Chicago White Sox Morning BP: Hope at All-Star Break?
The first half of the 2015 Chicago White Sox season is an overall disappointment with the “Good Guys” sitting in last place in the AL Central with a 41-45 overall record.
This isn’t how the season was supposed to go with all the hope the White Sox were giving fans before the start of spring training, which included big free agent signings and trades that haven’t panned completely out … yet.
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With the disappointment the White Sox have given everyone this season, they’ve also have given the fan base some hope as well, winning 9 of their past 12 games, including winning series against the Chicago Cubs, Toronto Blue Jays, Baltimore Orioles and the St. Louis Cardinals in that span.
We’ve all wondered if the White Sox are going to be “buyers” or “sellers” once the trade deadline arrives, and to be honest there is really no answer yet. If the Sox come back from the break and win a series against the Kansas City Royals and another one against the Cardinals, I can see the White Sox going for one of the Wild Card spots for the second half of the season. If they have a rough spot against the Royals and Cardinals, then it will be “wait till next year.”
Here is a look at the White Sox schedule for the remainder of July:
• July 17-19: vs. Kansas City Royals (Friday, July, 17 is a DH, 4 games)
• July 21-22: vs. St. Louis Cardinals (2 games)
• July 23-26: at Cleveland Indians (4 games)
• July 27-30: at Boston Red Sox (4 games)
• July 31: vs. New York Yankees
Jul 12, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Jose Quintana (62) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports
The results of these games will be the deciding factor for the ’15 White Sox and what path they choose to take for the remainder of the season.
At the break the White Sox are 5.5 games back of the second Wild Card spot in the AL, which is currently held by the Houston Astros, who are 49-42. The Minnesota Twins hold the first Wild Card spot with a 49-40 record. The Royals lead the AL Central lead over the Sox by 11 games.
Ahead of the Sox for the second Wild Card spot are six other teams, including the Orioles and Indians who are on the White Sox slate in July.
So to answer my initial question … yes there is hope for the White Sox to battle for a Wild Card spot, but let’s hope the break doesn’t halt the momentum that has been gained as of late. If the White Sox lose the series to the Royals, then it will be very tough for this club to have the success needed to compete at the level needed for one of the two Wild Card spots.
If the momentum stays, there is still a slight chance, but in all reality that type of momentum is tough to keep, especially with the team we’ve seen for most of the season and not just the past few series.
Either way, once Friday arrives we’ll know soon enough what this team is made of, and it should be interesting to say the least.
Enjoy the break everyone, because a lot will be on the line the first weekend back at the ball park.
WHITE SOX HEADLINES:
• Despite loss, White Sox upbeat prior to break: By Scott Merkin of WhiteSox.com.
• Chicago White Sox at the break? It could be worse: By Scot Gregor of the Daily Herald.
• Cubs, White Sox seem to be fairly mediocre teams: By Rick Telander of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• Robin Ventura doesn’t want Chris Sale to pitch in All-Star Game: By Collen Kane of the Chicago Tribune.
• White Sox exude rare optimism at the break: By Doug Padilla of ESPN Chicago.
Next: Will the White Sox buy at the trade deadline?