Come postseason play, all that remains as a pitching staff’s foundation are its fundamentals. Earned run averages, fielding independent pitching ratings, hard-hit rates, hot streaks, grooves lost, wins, losses — all of it basically goes out the window.
Tendencies and track records take the strategic lead, execution becomes the main objective, and the team that makes the least mistakes usually advances. Baseball, baby.
The White Sox, primed for their second consecutive postseason appearance after clinching their first American League Central title since 2008, have the parts in stock to make waves this autumn.
Missteps and underperformance can turn magical campaigns into sour memories in short order.