Opportunity is going to knock for White Sox this season. Will they answer?
Next stop, spring training.
With another SoxFest in the books, pitchers and catchers report to Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona, on Feb. 12, and manager Rick Renteria is counting down the days.
"I see our club and I want to go into this season thinking I don't want to miss an opportunity," Renteria said. "That's my goal right now, not to miss this opportunity."
In his first three seasons in the White Sox dugout, the 58-year old manager is 201-284. That's a bad record, but it's not like Renteria had competitive teams to manage.
This year, the Sox are loaded with talented young players from their own organization and they invested $196.5 million on free agents. That's the third-highest spending total in the major leagues, behind the Yankees and Angels.
With the season starting early this year - the White Sox open at home against the Royals on March 26 - the long wait to finally manage a competitive is coming soon.
"I'm not afraid of talking about high expectations and winning," Renteria said. "I know most people (don't) talk about it because you think you are putting your own head in a noose. We are going to be what we are going to be.
"If we do our job and we go about preparing and hopefully the actions and performances come to fruition, we should be on top of the victory column in terms of wins and losses. And there's nothing beyond my thought that doesn't say that I expect us to compete and be in conversation for postseason play."
Sick days:
Starting pitcher Lucas Giolito and Hall of Fame broadcaster Ken "Hawk" Harrelson weren't able to attend SoxFest for health reasons,
Giolito, an all-star last season while going 14-9 with a 3.41 ERA, was down with the flu. Here's what he posted on his Twitter account:
"Dear White Sox Fans, I'm incredibly disappointed that I even have to say this, but I'm unable to attend SoxFest this year due to the flu. SoxFest is always one of the top highlights of my off-season and I'm really sorry I can't be there this year. I've got some serious FOMO (fear of missing out) going on checking out all the photos and videos from the event. I hope you're all having a blast and I'll be sure to make up those photo and autograph sessions at the field this season!"
Harrelson, who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in July, is recovering from a fall at his Orlando, Florida, home, according to a report in the Chicago Sun-Times.
"I've had a tough go for a couple of weeks," said Harrelson, who fell Jan. 5 and was briefly hospitalized. "I got up to turn off the TV and the next thing I know I was in the hospital. I've been knocked out before, but I never passed out."
Harrelson said high blood pressure caused him to black out.
Crossing the line:
The Astros' sign-stealing scandal has rocked major-league baseball, and new Sox starter Dallas Keuchel, who was on Houston's 2017 World Series champion team, apologized Friday.
Astros manager A.J. Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow lost their jobs after news broke about the blatant cheating, and Red Sox manager and new Mets manager Carlos Beltran are also out of work.
General manager Rick Hahn weighed in on the controversy at SoxFest.
"Look, the situation is obviously unfortunate," Hahn said. "Every team is motivated to do everything in their powers, to do everything they can to win. Traditionally, doing that based upon your wit or insight or intellect has certainly been acceptable and is what we encourage our guys to do.
"When you cross that line into forbidden activity, that's obviously a different story and we certainly need to commend the commissioner's office for the thoroughness of their investigation and the swiftness with which they acted."