Inconsistent, Listless Chicago White Sox Struggled In A Dismal April

As April turned to May, there may not be many smiles around the Chicago White Sox.

While it remains early in the season, the White Sox are struggling mightily. As of this date, they have a record of 8-21 in the American League Central.

Only an amazing, seven run 9th inning against the surging Tampa Bay Rays on April 30 ended a 10-game losing streak.

The White Sox came back from a deficit of four runs in the 9th to end their misery.

Last season, manager Tony La Russa took considerable criticism for the White Sox disappointing season. La Russa has retired. He is no longer responsible for the underachievement of the club.

Pedro Grifol is the new manager, and the team has not improved.

To this writer, the White Sox front office has constructed a very inconsistent major league roster. Those in charge of baseball operations have to assume responsibility for a franchise that has vastly underachieved.

There has to be accountability for futility.

Since 2005, when the team won the World Series, the White Sox have appeared in the postseason three times. Three times in 17 seasons.

In October 2000, Kenny Williams replaced Ron Schueler as general manager of the White Sox. Williams is an instrumental component of the team’s front office.

In October 2012, Rick Hahn replaced Williams as general manager. Williams was promoted to executive vice president.

Williams and Hahn have been the primary architects of the White Sox roster for team owner, and Chairman of the Board, Jerry Reinsdorf.

When speaking with the media April 27, Mr. Hahn stated, “I think … my job is potentially on the line.”

-In the offseason, the front office was not very active in attempting to improve their roster.

They added a much needed left-handed hitter in free agent outfielder Andrew Benintendi. The results? So so.

They added right-hander Mike Clevinger to the rotation. The results? So so.

They added right-handers Gregory Santos and Kenyan Middleton to the middle of the bullpen.

-The team was not prepared to handle controversy caused when Clevinger was under investigation by MLB for domestic abuse. The club indicated they didn’t know about the investigation when they signed Clevinger. But was their research into the pitcher thorough enough before the signing?

-In January, when closer Liam Hendriks was diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma, a form of cancer, they did not add a potential closer to their roster. They thought they could rely on in-house relievers, and no real closer emerged.

Baseball is an emotional game. To this observer, until their comeback victory against the Rays, the White Sox looked listless and lackluster on the field. They showed little energy, emotion or passion.

Maybe that victory against the Rays will ignite the club.

Pitching Issues:

The rotation of Dylan Cease, Lucas Giolito, Lance Lynn, Mike Clevinger, and Michael Kopech has been inconsistent. But frankly, in most games, they have given their team a chance to win.

Cease, and Giolito have 4.14 and 4.15 ERA’s, respectively. They have had good and bad outings.

Clevinger’s ERA is a bit high at 4.60.

Lynn’s ERA is 7.16.

Kopech’s ERA is 7.01

But the real trouble can be found in the bullpen. The bullpen, once seen as a strength of the team, has been miserable.

According to Covers.com, the White Sox bullpen ranks last in baseball with a collective 6.86 ERA.

Of particular concern, the bullpen has blown leads late in games.

Here are the ERA’s of the most consequential relievers:

Kendall Graveman-5.56 ERA in 11.1 innings

Aaron Bummer-9.64 ERA in 8.2 innings

Joe Kelly-7.71 ERA in 4.2 innings

Reynaldo Lopez-8.76 ERA in 12.1 innings

Injury Issues:

Unfortunately, some MLB players are injury prone.

Injuries are part of baseball. Every MLB team suffers injuries.

In the case of the White Sox, injuries have taken their perceived star players off the field for countless games in recent years.

Here are some of those injuries:

Luis Robert Jr.-Outfielder

Robert, 25, played only 68 games in 2021, and only 98 games last year..

Robert has dealt with hand, thumb, and wrist issues, blurred vision, a torn right hip flexor, a groin injury, and now, a sore hamstring..

In the recent series with the Rays, Grifol removed Robert from a game when Robert jogged slowly down the first base line.

Robert had not informed Grifol that his hamstring was bothering him.

Robert sat out the last game of the series.

Robert, counted upon to provide offense, is hitting .213 in 115 plate appearances.

Eloy Jimenez-Outfielder

Like Robert, Jimenez has trouble staying healthy.

In spring training in 2021, Jimenez ruptured his left pectoral tendon. He was out of the lineup until late July.

Last April, Jimenez, 26, tore his right hamstring tendon, causing him to miss games until July 6.

This year, after he was off to a good start, Jimenez suffered a low-grade left hamstring strain in early April. He recently returned to the lineup.

In 2021, Jimenez played in only 55 games. In 2022, he played in 84 games.

Jimenez is hitting .225 in 88 plate appearances.

Yoan Moncada-Third baseman

Last season, Yoan Moncada, 27, played in just 104 games.

He has played in only nine games this season.

White Sox general manager Rick Hahn indicated it is unlikely Moncada will require surgery for his current lower back soreness.

Tim Anderson-Shortstop

Tim Anderson, 29, has been viewed as the spark plug of the White Sox roster.

Anderson missed time in 2021 with hamstring and leg issues.

In 2022, Anderson played only 79 games. In August, he had successful surgery to repair a ruptured tendon on the middle finger of his left hand. He also had a groin strain early in the season.

Now Anderson is out of the lineup with a sprained knee. He has played in only 11 games.

Liam Hendriks-Relief Pitcher (Closer)

Perhaps Liam Hendriks’ bout with Hodgkin’s lymphoma impacted the team the most.

Hendriks completed successful chemotherapy, and he is back now, preparing for his return.

The return of Hendriks to his closer’s role will be a joyous moment for the team.

Without a comparable pitcher equal to Hendriks on their roster, the White Sox sorely missed Hendriks closing games.

One has to wonder if it is time for the White Sox to move on from their injury prone players such as Robert, Jimenez, Moncada, and yes, Anderson?

Other Injuries:

Important lefty reliever Garrett Crochet is recovering from April 2022 Tommy John surgery.

Matt Foster, a right-handed reliever, is also recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Conclusions:

The White Sox have participated in only three postseasons since their World Series victory in 2005.

An inconsistent, lackluster team enters the month of May with a record of 8-21. Only a miraculous comeback victory April 30 kept the team from an 11-game losing streak.

Baseball Operations executives Kenny Williams and Rick Hahn have been constructing the team’s rosters since the year 2000.

The future for the White Sox?

It seems clear there should be serious discussions on several topics taking place in the executive suites at Guarantee Rate Field in Chicago.