Tag: Baseball

Season Recap

• Jerry Reinsdorf and Tony La Russa go all-in on 2021 World Series win and fall far short, but the team they’ve built has a promising future.
• First consecutive postseason berths in franchise history (2020 and 2021)
• First AL Central division title since 2008
• White Sox starters led the American League in ERA, SO, SO/9 IP, OPP SLG, and OPP OPS
• First lineup in MLB history to have four players with first names beginning with “Y”

White Sox 2021 Season in Review from MLB Network

Outfield

Except where indicated, player stats are 2021 regular season with White Sox only.

Eloy Jiménez #74 | LF

213 AB | .249 AVG | 53 H | 10 HR | 37 RBI | 0 SB | 16 BB | .740 OPS

➤ Injured List, due to rupture of the left pectoral tendon, requiring surgery and lengthy rehab – April 1–July 26

➤ Hit 5 1B with 3 RBI in 17 at-bats, in the four-game ALDS

➤ 5 hits, all singles, with 3 RBI on 17 at-bats, in the four-game ALDS

Presented with 2020 AL Silver Slugger Award (Outfield) – July 31, 2021

Slams 2 HR and logs 5 RBI in consecutive games vs. Cubs and Twins – August 8-9

Mark DeRosa looks at Jiménez’s impact on the White Sox lineup on MLB Network

Smashes 3-run, opposite-field HR into the corn at Field of Dreams – August 12

Goes 2-for-5 in 13^th game of a 13-game hitting streak – August 11-24

Robs Angels second baseman David Fletcher of a home run with spectacular leap at the wall – September 14

Whacks 3 hits, including a 2-run homer, vs. Tigers – September 27

Adam Engel #15 | LF, CF

123 AB | .252 AVG | 31 H | 7 HR | 18 RBI | 7 SB | 11 BB | .832 OPS

➤ Time on Injured List:

• April 1–June 6, due to strained right hamstring
• June 22–July 7, due to strained right hamstring
• August 16-21, due to left shoulder inflammation

➤ 0 hits on 7 at-bats, in 3 games of the ALDS

Robs Tigers shortstop Niko Goodrum of a home run at the wall – June 6

Drives clutch 3-run, go-ahead home run to left center vs. Orioles – July 11

Crushes 2-run homer vs. Twins – August 10

Andrew Vaughn #25 | 3B, LF

417 AB | .235 AVG | 98 H | 15 HR | 48 RBI | 1 SB | 41 BB | .705 OPS

➤ White Sox select Andrew’s contract – April 1

➤ Games played at each position in 2021: 95 at LF, 18 at RF, 15 at 1B, 6 at DH, 2 at 3B, 1 at 2B.

➤ Tony La Russa praises the quality of Andrew’s at-bats all season

➤ Injured List, due to lower back inflammation – September 14-23

➤ 2 hits—1 2B and 1 3B—with 1 RBI on 5 at-bats, in 2 games of the ALDS

Walks, advances to 3B on a Yasmani Grandal single, then scores on an Adam Eaton RBI single in major league debut vs. Angels – April 2

Records first career RBI—on a HBP!—vs. Mariners – April 5

Drives a double, for first career hit vs. Mariners – April 6

Mashes first career home run, scoring 2 runs, vs. Twins – May 12

Contributes solo shot in the 9^th and diving catch in the 6^th vs. Tigers – July 2

Killer snag at the fence saves a HR – July 28

Plays great defense all year—lots of diving and jumping grabs. Here’s one at 1B vs. Royals – May 14

Luis Robert #88 | CF

275 AB | .338 AVG | 93 H | 13 HR | 43 RBI | 6 SB | 14 BB | .946 OPS

➤ Injured List, due to right hip flexor strain – April 27–August 9

➤ 7 hits, all singles, with 1 RBI on 15 at-bats, in the four-game ALDS

Regular-season power hits galore, like these…

Solo shot vs. A’s – August 16

Clobbered one for 2 runs vs. Jays – August 26

452′, 112.3 MPH smash into the waterfall at Kauffman Stadium – September 4

Two-homer game against Reds – September 28

4-for-5 day at the office, with 3 doubles and 3 RBIs vs. Red Sox – September 11

Great defense, like this diving catch vs. Pirates – August 31

Brian Goodwin #18 | CF

235 AB | .221 AVG | 52 H | 8 HR | 29 RBI | 1 SB | 33 BB | .693 OPS

➤ Called up from Charlotte Knights – June 10

➤ Injured List, due to lower back spasms – September 26–October 4

Records 5 RBIs in White Sox Debut vs. Tigers – June 12

Cuts off Billy Hamilton to make the grab vs. Astros – July 17

Dashes to snag Josh Donaldson’s hit for the out vs. Twins – July 19

Smashes home runs in two consecutive games vs. Twins – June 30 & July 1

Launches walk-off home run vs. Indians – August 1

Billy Hamilton #0 | CF

127 AB | .220 AVG | 28 H | 2 HR | 11 RBI | 9 SB | 4 BB | .620 OPS

➤ Signed with White Sox as a free agent – March 16

➤ Time on Injured List:

• April 8-23, due to left hamstring strain
• June 6-29, due to right oblique strain
• August 1–September 1, due to right oblique strain

Steals 3B vs. Twins – May 11

Makes two great grabs against Twins – May 13

Crushes solo shot vs. Orioles – May 29

Pulls off incredible diving catch in the 9^th vs. Twins – July 6

Adam Eaton #12 | RF

189 AB | .201 AVG | 38 H | 5 HR | 28 RBI | 2 SB | 20 BB | .642 OPS

➤ Signed with White Sox as a free agent – December 10, 2020

➤ Designated for assignment – July 7

➤ Signed with Angels as a free agent – July 14

Slams 2-run homer vs. Angels on Opening Day – April 1

Benches clear after called out at 2B vs. Indians – April 15

Makes great tumbling, sliding catch vs. Tigers – April 27

Season Recap

• Jerry Reinsdorf and Tony La Russa go all-in on 2021 World Series win and fall far short, but the team they’ve built has a promising future.
• First consecutive postseason berths in franchise history (2020 and 2021)
• First AL Central division title since 2008
• White Sox starters led the American League in ERA, SO, SO/9 IP, OPP SLG, and OPP OPS
• First lineup in MLB history to have four players with first names beginning with “Y”

White Sox 2021 Season in Review from MLB Network

Pitchers

Except where indicated, player stats are 2021 regular season with White Sox only.

Rotation

Lucas Giolito #27, RHP

31 G | 178 ⅔ IP | 11-9 W-L | 3.53 ERA | 201 SO | 52 BB | 2 HB

➤ 15 quality starts in the regular season

➤ 4 R/ER on 3 H (5 BB, 4 SO) on 4 ⅓ IP in ALDS Game 2 start. No decision.

Epic pitching duel with Shane Bieber: fans 8 Indians in 7.0+ scoreless innings (3 H, 2 BB), leaves game tied at 0 – April 13

Commands and controls all night, retiring 27 of 30 Astros for a complete game (3 H, 1 R/ER, 0 BB, 8 SO) – July 17

Throws 8.0 scoreless innings (2 H, 1 R/ER, 0 BB, 8 SO) vs. Twins – August 9

First anniversary of no hitter (8/25/2020) – August 25, 2021

Second half highlights from MLB Network

Lance Lynn #33, RHP

28 G | 157.0 IP | 11-6 W-L | 2.69 ERA | 176 SO | 45 BB | 2 HB

➤ 13 quality starts in the regular season

➤ Traded from Texas Rangers for LHP Avery Weems and RHP Dane Dunning – December 8, 2020

➤ Assigned to American League All Stars – July 12

➤ 5 R/ER on 6 H (2 BB, 4 SO) on 3 ⅔ IP in ALDS Game 1 start. No decision.

Pitches first complete-game shutout in a White Sox home opener since Wilbur Wright in 1976 (5 H, 0 BB, 11 SO) vs. Royals – April 8

Goes 7.0 strong, strikes out 9 (4 H, 1 R/ER, 0 BB) vs. Jays – June 9

Punches out 9, across 6.0 innings (4 H, 1 R/ER, 5 BB) vs. Tigers – July 2

Throws scoreless 2^nd inning (1 BB, 1 K) for the AL in All Star Game – July 13, 2021

Carlos Rodón #55, LHP

24 G | 132 ⅔ IP | 13-5 W-L | 2.37 ERA | 185 SO | 36 BB | 8 HB

➤ 10 quality starts in the regular season

➤ Signed with White Sox as a free agent – February 1

➤ Assigned to American League All Stars – July 12

➤ Injured List, due to left shoulder fatigue that continued into the postseason – August 11-26

➤ 2 R/ER on 3 H (2 BB, 3 SO, 1 HB) on 2 ⅔ IP in ALDS Game 4 start. Charged with Game 4 loss.

Serves up 20th no-hitter in White Sox history, missing a perfecto by just two outs, vs. Indians – April 14

Appearance on MLB Network’s Intentional Talk at All Star Game – July 13, 2021

Hurls super-dominant, 7.0 inning start (0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 10 SO) against Astros – July 18

Fans 11 (2 H, 2 BB) over 5.0 scoreless innings vs. Cubs – August 7

Dallas Keuchel #60, LHP

32 G | 162.0 IP | 9-9 W-L | 5.28 ERA | 95 SO | 59 BB | 7 HB

➤ The highest paid player on the team, contracted through 2022 at $18MM per year.

➤ 9 quality starts in the regular season

Throws 7.0 shutout innings (2 H, 3 BB, 1 SO, 1 HB) against the Reds – May 5

Pitches 7.0 scoreless frames with 5 strikeouts and only 1 walk (4 H) vs. Rays – June 15

Fans 3, walks 1, and gives up only 1 run across 7.0 innings (7 H) vs. Orioles – July 9

Other than that, ugh…

Dylan Cease #84, RHP

32 G | 165 ⅔ IP | 13-7 W-L | 3.91 ERA | 226 SO | 68 BB | 9 HB

➤ 10 quality starts in the regular season

➤ 3 R/ER on 2 H (3 BB, 2 SO) on 1 ⅔ IP in ALDS Game 3 start. No decision.

Hurls 7-inning shutout (career first) vs. Tigers (3 H, 0 BB, 9 SO) – April 29, 2021

Tallies 11 strikeouts and first 3 career hits—in first 3 career at-bats!—vs. Reds (1 H, 0 R, 3 BB) – May 4, 2021

Strikes out 10, over 7.0 scoreless frames vs. Tigers (5 H, 1 BB) – June 6

Fans 11, across 6.0 scoreless innings vs. Royals (1 H, 2 BB) – August 3

Pitches 200^th strikeout of the season – September 11

Reynaldo López #40, RHP

20 G | 57 ⅔ IP | 4-4 W-L | 3.43 ERA | 55 SO | 13 BB | 0 HB

➤ Called up from Charlotte Knights (AAA) – July 16

➤ 1 quality start in his short stint in the rotation

➤ 1 R/ER on 2 H (1 BB, 2 SO) on 2.0 relief IP in Game 1 of ALDS.

Fans 4 in quality start against Reds (1 H, 1 R/ER, 1 BB, 2 SO in 6.0 IP) – September 28

Punches out 7 (0 H, 0 BB) in 5.0 scoreless innings for the win vs. Cubs – August 27

Bullpen

Liam Hendriks #31, RHP

69 G | 71.0 IP | 8-3 W-L | SV 38 | 2.54 ERA | 113 SO | 7 BB | 1 HB

➤ Signed with White Sox as a free agent – January 15

➤ Assigned to American League All Stars – July 12

➤ Tied for 2^nd place in MLB for number of saves in the 2021 regular season—38, just one less than the #1 closer

➤ Honored as White Sox nominee for the 2021 Roberto Clemente Award – September 14

➤ 3 R/ER on 3 H (1 BB, 6 SO) on 3.0 IP in 3 games of the ALDS. No save opportunities.

Inherits loaded bases and strikes out the side, for the save vs. Cardinals – May 25

Discusses his love of LEGOS, heavy metal, and teen fiction – June 4

Fans 4 in 2 perfect frames vs. Twins – July 6

Earns save (2 H, 1 SO) for the AL in the All Star Game – July 13, 2021

Grabs five outs for the save (3 SO) against Oakland –August 18

Strikes out the side in the 8^th vs. Angels – September 16

Michael Kopech #34, RHP

44 G | 69 ⅓ IP | 4-3 W-L | SV 0 | 3.50 ERA | 103 SO | 24 BB | 1 HB

➤ Injured List, due to strained left hamstring – May 31–June 30

➤ 6 R/ER on 7 H (1 BB, 5 SO) in 3.0 IP in 2 games of the ALDS. Credited with Game 3 win.

Strikes out the side in the 6^th vs. Royals – July 11

Punches out 5 (0 H, 1 BB) in 2 ⅓ innings of relief

Fans Yordan Álvarez after fan uses hex in ALDS Game 3 – October 10

Aaron Bummer #39, LHP

62 G | 56 ⅓ IP | 5-5 W-L | SV 2 | 3.51 ERA | 75 SO | 29 BB | 4 HB

➤ Injured List, due to right hamstring strain – June 30–July 15

➤ 3 R/ER on 5 H (1 BB, 7 SO) in 3 ⅓ IP in 3 games of the ALDS. Charged with Game 2 loss.

Retires 5 in a row (3 SO) in 1 ⅔ innings of relief vs. Royals – May 9

Tallies 2^nd save (2 total, on the season) vs. Tigers – June 11

Pitches 1-2-3 inning (2 SO) against A’s – September 9

Retires all 5 (4 SO) in 1 ⅔ relief innings in ALDS Game 3 – October 10

Evan Marshall #43, RHP

27 G | 27 ⅓ IP | 0-2 W-L | SV 0 | 5.60 ERA | 26 SO | 9 BB | 0 HB

➤ Injured List, due to season-ending right flexor pronator tear – June 30

➤ Assigned to rehab at Charlotte Knights (AAA) – August 26

➤ In an effort to prepare for the postseason, Evan threw back-to-back games for the Knights, but the soreness returned – September 3-4

Fans Vladamir Guerrero, Jr. and picks off Marcus Semien at 2B, escaping a 1-out-2-on jam in the 7^th vs. Jays – June 8

Leaves game in 7^th inning with right forearm soreness – June 29

Garrett Crochet #45, LHP

54 G | 54 ⅓ IP | 3-5 W-L | SV 0 | 2.82 ERA | 65 SO | 27 BB | 1 HB

➤ White Sox select Garrett’s contract near the end of last season – September 18, 2020

➤ Injured List, due to upper back strain – April 29–May 7

➤ 0 R/ER on 5 H (1 BB, 4 SO) across 2 ⅓ IP in 3 games of the ALDS

Pitches a scoreless 8^th frame (0 H, 0 BB, 2 SO) and gets win vs. Jays – June 8

Strikes out 4 (0 R, 1 H, 1 BB) in 2.0 IP vs. Twins – August 11

Craig Kimbrel #46, RHP

24 G | 23.0 IP | 2-2 W-L | SV 1 |5.09 ERA | 36 SO | 10 BB | 3 HB – White Sox only

➤ Assigned to National League All Stars (representing Cubs) – July 12

➤ Traded from Chicago Cubs for 2B Nick Madrigal and RHP Codi Heuer – July 30

➤ 3 R, 2 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 0 SO across 2.0 IP in 3 games of the ALDS

Comments on being traded to the White Sox – July 30

Pitches clean inning in White Sox debut – July 31

Records 1,000^th career strikeout — August 16

Earns first—and only!—save with White Sox (1 H, 0 BB, 1 SO) vs. Jays – August 26

Can we get Nick Madrigal back?

Ryan Tepera #51, RHP

22 G | 18.0 IP | 0-0 W-L | SV 1 | 2.50 ERA | 24 SO | 7 BB | 1 HB – White Sox only

➤ Traded from Cubs for LHP Bailey Horn – July 29

➤ Injured List, due to right index finger laceration – September 14–October 1

➤ 1 R/ER, 2 H, 0 BB, 3 SO across 4 ⅔ IP in 3 games of the ALDS

On heading across town to the White Sox – July 29

Grabs his first—and only!—save (0 H, 0 BB, 2 SO) with White Sox vs. Rays – August 20

Makes totally pointless sign stealing accusations against Astros – October 11

Booo…

Ryan Burr #61, RHP

34 G | 36 ⅔ IP | 2-1 W-L | SV 0 |2.45 ERA | 33 SO | 21 BB | 1 HB

➤ White Sox select Ryan’s contract from Charlotte Knights (AAA) – May 27

➤ Makes first appearance with White Sox since 2019 – May 30

Makes stellar diving catch to snag a bunt vs. Indians – June 1

Retires 6 in a row (2 SO) in clean 2.0 inning start (0 H, 0 BB) vs. Mariners – June 27

Fields comebacker and throws runner out at 2B for a double play to end the 6^th vs. Angels – September 16

Matt Foster #63, RHP

37 G | 39.0 IP | 2-1 W-L | SV 1 | 6.00 ERA | 40 SO | 13 BB | 2 HB

➤ Matt was on the active roster through July 15, then regularly sent down to and called up from Charlotte Knights (AAA), through the end of the season.

Throws a 1-2-3 close (2 SO) vs. Royals – May 16

Pitches a 2.0 inning close (1 H, 2 BB, 3 SO) and works himself out of a bases-loaded jam with a swinging strikeout to end the game vs. Tigers – June 12

José Ruiz #66, RHP

59 G | 65.0 IP | 1-3 W-L | SV 0 | 3.05 ERA | 63 SO | 25 BB | 0 HB

➤ On the active roster all season, from Opening Day through the ALDS

➤ Takes the mound with 2 outs in the 7^th, and retires 4 in a row (1 SO) in Game 1 of the ALDS

Pitches a 1-2-3 close (1 SO) vs. Twins – July 7

Hurls 3 consecutive strikeouts to end the game vs. Cubs – August 8

Mike Wright, Jr. #, RHP

13 G | 18.0 IP | 0-1 W-L | SV 0 | 5.50 ERA | 11 SO | 11 BB | 2 HB

➤ White Sox selected Mike’s contract from Charlotte Knights (BB) – August 16

➤ Designated for assignment – October 1

Induces 5-4-3 double play in 2.0 frame close (1 H, 1 BB, 1 SO) of shutout game against A’s – August 17

Ejected, along with Tony La Russa (91), after hitting Shohei Ohtani – September 16

Gives up 1 R/ER on 1 H (1 BB, 1 SO) in 2.0 inning close vs. Rangers – September 19