What's a used up, washed out, Old GM to do??

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We stay home overnight after flying back from Minnesota, then we fly into Baltimore for four more games. This is an opportunity to create some cushion in the A.L. Central.

We are first in the Power Rankings for the first time this season. This is a good sign for the team hitting.

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It a low scoring affair, except for one hit by Baltimore 3B that drove in three runs. On to the next game here.

Pitching Report - SP Sonny Gray (5 IP, 4H, 4ER, 3BB, 7K's) didn't pitch bad, but too many walks and baserunners hurt him badly when that one hit came. RP Caleb Frare (2.2 IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 6K's) was outstanding and RP Pedro Strop (0.1 IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 0K) needed two pitches to finish the eighth inning.

Batting Report - Two runs on six hits isn't enough. 1B Ronald Guzman (2/4, 1R) and 2B Nick Madrigal (2/4) each had two hits in our anemic six hit attack.

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We have another bounce back win after a loss. Good pitching and hitting give us a safety net win.

Pitching Report - SP Carlos Rodon (7 IP, 6H, 3R 2ER, 3BB. 4K's) wasn't dominant but got the outs he needed to post his sixth win on the season. RP Jose Ruiz (1 IP, 3H, 1ER, 0BB, 2K's) pitched a traditional set up role in the eighth inning but struggled before escaping with only one run allowed. CL Ian Hamilton (1 IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 2K's, SV) got his twelfth save by pitching a clean ninth inning.

Batting Report - Six runs on nine hits wins. Only RF Ramon Laureano (2/3, 2B, BB, 2R, 1RBI) had more than one hit today, but DH JD Martinez (1/4, HR, 1R, 2RBI) and 3B Yoan Moncada (1/3, HR, BB, 1R, 2RBI) both made thier one hit count for 2 run homers.

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This was one of the easier wins to get, a lot of things worked out right for the White Sox today.

Pitching Report - SP Dylan Cease (6 IP, 4H, 1 ER, 1BB, 5K's, HRA) was getting the outs today, but not as many strikeouts as is usual for him. RP Jimmy Lambert (3 IP, 3H, 0R, 0BB, 4K's, SV) got a save in a non save situation, but if the scorer is being generous - who am I to complain?

Batting Report - Eight runs on fifteen hits is plenty of offense for the win. 2B Nick Madrigal (3/5, 2-2B, HR, BB, 2R, 2RBI) continues to impress, while 3B Yoan Moncada (3/5, 2B, HR, 2R, 1RBI) and SS Andrelton Simmons (3/5, 1R, 1RBI) all contributed three hits to the cause. CF Julio Pablo (2.5, 1R) also had two hits in the contest.

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This was not the easy way to get a win. Giolito pitched well enough to deserve the win, but once again Manager Mark Grudzielanek's inexperience in handling his pitching staff shines brightly. Still we pick up the win and move on to the next series against Minnesota.

Pitching Report - SP Lucas Giolito (6.2 IP, 4H, 4ER, 4BB, 6K's 2-HRA's) should have been lifted in the seventh inning as soon as he gave up the first hit, he had 75 pitches already and we had plenty of rested relievers available. Instead we burned 4 of them in this extended innings mess. RP Pedro Strop (2.1 IP, 1H, 1ER, 0BB, 3K's) gave up Tyler O'Neill's third HR of the game which gave them a short lived 5-4 lead, but otherwise shut down the Orioles rally. CL Ian Hamilton (3 IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 4K's) was inexplicably used like a middle reliever, although he was outstanding today keeping the Orioles off the board. RP Jose Ruiz (2.2 IP, 0H, 0R, 1BB, 1K) got the win and he too silenced the Orioles bats for multiple innings. RP Caleb Frare (0.1 IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 1K, SV) came on for the one out save.

Batting Report - Seven runs on twelve hits in 15 innings is a winner. SS Andrelton Simmons (3/7, 2B, 1R, 1RBI) keeps hitting at a torrid clip. RF Ramon Laureano (2/7, 2B, HR, 1R, 1RBI) was our only other multi hit player today.

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After winning three of four games in Baltimore, we return home for a re-match against the Minnesota Twins in our weekend series.

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When you run into a hot pitcher who limits you to three hits, we'll just say
the result isn't hard to predict. On to the next game.

Pitching Report - SP Michael Kopech (6 IP, 6H, 3ER, 1BB. 6K's) didn't pitch badly, this was the opposition pitcher being "on". RP Aaron Bummer (2 IP, 3H, 1ER, 1BB, 2K's) also wasn't bad either, however the hits were against lefties which is a concern to watch. RP Caleb Frare (1 IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 2K's) came in and took care of business.

Batting Report - Zero runs on three hits. Yes three singles were it for this highly ranked offense. But its hopefully only an aberration in the path to a championship here. (little cocky ain't I? )

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In our continuing review of the MLB team, Scouting Director Nick Hostetler has provided us with a look at 1B Matty Thaiss and OF Luis Gonzalez. Both players aren't going to replace any starters as it stands now but both will be valuable contributors off the bench.

In MLB news;
Atlanta Braves SP Gerrit Cole is done for the season after suffering a torn labrum. There is no timetable announced for his return, but at his press conference Cole said he was going to be ready for the start of next year.

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Yesterday's good pitching performance gets a response today from our big money pitcher. A two hit shutout with a five run lead is a good win.

Pitching Report - SP Sonny Gray (9 IP, 2H, 0R, 2BB, 9K's) pitched a complete game shutout for the first time this year, and the timing couldn't be better! Great Job!

Batting Report - Five runs on eleven hits. The offense woke up in the bottom of the seventh inning, with a three run HR from DH JD Martinez (2/4, 2B, HR, BB, 1R, 3RBI), then in the eighth inning RF Ramon Laureano (2/2, HR, 3-BB, 3R, 1RBI) hit a solo jack for the final score. Martinez and Laureano were two of our four multi hit players this game, 2B Ramon Beltre (2/5, 1R) and 1B Ronald Guzman (2/5, 1R) were the others tonight.

Nick Madrigal got the night off and SS Andrelton Simmons and 3B Yoan Moncada are both feeling tired, I'm hoping we get them rested before anything happens to them.

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We win the series and another complete game thrown by our SP's. Good batting and overcoming an early lead just makes this win sweeter.

Pitching Report - SP Carlos Rodon (9 IP, 5H, 2ER, 3BB, 9K's) was a little shaky at first but settled down nicely and held the Twins to the early two runs scored until our offense got untracked.

Batting Report - Seven runs on thirteen hits does the job. Five of our nine batters had multiple hits. Our hitters, led by 1B Matt Thaiss (3/4, BB, 2R, 1RBI), DH JD Martinez (2/4, HR, 1R, 2RBI) and SS Andrelton Simmons (2/5, 2B, 1R, 1RBI) all scored runs while RF Luis Gonzalez (2/4, BB, 2RBI) and C Tyler Stephenson (2/5) round out our multi hit players this game.

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The Top American League and National League players as of 05/30/21

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For the week of 5/24 - 5/30 The White Sox (38-22) went 5-2 and increased our lead in the American League Central Division to eight games.

3B Yoan Moncada still leads the American League in Stolen Bases with 18, RF Ramon Laureano is third with 15 SB's. SP Michael Kopech is first in ERA with a 2.51, SP Dylan Cease is first in Wins with 8 and third in Strikeouts with 86.

Our Team Batting Average is third at .264, Team Stolen Bases is first with 68, and Team Baserunning is 4th.

Team Defensive Efficiency is 3rd (.708), Team Zone Rating is 1st (+16.0) and Team Errors is tied for 5th (26)

Starters ERA is 1st (3.95), while Bullpen ERA moves up a spot to 12th (4.52)

Our Run Differential improved from last week 276-252 (+24) to 311-272 (+39) Runs Scored remained in 6th place, but Runs Against rose up to 3rd place.

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We have Monday off and Manager Mark Grudzielanek gives the players the day off as we are flying in to Kansas City on Tuesday morning. We have a three game series away at Kansas City then our weekend set at home against Detroit.

We get a Scouting Report from Director Nick Hostetler on AAA RP Konner Pilkington, he looks like a regular middle reliever with some good pitches in his arsenal.

Our one week stay at the top of the Power Rankings ends as we drop to third place. Hoping by posting this on the team bulletin board will inspire them to get back after the top spot!

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Our Chicago White Sox have a record of 18-10 for the month of May. Here is Scouting Director Nick Hostetler's report on players who are noteworthy for their increases in performance (or subtractions!)

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We get a pleasant surprise from the MLB offices today as CF Julio Pablo Martinez has been selected as the Rookie of the Month for May, this follows Luis Gonzalez's selection for Rookie of the Month for April filling in for injured CF/RF Ramon Laureano. Very Nice Job!

We have a three game series starting tonight against the Kansas City Royals, details are found below.

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this win was accompanied by a couple nice bonuses, First DH JD Martinez's 300th homer and SP Dylan Cease's league leading 9th win of the season.

Pitching Report - SP Dylan Cease (5 IP, 3H, 1ER, 3BB, 9K's) limited the K.C. offense to just three hits and one run. RP Jimmy Lambert (2.1 IP, 2H, 1ER, 1BB, 2K's, HRA) gave up a solo HR and turned it over to RP Jose Ruiz (0.2 IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 0K) who retired two batters on just three pitches. CL Ian Hamilton (1 IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 0K) worked an inning of mop up duty to stay sharp.

Batting Report - Six runs on nine hits. Two players had more than one hit today, our heralded designated hitter JD Martinez (2/4, HR, BB 1R, 1RBI) and 1B Ronald Guzman (2/4, BB, 2RBI).

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It's another uninspired loss but we are just going to shake it off and get after the next game tomorrow.

Pitching Report - SP Lucas Giolito (7 IP, 10H, 3R 2ER, 0BB, 5K's, HRA) didn't pitch badly, just needed a lot of offensive support that wasn't there tonight. RP Jose Ruiz (0.2 IP, 3H, 3ER, 1BB, 1K, HRA) didn't do himself any favors trying to stay in the bullpen and on the MLB roster with todays performance. RP Caleb Frare (0.1 IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 1K) struck out the final batter.

Batting Report - Three runs on eight hits is not nearly offensive enough tonight. RF Ramon Laureano (2/3, 2B, BB, 1R) and SS Andrelton Simmons (2/4, 2B, 1R, 1RBI) each had two hits and scored a run.

Scouting Report - Scouting Director Nick Hostetler has unearthed a prospect in The Dominican Republic. SP Sergio Rangel is only a half star currently and prospect future looks the same but Hostetler thinks we will see more of Rangel in the minors than what he shows here. Time will tell.

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"Keep it positive", "keep it positive" this thought is running through my mind as we are in the post game press conference. We coughed up a three run lead and couldn't score more than three runs off an 0-9 K.C. starting pitcher and I've got to keep it positive? Ok!

Pitching Report - SP Michael Kopech (5 IP, 5H, 5R 4ER, 3BB, 5K's 2-HRA) didn't have the sharpest outing of the year, longballs were the major problem and 3 walks given away only made those homers worse on the scoreboard. RP Caleb Frare (1.1 IP, 0H, 0R, 1BB, 2K's) pitched well as did RP Aaron Bummer (1.2 IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 2K's) in relief.

Batting Report - Three runs on seven hits wasn't close to being enough today. 2B Nick Madrigal (2/3, BB, 1R, 1RBI) had the only multi hit day for the White Sox

Until today the White Sox haven't lost a series since the first series against Cleveland Indians back March 29-31 2021

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We leave Kansas City with the team a little pissed at themselves and some grumbling between pitchers and the position players, but the coaches are handling it well.

Scouting Director Nick Hostetler has just landed in Chicago ahead of us from his scouting trip to the Caribbean and South America. He reports another 16 y/o half star SP named Jorge Flores signed and is headed to our International Complex. Hostetler again stresses it will take some time before we make judgement on his potential.

I fly back with the team, but almost immediately depart again on the team jet with our draft team (scouting, some management, and interns) for the flight into Secaucus N.J. home of the MLB offices and the draft. We set up in a nearby hotel and congregate in our 2 suite "War Room" to go over our draft strategy and alternative plans.

Meanwhile the team gets ready to play tonight at home in a three game set against division rival Detroit Tigers, the Tigers are having a down year and are last in the A.L. Central Division. Since I'm not there, Manager Mark Grudzielanek will be providing tonight's game report.

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We didn't get "our" man in the draft, but we picked someone nearly as interesting from the leftovers. RP Travis Sthele is a four star relief pitcher and future consideration for White Sox closer. Our 2nd round selection CF Arturo De Hoyos is a speed demon and fairly good hitter who is expected to add to the logjam in the outfield sooner than later.