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