It's win or else for Chicago White Sox
Believe it or not, the Chicago White Sox have increased their win total in each of the last three seasons.
So, why have there been so many roster overhauls? Why is manager Robin Ventura in real danger of being fired? Why has the attendance at U.S. Cellular Field been so poor?
The Sox have improved - that is accurate - but they were 63-99 under Ventura in 2013, 73-89 in '14 and 76-86 last year.
As they prepare for a new season, which opens Monday night at Oakland, the White Sox need to take a much bigger jump this year to avoid even more massive changes that would have to start in the front office and filter down.
In an interview with the Daily Herald early in spring training. Ventura admitted his employment status pales when looking at the Sox' bigger picture.
"I don't want the focus being on the last year of my deal," Ventura said. "I care more about the guys and helping them. I want them to do well.
"It's a better atmosphere, it's more fun. I want people to come and watch us play. I think it's important, especially this year, of putting people in the seats to help the payroll going forward.
"We need to have some people in the seats for us to continue to add people, good players, or to keep players. That's important. No one necessarily wants to talk about it that way, but it's the truth. It's the truth."
Taking a closer look at Ventura's comments, it's almost code for the White Sox need to post a winning record and at least be in wild-card contention late in the season.
If they fail, don't expect chairman Jerry Reinsdorf to exercise his usual patience.
"It's the only reason we are here," ace starting pitcher Chris Sale said when asked about the importance of winning. "It's the most important reason.
"You don't start off every year to say I want to have a good year and go home early. The point is to get to the playoffs, and no matter how we get there, who gets us there or the position we are in when we get there, that's the whole point.
"It doesn't matter how you get there - limping, finish strong, the whole way through, whatever. It's just about getting there, and once you are there, I've heard anything can happen.
"That's the plan for us this year, getting there."
As he enters his sixth season with the Sox, Sale is still looking to make his first trip to the playoffs.
If everything falls into place, the White Sox absolutely can advance to the postseason for the first time in eight years.
Well aware the offense was full of holes last season, Sox general manager Rick Hahn traded for slugging third baseman Todd Frazier and second baseman Brett Lawrie. Hahn also signed free-agent catchers Alex Avila and Dioner Navarro, outfielder Austin Jackson and shortstop Jimmy Rollins.
The bats were booming in the Cactus League. The White Sox led the majors with 50 homers while averaging more than 5 runs scored in 30 spring-training games heading into Saturday's finale against the Padres in San Diego.
And don't forget about Adam LaRoche, who retired last month following a well-publicized family dispute with White Sox vice president Kenny Williams.
Saddled with LaRoche's $13 million salary at the start of spring training, the Sox are now in much better shape, at least from an offensive standpoint, with LaRoche back home in Kansas.
Taking over as the Sox' designated hitter last season after signing a two-year, $25 million contract, LaRoche posted a .207/.293/.340 hitting line with 12 home runs and 44 RBI. At age 36, he wasn't expected to do much better this season.
No matter who steps in at DH, Melky Cabrera, Adam Eaton, Jose Abreu, Frazier, Avisail Garcia, Jackson, Avila, Navarro or 25th man Jerry Sands, the White Sox are going to be better.
After finishing last in the American League in runs scored and homers in 2015, the Sox have nowhere to go but up.
The bullpen also looks solid headed by closer David Robertson, Nate Jones, Zach Duke and Matt Albers, and the front end of the rotation - Sale, Jose Quintana and Carlos Rodon - can be as good as any Top 3 starting trio in the game.
Mat Latos and John Danks, who open the season as the Nos. 4-5 starters, are the obvious weak links.
If one or both flounder early, Hahn can bring up Erik Johnson and/or Jacob Turner from Class AAA Charlotte. Keep an eye on Carson Fulmer, the No. 8 overall pick in last year's draft.
Fulmer is opening the season at AA Birmingham, but he could follow Rodon's path from last year and be in the White Sox' rotation at some point in the first half.