Tonight's
loss to the Mariners, the Sox's seventh straight, coupled with the Royals victory today, their third straight, means the Sox have last place in the AL Central all to their lonesome.
The last time the Sox were in last place on August 18?
1989. That team occupied the cellar from May 12 to the end of the season, and they had their reasons. For one, the Sox were the only team to not crack triple-digits in home runs. Ivan Calderon led the team with 14 homers, and the Sox hit only 94 as a whole.
Another big reason: The Sox sported the lowest payroll in the league,
a paltry $7.6 million. Eighteen years later, the Sox find themselves paying roughly 13 times as much for the same result. Six players are pulling in more than $7.6 million for this season alone.
That, of course, was in the seven-team AL West. Since moving to the five-team AL Central, the Sox have never been in last place longer than
June 12, 1998, when Matt Karchner blew a save, the first of three straight.
You know, I never realized how poorly Karchner pitched before the Sox traded him for Jon Garland. He allowed
nine runs over his final 6 2/3 innings in a Sox uniform, converting only one out of four saves and taking a loss in a non-save situation as well.
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Fun fact: One-third of J.J. Putz's walks this season have been issued to White Sox hitters.
Agonizing reality: With the game on the line the past two days, he's had to face Alex Cintron (.217) and Juan Uribe (.228).
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Minor league round-up:- Indianapolis 7, Charlotte 2
- Charlie Haeger limited Indianapolis to three hits over seven innings. He allowed three runs, two of them on one swing, walking three and striking out four.
- David Aardsma addded gas to the fire, allowing four runs in his inning of work -- all on a two-out grand slam.
- Thomas Collaro went 2-for-4 with a solo homer, but also committed an error; Ryan Sweeney went 1-for-4 for the third straight night.
- Birmingham 10, Mobile 3
- Jack Egbert scattered seven hits over 6 1/3 innings, with the only run coming on an Aaron Cunningham solo shot. He walked one and struck out four.
- Cory Aldridge and Chris Kelly each had two hits and three RBI.
- Chris Getz went 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
- Salem 5, Winston-Salem 4
- Micah Schnurstein went 2-for-5 with a double and two RBI.
- Robert Valido, Daron Roberts and Paulo Orlando each had two-hit nights as well.
- Brian
Omogrosso pitched well aside from a four-run third inning, which
included a three-run homer. He allowed five runs over five innings,
striking out six.
- Kannapolis 14, Savannah 3
- Michael
Dubee allowed three runs on seven hits over five innings; John Torres
and Steven Spurgeon pitched two scoreless innings apiece.
- Mike
Grace hit a pair of two-run homers, and John Shelby Jr. hit a grand
slam. Archie Gilbert hit a solo shot during a three-hit night.
- Chris Carter didn't join the party, going 0-for-5 with two strikeouts.