José Abreu completely summed up 2022 for the Chicago White Sox.
“Very frustrating,” Abreu stated by way of an interpreter Tuesday. “We didn’t make the playoffs; that was our goal.”
The Sox wrapped up the season Wednesday with a 10-1 loss to the Minnesota Twins at Guaranteed Rate Field.
“When you have this level of talent, it’s hard to be happy with not making the playoffs,” beginning pitcher Dylan Cease stated Saturday in San Diego. “But all we can do is retool in the offseason, work hard and come back next year.”
Here are 10 takeaways from 2022.
1. Predictions don’t at all times pan out.
The Sox have been the favored preseason choose to win the American League Central.
A yr that started with promise remained caught largely in impartial because the Sox hovered round .500 whereas the Cleveland Guardians pulled away with the division title. The Sox completed 81-81 — 11 video games out of first place.
“There (are) always individual spots where you can improve upon,” basic supervisor Rick Hahn stated Monday. “Fundamentally, we misplaced our offensive method. We have to stability out that offense a little bit bit higher.
“You can say ‘baseball players’ or guys who grind at-bats more — I think a portion of it is getting some of these guys back to the approaches they had before. In the last couple of years, we had a pretty decent offense running from these guys. As well as improvements defensively and running the bases. There (are) areas to improve.”
2. Tony La Russa’s return didn’t finish as he envisioned.
La Russa’s hiring was a shock after the 2020 season, largely as a result of he hadn’t managed since 2011.
The objective in hiring the three-time World Series champion was to win large. It didn’t occur.
Health points sidelined La Russa in late August, and he introduced Monday he received’t return to the Sox in 2023.
“I am sincerely disappointed that I am leaving without the opportunity to finish what I was brought in to do,” La Russa learn from a press release Monday. “I still appreciate the chance to come back home to the White Sox and leave today with many more good memories than disappointments.”
3. Patience on the plate is required.
The Sox ranked third within the AL with a .256 batting common however have been tenth in slugging (.387).
They didn’t stroll sufficient, both, inserting 14th within the AL with 388.
“The message was the same, if not very similar, to what was delivered in the past,” Hahn stated Monday. “Frankie (Menechino) was hitting coach once we had three Silver Sluggers in 2020 and (ranked) fourth within the league in weighted runs created final yr. There’s been success with this group, together with these coaches.
“Why things deviated is something we’re going to have to spend a little more time talking through individually with the players, with the coaches and trying to get as objective a read as we can as to why we fell short. We’ve seen the talent perform at an elite level. It’s a matter of getting it back to that level.”
4. Injuries continued to pile up.
The Sox overcame quite a few accidents to win the division final season.
They have been hit laborious by accidents once more this yr, however they have been an excessive amount of to beat.
“I do think the odd offseason and short spring (due to the lockout) created a lot of problems for us,” Hahn stated. “It created challenges for all 30 clubs, and we did not respond as well as others did and that’s part of the reason we’re here.”
Reliever Garrett Crochet was out your complete season after present process Tommy John surgical procedure in spring coaching. Aaron Bummer, Joe Kelly and nearer Liam Hendriks have been among the many relievers to spend time on the injured record. The Sox started the season with out starter Lance Lynn. Lucas Giolito obtained injured within the opener and missed a few begins. And Michael Kopech missed the ultimate 5 weeks of the season.
Shortstop Tim Anderson, third baseman Yoán Moncada, catcher Yasmani Grandal and outfielders Luis Robert and Eloy Jiménez have been among the many regulars to overlook prolonged time. The accidents performed a task in down years for Grandal and Moncada.
“You almost have to go player by player and injury by injury and decide what are we dealing with,” Hahn stated. “Is this something that’s potentially chronic or going to influence their career going forward? And what can we do internally to prevent these kinds of things?”
5. The protection has to enhance.
The Sox entered Wednesday’s finale ranked twenty eighth within the majors with a .982 fielding share. Their 101 errors have been probably the most within the AL.
That received’t minimize it when it comes to sustaining success.
“There wasn’t a lack of effort,” Hendriks stated. “It wasn’t for a lack of trying. I think we ran into some bad situations that have cost us in those rankings.”
6. Dylan Cease elevated his sport.
Dylan Cease’s slider was top-of-the-line pitches in baseball.
“I was able to throw it multiple pitches in a row and multiple times through the order and it still held up,” Cease stated. “For it to play like that, it’s really all I can ask for.”
Cease seemingly might be a finalist for the AL Cy Young Award after ending within the high 5 within the league in a number of classes, together with ERA and strikeouts. He had a document stretch of 14 consecutive begins permitting one or no earned runs and got here inside one out of a no-hitter Sept. 3 towards the Minnesota Twins.
“Definitely a lot of improvements,” he stated. “Got to give huge credit to (pitching coach) Ethan (Katz), (catchers) Seby (Zavala) and Yaz (Grandal). It was a good year.”
7. Some additions labored out, others didn’t.
Johnny Cueto far exceeded expectations after signing a minor-league deal close to the top of spring coaching, ending with a 3.35 ERA in 25 video games (24 begins).
“It was the first time in the last couple of years that I was pitching pain-free, and that was a huge difference,” Cueto stated Monday by way of an interpreter.
Shortstop Elvis Andrus arrived shortly after Anderson went on the IL and supplied a spark on the high of the lineup.
There have been combined ends in the bullpen, which was a focus in free company. Kendall Graveman had a 3.18 ERA, Joe Kelly had a 6.08 ERA and Jake Diekman, the one addition close to the commerce deadline, had a 6.52 ERA with the Sox. Hahn stated the Sox have been “disappointed” after not finishing extra strikes on the deadline.
8. José Abreu discovered different methods to make an influence.
Abreu’s 15 homers have been a profession low. But he discovered different methods to help the offense, ending second within the AL with 183 hits and fifth in batting common at .304.
The 35-year-old is now a free agent.
“I’m hungry,” Abreu stated. “I’m hungry for more baseball.”
9. Miguel Cairo made an impression.
The Sox went 18-16 after Cairo took over as appearing supervisor on Aug. 30.
According to Elias, after Monday’s announcement of La Russa not returning in 2023, all of the wins and losses since he left the workforce are credited to Cairo.
Hahn stated Cairo might be amongst these interviewed for the opening.
“I feel really honored that they’re going to give me the chance to interview for the job,” Cairo stated Monday. “We’ve got a great group of guys in there and I’m going to see what happens and go through the process.”
10. It might be an intriguing offseason.
After a yr when so much went unsuitable, the Sox have to determine the perfect path again to the playoffs.
The focus begins with the managerial search. It additionally might be fascinating to see the highest priorities from a roster perspective.
“It was a disappointing year,” Hahn stated. “We all have to get higher in a number of aspects. There must be operational and course of /(enhancements)/. Obviously supervisor and workers modifications and personnel modifications, we all know that. My solely level is, and it’s simple on the finish of a disappointing season to say you’ve obtained to burn it to the bottom. I feel that’s not the place we’re at as a company.
“There’s a good amount of talent there. There’s talent that’s performed at an elite level. We’ve got to figure out a way to get them back to that level and augment accordingly.”
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