Simply put, Chicago’s struggles were expected — but not to this degree
The White Sox have completed more than 20% of the season, and it’s gone exactly as fans feared. Sitting in dead last in the AL Central, the Sox are lucky enough not to be last in the baseball despite the embarrassing ways they manage to lose winnable games. The clown show will only continue to drag on as the Sox continue to box themselves into their mismanagement, but that was expected with Chris Getz in charge. Among the many things negatives that have been exacerbated in this circus of a season, here are the three biggest takeaways for the Sox so far that will have cascading impacts in the future.
1. As Luis Robert Jr. goes, so does the team
Robert’s .190 batting average and .339 slugging percentage tell you all you need to know about the Sox. He finished Spring Training with a strong promise of a return to his 2023 All-Star, Silver Slugger self, but he has performed far below his potential and expectations. Although he has randomly become a more aggressive baserunner, snagging 15 extra bags within 35 games, Robert has become one of the most prolific strikeout artists this season, ranking in the eighth percentile in strikeout percentage and 14th percentile in whiff percentage. It seems Robert’s failure goes hand-in-hand with Chicago’s.
2. Shane Smith is the real deal
Smith is by far the best pitcher in the rotation. Although he was the biggest wild card, having never pitched in an MLB inning before this year, it’s safe to say the Rule 5 draft pick is the real deal after seven games. Smith has a 2.41 ERA and 1.15 WHIP over 37 ⅓ innings. He’s had two shutout starts and has only allowed one home run. While he tends to walk hitters, Smith is putting up quality starts for the Sox, which is somehow a lot to ask.
3. The Dodgers seem to have won the Michael Kopech trade
So getting three players for one is a steal, right? This couldn’t be farther from the truth. The Miguel Vargas experiment hasn’t gone well, as Vargas was abysmal last year and is currently slashing .225/.320/.333 with 15 runs and 12 RBIs. Meanwhile, Jeral Pérez is killing it, but only on a High-A team that’s in last place in their division, and Alexander Albertus still has yet to step foot on the field. Pérez could prove himself to be an important infielder, hopefully replacing Vargas if he’s still somehow on the roster in three years (let’s hope not), but until then it’s clear that the Sox got fleeced by the Dodgers and Cardinals last year.