the plate, on the mound, and in the field to open the year.
The question(s) going forward: can they build a little momentum from last week’s winning homestand, climb back over .500, and re-insert themselves into the wild card hunt?
The schedule works in their favor for a bit: the Sox have another 7 games at home before hitting the road, so they’ll have a chance to show they can, indeed, play good ball over an extended period in Sox Park.
Or not.
Sox fans know how their heroes respond to good fortune. They tend to kick it to the curb, stomp all over it, empty a Dumpster or two over it, and then curl up in the fetid safety of an extended losing streak.
Go Sox!?!
The Week Ahead
1 Game vs Omaha at Chicago
3 Games vs Sacramento at Chicago
2 Games vs Portland at Chicago