Series preview: White Sox @ Tigers

April 12, 11:26 PMChicago White Sox ExaminerJJ Stankevitz

Previous Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Chicago White Sox Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

Brandon Inge is off to a hot start for Detroit with 4 HR in the first week.

12:05 pm Monday, April 13: Gavin Floyd vs. Zach Miner

Miner made two starts against the White Sox in 2008 and did a pretty good job frustrating the Sox' lineup, allowing just three earned runs over 12.0 innings in those starts. The key to those outings was that Miner did not issue a walk to WhiteSox hitters in either start. For a guy who doesn't have great stuff and doesn't amass a ton of ground balls, keeping walks low is very important every time Miner takes the hill.

It's tough to try to get a gauge on Miner, who has been wholly mediocre as a starter in his career but found a way to frustrate the WhiteSox for most of his innings against them in 2008. Detroit Tigers Examiner Randall Castro had this to say about Miner:

Miner is the surprise of the staff this year. He actually was all but eliminated from the rotation in spring training, but injuries and Dontrelle Willis' anxiety disorder opened up the door for him. He's legit, he's got what it takes to be a solid starter in this league, but the guy has serious control issues in the clutch. He's hit and miss, but if he looks anything like he did in his first start, any offense in the AL would be in trouble.

Obviously, those control issues didn't flare up against the Sox in those two starts last year. I'd have to assume that if Miner issues two or three base on balls, the Sox will be in good shape.

Floyd has pitched well against the Tigers in his career, but as always with Floyd, the key to the start will whether or not he can make Detroit's hitters respect hiscurveball. He'll turn in at least a quality start if he's getting his curveball over the plate.

12:05 pm Tuesday, April 14: John Danks vs. Rick Porcello

The White Sox could have taken Porcello in the 2007 draft, but the organization chose to pass on the pricey 18-year-old in favor of Aaron Poreda. I'm not one to second-guess the decision, but Porcello has some big-time potential. However, he's only 20 years old and only has one year of professional experience under his belt, and that was with high single-ALakeland in 2008.

Porcello features a nasty 12-6 curveball and an electric changeup that, if he's getting over the plate, will be tough for Sox hitters to handle. He actually was pretty good against Toronto April 9, allowing nine hits, one walk, and four earned runs over five innings with five strikeouts. Those numbers may not look impressive, but he scattered those nine hits and half of his runs came on a pair of solo home runs.

For another viewpoint, here's Detroit Tigers Examiner Randall Castro again:

Porcello is the real deal. I had the opportunity to speak with him at the home opener, and he carries himself like a veteran, even if he looks like he should be ID'ed to get into R-rated movies. The problem is he is only 20, and I think he's got some more developing to do. He has the major league arm, no question, but his nerves and control issues were apparent in his first start. I don't expect him to remain if the rotation if Bonderman can come back and be a shell of his former self or if Nate Robertson continues to perform out the pen.

Danks threw the ball very well in his start against the Royals last Thursday, using his cutter as his main secondary pitch and mixing hischangeup in nicely. When Danks struggled last year, he generally was leaving his changeup high in the strike zone, and against a strong Detroit lineup (outside of their 7-8-9 hitters) Danks won't be able to get away with leaving his changeup high.

12:05 pm Wednesday, April 15: Jose Contreras vs. Armando Galarraga

Galarraga had a fairly similar 2008 to Gavin Floyd, as both pitchers posted incredibly low BABIPs and FIPs nearly a run higher than their respective ERAs. Both stats are often indicators of a fluke season, so Galarraga, like Floyd, could be due for a regression in 2009.

However, these numbers are anything from guaranteeing a regression. Galarraga put together a very solid start his last time out, throwing seven innings while allowing just one earned run on five hits, one walk, and eight strikeouts against a Texas offense that was murdering the ball coming into that start. He threw almost exclusively fastballs and sliders in that start (94.8 percent of his pitches against Texas either either a fastball or slider), and I'd have to think that he'll mix in hischangeup a lot more against the White Sox. If Sox hitters know Galarraga will only throw two pitches the majority of the time, they can sit on one of them and will have a pretty good day at the plate.

Contreras really wasn't all that bad in his start Friday against Minnesota. He avoided the big inning all game (leaving that to the bullpen, which gave up seven runs in the seventh), scattering seven hits, four walks, and four earned runs over five innings of work. His command was far from stellar, and that's probably the key for Contreras. He's not going to go incredibly deep into games, but if he can keep his walks down, he should keep the Sox in the game as long as he's on the mound.

Outlook

Detroit is 4-3 after the first week of play, but that's been against two pretty mediocre teams in Toronto and Texas. Until further notice, this Detroit team still has some major pitching problems and an aging, pricey offense that certainly does not look as fearsome as it did a year ago. I don't envision Detroit contending for the division unless a whole lot of breaks fall their way. With almost no money to spend, even if this team is in contention come June or July, they'll be hamstrung by some massive contracts and won't be able to make a move to improve theballclub.

One more final note from Detroit Tigers Examiner Randall Castro on what to look for this series:

Other than the obvious—Miguel Cabrera (.520, 10 RBIs through 7 games)—Brandon Inge is off to a surprisingly hot start. He's hitting .304 and has 4 home runs and only 2 Ks. Inge spent the offseason working with the Tigers hitting coach Lloyd McClendon to rework his swing. So far it's paying huge dividends.

Inge always has seemed to be a thorn in the White Sox' side, so that's probably not good news.

Links for Sunday:

• Jim at Soxmachine has previews of Winston-Salem and Kannapolis up.
• Andrew at 35th Street Review especially enjoyed the Sox taking two of three from Minnesota.
• Bleacher Report writer Rich Kraetsch takes a Fire Joe Morgan-approach to a recent ESPN Page 2 Column on the White Sox.
• The Orioles are a surprising 4-2 after one week of facing the Yankees and Rays, and Orioles Examiner Jay Trucker has an unlikely first-week MVP. I had no clue Danys Baez was still in the majors. Huh.
• This catch was incredible. I really do enjoy watching Reed Johnson play, at least from a distance.
• Blackhawks Examiner Dieter Kurtenbach presents his 2008-09 awards for your No. 4 seed in the Western Conference, the Chicago Blackhawks. I'm very, very, very excited for some playoff hockey.