The year 2022 was one to forget for White Sox fans. The South Siders entered the seasons with World Series expectations after winning the American League Central the year before. Instead, it was a season filled with bumbling, blunders, and bad managerial decisions.
Tony La Russa made one of the strangest decisions of the year on June 9th when he ordered an intentional walk to Trea Turner, who was down in the count, 1-2. To add insult to injury, the next batter proceeded to hit a home run.
The White Sox also ran into the first 8-5 triple play in MLB history on July 4th when Adam Engel and Yoan Moncada failed to tag up on a line drive that Byron Buxton caught.
These are just a small sample size from a season filled with lousy baseball. They finished the season 81-81, the definition of mediocrity.
But as we turn the calendar to 2023, it’s time for a fresh start. Now is the time when people come up with New Year’s resolutions. Here are three New Year’s resolutions for the Chicago White Sox. They are simple, easy, and obvious. But they are all areas the White Sox had issues with. If the White Sox can follow these three resolutions, 2023 will be filled with many more victories.
Catch The Ball
The White Sox were one of the worst defensive teams in the MLB. Their 102 errors were the third most in the MLB, behind only the Washington Nationals and Pittsburgh Pirates. The Nationals and Pirates won 55 and 62 games. It’s not exactly the company you want to be lumped in with if you are the White Sox.
Their catchers lead the MLB in passed balls with 15, and their .982 fielding percentage was tied for the 28th worst in baseball. The advanced analytics were not much kinder.
According to Fielding Bible, the White Sox ranked 26th in defensive runs saved (DRS) as a team with -35. White Sox pitchers combined for -12 runs saved, catchers -2, first baseman -2, second baseman -1, shortstops -10, left field -6, center fielders -3, and right fielders -13. Third base was the only position the White Sox didn’t have a negative DRS.
If the White Sox hope to improve next season, they need to play better defense. Luckily for them, Andrew Vaughn, the worst outfielder in baseball last season, will be moving to first base. A Gold Glove winner, Andrew Benintendi, will take over the left-field duties. Oscar Colas should also be an upgrade in right field from the first baseman who patrolled the corner outfield for most of 2022.
They don’t have to be elite defensive, but the routine plays must be made.
Hit More Home Runs
The White Sox are going to have a new philosophy in the batter box in 2023. This is great news for White Sox fans. Last season under hitting coach Frank Menechino the White Sox led the MLB in singles and ranked fifth in batting average.
That didn’t translate into many runs. The White Sox offense only scored 689 runs, which placed them 19th in the MLB. Their 149 home runs ranked 22nd in the MLB. They also ranked in the league’s bottom half in slugging percentage.
The coaching staff has been completely overhauled, and they are bringing a new hitting philosophy with them. Jose Castro was hired as the new hitting coach.
As he described it to the Athletic, “We’re not up there trying to hit singles.”
Castro previously served as the Atlanta Braves’ assistant hitting coach for the last eight years, including the 2021 World Series team. The Brave’s offense ranked second in the National League in home runs in 2021 and first in 2022. Castro’s tutelage could be the antidote for a White Sox lineup lacking power.
The White Sox have plenty of hitters. Eloy Jimenez hit 31 in his rookie season. Yasmani Grandal is two years removed from hitting 23. Andrew Vaughn led the team with 17 and will no longer have to play the outfield, allowing him to focus more on the offensive side. Gavin Sheets has shown big fly potential, and Oscar Colas hit 23 in the minor leagues last year.
The entire roster needs to produce more extra-base hits next season.
Stay Healthy
Injuries have plagued the White Sox for the last two seasons. If the White Sox want to make a run, they need to stay healthy, especially given the lack of upgrades the front office made this offseason.
Injuries in baseball are part of the game. But the White Sox have had key players dropping like flies at an alarming rate. Tim Anderson, Garrett Crochet, Yasmani Grandal, Liam Hendriks, Eloy Jimenez, Joe Kelly, Micheal Kopech, Lance Lynn, Yoan Moncada, Danny Mendick, and Luis Robert are just a few players that missed time last season due to injury.
When Tim Anderson tore a ligament in his hand in August, the White Sox officially tore every anatomical region of the human body over the last calendar year. As a whole, they collected four right-hand injuries, seven hamstring injuries, three groin strains, a torn ACL and UCL on each leg, and two knee tendons.
To combat injuries, the White Sox created a new role of Senior Director of Sports Performance. Geoff Head was brought in to head up the position. He was previously the Senior Director of Health and Performance for the Cincinnati Reds, a position he held for three years.
Hopefully, he can help improve the White Sox’s rotten injury luck.
Nice message and the photo of the fireworks is as good as it will ever get with Reindorf owning the team.