My alphabetical review of the 2021 White Sox continues with a look at LUCAS GIOLITO:
*Giolito emerged from 2021 as the third-stingiest starting pitcher in White Sox history when it came to hits per nine innings.
Only the great Ed Walsh (7.1) and Frank Smith (7.1) own lower averages of hits per nine innings than Giolito’s 7.3 among primary starting pitchers.
*Giolito set a Sox record for righties (minimum 177 innings) with an average of 10.13 strikeouts per nine innings in 2021. Chris Sale with 11.82 in 2015 holds the overall mark.
*You know who had the highest average exit velocity for the 2021 Sox? It was Giolito at 105.6 mph! Of course, he only had one “batted ball event.” I am assuming that rocket was his sharp single to left at Pittsburgh on June 22nd.
*Giolito was nails with runners in scoring position and two outs in 2021. His .140 average against was the second-lowest in Sox history by a pitcher making at least 28 starts. John Danks, of all people, owns the lowest mark at .139 in 2009.
*Statistically, Giolito was at his best while throwing to Seby Zavala in 2021. Giolito logged a 2.03 ERA in five games with Zavala behind the plate as opposed to 3.71 with Zack Collins (17 games) and 4.14 with Yasmani Grandal (10 games).
*Giolito reached the 200-strikeout plateau for the second time in his career in 2021 (2019). He joins Ed Walsh (1907-1908, 1910-1912), Tom Bradley (1971-1972) and Javier Vazquez (2007-2008) as the only Sox righties with multiple seasons of 200+ strikeouts.
*In Game 2 of the 2021 American League Division Series, Giolito became the first Sox pitcher to fan the side in order in the first inning of a postseason game. He was also the first Sox pitcher to fan the side in order in the first Opening Day (2021).
*Red Faber was the winner in the Sox first victory over the Indians on April 26, 1915 at Comiskey Park. Giolito was the winner in the Sox last victory over the Indians on Sept. 26. Cleveland is changing its name to the Guardians for 2022.
*White Sox starting pitcher on Boston’s Patriots Day: Ken Kravec, 1980; Tom Seaver, 1985; Alex Fernandez, 1993; Wilson Alvarez, 1994; Lucas Giolito, 2021. And that’s all we will say about that!
*Looking ahead: Giolito made his second consecutive Opening Day start for the White Sox in 2021. Should he make it three in 2022, he will become the first righty with at least that many since Jack McDowell’s run of four from 1991 to 1994.
Next: Luis Gonzalez