South Side Crisis

Sox Offense Shut Down Again: Harbinger or Rock Bottom?

Well, there goes all that talk of the Sox getting off to a hot start.  Sitting at 11-20, the White Sox are MLB's worst team.  Over their last 20 games, of which they have lost 15, they've scored a combined total of 50 runs, or 2.5 runs per game.  It's hard to think that this streak could get any worse, but that's the same thing that was said a week ago when the Sox finally returned home after a long road trip.  The offense has been terrible, especially from their newest member in designated hitter Adam Dunn.  After a solid start, Dunn has slumped to .157 with only three homers.  Of the regulars in the lineup, the only ones that aren't underachieving are first baseman Paul Konerko and right fielder Carlos Quentin.

In the bullpen, while Sergio Santos and Jesse Crain have been very solid, all four other regulars in Chris Sale, Will Ohman, Matt Thornton, and Tony Peña have ERAs over seven.  I also don't think I've ever seen any closer as ineffective as Thornton, ever.  Thornton is now 0-4 in save opportunities and has been rightfully yanked from the closer's role.  The Sox haven't needed much closing in the last three weeks, though, as it has usually been the opponent's closer closing them out.

All of this negativity was the story leading up to the game last night on the South Side at US Cellular Field.  Famous Sox broadcaster 'Hawk' Harrelson was sick for the game, so color analyst Steve Stone took over the play-by-play duties for the night.  'Stoney' had a rough night as well, as his voice barely made the nine innings.  But the Hawk probably wouldn't have cared too much to be at this game, as it was all Francisco Liriano  While the Sox only trailed by one for much of the game and had baserunners on all the time, Liriano kept the damage to just the walks and finished off the Sox for his first career complete game, a no-hitter.  As the Twins play-by-play man put it on FSN North, Adam Dunn's liner to shortstop to end the game was the hardest ball hit the entire night but thankfully for Liriano, it went right into the shortstop's glove.  This marks the third no-hitter the Sox have been involved in in the last five seasons.  In 2007 and 2009, Mark Buehrle threw a no-hitter and perfect game, respectively, against the Rangers and Rays, respectively.  But this time it was the Sox on the wrong end.  Ozzie Guillen has yet to Tweet on the performance.


Also: Video of Alfonso Soriano breaking the Cubs' all-time April home run record.