Back in our
June 16th
Stat of the Week, we gave the majority of the credit
to the pitching staff for the winning ways of the
Chicago White Sox. But we also gave some credit to
small-ball because the White Sox were avoiding as many
low-scoring games as they had the previous season,
despite an offense that was far less explosive than the
previous year. Let’s revisit that now that the season
is over . . . and now that the Chicago White Sox are the
World Champs.
The White Sox scored 865
runs in 2004, averaging 5.3 runs per game. In 2005,
they were down to 741 runs (4.6 per game). Clearly,
their offense was not as strong in 2005. But let’s look
closer by looking at all games where the Sox scored just
four runs or less.
In 2004, the ChiSox scored
four runs or less in 81 games over the course of the
season. Interestingly, that’s exactly half of their
games. With their diminished offense in 2005 you would
expect that they would have significantly more games
where they scored four or less. Here’s the interesting
stat: In 2005, the ChiSox scored four runs or less in 81
games over the course of the season. Let’s put those
two sentences together:
In 2004, the ChiSox scored
four runs or less in 81 games over the course of the
season.
In 2005, the ChiSox scored
four runs or less in 81 games over the course of the
season.
Quite amazing, given the
change in offense. This is where I have to give some
credit to small ball. When the offense was struggling,
the 2005 White Sox were able to turn to other offensive
elements to generate runs. Not true of the 2004
version.
But here’s where pitching
and defense come in. Let’s look at the team record in
those games.
Chicago White Sox record in
games where they scored four runs or less
That’s a 20
game difference! And that’s pitching and defense. The
Sox improved from 83 wins in 2004 to 99 in ’05. The
20-game difference is bigger than the overall 16-game
difference.
I still give
some credit to small ball, but you have to say that
pitching and defense was the key to the success of the
2005 White Sox.
