The 2019 Chicago White Sox started their season with promise, but almost immediately it has taken a turn for the worse. Eloy Jiménez, Yoán Moncada, Tim Anderson, and others created a buzz through the first few weeks, but the pitching staff has taken any chance of momentum away. Carlos Rodón, Reynaldo Lopez, and Lucas Giolito were expected to have solid years on the bump, but Don Cooper and company have had their worst season dating back to 2000.
In the last 20 years, it’s true that offense has risen to a new level in Major League Baseball, but so has pitching. Fans have seen bigger, better, and stronger players hit the scene, creating a more talented group of professionals in 2019. It goes without saying there are no excuses for the lack of pitching efficiency this season. The White Sox offense is not blowing anyone out of the water, but no team can expect to win when they give up 6.7 earned runs per game.
Dating back to the 2000 White Sox, the 2019 pitching staff has given up more earned runs in the first 11 games than any other season. They have also given up the most home runs. Their pitchers have also allowed the second-most walks since the 2000 season. To give the pitchers credit, their strikeouts are their highest point. The table below gives statistics going back to 2000.
*: Word Series Win
Bold: Worst through 11 games
Year | H | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA |
2019 | 107 | 74 | 52 | 99 | 17 | 6.94 |
2018 | 94 | 54 | 51 | 80 | 9 | 4.96 |
2017 | 77 | 30 | 45 | 93 | 11 | 2.71 |
2016 | 70 | 27 | 28 | 88 | 6 | 2.51 |
2015 | 100 | 50 | 30 | 81 | 10 | 4.82 |
2014 | 107 | 57 | 43 | 78 | 5 | 5.29 |
2013 | 88 | 44 | 32 | 91 | 12 | 4.10 |
2012 | 84 | 35 | 29 | 92 | 16 | 3.21 |
2011 | 104 | 45 | 32 | 85 | 11 | 3.84 |
2010 | 90 | 41 | 47 | 95 | 5 | 3.62 |
2009 | 93 | 43 | 49 | 83 | 10 | 3.99 |
2008 | 95 | 47 | 41 | 69 | 4 | 4.36 |
2007 | 82 | 38 | 45 | 81 | 8 | 3.54 |
2006 | 121 | 62 | 26 | 64 | 16 | 5.64 |
2005* | 81 | 41 | 36 | 76 | 8 | 3.69 |
2004 | 86 | 43 | 44 | 49 | 19 | 4.02 |
2003 | 75 | 35 | 42 | 60 | 6 | 3.32 |
2002 | 89 | 49 | 44 | 48 | 9 | 4.52 |
2001 | 111 | 64 | 31 | 73 | 12 | 6.00 |
2000 | 104 | 61 | 55 | 80 | 15 | 5.56 |
Sure, the White Sox are in a rebuild stage with some pitching prospects in the system, but just because the team is not winning now does not mean this should get ignored. It seems the organization is letting this play out because they are not contending right now. Successful teams make changes to things that are broken, and right now, Don Cooper and the White Sox pitching staff is broken.
Josh Barlog is a Contributor for the Unwrapped Sports Network website. Follow him on Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
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