As a Michigan Football fan on top of being a die-hard White Sox fan, I really feel like throwing up after watching my teams tonight. The White Sox loss stings so much more to me though, as we are now just one game ahead of the Detroit Tigers in the American League Central.
OFFENSE FALLS ASLEEP
No one could figure out Max Scherzer tonight, and again, the Sox offense was back on their heels. There was no sort of aggressiveness from this offense early in the count (you all know I hate that by now, ESPECIALLY when the pitcher only walks one guy throughout the course of the game!) and once again, we failed to take advantage of Miguel Cabrera at third base. The offense has really failed us this series, and they need to figure out a way to manufacture these runs. At least they are taking at least some momentum into tomorrow, with Orlando Hudson tripling in the ninth inning to give us a run.
Once again, the Tigers were able to celebrate gaining a game on our White Sox (photo via USA Today).
WALK-A-THON
Francisco Liriano issued seven free passes tonight, which led to a short night for him, not even lasting through the fifth inning. This guy has all the stuff to shut down any offense, but some nights he just cannot find the strike zone. It was his second bad start since he’s came over to the White Sox. It just stinks that it was at such a horrible time. It forced the Sox to use seven different pitchers tonight. Some of them had very short outings, but still, it puts a ton of pressure on Chris Sale tomorrow.
SOX KILLERS
Detroit is now 9-4 against our Sox, and Miguel Cabrera and Delmon Young once again led the way. Up until the season, the Sox had played pretty well against Detroit and actually pitched to Cabrera better than most teams. That hasn’t been the case this year. Delmon Young, however, has always been a Sox killer since his days in Minnesota. I just get sick of seeing the same guys beat us every time!
BAD FEELING ABOUT TOMORROW
The Sox are asking Chris Sale to go out and beat Justin Verlander tomorrow to avoid their second consecutive sweep in Comerica Park. Sale has been dynamite, but I really don’t like the idea of anyone pitching with their back against the wall in an atmosphere like tomorrow night that figures to be electric in a national television audience. With that said, a win tomorrow would be huge for the psyche of this team, and it will show us what they are really made of.