How the hell did we get here?
On May 9, the Sox were 23-10 and led the AL Central by six games. Since then? Disaster. The South Siders had lost 15 of 19 entering Tuesday and fallen into third place in the division, two games behind now-first-place and defending World Series champion Kansas City.
Good thing the Cubs continue to pummel their opponents, or Chicago would again be in all-out Bears Training Camp Can’t Start Soon Enough Mode. That’s no fun.
Unfortunately, it might get worse before it has a chance to get better for the Sox. Five of their eight series in June feature opponents with winning records: vs. Washington, vs. Kansas City, at Cleveland, at Boston and vs. Toronto. Only two stints against Detroit and one against Minnesota offer somewhat of a reprieve.
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No one player or group of players shoulders the totality of the blame. The Sox still might have been in first if they had managed a handful of clutch hits during this freefall, for example.
But there’s no doubt the bullpen has been brutal, especially during three straight meltdowns against the Royals this past weekend.
Six relief pitchers on the roster have thrown at least 17 innings this season. Early on, they were all somewhere between solid and outstanding. Four have been abysmal the past three weeks, one has performed moderately worse and one actually has been stellar. Here’s how their stats have shaken out since the Sox’s tailspin began.
(Warning: It only gets worse the more you scroll down.)
ZACH PUTNAM
Through May 9: 13.1 innings, 5 earned runs, 3 walks, 3.38 ERA
Since May 9: 8.1 innings, 1 earned run, 3 walks, 1.08 ERA
DAN JENNINGS
Through May 9: 12.2 innings, 3 earned runs, 5 walks, 2.13 ERA
Since May 9: 8.2 innings, 3 earned runs, 5 walks, 3.12 ERA
NATE JONES
Through May 9: 14.2 innings, 3 earned runs, 3 walks, 1.84 ERA
Since May 9: 5 innings, 5 earned runs, 3 walks, 9.00 ERA
ZACH DUKE
Through May 9: 13.1 innings, 3 earned runs, 3 walks, 2.03 ERA
Since May 9: 4.1 IP, 4 earned runs, 3 walks, 8.31 ERA
DAVID ROBERTSON
Through May 9: 14.2 innings, 2 earned runs, 6 walks, 1.23 ERA
Since May 9: 4.2 IP, 6 earned runs, 3 walks, 11.57 ERA
MATT ALBERS
Through May 9: 15.2 innings, 1 earned run, 3 walks, 0.57 ERA
Since May 9: 6 innings, 9 earned runs, 3 walks, 13.50 ERA
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