Chris Sale #49 of the Chicago White Sox warms up against the Kansas City Royals in the first inning at Kauffman Stadium on August 17, 2012 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
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(WSCR) Look no further than the 2005 White Sox to see just how important a pitching staff can be in the playoffs.
During that World Series run, the White Sox relied on their four-man starting rotation to carry the team to an 11-1 playoff record. White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper said the same will need to be true if the White Sox intended to make a playoff push in 2012.
“I don’t think it’s a secret – if you want to get to the playoffs, World Series and win world championships, the pitching is the area that’s gotta lead the way,” Cooper said. “We’ve known that for awhile. We’ve seen it first-hand. It’s a big responsibility, but it’s one that they’re going to be able to handle. That’s my belief sitting here.”
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After losing three games to Kansas City, the White Sox rebounded by sweeping a three-game series against the Yankees in Chicago for the first time in 21 years.
“(Kansas City) was a series that didn’t turn out the way we wanted,” Cooper said. “That’s been common. We’ve been bouncing back from stuff all year. What you’re describing is a pennant race. There are going to be ups and down.”
