Should the White Sox make some changes?
To say the Chicago White Sox have been in a tailspin lately would be putting it kindly.
After surprisingly keeping pace with the crosstown Cubs in April by posting a 17-8 record, they’ve since faltered in May, dropping 15 of 25 games. The six-game lead they built in the AL Central is completely gone now, and they’ve lost two straight this weekend to the Kansas City Royals that they should have won.
[Related: Comebacks and collisions have defined the Royals strange week]
On Friday, they blew a 5-1 lead in the sixth inning. On Saturday, it was far worse, as they coughed up a 7-1 lead in the ninth inning, allowing Kansas City to score seven runs.
Now they’ll look to avoid a devastating sweep on Sunday in the MLB Free Game of the Day on Yahoo Sports. You can stream the game at Yahoo’s Sports Home, MLB index and video home beginning at 2:15 p.m. ET.
If the White Sox lose again on Sunday, it may be to consider a change or two. We’ve already heard rumors they’re in the market for San Diego Padres right-hander James Shields. Reports suggest the talks have gained momentum, so it’s possible a deal will get done sometime soon. That would obviously be a big change, as it would no-doubt upgrade Chicago’s rotation.
Another change that White Sox fans seem to be pushing for is at maanger, where Robin Ventura continues to struggle putting his stamp on the team. Many fans point to Saturday’s ninth inning as an example of Ventura’s shortcomings, as he essentially hung closer David Robertson (six runs) out to dry on a day he just didn’t have it. Then he did the same to reliever Tommy Kanhle, who never recorded an out.
Beyond that, there’s a feeling that the White Sox have never maximized their talents under Ventura, despite some positive stretches. Baseball is about consistency, and that’s where the White Sox have fallen short. Perhaps it’s still too soon to expect a change of that magnitude, but if the White Sox have serious designs on contending it’s one of the many considerations they’ll have to process sooner than later.
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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813
