It's a big final week for Anderson, Abreu, Moncada, Jimenez, Cease
They were mathematically eliminated from the playoffs Sept. 7, and the numbers don't lie.
As they prepare to close the regular season with seven home games against the Indians and Tigers, the White Sox (68-87) are going to finish up with a losing record for the seventh straight year.
They haven't played in the postseason since 2008.
Tired of being "mired in mediocrity," the Sox started rebuilding after the 2016 season and lost 95 games the following season and 100 in 2018.
They are better this year, but the record is not going to be a big issue until 2020.
The White Sox rightly feel pretty good about some individual performances this season, and that's why the final week is not going to be a total waste of time.
Here are five players to watch:
Tim Anderson
Only two players have won batting titles in franchise history - Frank Thomas in 1997 and Luke Appling in 1936 and '43. Both of them are Hall of Famers.
Anderson was facing a position change in spring training when the Sox were seemingly close to signing free-agent star Manny Machado.
The deal fell apart, Machado joined the Padres and Anderson stayed at shortstop while taking his offensive game to an incredibly high level.
Through Sunday's play, Anderson led the American League with a .334 average. The Yankees' DJ LeMahieu was second at .329.
Jose Abreu
He's in the final week of his contract, and Abreu longs to be back with the White Sox in 2020 and beyond.
The Sox seemingly feel the same way, but they also expect Abreu to test the free-agent market.
The 32-year-old first baseman definitely has value, and Abreu is a near lock to lead the AL in RBI this season. His 121 RBI through Sunday ranked first ahead of the Royals' Jorge Soler, who had 112 RBI.
How special has Abreu's season been? Dick Allen (1972) is the only hitter in Sox history to lead the AL in RBI.
Yoan Moncada
With Lucas Giolito sidelined for the last two weeks of the season with a mild lat strain, Moncada might be the new favorite for AL Comeback Player of the Year honors.
After leading the majors with 217 strikeouts last season, Moncada ranks third in the league with a .316 batting average and is one of only four players with 30 or more doubles, 20 or more home runs, 75 or more RBI and 10 or more stolen bases.
Eloy Jimenez
You've been seeing why getting Jimenez from the Cubs in the Jose Quintana trade was such a huge move for the White Sox.
The rookie left fielder has been a monster in September, batting .365/.407/.753 with 8 home runs and 23 RBI.
If Jimenez is still scratching the surface, as the Sox like to say, imagine how good he's going to be in 2020 and beyond.
Dylan Cease
The rookie starter accompanied Jimenez from the Cubs in the 2017 Quintana deal, and Cease has experienced his fair share of lumps since being added to the White Sox's rotation in early July.
Over his last three starts, Cease has allowed only 3 earned runs. That's good.
Over his last three starts, Cease has worked only 14⅓ innings and thrown 298 pitches. That's bad.
Cease has the arm and the arsenal to be a top-end starter for the Sox, and the lessons he's learned this season are only going to help moving forward.