Plenty of key questions facing Sox in stretch run
After taking a break on Thursday, the White Sox get back at it Friday night with the first of three against the last-place Baltimore Orioles at U.S. Cellular Field.
Let's use the down time to provide some quick answers to key questions surrounding the Sox.
Q: Are they really underachievers, as GM Kenny Williams claimed on Tuesday?
A: The White Sox are 62-59, and Williams obviously expects better.
But what does that say about Baseball Prospectus, which for some reason has become the authoritative preseason prognosticator? The publication picked the Sox to finish last in the AL Central this year.
Captain Paul Konerko admits it has been an up-and-down season, but he seems satisfied the White Sox are within striking distance of the first-place Tigers with just over six weeks to play.
And manager Ozzie Guillen made a good point this week: The Sox are a different team now than they were at the beginning of the season, when players like Josh Fields, Bartolo Colon, Brian Anderson and Wilson Betemit were filling key roles.
Q: Who needs to step it up during the stretch run?
A: Jermaine Dye. He batted .302 with 20 home runs and 55 RBI in the first half, but Dye is batting just .189 with 4 HR and 16 RBI since the all-star break.
Q: Anybody else?
A: The White Sox should have the best bullpen in the division, but Bobby Jenks, Scott Linebrink and Octavio Dotel have been inconsistent.
Mark Buehrle hasn't posted a win since his July 23 perfect game. Shortstop Alexei Ramirez hit 2 huge home runs on the West Coast, but his ragged defensive play is getting old.
Q: What's the deal with Linebrink losing his role?
A: Linebrink was almost automatic in the eighth inning, but that was in the first half of last season, before he injured his throwing shoulder.
Linebrink has been bouncing around between the sixth, seventh and eighth ever since, and power lefty Matt Thornton has deservedly emerged as the Sox' main bridge to Jenks.
Q: Who has been the White Sox' best player?
A: It's hard to overlook catcher A.J. Pierzynski, who is batting .311 and has already matched last season's home run total (13). The biggest surprise is the low (36) RBI total.
Q: Anybody else?
A: Third baseman Gordon Beckham is rolling toward AL Rookie of the Year honors, mainly because of his potent bat. But the converted shortstop is also making steady improvement at his new position.
Gavin Floyd, who starts against the Orioles in the series opener, is 8-3 with a 2.46 ERA in 16 starts since May 22.
Q: After the Baltimore series, the Sox play the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees and Minnesota Twins on the road. They return home for a makeup game against the Cubs and then play four more against Boston at the Cell. Can they survive?
A: Going .500 over the brutal stretch seems like a reasonable goal. But Williams noted the White Sox recently won 3 of 4 vs. the Yankees at home and followed up winning 2 of 3 vs. the Los Angeles Angels before dropping 2 of 3 to the decimated Cleveland Indians.
The GM obviously believes the White Sox should fare well when stepping up in class.
Q: When is Jake Peavy going to be ready?
A: The Sox' new starter didn't sound overly optimistic Wednesday, and that's understandable given his two-month layoff.
If he builds off his first two rehab starts with Class AAA Charlotte, look for Peavy to debut with the White Sox on Sept. 7, a home game against the Red Sox.
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