White Sox: Better days ahead

Chicago White Sox left fielder Melky Cabrera is unable to catch Detroit Tigers' Alex Avila's home run during the second inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 5, 2015, in Chicago.
Chicago White Sox left fielder Melky Cabrera is unable to catch Detroit Tigers' Alex Avila's home run during the second inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 5, 2015, in Chicago.

CHICAGO -- White Sox General Manager Rick Hahn pointed to the players, coaching staff, front office and himself. Everyone, he said, is to blame for the team's poor start.

Chicago dropped five in a row on a road trip to Baltimore and Minnesota and returned home in last place in the AL Central, seven back of Detroit. Expected to contend for the division title coming into the year, the White Sox had struggled in several different areas heading into the opener of a three-game series against the Tigers on Tuesday night.

"This team is far, far better than what we've seen the last few days," Hahn said. "Obviously, we shot ourselves in the foot with some stupid baserunning decisions, there was some poor defensive decisions and for whatever reason, whether it's a bad stretch, the schedule or illnesses going around, we need to be better than that. Based on the rotation we put together, based upon this lineup, we feel there are far, far better days ahead."

Hard to get much worse after the White Sox were outscored 31-8 and committed five errors in four games against the Twins. The trip to Minnesota came on the heels of an 8-2 loss to the Orioles after the first two games of the series were postponed due to rioting in Baltimore.

"We know we can pitch better, we know we can hit better and field better and all those things," Manager Robin Ventura said. "When those come together, that's when you start winning baseball games. But the first thing is you gotta pitch better, we gotta be able to get deep into that game. The way our bullpen has been, you feel like you have a chance to win it."

Chicago (8-14) bolstered its rotation over the winter by trading for Jeff Samardzija. It also signed left fielder Melky Cabrera, relievers David Robertson and Zach Duke, and slugger Adam LaRoche.

But the White Sox began the day with a 5.52 ERA for their starting pitchers, ranking 29th among 30 major league teams. They were last in the majors with 70 runs and 12 home runs, increasing the heat on Ventura -- at least on social media and sports talk shows.

"Everybody's frustrated. We're frustrated, too," Ventura said. "You understand that, but in the end we gotta focus on what we're doing right here, and I get it. I'm frustrated. You understand where people lash out and why they do it. Again, that doesn't stop what we're trying to do here and the focus on playing the Tigers."

Sports on 05/06/2015

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