White Sox Headlines of October 4, 2017
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WHITE SOX HEADLINES OF OCTOBER 4, 2017 “The good, the bad and the mixed: What went right and what went wrong for the 2017 White Sox” … Dan Hayes, CSN Chicago “Who are the 24 former White Sox playing in the MLB playoffs?” … Will Larkin, Chicago Tribune “Christiana Duarte, sister of White Sox prospect Mikey Duarte, reportedly killed in Las Vegas attack”… Chris Kuc, Chicago Tribune “Sox prospect’s sister reported dead after Vegas shooting: reports” … Madeline Kenney, Chicago Sun-Times “Rozner: Ahead of schedule, Chicago White Sox won't rush rebuild” … Barry Rozner, Daily Herald “Avisail Garcia and Jose Abreu credit improved fitness for dominant seasons” … James Fegan, The Athletic “How will the White Sox use free agency in rebuild's next phase?” … James Fegan, The Athletic “Rick Hahn Believes White Sox Rebuild Ahead Of Schedule, Stresses Development Still Needed For Michael Kopech” … CBS Chicago “Christiana Duarte, Sister Of White Sox Minor Leaguer Mikey Duarte, Reportedly Killed In Las Vegas Mass Shooting” … CBS Chicago “White Sox Draft Pick’s Sister Killed in Las Vegas Shooting” … Dan Gartland, Sports Illustrated The good, the bad and the mixed: What went right and what went wrong for the 2017 White Sox By Dan Hayes / CSN Chicago | Oct. 4, 2017 The White Sox lost 95 games, and yet their general manager described himself as pleased with certain aspects of the 2017 season. He isn’t wrong to be. Welcome to life in a rebuild. There’s undoubtedly analysts and fans who rightfully have questions about the direction the White Sox are headed. They traded almost all of their top players for unproven prospects who come without any guarantees. There’s no promise this will work. The White Sox haven’t proven anything yet, and it’ll likely be a few seasons before anyone knows if they’ve executed it. But as crazy as it sounds, the White Sox had a good season that has begun to generate optimism from the fanbase. Whether it’s the number of trades Rick Hahn completed, the talent the team accumulated, how young players developed or several other reasons, the White Sox had plenty of positives this season. Here’s a look at what went right, what went wrong and what could have gone better. The Good 1. Hahn traded almost everyone What seemed impossible in December and more difficult in May was suddenly complete several days before the Aug. 1 nonwaiver trade deadline. When the White Sox started 2017 with Jose Quintana on the roster after trading Chris Sale and Adam Eaton, some thought Hahn had overvalued Quintana. Then Quintana struggled through May, and the volume of those questions significantly increased. But everything was reduced to a whisper when the White Sox traded Quintana to the Cubs on July 13 for a package featuring elite prospect Eloy Jimenez. Hahn then spent the next six weeks trading everyone, completing his work with an Aug. 31 deal that sent Miguel Gonzalez to Texas. In all, nine players were traded during the season. 2. New kids prospered Not everyone had great seasons, but many of the top prospects acquired since December took large steps forward. Lucas Giolito rediscovered his confidence. Reynaldo Lopez and Yoan Moncada forced the issue and fared well in the majors. Michael Kopech and Jimenez developed into elite prospects, and Dane Dunning continues to look like a steal. 3. Prospecting went well Nowhere was the staggering amount of talent acquired by Hahn more evident than the farm system’s top-30 rankings. Even as Giolito, Lopez and Moncada graduated, the White Sox still have six prospects remaining on MLB Pipeline’s top- 100 list. Ten on their current top-30 list have been added via trades since December. Three more came from the 2017 draft. But the biggest move, one that signaled to fans the White Sox are serious about rebuilding, was the May signing of Luis Robert for $52 million. The penalties they faced — the $26 million tax and two years of international signing restrictions — weren’t enough to dissuade them from signing Robert, who is currently ranked No. 22 in MLB Pipeline’s list. 4. Foundation laid Nearly as important as adding talent is making sure it’s fostered in the proper environment. Hahn thought manager Rick Renteria would instill the appropriate atmosphere and hired him. The White Sox are ecstatic with what Renteria has done. Hahn and the front office have recognized those efforts all season long, praising the team for its unrelenting attitude and unwillingness to quit. 5. Older players developed, too Tommy Kahnle went from project to setup man almost overnight and keyed a trade that brought Blake Rutherford and Ian Clarkin over from the Yankees. Avisail Garcia finally released his untapped potential and turned into an All Star and a potential trade chip. And Yolmer Sanchez found a new level and ensured himself a lot of future plate appearances. The Bad 1. Carlos Rodon’s future is uncertain The hope was Rodon would develop into a 33-start, 200-inning pitcher this season. Instead the White Sox have more questions about if Rodon will ever reach his potential. Rodon appeared to be unaffected by the bursitis in his left biceps that cost him three months when he stuck out 9.9 batters per nine over 12 starts. But what Rodon’s future holds after he had arthroscopic surgery last week is anyone’s guess, even if the White Sox are optimistic he’ll fully recover. 2. Starting pitching gambles flop Ten starts in, Derek Holland looked like a find and a potential trade candidate. But his fastball velocity dipped and his ERA soared, leading to Holland’s release last month. Rule 5 pitcher Dylan Covey showed some signs in his final two starts but struggled much of the season. Still, don’t be surprised if the White Sox follow a similar formula next season and try to convert a rehabbing pitcher or two into trade candidates. 3. The injury bug hit hard Rodon wasn’t the only important player sidelined for a large chunk of the season. Nate Jones was limited to 11 games, Zach Putnam pitched in seven before he and prospect Zack Burdi had reconstructive elbow surgery. Catcher Geovany Soto was hurt twice and never got going. Leury Garcia’s breakout season was slowed by injuries, and even Avisail Garcia missed time with finger and knee soreness. Mixed results 1. Anderson struggles before rebounding Shortstop Tim Anderson’s ascent was derailed for several months as he struggled to cope with the May shooting death of his close friend, Branden Moss. Anderson made far too many errors and had a .608 OPS before he sought a grief counselor and turned around the toughest season of his life. After making 22 errors in 80 games, Anderson made six in the final 65. He also produced a .793 OPS in his final 54 games. Who are the 24 former White Sox playing in the MLB playoffs? By Will Larkin / Chicago Tribune | Oct. 3, 2017 The White Sox were not in the playoff conversation this season, but Sox fans can tune in to the postseason to follow 24 former South Siders whose teams are in action. RED SOX (2) Chris Sale, RHP: Changed Sox in a trade for super prospects Yoan Moncada and Michael Kopech. Became the first AL pitcher this century with 300 strikeouts, started his second consecutive All-Star game and went 17-8 with a 2.90 ERA in an AL-high 214 1/3 innings. Made five All-Star teams in five seasons as a White Sox starter after two years in the bullpen, going 74-50 with an even 3.00 ERA overall. Addison Reed, RHP: Has settled into a role as a top-notch set-up man after starting his career as a closer. He has a 3.33 ERA in 29 games with the Red Sox after coming over from the Mets – for whom he pitched in the 2015 World Series – at the trade deadline. In three years with the White Sox he earned 69 saves, including 40 in 2013. He was traded to the Diamondbacks after that 99-loss season for Matt Davidson. YANKEES (3) Todd Frazier, 3B: His short Sox tenure showed how quickly they went from going for it to rebuilding. Acquired in a three- team deal for Micah Johnson, Frankie Montas and Trayce Thompson and dealt with relievers David Robertson and Tommy Kahnle for Tyler Clippard and three minor-leaguers. In between, he hit 56 homers in 239 games for the Sox, including 40 in 2016. David Robertson, RHP: Since rejoining the Yankees, he is 5-0 with a 1.03 ERA in 30 games, nearly identical to his numbers in his lone All-Star season with them in 2011 (4-0, 1.08, 70 games). The Sox signed him to a 4-year, $46 million deal before the 2015 season, and he saved 84 of 99 chances with a 3.28 ERA in 153 games. Tommy Kahnle, RHP: Coming into this season, the hard-throwing reliever had a strikeout rate of 8.8 per nine innings. He reached the rare 15.0 mark with the Sox this year, striking out 60 in 36 innings to increase his value before the July 19 trade. With the Yankees, he had 36 strikeouts in 26 2/3 innings (a 12.2 rate) with a 2.70 ERA in 32 games. INDIANS (2) Austin Jackson, OF: Didn’t make many memories during his brief time on the South Side, hitting .254/.318/.343 in 54 games last year.