After the White Sox bats were red hot for the first three series, once they arrived in Minnesota they cooled off significantly. This is most likely due to the injuries to Tim Anderson, Yoan Moncada, and Eloy Jimenez. Regardless of the injuries, the Sox were in every single game and had the opportunity to win each of the games they lost. But, they were not able to pull two of them out.
Fielding Woes In Game One
In the first game of the series, the only game they won, they were able to put up 8 hits and score four runs. Unfortunately, all the runs came in one single inning against Twins starter Kenta Maeda. This was enough to hold on to the lead, but the defense was extraordinarily suspect.
In this game, the Sox committed three errors, leading to two unearned runs for Dylan Cease. This made the game way closer than it needed to be. If Hanser Alberto and Gavin Sheets make the plays they need to, then it is a 4-1 ballgame and it is a lot less stressful on the bullpen, rather than clinging to a one-run lead.
This game was the only time the Sox were able to put any consistent hits on the board, as it got worse the each of the next games for the Sox.
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Missed Opportunities In Game Two
In the second game, against Twins ace Pablo Lopez, the Sox had him on the ropes in the first inning. After a bases-loaded double that scored two, the White Sox had runners on second and third with nobody out. Realistically, the Sox should score at least one more run. All it takes is a ground ball or a fly ball and a runner scores. But unfortunately, the Sox were unable to get either runner in and they left the inning only scoring two.
After three hits in the first inning, the White Sox were held hitless until the last inning, where Luis Robert Jr. hit a game-tying home run in the ninth inning. This lead only lasted momentarily, as they could not score with the extra runner on second in the 10th. On the first pitch in the bottom of the 10th, Twins hitter Michael Taylor laid down a bunt to move the runner over and Hanser Alberto threw the ball into the stands.
The White Sox were simply outplayed in that game. The situational hitting has been astonishingly bad and the inability to move or score runners with less than two outs has been alarming. Just as the pitching starts to get better the bats and the gloves begin to fail us.
On the bright side, recent call-up Keynan Middleton looked great in this series and he could stick around in the pen if he continues to strike out people as he did in this series. In two appearances, he struck out 5 guys in 1 2/3rds inning.
A Bad Third Game
In the last game, Lucas Giolito was throwing one of his best games in recent memory. He ended up throwing 6 innings of 1 run ball with 7 strikeouts. The only run was given up because Gavin Sheets was playing out of position in right field.
On a ball that should have been a routine fly ball for any major league outfielder, Sheets tripped as he tracked the ball and the batter ended up getting to third for a triple.
That play perfectly sums up how the White Sox fared in Minnesota this week. After recording 10 hits in most of the games in the first three series, the Sox were only able to muster 18 hits over the three games, scoring only 8 runs. That is not going to win you many games.
The more concerning trend is the defense, as the Sox recorded 4 errors (should have been 5) in the series. These have mainly come from Alberto and Sheets, who are playing like they are trying to play their way off this team.
Hanser Alberto did have a three-run homerun that saved the game on Monday, but after that, he was quiet and very bad in the field.
Gavin Sheets on the other hand has looked much better at the plate this year, but if he cannot field at first or in the outfield, his bat is not good enough to have him on this team over someone who is a true outfielder. For him to stick around he has to hit for power, but he has not shown any to this point. While most of the team is not hitting for power, it highlights a major concern for this team.
Once Mondcada and Eloy come back the offense should improve, but if the fielding or the pitching fails, the team is simply not good enough to overcome these obstacles. It is still early so I have not given up hope, but the early season results have not been great.
