Sox starting pitchers show they can pick up the pace
A week ago, White Sox general manager Kenny Williams identified a gaping hole and tried filling it by landing ace starting pitcher Jake Peavy in a trade from the San Diego Padres.
The deal didn't pan out, but the Sox' struggling rotation seems to have gotten the memo: pick it up or lose your spot.
They have picked it up, big time.
Mark Buehrle has been solid all season, and now John Danks, Gavin Floyd, Bartolo Colon and Clayton Richard are also delivering quality starts.
"We take Buehrle for granted," Sox pitching coach Don Cooper said at U.S. Cellular Field last weekend. "Gavin, obviously Buehrle, Danks, I'm hoping they are going to get us going and we're going to get back to pitching the way we're used to seeing Chicago White Sox pitchers be."
While winning two of three from the Angels in Anaheim, Calif., Danks, Colon and Floyd combined to pitch 202/3 innings, allowing 7 runs on 15 hits.
Buehrle gave up 12 hits over 7 innings against Pittsburgh Sunday, but the left-hander only gave up 1 run.
Richard faced the Pirates Saturday night and pitched 6 shutout innings.
Buehrle, the Sox' longtime ace, downplays all of the Peavy speculation providing motivation.
"I never really thought he was coming here, because he's got the no-trade (clause) and it sounds like he wants to stay in the National League," said Buehrle, who doesn't personally know Peavy. "For the guys that are here, it's just a matter of being more consistent. You're going to go out and have some bad ones, everybody does, but you can't have too many and you try to spread them out."
It's only been a week since the Peavy trade fell through, and Williams said he doesn't have a "Plan B" when it comes to finding another standout starting pitcher.
With Buehrle, Danks, Floyd, Colon and Richard all going in the right direction, and with Jose Contreras, Carlos Torres and Aaron Poreda waiting for a call down in the minor leagues, odds are Williams is looking to upgrade in other areas.
And if the starters continue setting positive tones, maybe Williams can just sit back and watch the White Sox get back into contention.
"The starting pitching has been pretty good, and that's how you get back on track and start winning streaks," said bench coach Joey Cora, who managed the Sox for three games before Guillen returned from a family situation Tuesday night.
"That's what it's all about, starting pitching," Cora added. "If the starting pitching gives you innings, it's sets up the bullpen nice. It seems like the guys are going their jobs."
Starting to turn?
A look at the White Sox' starting rotation over the past two weeks:
Mark Buehrle
ERA on May 14: 3.00
ERA on May 28: 2.59
John Danks
ERA on May 14: 4.82
ERA on May 28: 4.59
Bartolo Colon
ERA on May 14: 4.21
ERA on May 28: 3.80
Gavin Floyd
ERA on May 14: 7.71
ERA on May 28: 6.12
Clayton Richard
ERA on May 14: 5.40
ERA on May 28: 3.55
Source: White Sox
White Sox vs. Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium
TV: Comcast SportsNet today; Channel 9 Saturday and Sunday
Radio: WSCR 670-AM
Pitching matchups: The Sox' Clayton Richard (1-0) vs. Brian Bannister (4-1) today at 7:10 p.m.; Mark Buehrle (6-1) vs. Gil Meche (2-5) Saturday at 6:10 p.m.; John Danks (4-3) vs. Zack Greinke (8-1) Sunday at 1:10 p.m.
At a glance: The White Sox are 1-4 vs. the Royals this season (0-2 at Kauffman Stadium). A.J. Pierzynski is 8-for-18 (.444) against K.C. and Jermaine Dye is hitting .389 (7-for-18) with a home run and 3 RBI. Greinke is tied with Toronto's Roy Halladay for the major-league lead in wins, and he leads the majors with a 0.84 ERA. Greinke is 2-0 vs. the Sox this season and he hasn't allowed a run in 15 innings. The Royals were tied for first place in the AL Central on May 15, but seven losses in 11 games have dropped them out of the top spot.
Next: Oakland Athletics, Monday-Thursday at U.S. Cellular Field