3 White Sox players that need to step up for this team to get better
The Chicago White Sox are having a terrible start to the 2023 season which is supposed to be a bounce-back year for them after what was a horrid 2022 season.
This organization has failed to meet all of its expectations during its competitive window. As of right now, the rebuild is a complete and utter failure.
Now, with a brutal April to finish, they have to find a way to get back on track. In order to do that, they need everyone to do their job to the best of their abilities.
There are plenty of big name players on the team that have to be better going forward. These are the three that must step up for the team to get better:
1. Andrew Benintendi
Andrew Benintendi is going to need to be better as the year goes along.
Andrew Benintendi signed the richest contract in Chicago White Sox history during the offseason so there are always going to be expectations when that happens.
He isn't expected to be a big time home run hitter for this group but he is expected to be a very good contact hitter that keeps the line moving with regularity.
He hasn't done a very good job doing that so far this season. His slash line leaves a lot to be desired at .276/.323/.328 for an OPS of .650. He also only has four RBIs and ten runs scored through the first few weeks of the year. He needs to be better.
If the White Sox don't get better play out of Andrew Benintendi going forward, there is no way that they get better as a team throughout the year.
2. Lucas Giolito
Lucas Giolito has to be a good pitcher for this team to have any success.
It is hard to believe that there was a time when Lucas Giolito was the ace of the Chicago White Sox staff. He was the best pitcher on the team from 2019 to 2021. It looked during those years like he was going to make a lot of money in his career while carrying the team.
Now, after 2022 was a disaster for him personally, we wanted to believe that one bad year wasn't going to erase all of the good that he has had in his career up to that point.
So far in 2023, however, it appears as if he is closer to being his 2022 self going forward than anything. It can be tough to watch when he is out there struggling because you know how good he was during those times of brilliance in the previous years.
There is a lot riding on Giolito getting better this season including his upcoming career in the league. If he wants to get a decent contract for 2024 (regardless of the team), he better find it before the end of the year. That 6.00 ERA and negative WAR aren't helping anyone.
It also could be a major difference in the Chicago White Sox having a good season despite their bad start. He must be better going forward.
3. Lance Lynn
The White Sox need Lance Lynn to step up big the rest of the way.
Like Lucas Giolito, the Chicago White Sox need Lance Lynn to pitch better. He hasn't been as bad as Giolito lately but he still hasn't been the Lance Lynn that has shown the ability to take over games.
Lynn was good once he started to settle in last year but we all know he can be better. If he isn't really good going forward, the team is going to have even more problems than they already have. Based on the early going, it is obvious that he needs to get better soon.
So far this season, Lynn is a negative WAR player with his 7.31 ERA and 1.625 WHIP. That is not going to cut it for a team trying to win.
When Lynn is at his best, he is someone that can use his attitude in addition to his play to help this team win baseball games. He has a fiery personality that can make everyone around him want to be at their best.
All three of these guys make a lot of money and haven't been at their best lately. If the White Sox are going to be a good team this year (so far they are not), they need them to get back to the form that we know they have had in the past.
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