The 1903 White Sox: A riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma
Only relatively early doors in the season but I couldn't help noticing what I've called "The White Sox Paradox".
They have three of the hottest hitters in the league:
- George Stone - .393 / .452 / . 543 with 1 HR and 18 RBI
- Austin Jackson - .338 / AL-leading 27 RBI
- Solly Hemus - .331 / 1 HR / 13 RBI / AL-leading 2.3 WAR
Are hitting .289 as a team (3rd), have the best FIP in the AL (3.18).
Are sitting next-to-last in the AL with a 15-22 record.
So what gives?
Well they say good pitching usually beats good hitting. But nowhere in that equation does fielding rate a mention. The 1903 White Sox show that you can have great hitting and great pitching, but if your defence can't do its job then you may as well have neither.
Despite their great FIP the Sox have given up more runs (182) than their potent lineup has scored (173), thanks mainly to 85 errors and the second-worst ZR in the league.
They'll need to tighten this up if they don't want to waste what should have been a successful season.