White Sox - 6/17/03
June 14, 2003
LATEST TEAM INFO
RECORD: 32-37
PLACE: 3rd
GAMES BACK: 7.5
For those of you pinning the White Sox struggles on manager Jerry Manuel, and for those who believe dismissing him will lead to better play ... Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but owner/chairman Jerry Reinsdorf assured Manuel's job this week, saying he will not fire Manuel anytime soon.
That made some sense, if it were said prior to the Giants series, when the Sox finished a series win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Things then went back to normal as an opening series win against San Francisco was followed by a blowout and ninth-inning meltdown, losing the series two games to one.
AT THE PLATE
Frank Thomas - If you don't already know, Frank Thomas is back at first and back at his hitting ways, batting .395 so far in June, with five homers and 11 RBIs. Thomas entered June with a .254 average, raising it nearly .030 points. Thomas has now played 14 games at first base, which may soon make him eligible at first -- instead of just at the DH/Utility spot -- in some leagues.
Another plus is the fact that one and two hitters' D'Angelo Jimenez and Jose Valentin have struggled of late, batting a combined 12-67 over the last 10 games.
D'Angelo Jimenez - Sit at the moment. He's looking bad at the plate and is no longer producing with quality at bats and walks. He will pick it up, but it won't be for another week or so. Stay tuned.
Paul Konerko - If you've STILL have hung onto him, you can start playing him again this week. He's looked somewhat better, though still far from where he once was, and could very well breakout soon.
ON THE MOUND
Jon Garland - Garland has looked very good in five of his last six starts, but still has the inconsitency tag on him, which means your extinct and the matchup will determine whether he should start or not. Garland's next three starts will be up against either the Cubs (1) or Twins (2). None of these will be easy decisions as opposing him when he faces the Cubs -- a team he has had a history of struggles against -- will be the struggling Shawn Estes. While against the Twins, a team he's had success against, he will be going up against Joe Mays, a known Sox-killer. I'd pitch him against the Cubs and the second meeting with the Twins.
Billy Koch - He's given up two runs in his last 15+ innings, pretty nice numbers that should have you putting him back in your lineup if you ever pulled him. His importance will come over the two weeks as the Sox face the Red Sox, Cubs and Twins over the next 16 games. If the Sox leave this stretch back in contention, Koch's save numbers should improve with the momentum.
Mark Buehrle - Buehrle finally broke his losing streak, nine games, with a win Monday night. He was pitching behind most of the game, but held the lead once he got it, something he hasn't done all year. Like Koch, if the team builds momentum in the coming weeks, he will likely progress with it.
