CHICAGO — A glance at team statistics in the American League on Sunday showed the primary reason for the White Sox’s .500 record (6-6) to start the day. Chicago led the AL in nearly every offensive category and was in last for almost every pitching stat. The Sox were also second-to-last in fielding. A year ago, the fielding was ranked about the same but the offense and pitching were flip-flopped. This year, the offense is sprinting out of the starting gate. “They grind out at-bats and find ways to score,” manager Robin Ventura said of his offense. “You’re not scoring just one way. I know a couple years ago, we’d only score, really, if we hit homers and last year we didn’t score much in any way. This year, there’s just been a couple different ways to score that I think every inning they feel like they have a chance to score. That’s up and down the lineup, too. It’s not just at certain parts of the lineup.”
Chicago came into Sunday leading the AL in team batting average (.285), runs scored (76), home runs (16), RBIs (74), slugging percentage (.456) and on-base percentage (.359). The Sox also lead the major leagues in runs per game (6.33), home runs (16) and on-base percentage (.359) while ranking second in average, slugging and OPS (.815). The pitching is almost the complete opposite, ranking last in the AL in earned-run average (5.86), hits allowed (119), opponent-batting average (.283) and earned runs (69). Ventura said it’s still too early to make changes with the pitching staff, but said that’s an option if the struggles continue. “Eventually changes are just part of the game if it doesn’t get better,” he said. “That’s just part of what we do and it’s possible at some point. Right now I don’t foresee it.”
If changes are made, it will most likely begin with the bullpen. Sox relievers have lost four games, blown three saves and held a 7.91 ERA (29 ER in 33 innings) coming into the series finale Sunday against the Cleveland Indians. “We always talk about (the bullpen), whether it’s going good or whether it’s going bad,”
Ventura said of his briefings with pitching coach Don Cooper. “You’re always talking about it and also with the hitters and everything else. The old saying is, ‘You’re only as happy as your least happy kid.’ That’s what it is with a team. You’re always concerned about the guys that maybe aren’t feeling as good and aren’t doing as well. Those are the guys you’re always talking about.”