Keys to Sox Success is Within

By: Mario Scalise

So Good At Something So Hard

Home runs aren’t a bad thing. In fact, if it weren’t for the long-ball this season the Sox would probably be in third place and double-digits behind the Tigers. However, while the home run is what’s kept the Sox in the hunt, the dependence on it has contributed to some of the recent woes, and can very well be what dooms them in the end.

I know what you’re thinking: how can a play that gives a team one run with one swing of the bat be a bad thing? Hell, how can any hit be a bad thing? It’s all about the approach.

Have you ever heard someone defend a suspected steroid-user with the statement, “they still have to hit the ball.” Hitting a baseball coming 90-mph from 60 feet away is one of the harder things to do in sports. Hitting that ball a long way is even more of a feat.

What point am I trying to make? That it’s harder to hit the ball over the fence than to simply make contact. And if one is capable of hitting the ball over the fence at an astounding rate (162 entering Tuesday, most in the major by 16), then that player (or in this case, team), shouldn’t have much problem hitting up the middle, or to the right side, or for a sacrifice fly, or even make contact.

The offense of the White Sox have had problems doing that. They have problems making consistent contact. They have problems going the other way. They have problems simply putting pressure on the defense. But they can hit the ball out of the park. Which is harder.

It doesn’t make sense. If they are so good at doing something so difficult, shouldn’t they be really good at doing something easier? What if they put their mind to it, especially when they are having trouble doing the harder thing? Maybe that’s the problem.

When you hit a lot of homers, you run the risk of expecting a lot of homers. And with expectations comes reliance. And when you don’t meet those expectations and fail to rely on anything else, then it’s pressing time. So instead of looking to do the little things, the easier things, a team may remain too faithful to something bigger.

And it’s somewhat understandable. When you have a pitching staff that has struggled as the Sox’s staff has (4.63 ERA puts them 18th out of 30 teams), you’ll find yourself down bigger margins. And if not, you’ll fear — even expect — your staff to let in a few runs. At that point what’s a couple measly runs when you may very well need 6, 7, 8, 9 to win?

And so the cycle continues.

The Sox offense needs to go back to 2005. No, not small-ball.

Variety.

There are usually two opposing trains of thoughts on last year’s offense. You have some who believe the Sox scored purely by bunting and sacrificing. Then there’s the person who didn’t watch any games and looked at the stats only see the 200-plus homers. They in turn saw small-ball as a bunch of crap.

Both sides were wrong. It was about variety.

One inning the Sox would plate one run with a walk, stolen base, bunt and sac fly and then they’d follow that up the next inning with solo shot. And then the next inning with a single and a hit-and-run, and then surely some aggressive base-running that caught the opposition off guard. And then some innings, they would just hit the crap out of the ball. Hit, after hit, after hit.

This was the 2005 offense. If they didn’t hit the ball out, they would find alternative ways to score. And when they couldn’t do that, they would extend at bats and wear out the opposition. And when they did hit the ball out, it came natural. It wasn’t forced. Or expected. Or relied upon.

The 2006 Sox, for this final stretch run, need to go back to their 2005 ways. Where every player, every play, every pitch, was a compliment to each other. But it all starts with…

Calling Ozzie Guillen

The Ozzie 2005 version, as entertaining as he was off the field with the media, he was even better on the field. He wasn’t predictable, managed with his gut, and was never complacent. He was aggressive, made a decision and didn’t hesitate and entertain the thought of how it could backfire.

Guillen has been anything but this season. He can talk about needing to bunt and make that the lone aspect to small-ball, but it’s more than that, and it starts with him.

What happened to the manager that called for hit-and-runs, tried bunting for hits, did suicide squeezes, called for steals to get guys in scoring position. That aspect was missing this weekend, with a perfect example coming with Pablo Ozuna on first with two outs. No steal. Not even an attempt.

Thome was up after all, and that always means a home run is possible. So why risk getting Ozuna thrown out and taking the bat out of Thome’s hands when Thome can hit a homer and bring in two runs?

Because not doing it is something last year’s team would never do. Ozzie 2005 steals that base to get the runner in scoring position and let Thome know that a single is all that is needed. A single is easier to get after all. Or at least you would think.

Getting the Southpaw Right

Criticize Javier Vazquez for combusting after five. Complain about Freddy Garcia losing 6 miles on his fastball. But if you are going to put blame on a single Sox player, look no further than Mark Buehrle.

A definition for consistent over the years, Buehrle has been flat out bad (0-5, 11.48 ERA in July). And unlike Garcia, who is clearly laboring, or Vasquez, who will at least give you quality through five, Buehrle doesn’t have an injury excuse or one inning he has to avoid.

Instead, he looks healthy and is being tattooed nearly every inning, giving even a powerful offense like the Sox no chance. As Buehrle — the leader of this staff goes — goes, so does the staff.

And as 2005 proved, pitching wins.

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