Ostrowski: 5 questions Sox need to answer in second half
Whether or not the Sox hang around in the American League wild card race as a team, there are five individual performances that the decision-makers will be eyeing very closely for the next two and a half months. Let's break it down.
1. Will Todd Frazier have another second half swoon?
Each of the last two years, Frazier's offensive production has fallen of a cliff after the all-star break. Last season his batting average and on-base percentage dropped over 60 points, OPS was down 258 points, and he hit 15 fewer home runs. The third baseman hit 25 over the fence in the first half this year and in 2015. His average is already very low, so watch the power numbers. Frazier is under team control for one more season.
2. Will Carson Fulmer show enough to be in the 2017 rotation?
This call-up came as a surprise to many, but not those that have paid attention to the Sox way. Their young pitchers are put on the fast track to get to the majors. Fulmer will start in the bullpen after making the jump from Double-A. The rookie had a 4.76 ERA in 17 starts, but was dominant in his last three outings. In 19 innings, he had a 0.94 ERA with 22 strikeouts. James Shields can opt-out of his contract at the end of the year, but that would mean turning down $21 million for 2017 & 2018.
3. Is Robin Ventura going to be the manager in 2017?
If the White Sox finish below .500, it will be for the fourth straight season under the lame duck skipper. Former Cubs manager Rick Renteria was brought in as the bench coach to replace Mark Parent. Renteria won 73 games in his only shot at managing in 2014, before Joe Maddon became available. The only everyday position player there in 2014 and still on the north side is Anthony Rizzo. Travis Wood and Edwin Jackson had the most starts in Renteria's rotation.
4. How will Tim Anderson adjust?
The shortstop has stepped in and helped immediately as the leadoff hitter. This fixed the second spot in the order, allowing Ventura to push Adam Eaton down a spot. In a small 30-game sample size, Anderson's batting average and slugging percentage is in the top ten of all shortstops. However, his strikeout rate is among the highest and walk rate is one of the lowest in the league. After going around much of the league once, the rookie will face each team in the AL Central three to four more times.
5. Is the Avisail Garcia era over?
The 25-year-old DH is having his worst season with the Sox and Justin Morneau was activated to start the second half. Common sense says that the designated hitter spot will be a platoon, but maybe not. These are small sample sizes, but Garcia has a .170 batting average against lefties this year and Morneau hit .342 vs southpaws last season. Morneau was playing in Coors Field, but has hit at least .300 vs righties each of the last two years.
• Joe Ostrowski is a co-host of the "Hit & Run" baseball show from 9 a.m. to noon Sundays on WSCR 670-AM The Score with Barry Rozner. Follow him on Twitter@JoeO670.