Three games into the White Sox baseball season and we see them sitting at 2-1. No one is going to make a big deal about being a game over .500 or leading the division this early, myself included. But if you have watched all 3 games then you would probably agree that these group of guys have been an absolute joy to watch so far.
Game 1 saw James Shields give up 4 runs before recording an out. It was setting up for a very long afternoon until Matt Davidson and Tim Anderson played hero, belting a combined 5 home runs between the two of them to lead the White Sox to a total beat down of the Royals. Shields was able to settle in and didn’t give up any more runs after getting tagged hard in the 1st inning.
Game 2 was another come-from-behind win, this time with the help of Welington Castillo, who blasted a 2-run double late in the game to give the White Sox a lead they would be able to hold onto. Furthermore, Lucas Giolito just didn’t have it on this night but was still able to throw a quality start (at least 6 innings and no more than 3 earned runs). If that is what he can do on a bad night, then imagine what he can do when he is on.
Game 3 saw the White Sox suffer their first defeat, but they didn’t go down without a fight. A Welington Castillo home run saw them take the lead only to have Josh Donaldson tie it up with a blast of his own. Castillo, the main free agent the White Sox brought over this off-season, wasted no time in sending another one of his own into orbit the very next inning to give the White Sox the lead again. Reynaldo Lopez was absolutely dealing and it was by far the best he has ever looked in a White Sox uniform. The bullpen squandered a few more home runs to the Jays, and that was the difference. Games like that are going to happen, but the White Sox hung in until the end in their lone loss of the season.
These White Sox seem to have a never-say-die attitude and it is so refreshing to see. Moncada looks more comfortable than ever in the leadoff spot. Tim Anderson is not only having fun again, but is bringing a certain swag to the clubhouse. Castillo is so far looking like a great pickup.
Hawk Harrelson would say “You’re gonna win 60 and lose 60, it’s what you do with the other 42 that matters.” I’d say game 2 on the year was one of those “other 42” in which they never quit and scraped out a tough win on the road.
I was one of the many who said that the White Sox contending for a playoff spot this year was nothing more than a pipe dream. But if they keep playing with this mentality, who knows how good they can actually be.
