White Sox: Positives and negatives from first spring training game

The Chicago White Sox just finished up their first game of the 2021 preseason, losing to the Milwaukee Brewers 7-2. This was a pretty ugly game overall for the Southsiders as they couldn’t muster up much on the offensive or pitching side of things.Of course, this is nothing but one game of spring training and the Sox will have several chances to prove that they’re a force to be reckoned with. There are some positives and negatives to consider when evaluating this game:

Positive: Tim Anderson

Tim Anderson picked up right where he left off last season with a lead-off single to start the year for the Chicago White Sox. Anderson went 1-3 for the game as a whole. Tim Anderson, of course, was an MVP candidate in 2020 and he will look to do the same this season. Anderson, along with Jose Abreu, are the undisputed leaders of the team so it’s great to see the star shortstop start his spring off on a good foot and get one of four total hits for Chicago.

Negative: Jake Burger

One of the great things about spring training is that it gives a chance to players who wouldn’t normally receive one. Jake Burger is someone who can fall into this category and unfortunately for him, he could not seize his opportunity. Burger saw three at-bats but went 0-3 in the game.

Jake Burger was once pegged as a player of the future for the Sox when they drafted him 11th overall in 2017. He’s still young and has time to develop but an Achilles injury derailed him and he has since lost quite a bit of weight to put less stress on the body.

Positive: Adam Engel

If there were to be an MVP from this game for Chicago, it would have to go to Adam Engel. Engel was responsible for the two lone runs that the White Sox scored with his two-run homer in the first inning.

After that home-run, it was all downhill for the Sox as they failed to score the rest of the game. Adam Engel is expected to be a platoon player sharing time with Adam Eaton in the OF. Engel has come a long way with Chicago. At the end of 2019, he was seen as a very below-average hitter. However, in his limited time in 2020, he played great hitting for power and contact. Engel is also a borderline elite fielder who possesses great speed. If he continues what he did last year and what he did in this game, he may overtake the starting spot over Eaton.

Negative: The pitching staff

The pitchers in this game were awful for the Sox and there is no doubt about it. The game was started by Mike Wright who gave up three runs in his one inning. It got a little better with Jacob Lindgren and Kade McClure not giving up any runs in their one inning each.

Then Bennett Sousa came in and gave up two home runs and the game was pretty much over by this point. Danny Dopico pitched the sixth and final inning giving up another home run for good measure. All in all, not a good day for the pitching staff.

Final Thoughts: 

Even though the Chicago White Sox took a loss it was still great to see some actual baseball. One other minor positive was Andrew Vaughn reaching base twice with two walks. Also, Yoan Moncada looking healthy again as he reached base on a fielder’s choice before scoring off of Engel’s home run. Up next, the Sox get to play the Los Angeles Angels and Alex McRae is listed as the probable starter.