This story was excerpted from Scott Merkin’s White Sox Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
Making predictions for an upcoming Major League Baseball season is tough enough following Spring Training, and those prognostications come after watching baseball for six weeks to gain a working knowledge of teams. Making predictions at the end of the calendar year, when rosters aren’t even fully set, is darn near impossible.
So, I came up with a slight alternative to this plan: Let fans make their educated White Sox guesses and then agree or disagree. Here are seven from the many — I’ll come back with more at the start of 2023. These predictions are as of Dec. 19.
“[Pedro] Grifol takes command of the team. [Yoán Moncada] it bounces back. [Eloy Jiménez] hits 43 homers and the Sox win the [American League] Central in early September.” — @tom_paints
Let’s start with the highly optimistic. Grifol appears to be an outstanding managerial hire, based on his early preparation, focus and collaboration with the front office during his first stint at the helm, with general manager Rick Hahn mentioning the “fresh eyes” on the team two or three times at the Winter Meetings. Of course, it’s not just Grifol with fresh eyes upon the talent.
Ask different people in the know, and Jiménez has the potential to have a Yordan Alvarez-type impact. It’s a lofty comparison to the most dangerous force on the defending World Series champions from Houston, but Jiménez has shown his immense ability with the bat when healthy. And there lie the key words: Keep Eloy healthy. I would agree with the sentiment here, although it’s a little early in my mind to talk division favourites.
“[Lucas Giolito] throws a no-hitter. Eloy hits 40 HRs.” — @SoonerFletch
Optimism continues, and by the way, there was a great deal of Jiménez support among the 135 predictions. I also would go with a Giolito bounce-back year — he’s too talented, too much of a hard worker and too much a student of the game on what he needs to adjust to not get things going again after a tough 2022.
“[Oscar Colas] wins Rookie of the Year.” — @southsluggers
I had “Top 3 AL Rookie” in my mind for the right fielder. Just from my recent interview with Colas, with the help of interpreter Billy Russo, I can tell he’s ready and understands that nothing is given. I think 25 home runs is a reasonable prediction.
“[Dylan Cease] wins the AL Cy Young Award.” — @ChiFanDaddy
Now we are talking closer to certainties. Cease’s 2022 performance was truly elite and would have won the Cy Young if not for Justin Verlander’s remarkable season in Houston. Cease is just getting started, leaving it more a matter of when than if he wins a Cy Young.
“They lose a midweek series in tragic fashion and White Sox Twitter tears itself apart. They win the next day, and all is well again.” — @Patinthebronx
This prediction made me laugh out loud, only because it’s true and I could hear myself yelling during a Michigan football game. I remember declaring three games to be over after the opposition’s first score and having no shortage of impending doom if it was close at halftime. By game’s end, it was nothing but jubilation. Social media is the gathering place for overreaction.
“Groundhog Day is shown on the scoreboard because you won’t be able to tell the difference from last year’s team.” — @heattreatjay
There can’t only be happiness in the predictions I chose, right? But I disagree here, although “Groundhog Day” is a great movie and I’m not really a Bill Murray diehard supporter. The White Sox will be above .500 this year and will be better than in 2022.
“Better than last year. Still missed playoffs.” — @MouraToWrexham
Cleveland isn’t going away, nor are the Twins. So, this scenario is plausible. Again, though, if I can quote the fans’ favorite saying: ‘It’s still early.’
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