The Chicago White Sox, if the season ended today, wouldn’t be a part of the American League postseason bracket.
Not even as a Wild Card team.
After running away with the AL Central division last year, they have a mediocre (according to preseason expectations) 61-57 record in 2022.
The good thing, for them, is that they are still very much in the race for the AL Central top spot.
They are currently third, but just two games behind the leaders, the Cleveland Guardians, and one behind the second-placed Minnesota Twins.
If they play to the top of their capabilities and talent, the White Sox should be able to win the division once again.
The White Sox Talked About Becoming A Cocky Team
However, the Guards and Twins are solid ballclubs, and there appears to be some internal issues going on with the White Sox.
“As first revealed by Liam Hendriks to @WaddleandSilvy on ESPN 1000, Tony La Russa held a meeting with his team leaders over the weekend. Hendriks: ‘One thing that was stated by Jose Abreu was our confidence turned into cockiness. We just expected to come in and roll like last year,’” ESPN’s Jesse Rogers tweeted.
As first revealed by Liam Hendriks to @WaddleandSilvy on ESPN 1000, Tony La Russa held a meeting with his team leaders over the weekend. Hendriks:”One thing that was stated by Jose Abreu was our confidence turned into cockiness.We just expected to come in and roll like last year”
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) August 17, 2022
The 93-69 White Sox won the AL Central with a 13-game cushion last year.
However, this is not last year: their two rivals got better, and the White Sox, even if they talk about cockiness and other off-the-field issues, have gotten a bit worse.
That has made the race for the division title a very tight one, and Chicago can’t afford to slip anymore.
Being left out of the playoffs in the middle of their contention window and after winning 93 games in 2022 would be a massive failure for the franchise.
