By Sam Reeves

Look, its no secret that the White Sox were the best team in the AL Central coming into this season, on paper. However, through the first 18 games, the White Sox are just 3-9 vs the AL Central in the early going to this season. So what on earth is going on? Oh yeah, the offense couldn’t hit water if they fell out of a boat (besides Andrew Vaughn, you’re a treasure and we are lucky to have you). You have 1 pitcher looking great, in Cease. Giolito has made 2 starts and been good in them, but you expect a little more. Dallas Keuchel is again, a dumpster fire. Michael Kopech has been steady while trying to stretch his arm out. Then you have Vince Velasquez who is a baby step up from Keuchel, or virtually the same, just right handed. The super bullpen has been shaky, aside from Kendall Graveman, Bennett Sousa, and Tanner Banks.

Look, we all know that, we have eyes. I don’t need nerd stats telling me someone is “unlucky”, we as fans are unlucky having to watch this nonsense. I know that this isn’t helping, just harping on the negative, but there really isn’t any positive to pull from right now. This falls on the entire organization, from the way the resources were allocated in the offseason, injuries, lineup constructions, bullpen decisions, and player execution. It has all been a giant wet fart to start this 2022 campaign, which some experts picked to be a World Series championship year for the White Sox. However, me, an intellectually superior person in all things sports, would not have put them there even with the moves this offseason. This team doesn’t have enough to win a World Series, right now. The most important factor to winning a World Series, is luck. The White Sox have no luck right now, so they are very far out from being in contention.

Which brings me to the main point, what in the world is Tony La Russa doing, or better yet, not doing? This team has been flat since the All-Star break in 2021. Pitching carried what was an abysmal offensive effort most of the 2nd half, and well now that is also fading. There are no adjustments in approach, the decisions of playing time are ridiculous, bullpen management has again been awful, so what the heck is happening? Its no secret the game has passed La Russa by, but apparently the only one who can voice that is Jerry Reinsdorf, and he would never do that. Its a shame that this could be another wasted year of the “championship window” that people talk about, due to the all the issues this organization refuses to fix.

There is a lot of bad right now at the time this is being written. I am never optimistic about the White Sox because they’ve never shown me a reason to be. 2020 was a very fun baseball year, and the team looked like they were having the most fun they’ve ever had. Then Rick Renteria was let go, which from a business point of view I understand, but still felt unfair. You bring in Tony La Russa, and the whole dynamic seemed to change, not only in fan perspective, but within the organization. Press conferences were more timid and mild mannered, player interviews seemed a little more muted. Just an eerie feel to a new clubhouse, that didn’t fit personalities very well. This is obviously speculation, but its also an observation.

This is what you brought in Tony La Russa for, to lead a talented ball club to a championship. Year 1 was a complete failure, because they won 1 playoff game, when the goal was a World Series. Year 2 is off to a horrendous start, when the expectations only grew. This is a poorly coached ball club, and it starts with La Russa. Several years out of the game has definitely affected his judgement, and strategy that he had previously. The refusal of analytics, (pitching to Byron Buxton comes to the forefront), is going to cost this team its prime years. This is his ball club, and he has to figure out a way to fix this approach right now. The team looks unenthused, and are simply not executing. You figure a Hall of Fame manager would know how to nip that in the bud rather quickly.

In closing, its a long season, yes. However, this is how you put yourself out of contention, losing early and having to play catch up. It will burn out your team, and if they do make the playoffs, the energy won’t be there. I understand this team is riddled with injuries, but they were last year as well, and somehow pulled it off. 2022 is no cake walk like they expected, and its up to their manager to wake them up and start winning some damn ball games.