2013 Vitals
2013 Record: 61-94 (Last in AL Central)
Runs Per Game: 3.72 (Last in AL)
Runs Allowed Per Game: 4.47 (10th in AL)
Best Player: Alexei Ramirez (2.8 fWAR, 1.9 rWAR), Alejandro de Aza (2.6 WARP)
Best Pitcher: Chris Sale (4.9 fWAR, 7.3 rWAR, 4.1 WARP)
Worst Player: Jeff Keppinger (-1.8 fWAR, -2.3 rWAR), Paul Konerko (-1.3 WARP)
Worst Pitcher: Andre Rienzo (-0.4 fWAR), Brian Omogrosso (-0.7 rWAR), Duente Heath (-0.6 WARP)
Important Number: 2.97, Chris Sale’s ERA, the only reason to watch the White Sox this year
2013 in Review
Before the season, prognosticators knew the Astros, Marlins, Twins, and Cubs would all have poor years. I’m not sure many of them saw the White Sox with the third worst record in baseball though. (I had them finishing third in the division.) No one thought they were especially good, but they had enough solid veterans to keep them from being terrible. Or so we thought.
As it turns out, the White Sox were a terrible team that aged rapidly. Nearly every player on their team was terrible offensively. The players that posted positive WAR values, were only in the black because of their defense. Two players posted positive offensive value for the White Sox in 2013: the traded Alex Rios and young prospect Avisail Garcia (acquired from the Tigers in the Jake Peavy trade).
Which brings up the next point. Out of all the teams that I mentioned being terrible in 2013, the White Sox are the only team that wasn’t in rebuilding mode entering the season. They started that rebuilding process at the deadline by acquiring the young Garcia and some other talent in the Rios deal. And this is a system that needed the influx of talent, they were rated 28 out of 30 teams entering the season by Baseball Prospectus.
2013 did show that the pitching staff has pieces to build around. Chris Sale has been fantastic and will be in the middle of a heated Cy Young race (more on that coming in October). Jose Quintana has also been really good providing number two quality numbers. These two southpaws give Chicago a real core to build around, even as questions about Sale’s long term durability continue (I think his record speaks for itself: he’s started 30 games each year as a starter). The bullpen also has pieces that can be useful (especially as trade bait, relievers are really effective trade bait).
2013 in GIFs
The pitching delivery of Chris Sale has brought him a lot of success, but it also causes physical pain to me every time I watch it
What does it say that almost all the other White Sox related GIFs I found were of other teams’ successes? Beyond that I probably didn’t look very hard.
Offseason Preview
For the first time in a while the White Sox will enter the offseason in rebuilding mode. Alexei Ramirez should be made available. Paul Konerko might retire. Adam Dunn could be attractive to teams looking for a DH, but that $15 Million price tag is excessive The White Sox need to focus on putting the franchise in position to succeed for the future. I wouldn’t expect any splashy free agent deals, only the small pieces needed to actually field a team.
2014 Outlook
Losing. Really, I can’t expect much more out of the White Sox. They got some great pitching performances this year and will still lose almost 100 games. Even if the offense progresses (which to be honest it should, they can’t be this bad again next year) I don’t see how the pitching could possibly improve. This team needs a lot of work and should still be rebuilding. They’ll probably be the last place team in what could be a very tough AL Central next season.
20 Makeup 