Chicago Baseball 2012: White Sox And Cubs Monthly Podcast

Indians Vs. White Sox Final Score: Chicago Loses 7-3 As Danks' Struggles Continue

The Chicago White Sox lost 7-3 to the Chicago White Sox on Thursday night in a match-up that was ultimately defined by its starting pitchers. The White Sox got a very shaky start from John Danks despite having him last seven innings, longer than Cleveland's Justin Masterson, who was far more effective.

Danks went seven innings for Chicago, but nine hits allowed, one walk and two throwing errors on his part led to seven runs. It's the second consecutive start that's seen Danks give up seven runs, pretty discouraging numbers from a pitcher that was given a $65 million contract extension this spring that lasts all the way through 2016.

Trailing 4-3 entering the seventh inning, Sox manager Robin Ventura went back to Danks for another inning thanks to a pretty low pitch total. The lefty couldn't get out of the inning unscathed, giving up a painful three-run homer to Jason Kipnis that would extend the lead to four runs.

In the ninth inning, the White Sox made things interesting with a two-run homer by Adam Dunn, his 7th of the season, but the Indians finished things off after bringing in closer Chris Perez.

For more in-depth coverage of this series, head over to White Sox blog South Side Sox and Indians blog Lets Go Tribe. For more news and notes from around baseball, visit Baseball Nation and MLB Daily Dish.

Indians Vs. White Sox Score Update: Chicago Trails 3-0

The Chicago White Sox are trailing 3-0 to the Cleveland Indians after four innings on Thursday night as starter John Danks has battled some sloppiness so far. With the White Sox mustering just three baserunners so far, offense has been scarce as they try to cobble together some runs on Indians starter Justin Masterson.

While Danks hasn't exactly pitched well, he really hasn't helped himself with a pair of throwing errors. One of them, in the first inning, ultimately didn't hurt at all, but the second one led to a run that potentially never would've been scored. He's also let up five hits and walked a batter, giving up three runs over four innings in all.

Masterson has been lights out for Cleveland, allowing just two hits and a walk over four innings. Gordon Beckham and Adam Dunn each have singles, but the Sox haven't come close to scoring yet.

For more in-depth coverage of this series, head over to White Sox blog South Side Soxand Indians blog Lets Go Tribe. For more news and notes from around baseball, visitBaseball Nation and MLB Daily Dish.

Indians Vs. White Sox: Thursday's Game Delayed By Weather

Thursday night's series finale between the Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Indians has been delayed because of bad weather in the area. At this point, first pitch is scheduled for approximately 7:30 p.m. CT.

Due to storms in the area, tonight's game will be delayed. Neither starting pitcher will warm up

— Scott Merkin (@scottmerkin) May 3, 2012

Related: Indians Vs. White Sox Preview: John Danks Tries To Get Chicago Over .500

John Danks is scheduled to square off against Justin Masterson. A win for Chicago would put the White Sox back over .500 and pull them even with the Indians for first place in the Central.

Stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago for weather updates as they come.

For more in-depth coverage of this series, head over to White Sox blog South Side Sox and Indians blog Lets Go Tribe. For more news and notes from around baseball, visit Baseball Nation and MLB Daily Dish.

Indians Vs. White Sox Lineups: Kosuke Fukudome, Eduardo Escobar Get Starts

Here are the lineups for Thursday night's game between the White Sox and Indians. Chicago has made a couple of adjustments to its starting lineup for the last of this three-game set, inserting Kosuke Fukudome in left field and Eduardo Escobar at third base.

Chicago:

Alejandro De Aza (CF)
Alexei Ramirez (SS)
Adam Dunn (DH)
Paul Konerko (1B)
A.J. Pierzynski (C)
Alex Rios (RF)
Kosuke Fukudome (LF)
Gordon Beckham (2B)
Eduardo Escobar (3B)
SP: John Danks (2-3, 6.23 ERA)

Related: Indians Vs. White Sox Preview: John Danks Tries To Get Chicago Over .500

Cleveland:

Johnny Damon (DH)
Jason Kipnis (2B)
Asdrubal Cabrera (SS)
Carlos Santana (C)
Shelley Duncan (LF)
Shin-Soo Choo (RF)
Michael Brantley (CF)
Casey Kotchman (1B)
Jack Hannahan (3B)
SP: Justin Masterson (0-2, 5.40)

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of this series, head over to White Sox blog South Side Sox and Indians blog Lets Go Tribe. For more news and notes from around baseball, visit Baseball Nation and MLB Daily Dish.

Indians Vs. White Sox Preview: John Danks Tries To Get Chicago Over .500

The Chicago White Sox will turn to Opening Day starter John Danks in their Thursday rubber match against the Cleveland Indians. Danks has struggled to start the season, and was roughed up in his last start. Against the Boston Red Sox on April 27, Danks allowed seven earned runs in 5.2 innings in a 10-3 loss for the South Siders.

Cleveland will send out 27-year old righty Justin Masterson Masterson enters 0-2 with a 5.40 ERA and 1.47 WHIP.

Cleveland is the surprise leader of the AL Central through the first month of the season. The White Sox are a game behind at 12-12.

Chicago begins a four-game series at Detroit (12-12) on Friday.

Game Date & Time: Tuesday, May 1, 7:00 p.m. CT

Location:

TV Coverage: CSN-Chicago, TNT

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of this series, head over to White Sox blog South Side Sox and Indians blog Lets Go Tribe.

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Indians Vs. White Sox Final Score: South Siders Fall To Cleveland

The Chicago White Sox's bid for a three-game winning streak has fallen short. The Sox were defeated 6-3 by the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday night at U.S. Cellular Field. The loss drops the South Siders back to .500 at 12-12. Cleveland improves to 12-10 in victory.

White Sox starter Philip Humber did well to limit the damage, but hardly had a dominating effort. Humber walked six in six innings of work, but only allowed three earned runs. Humber also struck out six in the no-decision.

Adam Dunn homered for Chicago in the fourth to start the scoring. Carlos Santana answered for Cleveland in the fifth with a three-run homer. Cleveland would tack on one in the eighth to take a 4-3 lead and two in the ninth to reach the final margin.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of this series, head over to White Sox blog South Side Sox and Indians blog Lets Go Tribe.

White Sox Attendance 2012: Only Cleveland Is Drawing Less Than Pale Hose

Early in the 2012 regular season, the Chicago White Sox are drawing fewer fans than every single MLB team other than the Cleveland Indians, as ESPN Chicago's Jon Greenberg notes. Spring attendance numbers are often impacted by things like cold weather, but this isn't good for a team playing in one of the nation's largest markets.

Through 12 home games this season, the White Sox are drawing 20,521 fans on average, less than every team other than Cleveland, which is drawing a paltry 14,486 fans per game. Poor play can't really explain the problems with empty seats considering that the White Sox are above .500 this year, either.

Last season, the White Sox finished 21st among the game's 30 teams in attendance. They haven't been in the top-10 in the category since 2006, the year after Chicago won the World Series.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of this series, head over to White Sox blog South Side Sox and Indians blog Lets Go Tribe. For more news and notes from around baseball, visit Baseball Nation and MLB Daily Dish.

Chicago's Jake Peavy Wins AL Pitcher Of The Month for April

Chicago White Sox starter Jake Peavy was named American League Pitcher of the Month for April by the league on Wednesday, as Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports. Peavy is coming off consecutive complete games, including a shutout of Oakland on April 23, and is looking healthier than he has in years.

In five April starts, the White Sox were 4-1 with Peavy on the mound as he posted a 1.67 ERA. Averaging nearly eight innings per start, he's been a model of durability so far in addition to being extremely effective on the mound. His 33-to-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio does a pretty solid job of reflecting how good he's been so far.

He's been especially dominant over his last three starts, allowing just two runs and 11 hits over 25 innings of work. The last White Sox pitcher to be named AL Pitcher of the Month was Gavin Floyd back in July 2010.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of this series, head over to White Sox blog South Side Sox and Indians blog Lets Go Tribe. For more news and notes from around baseball, visit Baseball Nation and MLB Daily Dish.

VIDEO: White Sox's Alejandro De Aza Turns Infield Fly Into Double

Indians Vs. White Sox Preview: Philip Humber Tries To Give Chicago 3 Straight Wins

Philip Humber's first start after his perfect game was decidedly less than perfect. Humber was shelled for nine earned runs and eight hits in five innings against the Boston Red Sox on August 26, five days after throwing the 21st perfect game in MLB history. On Wednesday, Humber draws the the Cleveland Indians.

Chicago defeated Cleveland 7-2 on Tuesday night and can win its third game in a row if it gets the job done again Wednesday. Josh Tomlin will start for the Indians. The 27-year old righty comes into the game at 1-2 overall with a 5.48 ERA.

Game Date & Time: Wednesday, May 2, 2012, 7:05 CT

Location: Progressive Field

TV: Comcast SportsNet Chicago

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of this series, head over to White Sox blog South Side Sox and Indians blog Lets Go Tribe. For more news and notes from around baseball, visit Baseball Nation and MLB Daily Dish.

Indians Vs. White Sox Final Score: Chicago Wins 7-2 Behind Chris Sale, Gordon Beckham

The Chicago White Sox moved over .500 on the season with 7-2 over the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday night at a U.S. Cellular Field. Chris Sale improved to 3-1 on the year by pitching six innings and allowing three hits and one run while striking out three. The Sox improve to 12-11, while the Indians falls to 11-10.

Chicago scored one run in the second, four in the third, and one in the fourth and fifth innings to get out to a 7-1 lead by the end of the fifth inning.

Gordon Beckham homered in the third and had three hits, two RBI and one run for Chicago in the No. 9 hole. Adam Dunn finished 1-for-3 with two walks. A.J. Pierzynski hit his fifth home run of the year in the second inning.

Cleveland got on the board first when Jason Kipnis doubled to left to bring Shelley Duncan across the plate.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of this series, head over to White Sox blog South Side Sox and Indians blog Lets Go Tribe. For more news and notes from around baseball, visit Baseball Nation and MLB Daily Dish.

Indians Vs. White Sox: Tuesday's Game To Start At Approximately 8:05 p.m. CT

The start of Tuesday night's game between the Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Indians was delayed by rain, and according to Scott Merkin, first pitch is set for about 8:05 p.m. CT.

8:05 approximate first pitch

— Scott Merkin (@scottmerkin) May 2, 2012

Related: White Sox Vs. Indians Lineups: Ramirez, Beckham Back In Lineup Against Jimenez

When the two teams do finally hit the field, it'll be Chris Sale on the mound for the White Sox and Ubaldo Jimenez for the Indians. The Sox are trying to start a new winning streak and they can also pull even with Cleveland for first place in the Central with a win.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of this series, head over to White Sox blog South Side Sox and Indians blog Lets Go Tribe. For more news and notes from around baseball, visit Baseball Nation and MLB Daily Dish.

Indians Vs. White Sox: Start Of Tuesday's Game Delayed By Rain

Chicago's game against the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday night has been delayed by rain, and at this point there has been no indication of when the game might finally start.

Game is officially delayed. No approximate start time until info comes in from the esteemed Roger Bossard

— Scott Merkin (@scottmerkin) May 2, 2012

According to announcement made by Gene Honda, White Sox are "hopeful" this game will be played tonight after weather clears

— Scott Merkin (@scottmerkin) May 1, 2012

Related: White Sox Vs. Indians Lineups: Ramirez, Beckham Back In Lineup Against Jimenez

This is the first of a three-game set with the Indians; Chris Sale is scheduled start for the White Sox against Ubaldo Jimenez.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of this series, head over to White Sox blog South Side Sox and Indians blog Lets Go Tribe. For more news and notes from around baseball, visit Baseball Nation and MLB Daily Dish.

White Sox Roster 2012: Gordon Beckham And Brent Morel Won't Be Benched Just Yet

Both Brent Morel and Gordon Beckham have struggled at the plate this season, and while White Sox manager Robin Ventura isn't ready to take them out of the lineup yet, he acknowledges that if those two continue to underperform, something is going to have to be done.

"Eventually you probably have to do something," Ventura said Tuesday when asked about the unproductive bottom third of the Sox's batting order. "Right now I'm believing what I see and talking to them. I want to know what they're thinking too. I'm still confident they're going to perform.

"But eventually it gets to the point where you would have to make a move if it would stay like that. But right now I'm not going to do that."

Related: The Chris Sale Project Lists Ever So Slightly

Morel is hitting .178/.221/.205, while Beckham is hitting .1538.231/.203.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of this series, head over to White Sox blog South Side Sox and Indians blog Lets Go Tribe. For more news and notes from around baseball, visit Baseball Nation and MLB Daily Dish.

White Sox Vs. Indians: OF Johnny Damon Available, May Debut Against Chicago

The Chicago White Sox may have to face a Hall of Fame hopefull on Tuesday night. According to ESPN, the Cleveland Indians will have OF Johnny Damon on their bench and ready to play. Assuming OF Shin-Soo Choo is healthy and ready to play, Damon will not get a start, but could make an appearance as a pinch hitter.

Damon has played 17 seasons in the MLB and has accrued an impressive 2723 hits. The 2012 season appears likely to be the first year since his rookie campaign in 1995 that he will get less than 500 plate appearances.

In 2011, Damon served as the DH for the Tampa Bay Rays, hitting 16 home runs and a .328 weighted on base average. He signed with the Indians as a free agent on April 17 for $1.25 million.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of this series, head over to White Sox blog South Side Sox and Indians blog Lets Go Tribe. For more news and notes from around baseball, visit Baseball Nation and MLB Daily Dish.

White Sox Vs. Indians Lineups: Ramirez, Beckham Back In Lineup Against Jimenez

The infield duo of SS Alexei Ramirez and 2B Gordon Beckham return after their one-day hiatus. Ramirez and Beckham have struggled in the early portion of the season, hitting weighted on base averages of .225 and .195 respectively.

Coming off an impressive game from SP Gavin Floyd, the White Sox will be hoping for a likewise strong outing from SP Chris Sale, who takes the mound for the first time since he pitched eight innings and struck out 5, walking 0, against the Oakland Athletics.

Here is a look at the full compliment of starters the Chicago White Sox will be sending out against SP Ubaldo Jimenez and the Cleveland Indians:

Sox lineup: De Aza - CFRamirez - SSDunn - 1BKonerko - DHPierzynski - CRios - RFViciedo - LFMorel - 3BBeckham - 2BSale - P

— Mark Gonzales (@MDGonzales) May 1, 2012

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of this series, head over to White Sox blog South Side Sox and Indians blog Lets Go Tribe. For more news and notes from around baseball, visit Baseball Nation and MLB Daily Dish.

Indians Vs. White Sox Preview: Chicago Starts Series With Cleveland On Tuesday

The White Sox host the Indians on Tuesday.