As the month of May comes to a close, we take a look back at what happened this month in which the White Sox went 15-12.
This month started off with high hopes that the boys would turn it around after rattling of 6 straight wins. As May ends, the Sox are one game under .500 after the loss to the Blue Jays – they sit at 23-24. We’ll look back at questionable lineups, discuss what is the solution, and count down the top 10 plays of the month!
Summary
This White Sox team is very inconsistent. They are a very streaky team, and from what we see cannot maintain success for weeks. The leader of this offense, Tim Anderson, will head to the IL for 3 weeks to start the month of June. Tim was hitting .356, his OBP was .393, and he was slugging .503. This by far is the last thing this White Sox team needed heading into the dog days of summer.
Yoan Moncada, who is also dealing with injury issues, is a big piece to this puzzle. Moncada needs to get going when he gets back to try and fill the void of a absent TA7. Everyone in this lineup, rotation, and bullpen will need to turn it up a notch in June to find a grove and string a good month of baseball together. The Sox remaining somehow near .500 and just 5.5 games back of the Twins means they still have a chance if everyone can pull together on this.
Tony La Russa
Tony La Russa has created 47 different lineups for the White Sox. The team has played 47 game. Yes, he has sent a different lineup every game so far in 2022. Tony La Russa has hit Leury Garcia 2nd in the line up two times, has hit Josh Harrison 2nd one time, and not to mention that odd time in Kansas City series where Andrew Vaughn was the 9 hitter for multiple games. At the time Vaughn was one of the hottest hitters in the Sox lineup. Tony’s explanation was Vaughn’s purpose as a “Second leadoff man.”
In review, each of those 47 lineups has had its own faults. Leury Garcia has been a hit or miss, and along with Josh Harrison, is one of the worst players in the White Sox lineup at current. La Russa has also put out many lineups with both Reese McGuire and Yasmani Grandal in it. Resse McGuire is a good defensive catcher, but he will not ‘wow’ anyone with the bat. Having McGuire is essentially an automatic out despite his positives behind the plate.
Baseball is a game of consistency, and the 9 best guys you have, in my opinion, need to be on the field as much as possible. Understandably guys need days off here and there, and that is understandable, but giving these guys ‘rest’ just doesn’t make much sense. This is a .500 ball club, and guys need to be playing everyday to get in rhythm. The Sox are short handed and are a .500 team, and the 9 best guys need to be out there as much as possible.
What Is The Solution?
If the Sox are playing this way at the end of June, and I am sitting here writing the June recap and they are still a .500 team (I really hope this is not the case) heading into August, we are in trouble. But if this keeps up, there needs to be changes made. Someone has to be held accountable, or a trade has to be made something to wake up the team and send a message. If Rick Hahn has to march down to the White Sox club house and smash Gatorade coolers Billy Beane style, then so be it – something to wake the boys up. Changes need to be made if it is mid-June and we are still a .500 team.
Andrew Vaughn
Can we take a second to discuss Andrew Vaughn?! He has been nothing other than outstanding for the Sox. In his last 7 games, Vaughn’s slash line is .367/.375/.667. He has been in right-field and left-field. For a guy who had limited minor league experience, he has been great for the Sox. Vaughn has been hitting both righties and lefties well so far in 2022 – 5 out of the 6 homers that Vaughn has came against right handers. Vaughn has a wRC+ of 143 against lefties, and a wRC+ of 152 against righties. The biggest knock on Vaughn coming into the season was that ‘he can’t hit righties’, and boy did he put those talks to bed!
Top 10 Moments of May
10. Johnny Cueto Carves KC | 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 SO
9. White Sox Comeback Win in Bean-Town
8. Jake Burger Calls Game Against The Cubs
7. A.J. Pollock Gets Chapman In The 9th
6. Cease Dazzles Against The Halos | 7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 11 K’s
5. Luis Robert Says ‘Hello’ To The Monster
4. Sox Sweep Cubs, Liam Shuts It Down
3. Luis Robert Walks Off The Yanks
2. TA Quiets Yankee Stadium
1. Kopech Shows Out On Sunday Night Baseball
Think I missed anything from May? Feel free to let me know. Make sure to follow @SoxOn35th
Featured Image: Los White Sox / Twitter
