Floyd schools Livan

Ah, just as I predicted.

Gavin gets a bad rap on some prominent Sox blogs, and particularly from a few guys at South Side Sox. One dude made a google spreadsheet outlining what the Sox should like look for the next four seasons, and had Floyd penciled in every year at the fifth starter’s slot. Have we not seen enough from Floyd this year already, at just 25, to expect him to be more than a major league fifth starter? I say yes. He’s certainly pitched better than that this season, probably at a number two starter’s level.

Look, I understand Floyd’s limitations. He doesn’t have a big fastball, he walks a few too many, gives up more fly balls than you‘d like, and strikes out too few. Those are all reasonable criticisms for why a guy may not maintain a certain level of performance. But jeez, he’s got a healthy 1.2 WHIP, an ERA under 3.5, and he’s thrown a ton of innings. Floyd has been a horse all season, and his peripherals aren’t terrible for a 25-year old in his first full major league season. Maybe he’s not an ace, and maybe he’ll never have another season quite as good as this one. But a number five starter for the next four seasons? Jason Marquis is a pretty good fifth starter. Regardless of the fly ball rate and everything else, I am positive Floyd will be better than Jason Marquis at both pitcher’s peak.

Only seven American League pitchers have more wins than Floyd’s 11, and he’s got the 13th best ERA for AL starters without factoring in last night’s gem.

I will say, though, that Floyd is the biggest key to the Sox winning the division. If he keeps that ERA down, the Sox will be fine. If he implodes, like some expect, they’re in trouble.

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We have a new segment here at TUP called Today in Mariotti’s Ridiculous White Sox Bias. Well, not really 'today', since I do the majority of these posts after midnight, but you get the drift. There’s only one problem: the segment would require me to read Jay every day, something  that would suck. But I read Jay today, his column was on whether the Cubbies have enough to top the mighty Angels in World Series (puke), but he still threw in some totally unnecessary Sox jabs for good measure. Remember, this column was 100% about the Cubs.

Speaking about the Angels…

But doesn't Jim Hendry, who has done a fine job so far in assembling the most legitimate Cubs team in eons, need another piece or two before the Thursday trade deadline to keep up with the sport's elite? The Angels and their proactive owner, Arte Moreno, are going for the gusto in acquiring Teixeira, who will team with Vlad Guerrero to provide what they lacked: a power duo to rival David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez. Otherwise, what don't they have? Mike Scioscia is the sharpest manager in the game. Their pitching rotation is so deep and talented that our old pal, Jon Garland, gets lost in the mix. Frankie (K-Rod) Rodriguez, the closer in a typically good bullpen, is trying to break Bobby Thigpen's record for saves in a season. They catch the ball. They steal bases. They play smart, efficient ball that doesn't require heavy lifting by one man as much as contributions by all. They won it all six years ago and could have three years ago, instead of the White Sox, if they weren't so banged up.

I almost spit out my Frosted Flakes when I read that this morning. Get it through your skull, man: Jerry Reinsdorf, the bane of Jay’s existence, won a baseball title after all those basketball championships. Maybe he’s not as incompetent as you think, dweeb.