The problem with building a roster that's designed to avoid mistakes is that mistakes are unavoidable. They're especially unavoidable when a roster is augmented on the cheap. Players who 1) don't make mistakes and 2) are talented usually get paid a ton of money, because that consistency is what makes them elite. Players who are known for not making mistakes but have to settle for one-year deals typically don't have a whole lot else to offer besides fundamental competence.
It sets the stage for a scene like tonight. What happens when the White Sox's FAST approach collapses and they make multiple mistakes in the same inning? They lose 10-1 to the Kansas City Royals and set a franchise low for the fewest runs through six games since the Year of the Pitcher.
HISTORY!
— Josh Nelson - Sox Machine (@soxmachine_josh) April 5, 2024
The 2024 Chicago White Sox have only scored 12 runs in their first 6 games of the season. Setting a new record low since the pitching mound was lowered in 1969. pic.twitter.com/zo9LvAMm9W
The White Sox run-prevention unit caved in during an eight-run seventh. Deivi García created his own trouble with a pair of one-out walks, but the defense eventually failed the stress test.
An Adam Frazier single to right field loaded the bases, and while Kyle Isbel's floating line drive dropped for a single toward the right-field line, Dominic Fletcher's throw went to second, when a throw in the direction of the plate would've held Hunter Renfroe at third, because he checked up thinking Fletcher had a chance of catching it (Braden Shewmake also hesitated before throwing home, but we'll get to him later).
The problems mounted. With runners now on the corners, one out and the Sox trailing 4-1, García sawed off Maikel Garcia for a foul ball toward the first-base dugout, but Andrew Vaughn got nervous feet on the warning track and didn't catch it. García took advantage of the second life with a third consecutive single to right that made it a 5-1 game.
But wait, there's more. Dominic Leone relieved García and walked Bobby Witt Jr. on four pitches, but he got Vinnie Pasquantino to fly out to shallow left, and Fletcher's throw home deterred the tag-up for the second out. Up came Salvador Perez, who hit a routine three-hopper to short. Shewmake, who was too slow throwing home earlier in the inning, rushed his actions with a catcher running and let the ball squirt through him. The third out instead cleared the bases and turned the game into a laugher.
And yet two more runs scored! Perez advanced to third on a wild pitch off Korey Lee's shoe, but he could jog the other 90 feet because MJ Melendez golfed a sinker out to right for the game's final two runs.
The solace is that the White Sox were trailing before the defense crumbled into the sea, because the White Sox offense hit into four double plays. They grounded into twin killings in each of the first three innings, with Bobby Witt Jr. turning the third by smothering a 102-mph Yoán Moncada hot shot up the middle with the bases loaded and getting to his feet fast enough to start the 6-3.
Eddie Rodriguez then joined the fun in the sixth. The White Sox finally got on board when their two main OBP sources reached (Moncada walked, then took third on Gavin Sheets' double). Andrew Vaughn, who previously rolled over an outer half Seth Lugo slider for a double play in the first inning, inside-outed a Lugo slider for an RBI single, although Gavin Sheets held at third because Hunter Renfroe can ren-throw.
A batter later, Rodriguez forgot that lesson. Shewmake hit a fly to shallowish right, giving Renfroe plenty of time to set up and unleash a strong throw home, but Sheets got the green light and found the ball waiting for him several steps from home plate.
Grifol defended the play after the game, saying, "Our team pushing the envelope, we’re always going to push the envelope. That’s just who we are and who we’re going to be. We’re going to be aggressive. We’ve got to be smart aggressive. I haven’t talked to him yet about it, I’ve got to look at the play first, too. We’ll see. As far as pushing the envelope, I’m not in on that one. We’re going to push the envelope."
At least Michael Soroka pitched reasonably well, taking the tough-luck loss after six innings of two-run ball. Nelson Veláquez beat him twice, delivering an RBI single in the second and a solo shot on a fastball in the fourth. The slider was a roller, although it was hit hard enough that a better arm in left field would've held Melendez at third (Melendez hit the bag as Andrew Benintendi collected the ball and still beat the throw home). The fastball was probably a ball, up and in, but Velásquez's barrel beat it to the spot.
The White Sox played OK defense for him, too. Moncada turned a 1-5-3 by collecting a Witt laser that ricocheted off Soroka's shoe (a replay showed that if a challenge were needed, the play could've been a 1-5 because the ball never seemed to hit the ground). Later on, Lee cut down Witt at second with a strong throw. One avoidable wild pitch aside, he had a decent day behind the plate and also delivered a double off the left-center wall. You have to look hard to find the bright spots.
Bullet points:
*Hours after Chris Getz praised his defense, Vaughn missed two makeable plays, as a hot shot by Melendez went through him in the second inning. Shewmake committed the only error according to the official scorer, so the Sox still have just two over the first six games.
*Sheets was perfect at the plate, doubling, singling and drawing two walks. The White Sox could probably shelve Eloy Jiménez if they cared to.
*Both teams walked and struck out four times apiece.
*The White Sox were 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position, while the Royals were 5-for-10.
*The White Sox have had four games decided by one run, and two games decided by nine runs.
