Following Sunday’s game vs. the Twins, the White Sox hold a record of 39-42 through the first 81 games of the 2019 campaign. There have been minor ups and downs, but overall the Sox have stayed pretty consistent all the way through, as their longest winning and losing streak are both just five games. However, with Michael Kopech and Carlos Rodon out for the season and several top prospects still developing in the minors, 2019 has always been more about the key players than the record. Let’s dive into their performances thus far.
Yoan Moncada
Formerly the #1 overall prospect in the MLB, Moncada came into this year with many still questioning his worth. So far, he’s done well to silence those doubters. To date, the third baseman is sporting a fantastic .304/.357/.528 line, good for an OPS of .885. It’s certainly worth noting that Moncada is trending upward, ending June with a magnificent 191 (!!) wRC+ while slugging .667. It was actually a better month at the plate than Anderson’s monster April. Add in solid defensive play, and Moncada sits at 2.5 bWAR and 2.8 fWAR just halfway through the year. For Moncada, the sky really is the limit.
Grade: A
Tim Anderson
Let’s be honest—none of us had Tim Anderson as a future AL Player of the Month before the season started. At the end of the first April, though, TA7 rocked a 1.009 OPS and a sparkling .375 batting average to win that honor. Anderson has slowed down, that’s for sure. But June has been better than May for Timmy, and so it looks like he’s settling in. Considering his lack of walks, Anderson is going to be a solid baseball player if he can do these things: hit for a high batting average and slugging percentage, utilize great speed, and field competently. So far, he’s doing most of those well, with a .317 average, .491 SLG, and 15 SB. He needs to commit less errors, but there’s nothing much to worry about with advanced metrics. T.A. has also drawn fans nationwide for his confidence and emotion shown on the field (also known as sick bat flips). Overall, Sox fans should commend their shortstop on an inspiring start to the 2019 season.
Grade: A-
Eloy Jimenez
Eloy’s game-winning homer against the Cubs at Wrigley is certainly the moment of the season for the South Siders. Hell, in an era filled with disappointment and no playoff appearances, it might be the moment of the decade. Regardless, Jimenez has impressed way beyond just one dinger. Yes, his numbers on the year are merely satisfactory, but that’s misleading. Jimenez has really turned on the jets in June, hitting (obliterating?) 8 home runs while slashing .284/.340/.602. The eye test also shows how his fielding has improved after a rocky start. All in all, it’s yet another key player on this roster who’s trending hard in the right way. Combine all that with an infectious personality, and we have a definite fan favorite on the South Side for years to come.
Grade: B+
Lucas Giolito
At the culmination of the 2018 campaign, Giolito was the owner of Baseball’s worst qualified ERA. Flash forward to June 1, 2019, and Gio is the reigning AL Pitcher of the Month. One month later: All-Star. What a turnaround. I’m just going to let the numbers speak for themselves: 2.72 ERA, 3.15 FIP, 1.02 WHIP, 3.48 K/BB, and a minuscule 0.84 HR/9 IP. Somehow he’s done all that with a drop in opponent BABIP of just .012 points (.268 to .256)! There’s nothing fluky going on here—Giolito’s determination and dedication to improvement over the offseason have put him in position to be an elite pitcher for years to come.
Grade: A+
Reynaldo Lopez
Well, they can’t all be positive grades, right? Lopez has struggled mightily, to the tune of a 6.12 ERA and 5.85 FIP. His strikeouts and walks haven’t changed much, so what’s the issue? A big chunk of the blame falls on his lack of command within the zone—throwing balls right down the middle or simply just not where they’re supposed to go. If there’s any silver lining, it’s that his numbers are a tiny bit better in June and that his opponent BABIP has spiked since last year. I don’t expect a real turnaround, but the Sox would sure appreciate a second half more around the 4.75 ERA level, which isn’t impossible.
Grade: D-
James McCann
Who knew McCannon would be considered a “key player” at any time in a White Sox uniform? Well, actually, our Jordan Lazowski did. With more fWAR and bWAR than Gary Sanchez, McCann even has an argument to be the AL All-Star starting catcher instead of the backup. Anger with Yankees fans aside, James has played well behind the plate and even better with the bat, sporting an .890 OPS alongside a dazzling .319 average. I’m really not sure who’s the bigger surprise between him and Giolito, but I’m not going to dwell on it so long as they keep playing like they have.
Grade: A+
Bullpen
There is no one reliever who means a ton to the White Sox’s future, but several arms have been impressive thus far. Aaron Bummer has pitched to All-Star worthy numbers, and Alexander Colome is doing great overall despite a lot of luck. Evan Marshall looks like a useful hidden gem, and Juan Minaya is pitching better than at any point in his career. Herrera looks like a poor signing, but he deserves some time to prove himself. All in all, Chicago is a couple transactions away from having an elite bullpen.
Grade: B+
Rick Renteria
The skipper is as much apart of this rebuild as anyone, especially with Sox management showing zero signs of discontent with their coach. First off, Ricky annoys the hell out of me and plenty of Sox fans with his emphasis on bunting and head-scratching lineup decisions. Sometimes they truly just make no sense. But I think the fanbase will have to accept that, as many other’s have with their like-minded leaders. Other than those issues, Ricky has done a suitable job managing this team. Player relationships? Great. Clubhouse culture? Awesome. Bullpen management? Solid. Knowing his team’s record? OK, he could do better there. Overall, though, not bad.
Grade: B-
Team
39-42 isn’t where many hoped we’d be two years ago, but it’s nothing to complain about with injury problems abound and young talent leading the way. Not to mention that the South Siders just went 7-8 versus a formidable list of teams in their last 15 games. With Cease making his debut Wednesday, too, who knows what this season could have in store? I’m eager to find out.
Grade: B+
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Featured Photo: AP Sports/Charles Rex Arbogast
