Key factors led to White Sox' season woes
It started out as a joke, but starting pitcher Mark Buehrle turned serious when reflecting on his July 23 perfect game.
"It seems like every time I go out there and have a game where something special happens, the rest of the year we don't play good," Buehrle said. "That's what it turned out to be. (Paul) Konerko and A.J. (Pierzynski) were saying, 'Just go 7 innings next year and win 25, because that way we can win."
In 2007, Buehrle pitched his first no-hitter, against the Texas Rangers on April 18. The White Sox finished the season with a 72-90 record.
This year, the Sox improved to 50-45 on the day Buehrle pitched his latest gem, which pulled them into a first-place tie with the Detroit Tigers.
They seemed to finally be positioned to launch, but the season fizzled from there.
The White Sox went 29-38 after Buehrle pitched the 18th perfect game in major-league history, and manager Ozzie Guillen also referenced the South Side "curse."
"We were in first place when that thing (perfect game) happened," Guillen said. "After that, we just stopped playing good. So it's Buehrle's fault. I'm know for a fact he would trade that for finishing in first place."
Despite the parallels to 2007, Buehrle's perfecto is not why the Sox finished third in the AL Central this season.
Here are some legitimate reasons:
The offense
The White Sox finished with a .258 batting average, tying them for last place in the American League with the Seattle Mariners.
Ironically, the Mariners and Sox ranked 1-2 in team pitching.
"It just didn't happen enough on a consistent basis with the offense, for whatever reason," first baseman Paul Konerko said. "I don't think it's a matter of blaming this guy or that guy. I know there have been plenty of times where I didn't do my job and left runners out there."
Konerko had a decent season, leading the White Sox with 28 home runs and 88 RBI while batting .277.
But the lack of production from Carlos Quentin, Jermaine Dye, Jim Thome before he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Aug. 31, and Alex Rios, after he was claimed off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays on Aug. 10, really cost the Sox.
The defense
The White Sox committed 113 errors, second-most in the league behind the Royals (116).
Be it in the infield or the outfield, the Sox never appeared to be completely focused, and that cost them a whopping 69 unearned runs.
Guillen ripped the defense on numerous occasions, especially Alexei Ramirez, who committed 20 errors.
But with Ramirez playing his first full major-league season at shortstop, and with rookies Gordon Beckham at third base and Chris Getz at second, it figured to be a shaky season.
"From the second half to (the end), the team played a lot better defensively," Guillen said. "And having Rios in center field, that's going to help. It's going to make everyone around them better. I expect us to be a lot better next year, without a doubt."
The bullpen
Matt Thornton was the only consistent relief pitcher, and the hard-throwing lefty could be the White Sox' closer in 2010 if Bobby Jenks is traded.
Octavio Dotel is eligible for free agency and not likely to return. Scott Linebrink still has two years and $10.5 million left on his contract, so general manager Kenny Williams has little chance of trading the right-hander unless the Sox absorb a big chunk of his salary.
Linebrink was 3-7 with a 4.66 ERA this season.
"I'm kind of optimistic about the chance of getting Linebrink back," White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper said Sunday.
"Where we're missing with Linebrink is simply this. Since the injury (shoulder in 2009), he has not commanded as well and he has not had the hammer with strike one and getting ahead in the count. That's what we've got to regain."