OK, we get it. After years of high hopes and confidence, followed by disappointment and bitter tears, it is pretty hard to brace yourself for another two or three years of losing baseball. However, that doesn’t mean that no one should care or pay any attention to the White Sox in 2017.
This year, there is no false hope being thrown around. Everywhere you look, the White Sox are projected to finish last in the AL Central, so there shouldn’t be any disappointment this year.
That being said, why not watch the team? If they lose, it’s expected, and if they win, it is a gift from the baseball gods. There are actually quite a few reasons why you should want to watch the White Sox this season. From the young players to the newcomers to the veterans, this team can be very entertaining.
5.) Pay Your Respects Before The Veterans Go
Even though the White Sox are in a rebuild mode, there are still a number of veterans that Rick Hahn has not yet traded away. Jose Abreu, Jose Quintana, Melky Cabrera, Todd Frazier, and David Robertson highlight the potential trades near the trade deadline this summer. But why shut down on them this year? They are still going to give all they got and it should still be pretty exciting.
The skills of LF Cabrera are top-notch, specially when he robs home runs from Kris Bryant.
Abreu has shown that he produces even though the rest of his team may not. He started off his first two MLB seasons with at least 30 home runs and 100 RBIs and has finished every year with at least 100 RBIs. Even though the Toddfather may only get a hit once out of every 15 at bats, that one hit is usually a home run. His defense at third is above average and its nice to see a White Sox player in the Home Run Derby for once.
Jose Quintana will once again throw shutouts, but somehow end up with a no decision. Just because Chris Sale was traded doesn’t mean that the White Sox don’t have an ace anymore. Quintana is even projected to win the AL Cy Young award this year by Ken Rosenthal.
4.) Tim Anderson
All eyes were on Anderson even before the team signed him to a six-year deal. In his short time with the team last year, he made incredible plays at shortstop and was a threat every time he stepped in the box. He’s the future star of the team and the future face of the franchise. His arm strength helps him snag runners at first, but what is really special about him is his baseball IQ. He knows what is going on, and everyone in the stands knows that he is the dominant force on the diamond.
His exciting plays makes it worth to watch the team this year. Staring at the future of the Chicago White Sox, it’s nice to know that for the first time in a while, there is legitimate hope for this team for bringing a division title to this city and hopefully a pennant along with a World Series trophy.
3.) Smart Baseball
Unlike Robin Ventura, Ricky Renteria actually knows how to manage a team. This season, you won’t see bunts by Melky Cabrera in the 3rd inning anymore. It will be a well-managed club, that is guaranteed. From being manager of the Cubs in 2014 and becoming the White Sox bench coach after that, he has seen a lot of incredible things in this city and he is planning to make some more.
The skills that Renteria brings to this team are needed and appreciated. He holds his players accountable and to a higher standard. Even though everyone is expecting him to manage a losing team, he will do all he can to try to prove those doubters wrong.
2.) The Call Ups
The Chris Sale and Adam Eaton trade has brought some interesting new faces to the team. Unfortunately, we won’t be able to see these new faces for a while as the majority of them are in AAA Charlotte. Since the White Sox front office is well aware of the rebuild that they are going through, sending their youngsters down to the minors to begin the season is actually a smart idea.
Yoan Moncada is ranked the 2nd best prospect in all of baseball. Lucas Giolito is viewed as a strong starter for the club a few years down the road, and his time in the minors will be well spent. Lopez is another starter that actually could have made the 25-man roster, but was sent to the minors for the same reasons. The next player has basically the whole country stoked to watch: Michael Kopech. His fastballs that are consistent at 100 and 101 MPH are no laughing matter. His career high is 105 MPH, just in case anyone forgot. Will he be the next Chapman? We will have to wait until September to find out.
Kopech isn’t the only guy on the team that can throw 100+. Zach Burdi and Tommy Kahnle also fit that description. Burdi is viewed as a future closer for the White Sox. It’s a different situation for Kahnle. He will be fighting to stay on the club this year when he does get called up. Although he throws hard, he had 20 walks in 27.1 innings last season. He will have to get his control down if the Sox want to have the hardest throwing team in the league. Nevertheless, all of these players will be exciting to watch as they are called up towards the end of the season.
1.) The Underdogs
This is the Chicago White Sox we are talking about, not some minor league team. They are the underdogs in Chicago and in the MLB. Because of the success that the Chicago Cubs had in 2016, you know winning the World Series and all, a lot of attention has been lost, and the White Sox are viewed as “the other team”. No one in the MLB thinks that they are serious contenders for even a Wild Card spot, and it will be fun to watch some more walk offs by the youngsters or towering home runs by the veterans.
So sit back, relax, and strap it down, White Sox baseball is coming your way.
