Crochet’s 19-inning scoreless streak continues with an outstanding White Sox win

Pale Hose dominate in a 5-0 game that sounds closer than it was

During spring training, I predicted that Garrett Crochet would be one of our starters, and a couple of our readers laughed at me.

What I didn’t predict, however, was that Crochet would start the first half of this season as one of Major League Baseball’s best starting pitchers. After tonight, Crochet is now second in baseball in strikeouts, and he’s now had 19 straight scoreless innings, stretched over three starts. In a historically bad season for the White Sox, Crochet has been a shining light, and a good reason to watch the worst team in baseball.

Crochet’s quickness, temperance, and control during tonight’s standout performance featured shades of Mark Buehrle, who didn’t need a pitch clock to keep his games short and sweet. Garrett looked composed and measured through his six innings, giving up a couple of hits and a walk at the end.

Despite the bad vibes that have confounded this team, the White Sox put on an all-encompassing effort tonight. Crochet got his run support from an offense that wouldn’t give up, as Corey Julks and Danny Mendick prevailed, each with two-run doubles with two outs. The only lefty in the White Sox lineup, Nicky Lopez, had a two-out single. The bullpen tore into the Jays and punched five Ks in the last two innings. For a team that had lost their last seven games in a row in Toronto, the mental fortitude it took to snap that losing streak can’t be understated.

Yes, the White Sox enjoyed a no-doubt victory, 5-0.

The not-yet embittered talent of the White Sox can take all the credit for these mental game wins. Think about the reasons why you automatically like players like Julks and Bryan Ramos, aside from their apparent talent and focus. When the announcers spout cheap twaddle, gems like they’re adding a new element to the White Sox lineup what they mean to say is these guys aren’t playing selfishly, what a fucking miracle or Holy shit, a stolen base. I haven’t seen that since I watched another team or even Wow, a sac bunt, an absolute feat!

It’s a living characterization of the White Sox organization as a whole. As wearisome and trifling as the defensiveness to broadcast criticism has become, it’s indicative of a greater problem within the system. When fans and commentators are enmeshed in petty squabbles, throwing cheap barbs at one another on air and shamelessly broadcasting unprofessional meltdowns, it’s a barometer for an organization’s emotional state. It’s also embarrassing.

It’s so shameful and absurd, it may be a White Sox conspiracy cooked up by Big Jerry™ to distract from how horrendous the organization has become. However, things aren’t black and white. John Schriffen can be awkward and untrained, and 670 AM can be defensive and petty. Both things can be true at the same time.

So, as Schriffen can be grating and cringe, so can attacking him. Pro tip exclusively for John Schriffen: Sure, it sucks to be criticized, but you’re in an industry where it’s going to happen no matter what. Your two choices are: Become Teflon, or don’t read the comments. Take it from me, an actor who once left a bad review for an objectively bad movie I starred in. Don’t stoop to a level you can’t climb back from.

Let’s stop taking ourselves so seriously. It’s time for fans to unite. Drop the bullshit infighting, and let’s give the green and self-conscious broadcaster a break for now, because his lazy failings are low-hanging fruit. Instead, set your sights on targeting the real enemy: Reinsdorf.

But first, a word from our sponsor.

Hmm, I wouldn’t know where to donate, but thanks, White Sox, for doing the rest of the league a solid.

Jokes aside, the White Sox won today, and they attempt a series win tomorrow. That said, I regret to give you this update on who won’t be playing:

Will the White Sox ever address the optional warm-ups and batting practice leak, or will they keep dancing around it when they address another Eloy Jiménez injury, this one happening when he *checks notes* rounded third? It’s been reported that Eloy’s injury is an unsurprising left hamstring strain.

In better news, Luis Robert Jr. is playing his first rehab game tomorrow in Arizona, and if all goes well, we should be seeing him sooner than we had initially anticipated.

So, White Sox friends, let’s drop our petty clashes with the noob in the booth, put our bets on a Crochet All-Star appearance, and tune in tomorrow for another unpredictable game, and maybe a series win.

Futility Watch

White Sox 2024 Record 15-34, worst 49-game start in White Sox history (one game ahead the 2018 White Sox) and tied for the 55th-worst start in MLB history
White Sox 2024 Run Differential -100, 36th-worst 49-game start in MLB history
White Sox 2024 Season Record Pace 50-112 (.306)
Race to the Worst “Modern” 162-Game Record (2003 Tigers, 43-119) 7 games behind
Race to the Worst “Modern” Record in a 162-Game Season (1962 Mets, 40-120) 9 games behind
Race to the Most White Sox Losses (1970, 106) 6 games ahead
Race to the Worst White Sox Record (1932, 52-109-1*) 2 1⁄2 games ahead
Race to the Worst American League Record (1916 A’s, 38-124*) 12 games behind
*record adjusted to a 162-game season