Streak struck – Sox starters no longer unscathed

Share

Saturday, March 5, 2011
4:43 p.m.
By Brett BallantiniCSNChicago.com
GOODYEAR, Ariz.All good things come to an end, even when the good things are happening in spring training, untelevised and on the down low.

But indeed, the Chicago starters' streak was snapped with two outs in the first inning of the Cleveland Indians 5-3 win over the White Sox on Saturday.

Physically, I felt great, Gavin Floyd said of his rough two-inning, four-run outing. Youd like to make an adjustment early, especially when youre missing up in the zone; I just didnt make the adjustmentYou want to go out there and get your pitches in and be consistent with it. Today, it was a little hit or miss.

He was off a little bit, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. He couldnt find the strike zone; I expected him to make an adjustment right away, but he was up in the strike zone. But as a second outing, theres no panic, he threw the ball well, velocity was good.

The Wahoos did all their damage in the first three frames, pushing across five runs, aided by one of two throwing errors by Mark Teahen in his six innings of play. The White Sox mounted a minor comeback in the fifth, pushing across all three of their runs on hits by Omar Vizquel, Lastings Milledge, and Gordon Beckham.

Floyd gave up only two hits, but walked another two batters and hit Jason Donald, who immediately left the game for x-rays. Floyd also was drilled in the leg (just a flesh wound) by the second batter of the game, Asdrubal Cabrera, and was wearing an ice wrap after he left the game.

It didnt bother me until the trainers got in there, Floyd said. They had to spread the swelling out. You press a couple of thumbs in there and it kind of hurts a little bit. Its there, but its no big deal.

When he got hit in leg, that bothered him a little bit, Guillen said. Im not going to make that excuse, but he got hit pretty good.

After compiling a 3.68 ERA through five spring games through Friday, White Sox hurlers coughed up six earned runs vs. Cleveland. And somebody noticed.

Thats the worst our pitchers have been in spring training, Guillen said. This one was pretty ugly. We walked a lot of people. But this is what the sixth game? We should start playing better after the split-squad Monday. I expect them to pick it up. Right now, Im just letting them play and get ready, get their stuff together.
Teahens troubles

It would be remiss to call Teahens effort on Saturday his worst game as a member of the White Sox, but given whats at stake for hima starting position at third, and possibly even a roster spotit was a devastating effort. Not only did he make two poor throws for errors and stumble over the bag at third on an inning-ending popout, he was thrown out trying to score from second base by right fielder Chad Huffman in the fifth inning.

Weve got to give Teahen a shot, but obviously, weve got to make plays, Guillen said. Our biggest friend to a pitcher, especially when a pitchers in trouble, is defense. But Teahens only been out there for a couple of games.

Clearly, however, while just a week into Cactus League play Guillen is worried about how his roster pieces will fall together with Teahen in the mix.

Ive got to talk to our coaching staff and GM Kenny Williams in the next meeting and see what were going to do, if were going to give him a shot at third base or move him all over the place. Thats the next step, because its not fair for him or anybody. It will clear his mindwill I be at third or not? Weve got to try to make the decision as quick as we can and go from there.

No relief

While Chisox hurlers have been generally strong in the first week of play, two pitchers bidding for bullpen stops continued to struggle on Saturday. Kyle Bellamy came on to relieve Floyd in the third and wasnt fooling anyone with his sidearm delivery. His ERA in two spring training innings remains 9.00. Freddy Dolsi has also struggled, today surrendering three runs (two earned) in 1 23 innings, kicking his spring ERA over 2 23 innings to 10.13.

Bright spots?

According to Guillen, there were indeed bright spots to todays worst spring training effort of the season. Just not one youd expect.

The White Sox batboy beating the Indians batboy was the highlight, Guillen said with a loud laugh. Thats how bad the game was. That was the only excitement we had in the game.

There was a friendly competition between batboys when hustling for foul balls early in the game. Guillen and bench coach Joey Cora were yelling on every foul ball, both for their own ballboy to hustle and for the opposing, older batboy to slow down and not treat fouls back to the screen as if at Wimbleton.
The LAST word on the streak

Indeed, Floyd claimed he only became aware of the hitless, scoreless streak by White Sox starters this springthe streak he started back on Mondayyesterday, when his fellow rotation members were warning Jake Peavy not to screw it up. Predictably, Floyd played off caring much about seeing the streak snapped.

Its whatever. Its spring, Floyd said with a smile. Im sure Ill be texting them saying Im sorry I screwed it up for them.

Still, Floyd recognizes that the sort of buzz created by a relatively meaningless spring training streak is indicative of the kind of talent the White Sox rotation possesses.

Thats what were capable of, he said. Thats the kind of starting rotation weve got. Were capable of feeding off and encouraging each other. We have the talent to do something pretty good. Im not surprised, but you know the streak was going to end some day.
Brett Ballantini is CSNChicago.com's White Sox Insider. Follow him @CSNChi_Beatnik on Twitter for up-to-the-minute White Sox information.

Contact Us