2014 Chicago White Sox Postseason Awards

Sep 24, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Chicago White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu (79) receives congratulations from left fielder Jordan Danks (20) after scoring in the sixth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The 2014 season came to a close for the Chicago White Sox on Sunday, and with that was the end of a second consecutive losing season.

But that’s OK, because the White Sox did have a 10-win improvement and saw some of their young players take a step in the right direction. The White Sox finished 73-89 overall, 17 games behind the AL Central champion Detroit Tigers and 16 games behind the Kansas City Royals, who were the first AL Wild Card team this season.

All of that said, it is time for Southside Showdown to hand out our Chicago White Sox postseason awards for the ’14 season.

The staff of Southside Showdown voted on the following categories when it pertains to the White Sox and ’14: Team MVP, Team Best Pitcher/Cy Young, Most Improved, Most Disappointing, Best Moment, Best Announcer, Best Subtraction and Most Undervalued.

With the categories listed, we will reveal our votes on the following pages, plus give you an opportunity to vote on these categories as well.

Have fun with the vote, and let’s all enjoy this offseason, as my prediction is it will be busy and there will be some changes made to this lineup for continued improvement for the ’15 season.

White Sox Most Valuable Player

Jose Abreu (first base)

Aug 24, 2014; Bronx, NY, USA; Chicago White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu (79) singles to right during the third inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

This was one of two unanimous choices by the staff of Southside Showdown, voting the soon-to-be AL Rookie of the Year as the Most Valuable Player of the White Sox in ’14.

What Abreu brought was the next power hitter for the White Sox, taking the spot previously held by the retiring Paul Konerko and before that Hall of Famer Frank Thomas.

Abreu has big shoes to fill at first base (and sometimes at DH) by replacing those two White Sox legends, but after one season, Abreu seems to be on track to make his mark with the franchise.

In year No. 1, Abreu became the first White Sox batter since Dick Allen in 1974 to lead the majors in slugging percentage at .581 this season. He also had an OPS+ of 169.

Also for Abreu, who was an All-Star this season, he hit 36 home runs and tallied 107 RBIs in 145 games. In those games, he collected 176 hits, including 35 doubles and two triples. He had three stolen bases and walked 51 times.

Oh, within all of those stats, he batted a team-high .317 the first year he faced major league pitching.

This season, Abreu brought excitement back to a roster that lacked any the year before his arrival. Abreu helped make the White Sox relevant once again in terms of having a future “superstar” type of player on the roster.

The team will be in his hands next season, and he seems like the type of player who wants to take on that role.

Most Improved Player

Tyler Flowers (catcher)

Sep 22, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Chicago White Sox catcher Tyler Flowers (21) throws out Detroit Tigers center fielder Ezequiel Carrera (not pictured) on an attempted butt in the seventh inning at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

This was a very close vote, with Flowers receiving the most votes, while Conor Gillaspie (third base) and Jose Quintana (pitcher) also received a vote as well.

Flowers had a good and bad season, but he did have a flair to gain a big hit when called upon, including a game where he hit a walk-off home run in the 12th inning against the Oakland Athletics with three weeks left in the season.

The starting catcher at time made fans cheer at the top of their lungs with plays like the aforementioned walk-off home run, and at times made them want to rip their hair out of their skulls.

In 127 games in ’14, Flowers batted .241, 23 points higher than his career average, and he hit 15 home runs, nearly half of his career total of 37 home runs.

Looking at his monthly batting averages, Flowers batted .369 in April, but settled down with a .208 average in May and .129 in June.

Then something changed when he started wearing Oakley glasses when he went to the plate. From the months of July-September, his overall game at the plate then improved quite a bit.

In July, Flowers batted .269, followed by a .213 average in August, and in September, he batted .268.

The ’14 season of Flowers could be described as a “whirlwind,” but again, it was much improved from his .195 batting average of ’13 in 84 games.

Best Announcer

Steve Stone (TV analyst)

This was a unique vote, as it involved both the television and radio broadcasts of the White Sox. The winner with half the votes was Stone, as the former Cy Young Award winner shined above the rest.

Nobody on the Southside Showdown staff voted for Ken Harrelson. Even though I’m one of the folks who enjoy “Hawk” for the most part, I could go without hearing about his past Boston Red Sox teammates basically every broadcast.

There was one no vote and one for White Sox radio play-by-play announcer Ed Farmer.

As for Stone, he kept the broadcasts on track, while giving important information to the viewer that mattered in the game or series. One negative on Stone was his lack of excitement on a home run call this year that was maybe the most lax home run call of the season.

Still, I can’t argue Stone wasn’t the best White Sox announcer of ’14. He does a very professional job, and does his job the right way, where he makes it about the game and the players on the field.

This was the fourth season that Stone has announced broadcasts for the Chicago White Sox, as he’s announced baseball for over 25 seasons.

Best Subtraction

Gordon Beckham (second base)

Sep 2, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Los Angeles Angels third baseman Gordon Beckham (18) gets a single during the third inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Voted as the best subtraction of the White Sox was Beckham, as he was traded to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Aug. 21 for a minor league player.

The reasoning behind this vote (Alejandro De Aza also received a vote) was for the fact Beckham wasn’t producing up to the standards set for a former first-round choice, plus he became expendable, with Carlos Sanchez MLB-ready, along with others in the minors at the position.

For the ’14 season, combined with the White Sox and Angels, Beckham had a .226 average, seven home runs and 36 RBIs. In 101 games with the White Sox in ’14, Beckham batted .221 with seven home runs.

In nearly six seasons with the White Sox, Beckham batted .244 with 276 RBIs and 61 home runs.

With the subtraction from the White Sox, Beckham now finds himself on a potential World Series contender, as the Angels went on to win the AL West and will be playing in the ALDS against the Kansas City Royals.

The same goes for De Aza, who was second in the voting. De Aza was traded to the Baltimore Orioles, and they eventually won the AL East. They are playing the Detroit Tigers in their ALDS series.

Most Undervalued White Sox

Jose Quintana (pitcher)

Sep 25, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Jose Quintana (62) throws a pitch against the Kansas City Royals during the first inning at U.S Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

This was another close vote with three players listed, including the winner Quintana, along with Gillaspie and Alexei Ramirez.

All three players are undervalued on this ball club, but even I’m guilty of overlooking what Quintana did for the White Sox this season.

Quintana was the second-best pitcher in the starting rotation in ’14 for the White Sox, trailing only Sale on that list of players. Though Quintana had a losing record of 9-11, that doesn’t do his season justice.

He pitched 32 games this season with an ERA of 3.32 in 200.1 innings pitched. Of his 32 starts, Quintana became the king of no-decisions, finishing with 12 on the season, as either the offense or bullpen did him no favors in many of his games.

One stat I find impressive is he held the opposition to a .257 batting average.

In four September starts, Quintana was 2-1 with a 2.60 ERA (27.2 innings pitched). In the final month of the regular season, Quintana kept the opposing batters to a .278 batting average.

Looking at his July numbers, in five starts, Quintana was 1-0 with four no-decisions in 32.2 innings pitched. His ERA that month was an incredible 2.20, the best monthly ERA he had this past season.

Most Disappointing White Sox

Ronald Belisario (relief pitcher)

Aug 30, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago White Sox relief pitcher Ronald Belisario (54) yells at Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera (not pictured) during the eighth inning at U.S Cellular Field. Chicago White Sox defeat the Detroit Tigers 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

There are more than a few players I could think of who belong on this list, but the dubious “winner” was Belisario for his forgettable ’14 season.

I have no problem with Belisario on this list, but De Aza also received a vote, and I would have had no problem voting for John Danks as well.

My vote was for Belisario, and it’s nothing personal, but he didn’t have the season we all hoped he would.

The ’14 numbers of the relief pitcher were a 4-8 record in 62 appearances. His ERA was 5.56 with eight saves in 12 opportunities. He pitched 6.1 innings, allowing 41 earned runs. He allowed the opponents to have a batting average of .295, and he gave up 78 hits.

Now, there might have been pitchers with worse numbers, but if there was any player that made you want to smash your TV whenever he took the mound due to his pitching or the uncertainty, it was Belisario.

August was his worst month with a 10.80 ERA in 10 appearances. He was 0-1 in 8.1 innings of relief. His best month was September, where he was 0-0 with a 2.84 ERA in 6.1 innings of work.

Most Exciting

Adam Eaton (centerfield)

Aug 30, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago White Sox center fielder Adam Eaton (1) makes a leaping catch against the Detroit Tigers during the fourth inning at U.S Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

Was there any other choice? Eaton received the most votes by the staff of Southside Showdown, but Abreu also received some love as well.

As I said all season, Eaton was just super fun to watch. At the plate, he finished with a .300 batting average, going 3-for-3 on the final day of the regular season, and do we even need to discuss just how exciting he was playing centerfield?

Of course we do.

Though his style of play caused him a couple stints on the disabled list in ’14, he made many high-flying, leaping and incredible catches at the wall in ’14, his first season with the White Sox.

In fact, Eaton was just absolutely incredible to watch with his no-fear style of play. Even though he would make you worry about his health, the 5-8, 185-pound Eaton gave the White Sox the spark they desperately needed for the ’14 season, whether it be at the plate or at centerfield.

He also had 28 doubles, 10 triples and even flexed his muscle with one home run. He is the first real “lead-off” hitter I can recall that can make that type of impact since Scott Podsednik was on the roster.

What is most exciting about Eaton was this was basically his first full season in the majors, and if he can stay healthy, he can only improve even more as his career progresses.

Best Moment

Paul Konerko Day

Sep 28, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko (14) waves to fans in the stands after the game against the Kansas City Royals at U.S Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

There were many fun and exciting moments in ’14, but the moment that won the Southside Showdown vote was Paul Konerko Day on the next-to-last day of the season.

The White Sox honored the now-retired Konerko after 16 seasons with the White Sox in grand fashion with the unveiling of a statue at US Cellular Field, former teammates in attendance and a list of other gifts and honors in front of many grateful fans.

The honoring of Paulie was a great thing to watch, whether you were there in person or watched on television … it was a great moment to be a White Sox fan as we all said goodbye to the captain of the team the best way we all knew how.

Konerko’s celebration didn’t gain much national attention, but that’s OK. As White Sox fans, we didn’t want to share him anyway … he was our captain, and all of us celebrated the legendary career of one of the greatest White Sox players to ever wear the uniform.

Paulie finished his entire career, spanning 18 seasons, with 439 career home runs, 432 with the White Sox, trailing only Hall of Famer Frank Thomas.

It was the perfect way to say “Thank You, Paulie.”