Chicago White Sox: 3 players that might not make playoff roster
Despite some injuries earlier in the season, 2021 has been an enchanted year for the Chicago White Sox. They are cruising to an AL Central Division title which is something they have not done in over a decade. All of their star players, when healthy, have come through at different points of the season and they have also had some unsung heroes along the way.
Tony La Russa, despite some early-season issues, has really helped this team along. They are all in it for the common goal of winning the World Series. Everyone wants to see them do it but they are going to have to put their best foot forward in time for the playoffs. This team is good and deep which means that some tough decisions will be made when constructing that perfect playoff roster.
We know that the players that do make it will all be above-average baseball players. There will be stars and depth players alike to go with some very good pitching. The starting rotation and the bullpen are both loaded with great players that can dominate games at will.
They should all be even better in the playoffs because that is where pitching becomes king. They are set up very nicely for some good times ahead with that staff. If all of the players that make the playoff roster can contribute to the best of their ability, there will be no stopping this team.
The Chicago White Sox playoff roster may look different than their current roster.
Unfortunately, there will be players that don’t make it. Each round could provide something different depending on how the White Sox do but some big names might be left off. Tony La Russa and Rick Hahn are going to manage this with one goal in mind. These are three players that have contributed to this team but might not make the playoff roster:
60. player. 128. . SP . Chicago White Sox. Dallas Keuchel
The Chicago White Sox might not need Dallas Keuchel in the 2021 postseason.
Dallas Keuchel was brilliant for the Chicago White Sox in 2020. Lucas Giolito was also brilliant but you could argue that during the regular season, Keuchel was slightly better. Everyone expected Keuchel, Giolito, and Lance Lynn to be this team’s big three in 2021 but it hasn’t worked out that way. He has been very average and below average for most of the year.
In fact, below average might be selling it short at this point as his last few starts have been straight-up bad. The tough year has people questioning whether or not he should be on the playoff roster at all. We know that most teams just use four-man rotations in the postseason and the White Sox have their four lined up.
We don’t know what the order will be yet but Lance Lynn, Lucas Giolito, Carlos Rodon, and Dylan Cease all deserve to be in the playoff rotation. There are other good starters that will be in the bullpen like Michael Kopech, Reynaldo Lopez, and Garrett Crochet. Every single one of those players has been significantly better than Keuchel this year.
It isn’t fun to watch because he was one of the first big players to choose the White Sox in free agency following their rebuild. Now, his role has clearly diminished but it isn’t because of a lack of loyalty. It is because he just simply hasn’t played well. Don’t be surprised if they go past using him as a reliever and just leave him off the playoff roster completely.
128. . INF/OF. Chicago White Sox. Romy Gonzalez. 5. player
Don’t expect to see Romy Gonzalez for the Chicago White Sox in the playoffs.
The Chicago White Sox have had all sorts of great stories this season. Yermin Mercedes, Gavin Sheets, Jake Burger, and Billy Hamilton all have had heartwarming stories of perseverance throughout the season which is partially why the White Sox have been so good. With all of the injuries that they have sustained, you need guys like that.
Romy Gonzalez is the next guy in line for that type of story. He was made a September call-up when Tim Anderson went down because of how good he was in AAA. By the time Anderson is reinstated, Gonzalez might already be down which means he more than likely won’t be on the playoff roster. It has been fun to see him compete at the highest level but he isn’t one of those guys that will stick around for the postseason.
He was able to earn his first three MLB hits, an RBI, and a run scored which is nice for him but it hasn’t been enough to warrant a playoff roster spot. The best thing for him right now would be to work extremely hard all winter long and see what his next opportunity is. At a minimum, he showed that with a bit more growth to his game, he is worthy of having in your organization.
SS/2B. Chicago White Sox. Danny Mendick . 20. player. 128.
The Chicago White Sox won’t need Danny Mendick when the playoffs come around.
The Chicago White Sox have been up and down with Danny Mendick all season long. He has been good at times but his bat does not match his glove. He is very reliable out there in the field but he doesn’t give up what you need with his bat. He only has a batting average of .220 which isn’t very good, even for the era where batting average doesn’t mean much anymore. His OPS is only .589 which means that almost none of his hits are of the consequential variety.
As mentioned before, Mendick is a good fielder but the White Sox have other great fielders on the team that aren’t always in the starting lineup. He may be a good player to have in later rounds if there are injuries but he will likely not be one of the roster players when the playoffs begin.
When it comes to the infield defensively, Tim Anderson, Yoan Moncada, and Cesar Hernandez will handle those duties on a starter basis. Leury Garcia is the top guy to play one of those positions should someone get hurt. It is good to have this much depth but don’t expect to see many depth players for no reason during the playoffs. Mendick is a valuable player in the organization but there is just not enough room right now to keep them all. Hopefully, they do a lot of winning in the postseason regardless of who they keep.
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