Plenty of numbers behind Sox struggles

The number most White Sox fans are likely thinking about these dreary days?

Let’s go with 28, as in Sept. 28. Last day of the season.

To many, the young campaign is already a lost cause for the Sox, who have stumbled out to their worst start (11-21) since really bad leisure suits were all the rage in 1978.

As the Sox try to regroup and head to the West Coast for nine games against the Mariners, Angels and A’s, it’s as good of a time as any to eyeball some numbers and see if we can make some sense of a sad season.

5. The White Sox finished fifth in the old American League West division in 1978 after also starting 11-21. Their final 71-90 record left them 20½ games off the pace.

Interestingly, the Sox had two managers in ’78 — Bob Lemon, who was fired after 74 games, and Larry Doby.

77. Staying on the topic of managers in distress, whitesoxinteractive.com has a current poll question: Should Ozzie Guillen be fired?

As of mid-afternoon Thursday, 77 percent voted in the affirmative.

2. That’s the total number of wins the Sox have claimed over the Twins in their last 14 meetings.

With key Minnesota players such as Joe Mauer, Delmon Young and Jim Thome out with injuries, the Sox had a perfect opportunity to finally step up and smack their AL Central rivals around a little in the two-game series at U.S. Cellular Field this week.

Instead, they went down meekly. Again.

3. That’s how many times Twins pitchers hit White Sox batters Wednesday.

0. That’s how many Twins hitters White Sox pitchers hit Wednesday.

20. That’s how many times the Sox have been hit by pitches this season, most in the majors.

8. That’s how many times Sox pitchers have hit opposing hitters, among the lowest in the majors.

2000. That was the year of the White Sox’ last memorable brawl.

It came against the Detroit Tigers on April 28, and seemed to shake the Sox out of an early-season funk as they went on to finish in first place.

Not advocating violence or anything, just throwing it out there.

0. Popular number today, but this time it represents how many Gold Gloves shortstop Alexei Ramirez is going to win.

He has all of the tools, great range, etc. And I thought Ramirez was ripped off last year when Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter claimed the coveted fielding award.

But as Ramirez has consistently shown over the first month-plus of this season, he is way too sloppy and frequently lacks focus.

As captain Paul Konerko likes to say, you get paid to play all 162 games.

63. In another whitesoxinteractive poll question asking if GM Kenny Williams should be fired, 63 percent responded yes.

93. The percentage of yes votes responding to the same question about Sox hitting coach Greg Walker. Ouch.

3. Adam Dunn’s home run total through 31 games (although he did miss 6 with an appendectomy).

Through 31 games with the Nationals last season, Dunn only had 6 home runs, so that might tell you better days are ahead.

.246 That is leadoff man Juan Pierre’s batting average, which is actually decent considering how bad he’s been looking at the plate.

In another “better days might be ahead” nod, Pierre was batting .223 at this point last year and he finished at .275.

.313 That’s what left-handers are batting against Chris Sale, the White Sox’ lefty relief pitcher.

Last year, left-handers batted .290 against Sale. So much for matchups.

34. That is Felix Hernandez’s uniform number.

Friday night, the Mariners’ ace starter takes the mound against the hitting-challenged White Sox.

What else can go wrong?

sgregor@dailyherald.com