Chicago White Sox: Comparing 2021 players to 2005 players
While it’s hard to come up with perfect comparisons, the Chicago White Sox team of 2021 is similar to the 2005 team in more ways than one. This White Sox team is the first to win 90 games since 2006 and will likely be the first to surpass that number since 2005. Given the similarity between this team and the 2005 one, I thought it might be nice to find a comparable Sox player from both teams, beginning with outfielders.
The Chicago White Sox had good outfielders in both the 2005 and 2021 seasons.
Outfielders
Scott Podsednik – Billy Hamilton
Hamilton and Podsednik are pretty close in career stolen base numbers with Hamilton having 314 career steals and Podsednik retiring with 309. They both hit 2 home runs in their first season with the White Sox, though Podsednik’s were in the playoffs. Both speedsters batted left-handed and played left field for the Sox. Coincidence? I think not.
Aaron Rowand – Adam Engel
Aaron Rowand and Adam Engel are somewhat similar as well. Homegrown White Sox talent, they both play outstanding center field defense and can hit a bit as well. Originally, I hoped that Luis Robert would be compared to Rowand but he’s surpassed him up so much offensively it’s hard to do so now. The only problem with Engel is that he’s had trouble staying healthy but hopefully, he’s ready for the playoffs because he can play hard-nosed defense just like Rowand could.
Jermaine Dye – Luis Robert
Jermaine Dye in 2005: .274/.333/.512 .846 OPS
Luis Robert’s career with the Chicago White Sox: .296/.347/.503 .850 OPS
By the time he began his career with the White Sox, Jermaine Dye had one career Gold Glove just like Luis Robert does, as Dye won one in 2000 with the Kansas City Royals. Though I hope Robert will end up with more than just one career Gold Glove, reaching accomplishments like Dye’s power numbers or his 2005 World Series MVP would be pretty impressive.
Carl Everett – Eloy Jimenez
While spending most of his time at designated hitter, when Carl Everett took the field for the White Sox he was most commonly a left fielder. He finished second on the team in RBI and third in homers, two statistics Eloy Jimenez is also pretty good at. They also both struggle defensively.
Infielders
The Chicago White Sox currently has some superstar talents on the infield.
Willie Harris – Leury Garcia
Per baseball reference, Leury Garcia‘s 2nd most similar player through his age-30 season (this year) is Willie Harris, the man who scored the game-winning run for the Chicago White Sox in game 4 of the 2005 World Series which was the series-clinching game. With his ability to play many positions and pinch-run, maybe Garcia will do something similar to Willie Harris this year?
Juan Uribe – Tim Anderson
Through his age-26 season, Tim Anderson’s third most similar batter was Juan Uribe and his 9th was Barry Larkin. There was a question about which player he would end up more like. Fortunately, he’s become much more like Larkin than Uribe but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any similarities still. Both Uribe and Anderson played a pretty good shortstop for the White Sox and Anderson has hit 16 home runs this year, exactly the same amount as Uribe in 2005.
Joe Crede – Andrew Vaughn
For the first half of the season, Andrew Vaughn’s offensive abilities were similar to 2005 Joe Crede, which is pretty solid for a rookie. Unfortunately, he’s looked lost at the plate in the second half. Still, you have to remember this is his first fully professional baseball season (he was drafted in 2019) and his offensive ceiling is still higher than Joe Crede’s and possibly Paul Konerko’s. Vaughn is no Joe Crede at third base but you can still put him there.
Tadahito Ichuchi – Yoan Moncada
Yoan Moncada in 2021 so far: .264/.377./.405 .782 OPS 13 HR
Tadahito Iguchi in 2005: .278/.342/.438 .780 OPS 15 HR
Though not a perfect comparison, Moncada is like Iguchi in that he is a player who can do a little bit of everything. Nick Madrigal was probably more similar to Tadahito Iguchi as a player but we’ve sadly seen the last of him in a White Sox uniform.
Paul Konerko – Jose Abreu
What’s more to say? First basemen Paul Konerko and Jose Abreu were both the de facto leaders of their respective teams and they were actually teammates themselves for one year in 2014. That was the year Konerko passed the torch to Abreu where he’s had a similarly great career. In 2005, Konerko lead the White Sox in home runs and RBI just like Abreu is doing this year.
The Chicago White Sox has some outstanding pitchers and catchers this year.
Catcher
AJ Pierzynski – Yasmani Grandal
Not a perfect comparison, but the two do have some things in common besides just being the catcher on the White Sox. People forget this, but in 2005 AJ hit for a decent amount of power, totaling 18 home runs on the season. Both were acquired by the White Sox as free agents, two of the best signings in team history.
Pitchers
The nature of pitching has changed A LOT since 2005, as strikeout rates are way up and innings pitched are way down. Remember when the White Sox starters threw four straight complete games in the 2005 ALCS? That’s never happening again. In fact, a single complete game in the playoffs is unlikely to happen at all this year. That being said, both pitching staffs were extremely talented, and there are a couple of comparisons you can make.
Jon Garland – Dylan Cease
This isn’t a perfect comparison, as Dylan was a big-time strikeout pitcher for the White Sox and Jon Garland was not that. However, both pitchers were acquired in trades with the Chicago Cubs, led the White Sox in wins on the season, and were of a similarly young age.
Bobby Jenks – Michael Kopech
Jenks was a rookie in 2005 and Kopech is technically a rookie this year as well. Both young pitchers could throw over 100 MPH and light up the laser gun after coming out of the bullpen. Both pitchers have insane strikeout rates with Kopech averaging 13.4 per 9 and Bobby Jenks averaging 11.4 in 2005 in an era where strikeout rates were much lower.
Overall, it’s hard to compare the pitching staff of 2021 to that of 2005 because pitching philosophy has changed since then. Just like that season, the White Sox have four good starters they can use in the playoffs against Houston in Lucas Giolito, Lance Lynn, Carlos Rodon, and Dylan Cease.
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