What does baseball have more than any other sport?  Any guesses?  Give up?  STATS!  Baseball keeps track of more stats than any other sport, also because it has more dimensions than any other sport.  How many sports can keep track of your batting average against curveballs, on Tuesday day games, in the month of May, with runners in scoring position, when facing a left handed pitcher?   Crazy stuff huh?  Well that’s baseball!  So when it comes to the White Sox, there are some startling statistics when it comes to their pitching staff this year.  No more excuses that it’s early on, (despite being only 26 games into the season) because when you’re in a 4 team race to win a division, every pitch seems to matter.  Hell, this race could turn into a 2 team race and the White Sox could be on the outside looking in come July if the pitching continues its lack of execution.

As our good old friend Hawk Harrelson loathes to say during the game…

“The dreaded leadoff walk…”

Team/Player Photos: Chicago White Sox v New York Yankees on Apr 30, 2010

BB doesn’t just stand for bases on balls, but more importantly its stands for bad baseball.  This  has been one of the many issues surrounding the White Sox staff this year.  The team ranks 6th in the AL for most walks so far this season.  I know what you are thinking?  Brian, that’s not bad.  It’s the middle of the pack.  That’s very true, but if you aren’t a strikeout team, which the Sox aren’t and haven’t been for years (4th worst in the American League with 165) then “free passes” won’t help capture another Division title.  Can it get any worse?  Yes, unfortunately it can for us Sox fans who hunger for another playoff team on the South Side of town.  One stat that might sting most south siders, is BAA? Guesses? Opponent’s batting average against.  Right now it’s a staggering .282, which is the 4th worst in the American League.  It would be one thing if this team was swinging the bats, but a team batting average of .262 (and worse .253 batting average with runners in scoring position) the pitchers need to be that much better.  They haven’t given up the long ball, only 22 of them (3rd fewest in the AL), but they have given up the 3rd most doubles (59).

I know its a 162 game season, but for White Sox fans, each game means something.  We as Sox fans know what it means.  It means that we care.  We know this is a Cubs town, but deep down know each win, division title, and another World Series can perhaps one day turn this city into a Sox town.  This pitching staff is talented and capable of winning and being effective all year.  We will do our part as fans.  We will talk the talk and walk the walk.  It’s May 6 and the STATS don’t lie; now is the time to get it done.