Where do the Chicago White Sox actually stack up against the Chicago Cubs?
The Chicago White Sox defeated the Chicago Cubs for the second exhibition night in a row by a final score of 5-3. This time the game was at Guaranteed Rate Field and the White Sox guaranteed themselves a win when they put up five runs on Yu Darvish early to take the Cubs almost entirely out of the game. The Cubs rallied a little bit but the White Sox bullpen held them off for the victory. It was a lot of fun but where do the White Sox actually stack up against the Cubs this year?
It was a lot of fun watching this team explode offensively in the past two exhibition games but the reality is that they are probably closer to the Cubs than we think. There is a good chance they are a better team but it might end up being pretty close. The White Sox and Cubs both have very good starting lineups but the White Sox has the advantage on the mound.
The Cubs bullpen is weak. That might cost them a lot of games this year and it is going to be magnified by the fact that they are only playing 60 games. The White Sox, on the other hand, has several good relievers in their pen that should be able to anchor them to many victories when their starter leaves the game with a lead.
We all know the Sox fleeced the Cubs in the Jose Quintana trade. With that said, Quintana is still better than a replacement-level pitcher so him not knowing how to wash dishes properly is problematic for them. Without Quintana in their rotation, a guy like Tyler Chatwood is their number three. Chatwood wouldn’t even be considered for a spot in the White Sox rotation this year.
One team won a World Series four years ago and is on the way down and one team is on the way up from a very long and painful rebuild. They seem to be at the same spot headed in opposite directions right now but these games make you wonder if it is the White Sox time to be the best baseball team in the city of Chicago.