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Are the White Sox Winning Because of “Small-Ball”?

Posted by

June 16, 2005

After the White Sox first 64 games, they had the best record in MLB (42-22). That is seven wins more than last year’s first 64 games despite a significant drop in runs per game from 5.8 to 4.6. Is this “small-ball” or something else?

In games where the White Sox scored two or fewer runs, the 2005 record is 6-10 compared to 2004’s record of 0-16. That is an increase of six wins. Obviously, the pitching gets the credit.

I am not a big believer in small-ball, but let’s take a look. After White Sox GM Ken Williams finished his offseason changes, he commented that he was looking to make the offense more consistent. In other words, he was trying to make the run distribution more normal.

Last year, the White Sox scored 10 or more runs 14 times in those first 64 games (and they lost two of them). This year it is only twice (winning both of them). If you calculate the runs per game, of just the games with less than ten runs, the White Sox are doing better this year with 4.4 compared to only 4.0 last year.

In the same light, this year the White Sox have been held to less than two runs only five times this year. Last year that happened ten times in those first 64 games! Despite that great offense.

So what makes the White Sox the best team in baseball in this season? Pitching mainly, but to the extent small-ball is helping the run production be more consistent, that's helping too.


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