A Chicago White Sox Player Talked World Series– Which Isn’t as Crazy as It Sounds
It seems like it has been an eternity since the Chicago White Sox won the 2005 World Series. The dismal end to the 2018 season made it ten years since they last made the playoffs. Last season saw the White Sox offense strike out more times than any other team in MLB history—which, of course, makes it hard to win games.
But, despite their recent woes and despite losing 100 games last season, they think they are going to be World Series contenders in 2019. Crazy, right?
It doesn’t sound too crazy when you listen to outfielder Nicky Delmonico‘s reasoning (MLB):
“Why not? That’s why you play. Every year you’ve got to have a goal. And if it’s not to be in the World Series, then what are you working for? We feel like we can take our division. If we stay healthy, put the things right, go out there and handle our business, I think we can go out there and compete with any team.”
It is hard to argue with him. If you aren’t going into the season looking to win it all, then what are you doing? It’s a refreshing perspective. It’s why Spring Training and hope exist.
But wanting to compete for the World Series and being able to are two different things. The competition in the American League is going to be tough with the Red Sox, Yankees, and Astros all expected to be contenders.
Oddsmakers don’t seem to have much faith in the White Sox. Their chances of winning the American League are pretty long at +3000 and even longer to win the World Series (+8000). They are expected to do better this season than last; the over/under for their win total set at 74.5 games.
But that is still a losing season, so can a realistic case be made for the White Sox to win the World Series?
They did get hit pretty hard by the injury bug last year and the farm system hit the pause button on 2018. Their top pitching prospect, Michael Kopech, will be sitting out this season as he recovers from Tommy John Surgery (he made just four starts last season). An outfield prospect, Micker Adolfo, needed Tommy John surgery. Jake Burger, their first-round pick in 2017, blew out an Achilles tendon twice. Pitching prospects Alec Hansen and Dane Dunning had elbow issues.
The list could go on and on for their farm system, but the big league team wasn’t immune to the injury bug, either. Several key players lost a significant amount of time to injuries making it very hard for the team to maintain the status quo let alone be competitive.
If they were healthy, could they have been more competitive last season? That is impossible to know for sure, but there is certainly talent on the South Side. Does that mean, if they stay healthy, they could make the World Series this year?
Therein lies one of the many great things about baseball. Anyone can win during any given season. If everyone plays up to or exceeds their potential, a team can do something great—like win the World Series.
- The odds for the St. Louis Cardinals were +99900 (999 to 1) when they won the 2011 World Series.
- Odds on the Minnesota Twins winning the 1987 World Series were +50000 (500 to 1).
- •In 1991, the Twins and Atlanta Braves had +30000 (300 to 1) and +20000 (200 to 1) odds to win the World Series. They both ended up making it with the Twins going home with the title.
It doesn’t happen often, but teams have come out of nowhere and gone on to do great things. Will that happen for the White Sox this season? Conventional wisdom says no. But like Delmonico said, if you aren’t playing to win a championship, why are you playing at all?
