The White Sox could be in a unique position to benefit from a shortened 2020 season. MLBTR’s Jeff Todd explores the team’s substantial upside in today’s video.
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The Sox still have some development/growing pains they’ll go through this season. 21 is the year for them to title contend.
Anything’s possible for a talent-rich team with veteran leadership. Growing pains or not, they’ll win significantly more than 72 games (2019).
to be fair that’ said about a lot of teams at this point in their rebuilds and usually it still takes an extra year. possible doesn’t mean probable.
You might see your Chisox break 80 wins in the worst division in baseball. Congratulations on almost reaching mediocrity.
Eight win improvement from a tanking team with a decimated pitching rotation? At least 90 wins during a full season wouldn’t shock me at all.
Two reasons the Sox will be among the top 10 teams in baseball:
1. Deep rotation. They didn’t have Keuchel or a healthy Kopech a year ago. Huge upgrade.
2. Solid bullpen. They have 3 or 4 guys who can close out games if needed.
3. The hitting lineup is scary. I know we haven’t seen it yet, but trust me. There is thunder from top to bottom of the order. The Sox didn’t have that a year ago, either.
They will break 80 wins in that division… in a shortened season to 140 games…
Who are the three or four guys who can close?
Wereallguests, no team is going to break 80 wins this year because there won’t be enough games. You sound someone who would be great to bet with in ordinary circumstances though.
Colome, Bummer, Herrera, Cishek. A fourth option could be one of the excess starters (Kopech, Cease, Lopez or Fulmer).
Yes homeslice thank you. The point was, ChiSoxCity is delusional and doesn’t pay attention to the entire league. So call my 80 wins a 162-game pro-rated rate. Cool?
You’re the one that’s delusional. 90% of so-called baseball fans only pay attention to three or four teams, none of which are the White Sox. I like it that way.
Good points
Ya never know! A few years ago everyone thought the Houston Asstros were a year or two away and they stole the division from Texas in the last week of the season.
As much as I dislike White Sox fans running around like they have gods team already. The White Sox have a potentially really good core. Anderson, Moncada, Robert could be 3 impact hitters. Complemented by Grandal, Abreu, and potentially Madrigal. That’s pretty strong.
Basically they paid top dollar for all their free agents—which I don’t like. If they live up to it—great, you got what you paid for. But, like the Padres, who started signing guys before the team actually started winning, that can backfire on you. The ChiSox obviously didn’t spend quite as much but they still have some fairly significant commitments.
It helps that the other two teams at the top of the division aren’t that good. And the bottom of the division is horrendous.
I think the Twins and Indians both finish ahead of CWS this year. But in 2021–the Indians will certainly have traded Lindor away. Possibly Clevinger as well….If that’s the case, then there’s the real opening for the White Sox. The Twins are piecing together a rotation of short term veterans as well. So, the future looks pretty good.
Really helps when you don’t have a phenomenally well ran big market team in your division to compete against. Tougher sledding for rebuilding ALE and NL west clubs.
Well not if they get stuck in a division with LAD, LAA, CIN, and CLE. They’d be the worst of that group, with a likely ceiling of 3rd place.
What’s new. We have always been over looked and over shadowed.
To Tom Bliss : yep Chisox have always been overlooked and overshadowed. But don’t forget, they also have been out talented, over hyped and had pitiful ownership also, for ages. Reinsdorf has tried his cheap, low budget approach forever. Using smoke and mirrors along with excuse apologists for announcers. You know the names.
Awww, Reinsdorf took my blankie. Let’s keep a running tally of how many times he levels the same repetitive chant
As they should have been, with the exception of 05, 01 (from memory), and 94. They have been putting up some dog teams for years. It’ll be nice to see them make a run at it (from a mainly Cubs fan who was at the Sox 05 parade.)
I don’t think either CIN or CLE would necessarily be favored over the White Sox, and the LAA still have some proving to do (despite Rendon certainly helping them, their pitching in particular is a big ??). LAD would certainly be #1, but CHW could finish any place after that, and I would say project to be 3rd.
For example: bleacherreport.com/articles/2877261-projecting-the… puts the White Sox at 85-77, ahead of CIN (82-80) and CLE (81-81) and only one game behind LAA (86-76). I think that’s reasonable – and it isn’t like the AL Central is a garbage fire this year or anything (it’s as good as the NL Central if not better, and only a bit behind the AL West thanks to SEA’s presence).
PECOTA agrees more with your rankings, but even then it’s quite close between everyone non-LAD.
I find it funny that a Reds fan is the one saying the Sox would be the worst in that division. Counting your chickens before they hatch a bit, no?
The Dodgers would clearly be the favorites and likely run away with the division. Outside of that, I could pretty easily see everyone else finishing in any order.
I would bet my unborn children that the Sox finish with a better record than the Reds if they are in the same division.
I don’t want to hear anything about the Angels until they get some pitching. They are forever the most overrated team.
But please, continue overlooking my White Sox. That is what I love most about this team.
Oh, you don’t want to hear anything about the Angels until…..?
Well guess what? No one wants to hear about the greatness of the white Sox until… they can show they are capable of being .500 ball club. Getting close to 10 years since they have achieved that.
Dogbone you nailed it! And shut up ChiSoxCity too!
I literally can’t dumb this down anymore than this for you bozo Cubs fans. The Angels finished in 4th place in the AL West last season with 72 wins. They didn’t have any pitching then, and they still don’t. Another expensive bat won’t make a like of difference in that division. Anyone saying the Angels are better than the Sox, who tanked and still won the same number of games last year, is an idiot. Sorry, not sorry.
Ok everyone …. ChiSoxCity does not want any talk about the Angels … so ….
CHW also have no pitching.
Teams like the wSox and Blue Jays have so many good young players who are (potentially) on the verge of breakouts that their 2020 performance is hard to project. If players like Eloy and Vladdy explode over the course of a short season and their teams have good luck in other areas, they could be playoff bound. And once you get in to the playoffs, anything can happen.
One of my favourite trivia questions – since the wild card was introduced in 1995, which has happened more often: (a) the team with the best record in the regular season has won the World Series or (b) the World Series was won by a wild card team?
Answer: (a) 6, (b) 7
I think the thing that benefits the White Sox the most from a shortened season, other than the increased volatility (making a playoff run more likely), is the fact that they have a lower chance of getting anyone hurt, while still getting some looks at players and experience for their youngsters.
The worst thing that can happen during the middle of a rebuild is to have your budding stars get hurt. Taking a year where they have half the ABs as normal means they have half the chance of getting hurt (or half the starts/relief appearances, same). That makes the 2021 season – when the Sox are likely to be much better contenders – all the more appealing.
That said, having some season is very important – you don’t want to skip 100% of the at bats for the youngsters, as they need seasoning to learn how to be more selective with their pitches and to make the dumb mistakes in the field and on the basepaths so they don’t make them when they matter. But you can get a good amount of that in half a season.
It seems that my team has led the league in misplays and baserunning blunders for about eight straight seasons. Inexperience has nothing to do with it,
Pandemics lead to interesting results. Just last night I found out how erotic making love with face shields on can be.
Oh—-bobtillman, you had her take off the bag? Classy move.
Her?
It could also hurt them. Team needs to gel. If they have a rough start i don’t see it happening
does Robert get service time right now?
Ugh. Where have you been the past 4 months
Not until the season starts, but it’s irrelevant because of the extension he signed.
No he does not but who cares. He signed a long term deal that makes service time moot.
yeah i just wasnt sure if the service time affected when he might reach free agency given he has no service time yet. i wasn’t sure that the guaranteed contract guaranteed service time.
White Sox should be going all in in 22. I’ll throw a few chips on the table then. Yankees and Dodgers clear favourites this year. Come on Baseball Gods, we need you to help get the season going.
I look for the Sox to be a cinch to win the Cactus League Midwest division title this season.
Looking forward to EE’s impact on team in terms of teaching selectivity (taking a walk is just fine) and delivering in big moments, how the Sox eventually work Robert and Madrigal into the lineup, and what the RF plan is if Mazara busts. But ultimately, and universally, it comes down to pitching and defense. There have been question marks there in the recent past. We’ll see if roster moves have addressed them.
I’m pulling for Mazara. However, I’m hoping the Sox throw $330M at Mookie this offseason.
I’d love for them to get Betts. Unfortunately, don’t see them offering him enough because Jerry won’t fully commit.
Well, Reinsdorf signed off on $300M+ offers to a few guys already. He spent $200M+ this last offseason. I think he’s serious about getting another elite player in there to speed up the championship run and get butts in the seats. Mookie is a great fit for this team given his age and position. Boy would it be fun watching him, Robert and Eloy in the same outfield. Not holding my breath, but honestly I don’t see a better fit anywhere else in the league.
Betts should consider the White Sox if the money is there.
Mookie have any cousins or in-laws in A-ball somewhere that could sweeten the pot?
Less pitching and defense they have to do, the better.
Wha-huh?
I get that the Sox haven’t won anything yet and some of their stud prospects haven’t proven themselves at the MLB level. That said, only a troll can seriously think they’ll still be under. 500 with the improvements they made. They won’t catch the Twins this year unless the Twins experience a Red Sox-esque decline, but contending for a WC isn’t out of the question.
People have this idea that it takes years for a young teams to contend. The reality is it takes talent, and lots of it. The Twins went from 78 wins to 100+ in one year. Just about every team that has gone thru a major rebuild the past 10 years turned things around immediately. You just need the talent in place, and an elite veteran or two to lead the way.
Doggone is your troll, one of the few people unaffected by the stay at home order, since he was already spending all his time in grandmas basement
Oh so dogbone is not allowed to have his opinion? That makes him a troll?
Jumping on repeatedly, making the same negative points about one club, usually “team x sucks” without injecting useful content or insights to the discussion? Yes, troll.
Nice clip and astute analysis to boot. Keep up the good work Jeff and Tim.
Baby steps. Pitching isn’t top half. Defense isn’t good. Lots of swing and miss hitters with little patience for walks and OBP. 2021 might be a contending team.
You’re basing that off 2019. They could easily take MASSIVE steps forward in every one of those departments with the amount of young talent they have plus the new additions in 2020. Extremely talented young players (of which they have plenty) tend to get better, and Yonder/EE are two of the best at what they do. There are no guarantees, but 2020 can/should look a LOT different than 2019 if they ever get started.
Baby steps are overrated; MLB teams are capable of flipping the switch VERY quickly. Contending shouldn’t be the expectation (yet), but it also shouldn’t be a surprise.
They could easily NOT take massive steps forward. The League could find their young hitters weaknesses. Pitchers coming off of injuries rarely are back fully the first year. Still waiting for Will Myers to take that next step and he was a very highly rated prospect. It will be a more interesting team to watch, but massive steps will be needed to contend.
Except, it never works out this way. Young teams with talent have been the most dangerous teams in the league the last decade or so.
Thanks for pointing that out.
If you read what I wrote, you would’ve seen: “There are no guarantees, but 2020 can/should look a LOT different than 2019 if they ever get started.” Emphasis on “there are no guarantees.”
Again, that entire comment was based on their play during the 2019 season. A lot of things can change in a year, especially when elite young talent is involved. Making definitive statements before the season even starts is idiotic.
The next time Elite young talent breaks out for the White Sox under Rick Hahn in their first full season will be the first.
And the defensive statement are clearly justified. The team will not only have to replace a GG 2b, they will very likely be in a a worst position in CF, as they will be replacing a GG finalist with a rookie, and will certainly be worse off in RF. Add that to the fact that they have bottom five fielders in LF, and at 1b and SS, the season could get ugly in terms of defense. The only clear upgrade made was at catcher.
The White Sox were one of the worst hitting team in the league last year. That is where they improved the most. Gold glove defense from a few players got them what… 72 wins?.
You’re underrating the much needed run production from Robert and Mazara, and severally overrating the defensive capabilities of Robert, Mazara and Madrigal. Furthermore, you don’t need gold glove defenders everywhere to win a championship.
They didn’t have pitching in 2019. They still don’t for 2020.
Giolito, Keuchel, Cease, Gonzalez, and Lopez are a solid starting five. Kopech and Rodon are both returning soon from rehab. They may not be household names to casual fans, but many teams would love to have the quality and depth the Sox do.
Great video, Jeff. Very insightful as I too am excited about this team. GO SOX!
they would have been a contender in the al central. this new division would be impossible. LA would win it. sox and cincy would battle for 2nd and the indians would finish ahead of LA.
…….a hitting lineup that could see 3 or more players strikeout 120 times in a season. Now that’s scary.
what a stupid comment, the Yankees had 4 players with over 120 strikeouts … the dodgers had 3 with 111 or more … so i guess their lineups suck??? educate yourself before commenting please
and the twins had 7 … count em, 7 … with 98 or more (5 of them with 107 or more) … wow, you really are on to something
120 strikeouts is nothing. Baez struck out 150+ last year. Acuna had over 180Ks. What matters most is run production.
@rick
Young teams strike out a lot. They haven’t grown into their talent yet. Another year of development and I see the trend going down, not up. Teams have managed to contend while striking out a lot. I don’t see this as damning.
True
welcome to 2020. thats common now
Strikeouts are fine if the walks and OBP are there. It isn’t. The pitching isn’t in the top half of baseball and their defense is still bad.
By your logic, Javy Baez would not be a productive hitter. We both know that’s not true, so you can flush that logic. Same goes for your shortsighted views of their pitching staff. Get back to me when you have some facts or information to back up your comments.
You know, we always give bold predictions such a beating in the comment sections but then criticize normal predictions as boring. Also, if its fans or analysts, we don’t seem to do a good job of guessing when a team is going to turn that corner and start contending.
Nobody picked Chicago, Houston or Atlanta to contend the first year they did. So maybe picking the White Sox to contend this year isn’t so crazy.
Most people underestimate young talent and are convinced it takes time to gradually turn into a contender. It doesn’t. When it clicks, it clicks. It’s not a coincidence that all the teams you mentioned won a “year too early” according to most. They had the talent; they just hadn’t proven anything yet. This is where the White Sox currently are, hence the reason I said above that contending shouldn’t be the expectation, but it also shouldn’t be a surprise.
its not crazy at all. what is crazy is these comment sections. whole lot of sharks here looking for a story to attack. misspell a word and the writers are toast. im not going to act like im the smartest or most restrained person here, but at least im not actively looking for a fight. (unlike some)
Wrong! I thought the Asstros had a chance to contend when everyone thought they were a year away. There is always a surprise team.
@letsplaytwo.
Okay. There is always SOMEONE who guess right. Here is your cookie for being right.
Lookout for the Padres, too. That’s a good looking young club. It would not surprise me one bit if they snuck up and too the NL West away from the Dodgers whenever play resumes.
I do not see the Padres beating out the Dodgers
I wouldn’t expect you to. People who actually pay attention to other teams know better.
I don’t like the Dodgers at all. They are miles ahead of the Padres though.
Put me in the camp that says the ChiSox take a big step forward. I don’t care if their collective staff has an ERA close to 5.00…
Anderson, Moncada, Abreu, Eloy, Mazara, EE, Robert, Grandal, and the excellent contact of Garcia batting 9th? Come on man, that s*** is SCARY.
They are running out of time to begin on Jun 1st. If everyone got tested for SARS-Cov-2 now it would take at least 2 wks for the antibodies to kill the virus & provide some immunity for a central AZ only season. I’m sure if they call the WH they will get the test kits they need.
Who comes out on top in such a bizarre season comes down again to rotation.
The CWS can feature Giolito, Kuechel, Rodon, Gonzo, Kopech, Cease, Lopez, & Dunning to go to battle on daily double headers. I don’t think any other team can feature such a mix of proven talent & potential. The CWS will hit a lot better simply because the teams they play will feature many tired arms.