After going 26-5 in their 31 games prior, the White Sox are on a three-game skid courtesy of their divisional rival Minnesota Twins. What should have been a 4-game series split, ended up as a 3-1 series loss after a tough defeat yesterday. The White Sox reverted to their old ways after winning the first game of the series and began to boot the ball around the infield and make mental mistakes. Dayan Viciedo made a critical error on Friday night on what should have been a 5-4-3 double play and turned into a run scoring, game changing gaffe. It was a fielding error on a hard hit ball to third, so I’m not that down on him especially since the Sox knew coming in that he’s not in the lineup for his fielding. He’s the future first baseman/DH. Which brings me to my next point…Omar Vizquel needs to be at third base as much as possible to shore up the defense. Although both players have the same amount of errors of 2 at 3B, Vizquel has played more than twice as many innings. Obviously he doesn’t have the kind of “pop” in his bat that Viciedo does, but “Defense wins championships” is a sports cliché for a reason! He also seems to have settled down Alexi Ramirez whose Ultimate Zone Rating is a solid 8.6 with a UZR/150 of 15.4 thus far. Vizquel isn’t tearing the cover off the ball, but he’s not exactly being detrimental to the lineup either. He gets his hits as shown by his .265 BA and he can actually lay a sacrifice bunt down to advance the runners. Now I know Viciedo is up in the Majors for a reason and he needs to get his at-bats being a big part of the future core of the White Sox, so I’d suggest making him the full-time DH. I know this isn’t what Ozzie wants as he likes the flexibility of his roster, but this is the circumstance that the Sox are in. What happens when Teahen is ready to come off the disabled list? That’s another blog for another day as I think that day is still closer to a month away. If they don’t want to go that route, put him back in triple A. We’re only about six weeks away from the September call-ups anyway, and maybe he can get more work as an everyday third baseman.
The White Sox lost the series finale at Target Field after going into the bottom of the ninth with a 3-run lead. Big Bobby Jenks didn’t record an out before he was replaced by rookie Sergio Santos who was called upon and asked to do what he’s never done before. He was asked to close out a game, with inherited runners and on the road no less! Needless to say, it didn’t work out. I’m not that down on Bobby either as he had converted his last 15 save opportunities, but this loss was so tough that I’m now skeptical of the whole shorten-the-game idea. Essentially, in order for that idea to work and be properly executed, you’re asking at least three pitchers to have their good stuff on a nightly basis. Don’t get me wrong, it has worked perfectly for a few clubs throughout the years, particularly a bullpen that has been anchored by a future Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera. I’m just saying my own foundation on that sort of game plan has been rocked and I’d like to hear arguments from both sides.
Tape & Pine Tar
The Cubs won a tough series matchup against the Phillies. The most impressive part was getting the victory last night on Sunday Night Baseball when they defeated the Doc himself, Roy Halladay. They took three of four and really took them to the woodshed the two games they won. Starlin Castro’s bat is really starting to come around and guess who finally joined the party….Aramis “Too little, possibly too late” Ramirez. Even after the series versus the Phillies victory, the Cubs still stand 9.5 games behind the division leading St. Louis Cardinals. Even the Cincinnati Reds are ahead of them by nine games. What a hole the Cubs have dug themselves into, but it’s a rather pathetic remark aimed towards the NL Central as a whole when I say that the Cubs still have a legitimate shot at going on a run to take over the division, or have an outside shot at climbing over seven teams to win the wildcard slot.
Bears training camp is just around the corner. People are making a big deal about the fact that Devin Hester is working out with former Martz-offense receiver and future Hall of Famer Isaac Bruce. In my opinion, it would be a better story if he WASN”T going the extra mile to gain an edge for his game.
As always tune in to Cover 3 every Monday evening from 7 to 9 on sportstownchicago.com
PREACH
By: Robert Zielinski Jr.
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