White Sox - 6/23/03
June 22, 2003
LATEST TEAM INFO
RECORD:35-40
PLACE: 3rd
GAMES BACK: 5.5
The White Sox are 6-4 in their last 10 games and are slowly cutting the gap between the two on top of the division - the Twins and Royals. They are now 5.5 games back and will be facing the Twins six times over the next nine games. This stretch will be huge as 19 of the next 21 games after will be against teams with a below .412 winning percentage. That will be followed by a nine game stretch where the second place Royals would be their opponenets in six of them.
AT THE PLATE
Joe Crede, 3B
Crede is 12-for-his-last-35 and and batting .288 so far in June, a significant jump from his poor play in April and May, which may have caused plenty to dump the young third baseman - a bad move. Grab him and play him as he's really close to looking like the Crede of September 2002.
Brian Daubach, 1B/DH
He's finally received some playing time and has responded, going 5-9 with a homer, three RBIs and three walks in his last four games. He is 10-23 total this month, good for a .435 batting average. With Paul Konerko still under .200 and showing little signs of breaking out, contradicting my statement of a few weeks ago, Daubach is the starting designated hitter - for now. Keep in mind that Daubach is historically a streaky hitter, so if you have plans on signing/using him, better do it now. If he has a bad game or two, Jerry Manuel will likely go back to Paul Konerko.
Willie Harris, CF
It appears as though for the first time, Harris has taken the next step and is showing how valuable he can be on both the offensive and defensive end. Harris has played strong defense in center, while batting .261 (8-28), with two RBIs and two stolen bases in seven games. The numbers aren't too impressive, but the fact that he's had success, although brief, against the Twins, a team they are set to play six times over the next nine games. The remaining three are against the Cubs, a team he is now 4-13 lifetime against.
D'Angelo Jimenez, 2B
Although Jimenez has struggled, he also has the ability to break out of this slump at any time. He hasn't had much success this season against the Twins or Cubs, so be wary. Sit him in the Twins opener against Reed and the second game of the Cubs series, when he faces Zambrano.
ON THE MOUND
Esteban Loaiza, SP
Loaiza is scheduled to pitch on Tuesday against the Twins, who he has pitched well against in both starts this season, and Sunday against the Cubs. At 10-2, there is little reason not to start him both games, but the Twins could pose a threat. The Twins averaged over one baserunner an inning against Loaiza, but only managed to score two runs total. The Twins offense isn't great, but it is very rare they miss out on scoring chances in big games, especially against the Sox. The Cubs haven't seen Loaiza since the 90s, when he was average, so it's a no-brainer - start him.
Jon Garland
A 3.42 career ERA against the Twins is nice to see, but three things should keep you from starting Garland: he rarely throws four straight quality outings, his opponent is Joe Mays and the Sox have had trouble with the Twins for nearly five years now. Hold him off this start, start him again next week when they are at U.S. Cellular.
Bartolo Colon
Colon was far from brilliant on Sunday yet still managed to shutout the Cubs in seven innings, limiting them to just three hits. His next start, which will be against the Cubs, he will be on five days rest. Expect Colon to come out big in that one.
Mark Buehrle
Buehrle will be up against Brad Radke and the Twins on Thursday. With Radke's struggles of late, against the Sox and in the Metrodome, Buehrle could finally get the run support he wants. Start him.
