Sox Scoops 43.055: The "Enjoy It While You Can" Edition

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Sox Scoops 43.055: The "Enjoy It While You Can" Edition

Post by HoosierVic » Mon Aug 10, 2020 10:51 am

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Regular Season, Week 26: Sept. 22-26

Last Week’s Results

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9/22: Chicago Black Sox @ Yellow Springs Nine - Win, 6-5.
Black Sox Defeat Nine, 6-5
W: G. Sosa (9-7) L: R. Ramírez (3-3) S: G. Cordero (2).
HR - CHI: J. Figueroa (19) YS9: R. Mendoza (20)

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9/24: Chicago Black Sox @ Omaha Cyclones - Win, 4-2.
Cyclones Lose, 4-2
W: J. Nicto (14-7) L: S. Clulow (4-11) S: G. Sosa (37).
HR - CHI: S. Fradesso (21) OMA: W. Wood (17)

9/25: Chicago Black Sox @ Omaha Cyclones - Win, 18-5.
Simpson, Black Sox Beat Cyclones, 18-5
W: D. Bates (15-10) L: L. Ramos (2-1) S: F. Brinson (2).
HR - CHI: M. Simpson (16), H. Hang (26), S. Fradesso (22) OMA: J. Delage (5), J. Monger (28)

9/26: Chicago Black Sox @ Omaha Cyclones - Win, 8-5.
Figueroa Slugs Black Sox to 8-5 Win
W: P. Jaramillo (14-12) L: I. Yi (6-13) .
HR - CHI: J. Figueroa 2 (21), R. Wattson (29), H. Hang (27) OMA: D. Miller (35), W. Estrada (27)

Heroes of the Week

José Figueroa, OF: 12 AB, 7 H, 3 HR, 5 RBI, .583 AVG, 1.976 OPS
Mark Simpson, 1B: 10 AB, 5 H, 1 HR, 4 RBI, .500 AVG, 1.415 OPS
Hao Hang, DH: 10 AB, 4 H, 2 HR, 5 RBI, .400 AVG, 1.455 OPS

Zeroes of the Week

Following last year’s precedent, we do not award “Zeroes of the Week” in a period where we clinch an all-too-rare playoff spot.

Record as of Sept. 26

W-L Record for Week 26: 4-0, 1.000
Overall Record: 88-71, .553
Position in Standings: Tied for 2nd Place with Louisville in the Frick Heartland division, 20 games behind Yellow Springs.
Position in Wildcard Standings: Tied with Louisville for the 2nd Frick Wildcard spot. Clinched postseason berth.

Hot Take

Well, whaddaya know?

The Sox didn’t choke it away after all. In fact, they didn’t even take it down to the last freakin’ game of the season, like they did last year.

No, they wrapped up a playoff spot with a whole … um … three games to go. Ok, Ok. It’s not like they cut a swath through the Frick to go storming into the playoffs like Yellow Springs. But they didn’t slip through the side door like last year, either.

They actually won a playoff spot in respectable fashion. And they did it, as we’ve said repeatedly, with no discernable offense. With three games to go in the season, Chicago ranks 14th out of 16 Frick League teams in runs scored. Fourteenth!

Every team in the Heartland Division outscored the Sox.

In fact, the Heartland team closest to Chicago’s paltry output was Des Moines – and they’ve actually scored 25 more runs. Louisville, who shares second place with Chicago, has outscored us by 114, so far.

Which means the Sox have done it on pitching: with a starting staff that ranked second in the Frick for ERA (behind only Sacramento) and a bullpen that ranked fourth.

No one in particular has stood above the rest in the rotation – Amayas Moelling is the ace, but his 12-11 record and 3.18 ERA certainly isn’t head and shoulders above, say, 5th starter Juan Nicto, who’s has gone 14-7 with a 3.72 ERA. In fact, Nicto has been more reliable than anyone down the stretch, going 7-0 with a 1.66 ERA in 70.1 innings over his last 10 starts.

So now, the Sox are in position to rest their regulars for the final games of the regular season and give those starters a breather as they head into the playoffs. Starters for the final three games against Des Moines figure to be prospect John McClain (who sparkled in his debut and got roughed up in his second outing); long reliever Paul Kemp; and another bullpen arm, Frits Brinson.

Our only advice now is: Enjoy this while you can, Sox fans. Chicago’s playoff tenure likely will be a short one.

But the journey to get here sure was exciting!*

Oh yeah, one footnote: Sox attendance this season hit a 10-year high: 3,189,284, and word has it that owner Vinnie Vitale is thinking of adding more seats to bring Black Sox Park capacity to 45,000 next year.

The Week Ahead

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3 Games at Des Moines {{{GAG}}}

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