Mark Feinsand

Cleveland sort of finds a way to get it done every year, it seems.

But coming into the year, Detroit was the overwhelming favorite in that division, and they're nine games under .500.

Amazing.

It's amazing to me.

And I understand that Skubal's hurt, but he's been hurt for a couple of weeks with that three starts, basically, at this point.

That's not the reason they're nine games under .500.

But the White Sox, they made one of the truest offseason moves.

This guy, Minotaka Murakami, the first baseman from Japan, was supposed to be a big free agent.

He's a big power guy, home run records in Japan.

But there was a lot of swing and miss.

There were a lot of questions about whether he could translate to big league pitching.

And while you've seen a lot of these Japanese free agents come over here with these big nine-figure contracts,

Murakami wasn't getting that offer.

And the White Sox signed him to a two-year deal, I think for about $34 million.

And all he's doing right now is leaving the majors in home runs, or leaving the American League in home runs, and pacing a White Sox offense that's got some other young guys who are playing very well.

Colson Montgomery's a 24-year-old.

He's got 13 home runs and 31 RBIs.

Miguel Vargas, a 26-year-old third baseman, he's got 11 home runs and an 850 OPS.

And on top of that,

their starting pitching hasn't been great.