Blackhawks bring Stanley Cup to the Cell
This is the 10-year anniversary of the White Sox winning the World Series, not that it really feels like it.
The Sox are heading for their third straight losing season and the memories from 2005 are quickly fading.
Leave it to the Blackhawks to provide the White Sox with a little pick-me-up.
Winners of three NHL championships in the last six seasons, the Hawks brought their latest Stanley Cup to U.S. Cellular Field before Sunday's game against the Texas Rangers.
Head coach Joel Quenneville was on hand, and he threw out the ceremonial first pitch. Andrew Shaw carried the Cup from the dugout to the pitcher's mound for a photo with the Sox, and injured teammate Michal Rozsival was also present.
"It's the coolest trophy by far," manager Robin Ventura said. "The fact that it's the Cup and the stories that go with it, guys that have played a long time, you hear some of the stories it has been through. It's cool. Just the way they treat it, and it's fun. It's fun for it to be in our city."
Zach attack:
After establishing himself as a dependable relief pitcher for the White Sox last season, Zach Putnam came out this year and allowed 4 earned runs on 5 hits in his first 2 innings.
"I think I came out of the gate in April and I'm like, 'What's going on?'" Putnam said. "I went back, watched a little bit of film, made a few adjustments. But more than anything I just trusted myself. I had a good year last year, I'm not going to change anything."
Still featuring a split-finger fastball that dives down in the strike zone, Putnam has allowed just 2 earned runs over his last 15⅔ innings, lowering his ERA from 18.00 at the start of the season to 3.42.
"This is a game that shoves failure in your face and I got some right out of the gate this season," Putnam said. "Just stay the course and that's when good things have happened recently."
After facing the Rangers Saturday and striking out the side, Putnam was back on the mound Sunday and he worked out of a big jam in the 10th inning. With runners on first and third and one out, Putnam got Mitch Moreland to ground into a double play.
For the season, he ranks fourth among American League leaders with 13.90 strikeouts per 9 innings.
"We know what he's got and he uses his off-speed stuff very well," manager Robin Ventura said. "He'll sit there and he'll throw out his fastball and be able to get a guy chasing after it, but you know his bread and butter is going to be his off-speed stuff. He has to be able to throw it for strikes and get guys to chase it. When he's doing that, he's tough to pick up."
On the road:
The White Sox hit the road for nine games against teams (Twins, Tigers, Cardinals) with winning records.
Considering they have played poorly away from home all season and the July 31 nonwaiver trade deadline is gradually nearing, this is an important trip.
"We need to play well," manager Robin Ventura said. "We didn't play well last time in Minnesota and we need to change that up. We know going though this you're going to have to get back through Minnesota, get back through Detroit and be able to play well. For us, none of these teams are easy. Where we're at, none of these teams are easy. You have to play well."