Two early-season problems for the Chicago White Sox that won’t go away and one you shouldn’t worry about
The Chicago White Sox are difficult to watch. Any Sox fan knows this.
They are struggling right now and it doesn’t appear as if there is going to be any end in sight regarding their struggles. And that’s too bad. However, we came into this year knowing that they would likely have some issues and it’s turning out to be that they are. And these aren’t just small issues, there are problems in every phase for this team.
Those problems don’t appear to be going away any time soon.
In analyzing what this team has done to start the season, it’s easy to see that there are several issues most of them serious. The team just can’t seem to gain enough offense to win games and they struggle defending against opponents. While the starting pitcher group seems to be somewhat solid, the bullpen is quite weak and causes a lot of issues.
It doesn’t appear as if things are going to get any better for the Sox. Injuries have taken their toll; poor defense has caused them trouble and cold bats are to blame for the poor offensive showing.
There are several problems on this team but there are three, in particular, that we are going to look at. Two of them are ones that, as White Sox fans, we should realize they won’t go away. Two are problems that will never go away but one we shouldn’t really worry about.
Let’s take a look!
Poor Offense/Cold Bats
The White Sox offense has been colder than a January day in northern Alaska. They have not been able to get anything going save for a handful of home runs.
Things did seemingly improve a little bit when they played the Royals in their final game of that first series but it wasn’t enough for them to grab the win. The defense didn’t help them at all either but the bats were ice-cold.
This is a problem that likely won’t go away and there are several factors that will prevent them from having a strong offense this season. Injuries are one, less than average players are another but poor coaching and managing could be a cause for some of what we are seeing.
Now granted, it’s only been just a few games into the season and perhaps, with a lot of luck, the White Sox could turn the ship around but this is very unlikely. The ship is rudderless and they just aren’t able to find their way. Don’t expect them to climb out of the basement this year.
Poor Bullpen
The bullpen isn’t doing the Sox any favors. When we say the bullpen can do some damage, it’s true but the damage is being done to the White Sox by their bullpen. Perhaps the guiltiest party is Deivi Garcia.
He heads into the White Sox first game against the Cleveland Guardians with an ERA of 18.90. That’s terrible and he may be on his way out the door. But overall, the group as a whole has not been that impressive, and unless major changes are made this season, this will not get resolved this season.
The White Sox did a lot of house cleaning in the bullpen this offseason. It’s a very new group of guys, minus a holdout or two so maybe it’s taking a while for things to come together. But it doesn’t look like this is the problem. It looks like a serious lack of talent is the reason for the problems that the White Sox are seeing with their bullpen.
So how do you fix it? You clean out the bullpen. But the White Sox have done already. Needless to say, the replacements for the guys they let go, like Kendall Graveman and Joe Kelly, aren’t close to being as good as those guys were or are.
So, what is the one thing to not worry about?
Injuries
Injuries happen, as Sox fans we should know this. We should also be well-versed with those that get injured. Both Eloy Jimenez and Luis Robert, Jr. seem to be perpetually injured.
It’s only a matter of time before Yoan Moncada gets hurt. These guys represent the three most injured players who the White Sox currently have. Now, Jimenez could be back soon while Robert Jr. may not be back for a significant amount of time.
We are used to this so don’t sweat it.
There is a rash of injuries happening to all teams to start the year. There always is but we, as White Sox fans, had hoped that injuries would have not come to guys like Robert Jr. and Jimenez so early. It would have been even better if they could have made it through the season without getting hurt. That would have been ideal. But it didn’t happen.
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