OK, gang, let's make a pact: The next time Hawk Harrelson says an offense is only as good as its bullpen, somebody strangle him.
Scott Linebrink and Randy Williams aside, the White Sox bullpen did everything one could reasonably expect to win a game on Friday night. Four innings of one-run ball is perfectly acceptable, and some might give Tony Pena a scoreless 11th as well, considering everybody but the umpire thought he struck out J.J. Hardy.
I have to work early tomorrow, but here's a prediction. Combining the following elements...
*Over the last three games, the White Sox offense has scored just two runs over 14 innings of opponents' relief pitching, and the "hitters" have looked the part.
*Tony Pena was "forced" to throw 59 pitches over three innings because Ozzie Guillen is afraid to use J.J. Putz in consecutive games.
*Matt Thornton has appeared in all four games so far.
*Randy Williams has to face multiple batters in three straight games.
...and I think we're going to be saying goodbye to Jayson Nix, and hello to Erick Threets.
If the Sox offense were better, this year's bullpen would be fine. If the bullpen were any better, the Sox would still be tied at 3 with Cleveland.
Cut it out, Hawk.
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Minor league roundup (The Nuts Don't Fall Far From The Tree Edition):
- Charlotte 3, Gwinnett 1
- Carlos Torres struck out eight over six scoreless innings .He allowed a walk and four hits.
- Clevelan Santeliz was inconsistent, allowing two hits and two walks and striking out two over two innings. He gave up the lone run.
- Tyler Flowers went 2-for-4 with a double and a K; Jordan Danks went 2-for-5 with a double and three strikeouts.
- Dayan Viciedo doubled and struck out; C.J. Retherford drew two walks.
- Carolina 11, Birmingham 3
- Starter Jhonny Nunez gave up five runs on eight hits and a walk over four innings. He struck out four.
- Brent Morel went 1-for-4 with a double.
- Cole Armstrong hit a solo homer.
- Kinston 5, Winston-Salem 0
- Starter Nathan Jones struck out five over 4 2/3 innigs, but gave up three runs (one earned) on six hits and two walks.
- Hector Santiago went four up, four down, striking out three.
- Santos Rodriguez walked two and struck out two over a scoreless inning.
- Jon Gilmore went 1-for-3 with a walk.
- Rome 4, Kannapolis 0 (Game 1, 7 innings)
- Miguel Gonzalez went 1-for-3.
- Kyle Colligan went 0-for-1 with a walk and an HBP.
- The other college OFs wish they were plunked. Both Brady Shoemaker and Nick Ciolli went 0-for-3, with Ciolli striking out three times.
- Ryan Buch struck out one in a scoreless inning of work, allowing a hit.
- Rome 1, Kannapolis 0 (Game 2, 7 innings)
- Colligan's double was the only hit.
- Ciolli and Juan Silverio struck out two times in three at-bats apiece.
- Shoemaker drew a walk.
- Kyle Bellamy struck out one in a perfect inning.
