Garcia finds the plate in remarks about Sox starters
CLEVELAND - Let's give Mark Buehrle a DNF after being ejected from Wednesday's start against the Indians following his second balk of the game.
But let's give the White Sox' starting rotation - minus John Danks - about a D- or F+ through the first two months of the season.
"We're horse(bleep)," No. 5 starter Freddy Garcia told the Daily Herald.
You have to give Garcia some big points for being honest.
"I agree with him 100 percent," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "Our expectations were very high for them. We expect better things from them. So far we're very inconsistent."
Outside of Danks, who is 4-3 with a 2.37 ERA, Guillen is right.
Heading into the season, the Sox' starting five was expected to be one of the best in the American League, if not in all of baseball.
But heading into Wednesday, White Sox starters were 15-19 with a 4.92 ERA. In the AL, only the Tigers were worse at 14-16, 5.15 ERA.
Particularly disappointing are Jake Peavy (3-5, 6.05 ERA) and Gavin Floyd (2-4, 6.31).
"We should be one of the best rotations in baseball, but sometimes it doesn't work," said Garcia, who is 3-3 with a 5.68 ERA. "You try too hard sometimes and it doesn't work. Hopefully we can turn it around and start pitching better."
The Sox' offense has taken much of the heat so far this season, and the lack of run support has likely put added pressure on the rotation. However, Garcia said that is not much of a factor.
"We just have to pitch," Garcia said. "If they start hitting the ball we'll get better as a team. But if we score 3 or 4 runs, we can't let them score."
Guillen is almost shocked by the way the starters have struggled.
"Our expectations were very high from them," Guillen said. "We expect better things from them. Unfortunately so far we're very inconsistent. The thing was everyone was leaning to our offense, but I think our starting pitching isn't doing it right now like we thought they were going to do. That's why you see a lot of guys pile up innings in the bullpen.
"I hope this thing turns around because I think the ability and material is there."