How White Sox became first AL team to clinch playoff spot
The confidence was always there, dating back to SoxFest in late January.
Before he got lost wandering around cavernous McCormick Place, the new site of the White Sox's annual winter gathering, Luis Robert talked about looking forward to what was coming.
"I think we're going to have a good time this year," the rookie center fielder said. "I want to win a championship."
The elevated mood spread into spring training.
"Expectations are high, but that just means we have high goals," Lucas Giolito said at Camelback Ranch in Arizona. "We're about winning, it just hasn't happened yet."
After COVID-19 shut the game down for over three months, the good mojo was revived at summer training camp.
"If we just keep the same vibe and the same mindset, we continue to go out and be dominant every night and continue to learn and grow every day, I think we'll be just fine," Tim Anderson said.
The confidence has extended into the shortened 60-game season, and the Sox became the American League's first team to clinch a playoff spot with a win over the Twins on Thursday.
As they prepare for their first postseason appearance in 12 years, let's take a closer look at how the Sox got to be so good after seven straight losing seasons.
Offense:
There are very few holes in the lineup, especially when Adam Engel is in right field and James McCann or Yasmani Grandal is at designated hitter.
Heading into Saturday night's game against the Reds, the White Sox led the AL in batting average (.270) and run differential (+74) and ranked second in runs scored (268), slugging percentage (.464), home runs (83) and OPS (.804).
Jose Abreu:
The big favorite to win the MVP trophy, Abreu is the only player in the league to rank in the Top 5 in hits, RBI, extra-base hits, total bases, homers, average, slugging and OPS.
"I just feel honored to hear that," Abreu said of the MVP talk. "I feel glad that all my teammates have been saying very good things about me, about my performance, and I definitely feel humbled."
Pitching:
The offensive firepower has gotten most of the attention, but the Sox's pitching staff ranked fourth in the major leagues with a 3.53 ERA through Friday.
Giolito heads the rotation, which got a big boost from Dallas Keuchel's return Saturday. Rookie Dane Dunning (2-0, 2.33 ERA) has been a big surprise.
The bullpen has been overworked at times, but Alex Colome continues to be one of the most reliable closers in baseball and rookies Matt Foster and Codi Heuer have been rock solid.
Defense:
Shortstop Tim Anderson and first baseman Jose Abreu are much better this season, and a pair of rookies, center fielder Luis Robert and second baseman Nick Madrigal, likely have Gold Gloves in their futures.
Anderson concentrated on his defensive game over the winter after making 26 errors in 2019.
"The work is showing," Anderson said. "I definitely have been putting it in. Just understanding what I'm doing and being obsessed with getting better every day I come to the ballpark."
Renteria:
Manager Rick Renteria took the brunt of it the past three seasons when the White Sox were rebuilding. He should be savoring this year's turnaround more than most.
"I take a lot of joy in it," Renteria said. "I take joy in their victories every single day. We are taking a tremendous amount of joy in where we're at, but we're not done."