Chicago White Sox: Five big takeaways from the first five games
Every Opening Day brings a different type of excitement and hopeful feeling. On the Southside, excitement, and hope is in the air considering the high expectations for this Chicago White Sox team. Although the White Sox are missing critical parts of this lineup like Eloy Jimenez and a solidified DH, this team’s expectations are still high to compete.
The Chicago White Sox have some big things to think about after five games.
After one turn of the rotation, the White Sox are a lackluster 2-3. The opening series in Los Angeles needed to be a momentum booster but taking only one of the four games in the series is not an ideal way to start a season. However, that does not mean the season is over as some bright spots have emerged this past weekend.
The team did take another slight blow in the form of Tim Anderson’s departure from Sunday’s game with a leg injury. Listed as day-to-day, this is the exact situation fans were fearful of before the season began. The bench so far has held its weight and stepped up, especially Yermin Mercedes who is out here breaking records and taking pictures with icons.
The back-end of the rotation has been okay but there does not seem to be any cause of concern in that area as of yet. Surprisingly, the bullpen is raising a few eyebrows but again, it should not be causing concern. With that being said, there are five major takeaways through the first five games of the season. If they are able to build on or correct some of these things, they will go on to have an amazing season.
1 – The Defensive needs to step up its game for the Chicago White Sox.
The first obvious flaw in their game so far is the sloppy defense. In the four-game set against the Angles through the first game against the Mariners, the White Sox committed six errors and allowed seven unearned runs.
Despite a solid performance from ace Lucas Giolito on Opening Night, he earned a no-decision as a failed double play attempt set up Mike Trout to do what Mike Trout does.
In the second game of the season, the current MVP Jose Abreu, unfortunately, mishandled a sharp liner at first off the bat of Shohei Ohtani which allowed him to move up to third and scored on more Mike Trout damage. In the fifth, while up 7-4, Adam Eaton misses a flyball right off the bat of Anthony Rendon scoring a pair. The White Sox would win this game, but it was not pretty.
Lance Lynn started game three smoothly, but the defense would ultimately be the team’s demise again. After two solid innings, Zack Collins slipped trying to field a short comebacker that allowed David Fletcher first base. Lynn retired Ohtani and Trout and the error was seemingly harmless. That is until Rendon’s pop fly in shallow center field. Luis Robert called off an arm-waving Tim Anderson and misjudged the pop fly’s trajectory as it bounced off his head letting Fletcher score. Rendon would come around to score after the extra out allowed Jarad Walsh to hit.
Fortunately, the sixth error did not result in unearned runs but luck will not always be on the team’s side. Catching the ball is the number one rule in baseball and the White Sox are not doing that right now. Given Tony La Russa’s reputation, I’m assuming these defensive mishaps are not sliding and are being addressed.
Yoan Moncada has shown improvement at the hot corner as displayed by his excellent play against the Angles, making an off-balance throw to get speedy Fletcher. Tim Anderson has talked about his defense being a primary focus of improvement this past offseason. Unfortunately, his leg injury in Sunday’s game will keep him out of the lineup for at least the rest of this Seattle series. When he returns to the field, hopefully, we will see an improved infield on defense.
2 – Yermin Mercedes is a Beast
Overnight, Yermin Mercedes went from an unknown prospect fighting for a roster spot to a nationally recognized household name. Everyone woke up, saw the highlights, and fell in love with the Yerminator.
Unbeknownst to ESPN, Mercedes made his debut last season against the Royals. It was nothing particularly memorable as he grounded out to second base but he would follow that up by going eight for his next eight at-bats.
With the injury to Eloy Jimenez, Mercedes squeezed his way onto the 26-man roster and earned his first starting job in just his second game of MLB action.
Batting eighth in the lineup, Mercedes recorded his first major league hit on a solid line drive to center. Future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols handed the ball the Mercedes at first and gave him a nudge in the chest, something I’m sure he’ll always treasure.
The Mercedes-Train did not stop there. Once the nerves of recording the first hit went away, the hits kept flowing. A single in the fourth not only made him 2 for 2 but gave him his first two RBIs. A single in the sixth that made him 3 for 3. A single in the eighth made him 4 for 4 and started to draw some national attention. Mercedes finished off his night by hitting a double in the 9th to drive in two more runs.
His tremendous performance earned him another starting gig for game three of the series. Eager to stay in the lineup, Mercedes cranked out his first home run in his first at-bat. After a sharp single in the fourth and an RBI double in the sixth, he became 8 for 8 to start the season which is something no one in the modern age of baseball has done.
As the White Sox prepares for a season without Eloy Jimenez, someone needed to step up with the bat in either that left-field spot or at DH. Yermin Mercedes answered the call and so far has been that guy. It’s exciting to see what more he has in stock.
3 – The Rotation is Solid, But Needs Work
After the big three, Lucas Giolito, Dallas Keuchel, and Lance Lynn, serious question marks lingered in the rotation and brought doubts of White Sox’s competitiveness for the World Series. Dylan Cease was assumed to get the fourth spot in the rotation but before his spring starts, that was unclear. Starting pitching was the primary concern of this American League juggernaut.
On Opening Night, Giolito pitched 5.1 innings, allowing two earned runs, a home run on two hits, and walks. He struck out eight and did overall a solid job. Not as dominant as usual but he did his job by keeping the team in the game. Defensive struggles would give the White Sox a loss but Giolito a no-decision.
In the second game, Keuchel struggled a bit. He allowed three earned runs off five hits and a couple of walks. More defense struggles were present and he allowed six runs overall (only three earned). For the first two innings, his command was strong and was classic Keuchel but he couldn’t pitch around the two errors as his command began to show signs of giving late in the fourth. Of course, this is not the Keuchel we have all come to know and love. He is a ground ball pitcher who aims for bat contact. He will struggle when he has a defensively weak infield.
On Saturday, Lynn made his White Sox debut. Going 4.2 innings, Lynn allowed two walks and six hits but struck out six. He would have gone longer in the game had it not been for the two errors that allowed the two unearned runs to score on Lynn’s watch. Number 33 looked strong on the bump. With a clean defense, he had the momentum to go 7 or 8 innings considering six of the 14 outs he recorded came via punch out.
Getting the prime-time starting nod, Dylan Cease did okay. It was not his best work but he certainly has done worse. Going 4.2 innings, Cease allowed five hits, one dinger, and three earned runs on three walks with only three strikeouts. With all the hype built up following his offseason with Ethan Katz, this first start was disappointing. However, all hope is not lost.
For about two innings, he was untouchable and that filthy pitcher he is projected to be. He wasn’t using his curveball. He just his fastball and slider. Cease is most effective when that hook is thrown into the mix, which explains his downward spiral late into his outing. The command was there for a bit but then he lost it. If he can figure out how to keep it, he is untouchable, filthy, and all the other worthy synonyms.
Finally, Carlos Rodon performed exactly the way every Sox fan had hoped. We saw 2015 Rodon last night and maybe we will see a better version of him in 2021. Going five innings, Rodon allowed only two hits and struck out nine.
His fastball command was on point all night, but his offspeed suffered. The fastball proved to be enough in the five scoreless innings of work. With the back-end of the rotation being the team’s most significant question mark before the season started, Rodon was brought back to hold it down. After one start, he has shown he is still capable.
4 – The Bullpen is Struggling, but that Shouldn’t Continue
Surprisingly, after one go of the rotation, the bullpen’s performance has become a concern. Following his gem of a season in 2020, Codi Heuer has allowed five hits. One was a home run in his three innings of work so far. Matt Foster, who was also dominant in 2020, allowed a walk and a two-run home run in just 1.2 innings of work.
Even Marshall has allowed three earned runs off three hits and a home run in just 1.2 innings. Liam Hendricks even started with a sour note allowing a two-run home run within his first 1.1 innings of work this season.
In his 2.1 innings of work so far, Garrett Crochet has struck out three and is looking like the same untouchable southpaw we saw last season. In his return to the mound since 2018, Michael Kopech is showing no signs of missing a beat, mowing down hitters as he did before. In his four innings of work, Kopech struck out eight, allowing only one hit and walk.
Despite their disappointing starts, Heuer, Foster, Marshall, and Hendriks all have silver linings that should calm down any panicking fan. Heuer still has an above-average slider for a reliever and has strong command on his fastball. He has above-average third and fourth pitches that are still developing.
Despite allowing two runs in 1.2 innings, four of the five outs Foster recorded were strikeouts. A walk and a mistake is the stain on his short-sample record this season. Marshall did allow three runs in one inning of work but struck out two. He is not known to give up many hits and hardly allows a walk. When he does, he works around jams. Liam Hendriks is not someone to worry about either based on his resume. There should not be any cause of concern in that area unless he continues to give up the long ball but that does not seem to be a recurring issue.
5 – The White Sox Have Some Depth
When the news of Eloy Jimenez’s need for surgery was announced, all eyes fell upon a few groups of guys to step up and get the job done. Some established veterans mixed with some young guys trying to find their way were considered. Before the season started, fans feared the thin depth behind the stars but those fears have alleviated after one turn of the rotation.
Of course, the biggest name to step up has been Yermin Mercedes. His historic start speaks for itself. Currently, 12 for 18, Mercedes and the six runs he’s driven in so far have done wonders to help fill the void that Eloy’s bat left. After he returns to the lineup, Mercedes becomes the everyday DH.
Andrew Vaughn has also been a player most have turned their attention to following Jimenez’s injury. With little to no experience in leftfield, Vaughn has surprised many defensively. With defensive issues as an early theme of the 2021 season, watching Vaughn handle himself in left against Seattle Monday eased some concern.
While running backward, he made a web gem at the warning track running into the wall and chased down a ball that had the potential to split the gap and score runs. Offensively is a different situation, unfortunately. Vaughn, known for his explosive bat, is still working on getting his first Major League hit. He did, however, record his first RBI walking with the bases loaded.
Nick Madrigal similarly struggled at first, going hitless for his first eight, but followed it up with a waterfall of hits. Once Vaughn relieves the pressure that is recording the first hit, the second and third will be easier. If Vaughn can perform at a high level defensively in the left-field spot, a solid offensive performance will help keep him in the lineup when Jimenez returns.
Another player who has impressed so far is number 0, the current speed-king Billy Hamilton. Never known to be a threat with the bat, Hamilton has come up big making some clutch hits so far this season. His .222 average indicates otherwise but his timeliness has been crucial.
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He took a walk to move the lineup, score, hit a single, and stole second, putting himself in scoring position against Los Angeles. He made solid contact up the middle to drive in a run against Seattle. With Tim Anderson listed as day-to-day, it’s comforting to know the White Sox actually have the depth to hang around until everyone is healthy.