SOX ARE MOVING ON UP
SOUTH SIDERS STARTING TO TURN THINGS AROUND AMID LONG REBUILDING PROCESS
It has been too long, from a White Sox point of view, that an upcoming series against the Cubs felt like this.
“This” is not a “The White Sox’ time has arrived” or “Favorites, finally” headline. But at the season midpoint of two vastly different feelings on each side of town, corners might be turning in both places. The rebuilding Sox (42-44), aspiring to be what the Cubs have been, like where they are going. The Cubs (46-42) are frustrated and unsure where they’re headed.
The Cubs are 22-28 over their last 52 games. The Sox are 18-14 in their last 32, have won five of seven, went a respectable 7-8 in late June against playoff contending teams and are seeing future core pieces Lucas Giolito, Yoan Moncada, Tim Anderson, Eloy Jimenez and Aaron Bummer blossom. They are striking the pose of a team that could be a legit postseason contender in 2021, if not next season.
The manager in the Sox’ dugout, Rick Renteria, is the one with the most job security this weekend. The manager in the visitors’ dugout, Joe Maddon, is in the final year of his contract and finding himself on a lot of manager “hot seat” lists despite guiding the Cubs to a World Series title only three years ago.
Renteria, of course, was unceremoniously let go by the Cubs when Maddon became available. He wants to beat the Cubs not just because they’re the Cubs, but because they’re stacked with talent.
“We’re trending in a real good way,” Renteria said during the aforementioned 7-8 stretch. “We’re not finished yet.”
It’s too soon for “Happy Days Are Here Again,” but better days have arrived.
“We’re here to win a series against the best teams in this league,” All-Star right-hander Giolito said.
Despite Giolito being the only trustworthy starting pitcher in the rotation, the Sox have found a way to be two games under .500 despite a minus-70 run differential. Their brand of ball has been far from pristine, but it looks cleaner than in
Renteria’s first two seasons at the helm.
“We’re starting to figure out a few things, putting together better series, learning from mistakes, not letting stuff get away from us,” Giolito said. “That’s all part of the philosophy that Ricky brought with him when he first came here, and now more and more guys are buying in.”
While the arrow points up, all is not seashells and balloons. An avalanche of injuries to current players (Carlos Rodon long-term, Jimenez and Anderson short-term) and future pieces (Michael Kopech, Dane Dunning, Jake Burger, Micker Adolfo and Zack Burdi, to name only a handful) has probably set the rebuild back a year.
The group of talented prospects who thrived at advanced Class A Winston-Salem under manager Omar Vizquel in 2018 are not enjoying the same success, as a whole, at Class AA Birmingham under Vizquel this summer, although the same can’t be said for center fielder Luis Robert and second baseman Nick Madrigal.
Robert, who is the No. 5 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, and Madrigal might be forcing their way to Class AAA Charlotte before too long. Renteria already is envisioning them forcing their way to the major-league club.
Jose Abreu, who’s in his third All-Star season at age 32 and in the final year of a six-year contract, sees it all coming together, too, and badly wants to be around for the good times after enduring six losing seasons.
“We have a lot of young talent,” Abreu said. “We see what [Dylan] Cease did in his first outing in the majors. Yoan has been doing it the whole season, and he’s going to get better. Eloy is going to get better, too.
“I want to be part of this organization going forward because I know we are going to be very, very good. You can see that right now.”