2022 Chicago White Sox

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#2      

Roundball Sage

R
Roundball Sage
As they say... those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

It looks the White Sox have failed to learn from history.

They had a lead closer last year who was erratic. He let many games get away from him. He was too emotional on the field. He was not in control of his emotions or many of his pitches in key situations. The fact that the Sox as a club were generally successful during the season hid much of this from view (except for those who were paying close attention).

What did the Sox learn from this? Not much it appears.

They come into this season with the same lead closer. And on Opening Day... he let another game get away from him.

Yes, it’s just one game. The Sox still have a chance to go 161-1.

But... does a leopard change his spots? Will an erratic closer who often is too emotional on the field suddenly become solid as a rock and calmly mow down opposing hitters to close off Sox victories? Or will he just serve up juicy pitches to eager hitters who promptly slap the ball right back the other direction?

Maybe History has our answer. Or maybe this closer can find a way to write a new history. Sox Nation hopes so.
 
#3      

Miles Leonard

M
Miles Leonard
That was quite the way to lose a game. However, it is still just 1 game and the Sox just don't win on opening day

Hendriks started off slow last year and then won reliever of the month for May. Then when the Yankees obliterated him, he bounced back to throw 21/22 scoreless appearances to end the year. I'm not in the least bit concerned about him. If in 1-2 months from now he's still putting up outings like this, then you can maybe sound the alarm.

Graveman looked pretty good at least.
 
#4      

Illinicpa14

I
Chicago
Illinicpa14
Miles Leonard said:
That was quite the way to lose a game. However, it is still just 1 game and the Sox just don't win on opening day

Hendriks started off slow last year and then won reliever of the month for May. Then when the Yankees obliterated him, he bounced back to throw 21/22 scoreless appearances to end the year. I'm not in the least bit concerned about him. If in 1-2 months from now he's still putting up outings like this, then you can maybe sound the alarm.

Graveman looked pretty good at least.
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Agree - there’s many things that concern me on this team ultimately playing to its potential. Hendriks is not in the first 5 of those items. And luckily, there’s always good pen pieces available towards the deadline for contenders.
 
#6      

Illinicpa14

I
Chicago
Illinicpa14
ILL_INI said:
I'm used to the media treating the Sox as the red-headed stepchild, and even though I'm usually just a lurker, I can't stand seeing the Cubs with a new 2022 thread and Sox fans still posting to the 2021 thread on Loyalty.
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I feel like the national media is giving this team too much props. They seem to be the pick everyone’s giving if you’re not boring and picking the dodgers
 
#7      

SuperMetroid

SuperMetroid
Evanston
SuperMetroid
Giolito going on the IL and now Pollack leaves the game with a hamstring 🤬
Not even 2 games in and already 5 key guys out with injuries. Unreal
 
#9      

SeattleSlim

S
SeattleSlim
SuperMetroid said:
Giolito going on the IL and now Pollack leaves the game with a hamstring 🤬
Not even 2 games in and already 5 key guys out with injuries. Unreal
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Yeah, not ideal. Makes one wonder about the off-season training/conditioning regimen these guys go through. Granted, a shortened spring training, but it’s these guys’ livelihood. You’d think they’d come ready to play.
 
#11      

Illinicpa14

I
Chicago
Illinicpa14
what will you consider a success this year?

Is it truly WS or bust? Would winning 1 playoff round + emergence of say Robert/Eloy as an MVP or Kopech as an ace do it?

I myself don’t know the answer to this. I feel when you’re a known playoff team it’s World Series only but I just don’t feel we’re there short of another big splash at the deadline.
 
#13      

chiefini

chiefini
Rockford, Illinois
chiefini
What a game for Roberts! And I’m not sure my heart will take a whole season of watching Hendricks “close.”
 
#14      

Miles Leonard

M
Miles Leonard
Thank god for Robert stealing those bases and Eloy's hustle. Hendriks struggling with finding his slider right now. He'll get there.

Really surprised by Velasquez. I figured he would get torched but he held his own and gave the Sox exactly what they wanted.

Bullpen minus Hendriks was very good again.
 
#15      

Miles Leonard

M
Miles Leonard
Not sure how they played in those field conditions but I'll take the W.

Hendriks is an adventure but limited the damage again at least.

Sox offense tee'd off on the reigning Cy Young winner.
 
#16      

Miles Leonard

M
Miles Leonard
1-2-3 save for Hendriks! Graveman continues to impress early on.

Cease was absolutely filthy. Burger had a nice game. He may be raising his stock for an eventual trade.
 
#17      

Illinicpa14

I
Chicago
Illinicpa14
Miles Leonard said:
1-2-3 save for Hendriks! Graveman continues to impress early on.

Cease was absolutely filthy. Burger had a nice game. He may be raising his stock for an eventual trade.
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Was a good win! Also nice to see them winning against another top team. They didn’t seem to play well against other playoff teams last year.
 
#18      

Miles Leonard

M
Miles Leonard
Another adventurous outing for Hendriks. It would have sucked for him to blow a save on his own bobblehead day. How about Souza and Ruiz throwing up clean innings? That was beautiful!

Series win against a contender.
 
#19      

Illini2010-11

I
Sugar Grove
Illini2010-11
Win all three series to start the season, despite missing a lot of key pieces that will be essential come October. I will say, outside of the game 1 collapse, a very good way to kick off the campaign!
 
#20      

Miles Leonard

M
Miles Leonard
No Sox baseball for two days.
Spongebob Squarepants Reaction GIF by Nickelodeon
 
#21      

Miles Leonard

M
Miles Leonard
Yikes. Two day wait just to see the team kick the ball around in the infield the first two innings. Anderson himself had 3 errors.

Not what I expected to see after a two day break. They are getting smoked 10-0 and it’s still only the 3rd.
 
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#22      

Illinicpa14

I
Chicago
Illinicpa14
Miles Leonard said:
Yikes. Two day wait just to see the team kick the ball around in the infield the first two innings. Anderson himself had 3 errors.

Not what I expected to see after a two day break. They are getting smoked 10-0 and it’s still only the 3rd.
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Keuchel I think is finished (think he’d be in the minors or released without the contract and clubhouse effect)
 
#23      

Miles Leonard

M
Miles Leonard
Illinicpa14 said:
Keuchel I think is finished (think he’d be in the minors or released without the contract and clubhouse effect)
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My favorite part was when the umps checked him for sticky stuff. Yeah like he's really using anything illegal after that outing. :LOL:

His attitude is starting to get on my nerves. He seems to be developing a habit of blaming things other than himself for his awful performances. He actually said after the game that he only threw 2 bad pitches. Uh yeah..sure Dallas. Whatever you say.
 
#24      

Illini2010-11

I
Sugar Grove
Illini2010-11
Miles Leonard said:
My favorite part was when the umps checked him for sticky stuff. Yeah like he's really using anything illegal after that outing. :LOL:

His attitude is starting to get on my nerves. He seems to be developing a habit of blaming things other than himself for his awful performances. He actually said after the game that he only threw 2 bad pitches. Uh yeah..sure Dallas. Whatever you say.
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I would be surprised if he is anywhere near the rotation by the time the rest of the rotation gets healthy. If he is still in the rotation by the the All Star Break, then he either has thrown less than "2 bad pitches" every outing, or the rest of the rotation is in disarray. An outright release (after the rest of the rotation gets healthy) would be perfectly fine with me, unless some club wants to take him (we will send over a box of balls, given they would be needed).
 
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