Sox Beat by Orioles in Game 1 of Doubleheader, 5-1 (Game 22, '08)

I had a feeling this might be a challenge for the White Sox today after being rained out last night.  Still, John Danks pitched well enough to win if the offense worked as it should.  It did not today. But just two earned runs in six and a third innings is a very respectable outing for John Danks, and if there is any 'silver lining' in this game today, I would say it has to be John Danks and the way he has stepped up for this pitching staff.  All one can ask of a starter is that they give their team a chance to win.  Danks has done that pretty well this year, but the offense is sluggish and not getting it done.  One run typically is not enough.  It wasn't enough today. 

I have my concerns about an offense that is not hitting consistent doubles.  Home runs are nice, and this team hits plenty of them, but without more doubles and 'gappers,' this offense, without any real speed is going to go through slumps like this.  There was a saying I once read that said, 'speed never slumps.'  That is why an offense without it will slump and struggle as this 'all-or-nothing' offense has so often.  This was what made Scott Podsednik's contribution to the 2005 White Sox so valuable.  On-base percentage is important, but this team often needs four base hits to get one run across.  They got a total of five hits today.  They need that in an inning often to succeed.  It doesn't surprise me this offense has struggled.  Now, they need to fix it.  I'm not sure how they're going to do that...