Armed and not so dangerous
The White Sox never came out and admitted it, but they knew the season was a lost cause two months ago.
That's when they wrapped up a stretch of really bad baseball, going 6-22 and hitting rock bottom with 3 straight home losses to the Cubs.
But even when they were getting cozy on the slab, the Sox looked at their starting rotation and regained hope for the future.
In Mark Buehrle, Jose Contreras, Jon Garland and Javier Vazquez, they had four established horses. Rookie John Danks, the No. 5 starter, looked like a blossoming star.
Look at the White Sox' rotation now, and the future doesn't appear so bright.
When the Sox rolled through the postseason in 2005 and won the World Series, the starters fed off each other's success. Less than two years later, they are feeding off each other's ineptitude.
Another round of poor starting pitching was on display Friday at U.S. Cellular Field, where the White Sox were steamrolled by the Boston Red Sox in a day-night doubleheader.
"That's 12 hours of my life I wasted," said White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, "and I'm not going to get it back.''
In Game 1, Jon Garland labored through another ineffective outing in an 11-3 loss. In Game 2, Danks was lit up again in Boston's 10-1 win.
Garland (8-10), an 18-game winner in each of the last two seasons, is 0-3 with a 9.13 ERA over his last 5 starts.
The 27-year-old right-hander pitched 7 innings against the Red Sox, allowing 6 runs (5 earned) on 9 hits. Boston broke through in the fourth, scoring 4 runs on 5 hits and an error by rookie second baseman Danny Richar.
"It was really one bad inning,'' Guillen said. "I think he threw a little better today. I think he was more aggressive in the strike zone.''
Guillen has been saying a failure to attack has been the biggest problem, but Garland disagreed.
"I feel I've been aggressive every time I step on the mound,'' Garland said. "Whether it looks like it or not, I know that I am."
In Game 2, Danks breezed through the first three innings. In the fourth, he walked leadoff hitter Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz followed with a 2-run homer.
Danks never made it out of the inning, as Gavin Floyd came out of the bullpen after the Red Sox tacked on 3 more runs on 3 hits.
"Real tough outing,'' Guillen said.
Danks has not recorded a win since July 16. The young left-hander is 0-6 with a 9.64 ERA in his last 7 starts.
Much like Garland, Danks said he felt good on the mound.
"I feel like even in the fourth inning, I made some good pitches,'' Danks said. "David Ortiz isn't who he is for nothing.''
The White Sox were outscored by Boston 21-4 Friday and outhit 28-14.
"That's why they're in first place and we're in last,'' Guillen said. "You can see it right there. It was a tough day for everyone, pitching, hitting, defense, you name it.''
Red Sox 11, White Sox 3
Red Sox 10, White Sox 1
On the mound: In Game 1, starter Jon Garland pitched 7 innings and allowed 6 runs (5 earned) on 9 hits. In Game 2, starter John Danks lasted just 31/3 innings and allowed 5 runs on 5 hits.
At the plate: In Game 1, Josh Fields hit a 2-run homer. Juan Uribe hit a solo homer in Game 2. Paul Konerko was 0-for-7 in the doubleheader.
-- Scot Gregor