Sox need these guys to get it going
Even though they’ve lost five straight series, the White Sox are still in good position to make a playoff push.
They just need better production from a few key individuals.
We’ll scratch Gavin Floyd from the list after he pitched 6 scoreless innings in Wednesday night’s interleague win over the Cubs.
Floyd is as streaky as they come, and he had six straight duds before shutting down the North Siders. We’ll just assume that is going to set the stage for the next string of good starts.
If the Sox are going to get back to the top of the AL Central, these guys need to get it going:
Adam DunnYes, he has 23 home runs, the most in baseball.But Dunn also leads the majors with 109 strikeouts, and a 2-for-15 slump has dropped his average to .225.While he#146;s looked a lot like the 2011 Adam Dunn lately, the White Sox#146; designated hitter knows what needs to be fixed.#147;I just can#146;t make contact,#148; Dunn said. #147;There are a few pitches that I#146;ve swung at that are bad, but for the most part ... I don#146;t know if I#146;m trying to do too much.#147;I think I#146;m swinging too hard, actually. I know that sounds stupid, but I think I#146;m seeing it pretty good and swinging too hard.#148;Philip HumberWith John Danks (shoulder) out until late July at the earliest, the White Sox really need Humber to turn it around.Yes, he won his last start, against the Dodgers in Los Angeles on Saturday.But Humber didn#146;t deserve a #147;W#148; after allowing 4 runs on 9 hits in 5 innings while throwing 99 pitches.Since his April 21 perfect game at Seattle, Humber is 2-4 with a 7.47 ERA in 10 starts. Not good.#147;I think he#146;s struggling mainly with his command, but it#146;s not something to be worried about,#148; White Sox reliever Will Ohman said. #147;The stuff is there. I mean, he#146;s got one of the best curveballs in major-league baseball. Go ask any hitter. He#146;s not easy to hit. But he#146;s the same as any one of us. You get into a rut.#148;A.J. PierzynskiIs age finally catching up with the Sox#146; workhorse catcher?That#146;s tough to say, but the 35-year-old Pierzynski sure looked like he needed Thursday#146;s break in the schedule following Wednesday night#146;s win over the Cubs.Pierzynski loves being in the lineup, but he#146;s played in 60 of the Sox#146; 69 games so far.Pierzynski usually plays every day except Sunday, but Sox manager Robin Ventura started Tyler Flowers against the Cubs on Tuesday.#147;You look at A.J. swinging it, probably the last week and a half he#146;s been frustrated,#148; Ventura said.And tired.Pierzynski (.286, 12 home runs, 41 RBI) is having a great season, but he is riding a 4-for-23 slump. Rest is going to be key the rest of the way.Addison ReedHe blew Sunday#146;s game at Los Angeles, but Reed has been solid in save situation, bagging 8 of 9 opportunities.In non-save situations, the White Sox#146; rookie right-hander needs to be better.Reed has allowed 10 earned runs in 14 innings when a save opportunity was not available.Orlando HudsonVentura said Hudson is going to be back in the starting lineup Friday night when the Sox open a three-game interleague series against the Brewers.As we discussed Thursday, why not move Dayan Viciedo from left field to third base?The switch has been talked about internally, but it looks like Hudson is still going to be the main man at third for the foreseeable future.Ideally, you want power and run production from your third baseman. In 25 games with the White Sox, Hudson is batting .167 with 1 home run and 10 RBI.sgregor@dailyherald.com