60

The White Sox don’t seem to be able to do the big things, so they have to do the little things right to win, especially when facing a pitcher like C.C. Sabathia. They didn’t and they didn’t, committing several miscues and losing 3-2 to the Yankees before a “crowd” – where are you Sox fans? – of 24,142.

Brent Lillibridge missed a cut-off man, which led to New York’s first run. Adam Dunn, playing first base in place of the injured Paul Konerko, had a ball bounce off his glove, which led to the Yanks’ second run. Lillibridge couldn’t get a bunt down with men on first and second, popping out instead. Small things that added up to a big loss.

Sabathia was hittable last night – the Sox collected 10 hits with Alexei Ramirez, A.J. Pierzynski, and Gordon Beckham picking up two each – just not by Dunn. But that’s true of just about every left-handed pitcher, since Big Donkey is now batting .039 (3 for 77) against southpaws. By comparison, he’s a veritable hit machine against righties, batting .203, which is more than five times better against them than against lefties. Dunn’s on-base percentage is also way better – almost 10 times as high – against righties: .039 vs. .384. And so is his slugging percentage, .213 against left-handers, .323 against right-handers.

Think he’s feeling the pressure of playing in front of the home-town “fans,” who boo him every time he strikes out – which he did three times last night to raise his season total to 137? Well, his slash line (batting average/on-base percentage/slugging percentage) at home is .132/.253/.277 and on the road is .194/.337/.323.

Hey, there’s plenty of blame to go around on this team, but the biggest share of it has to fall on the shoulders of the biggest guy, Adam Dunn. Go Sox!