It's time to look back at every team from around the MLB and what they each showed us during the 60 game sprint!
Chicago Natives and Fans! Do you love that sports page of The Chicago Defender? If you do, I need your help! Please come on over to Facebook and help me get my Great-Great-Grandfather Fay Young(Created the sports page in the Defender) into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Read the full post here: https://www.facebook.com/ballboyblog/posts/209075940746617.
BUT! Before we get too enthralled into the post today, let's recap Game 1 of The World Series, the October Classic! Let's just say it did not disappoint. We saw one of the best Clayton Kershaw postseason performances with him going 6IP while getting 8K and giving up 1ER. Glasnow, with all the awesome flow, was not able to get the job done and looked like the pressure of the moment got to him; he was only able to go 4.1I, P giving up 6ER, 6BB, 8K on 112 pitches. Bellinger got the party started for the Dodgers with a 2R HR off of Glasnow in the 4th. Followed by 4R hit palooza in the 5th that knocked Glasnow out of the game. Betts and Muncy put this game outreach in the 6th to give the Dodgers an 8-1 lead. Simultaneously, the Rays were able to attempt a comeback in the 7th, scoring 2R off Dylan Floro but then getting shut down by the Dodgers Pen the rest of the way. The Rays were only able to get 6H in this one going 2-5 with RISP and leaving 3 on base. Dodgers take game one. The Dodgers will throw Tony Gonsolin in game 2 tonight v Rays CY Young starter Blake Snell. If Blake Snell can pull a CY Young caliber performance, the Rays will take game 2.
We are going to explore a few things for each team: Review in-season transactions, what we learned, what we loved, what we didn't love, the most significant need(s), and lastly, the biggest takeaways.
Let's jump over the AL with the Chicago WhiteSox today. We talked about the Padres, A's, Marlins, Yankee's, and Cardinals so far; you can find all posts on the homepage.
What moves got the WhiteSox through 2020?
The offseason moves are what got the WhiteSox to the postseason and a 35-25 record. Which is precisely the record I predicted for them before the season. FA additions of Grandal, Mazara, Encarnacion, Kuechel helped them win games they would have lost otherwise. Luis Robert and Eloy Jimenez stepped up when Tim Anderson was out, and it was a massive move that once he came back, this team was incredible.
What did we love about the 2020 WhiteSox? I loved that the ChiSox gave Robert the chance to shine and become a star. I loved Giolitto taking the next step and establishing himself as the ACE of this club. I loved all 19 of Jose Abreu's home runs. I loved that this team had 5+ players hit ten or more home runs. I love that this team hit a .261 average with more than half the starters hitting above .290 during the season. I loved the insane amount of highlights and smiles this team gave us in 2020 the most.
Thank you guys for being with me today. I hope you are enjoying the blog today. Please stay tuned through the winter; we have more Around the Horn, Yearly Reviews, Ball Boy Talk, and of course, the Podcast. Don't forget to share with a friend and until next time Ball boys & girls.
What do I personally not love? I don't love that you aren't using the extra storage space you have in the garage, the shed, the attic, or basement. You could be making money off of it. You could buy 1 $20 storage rack at Lowes and then rent that space out. Do I need to say no more, great! My friends over at Stash-It Self Storage has you covered; use the promo code "YOUNG" when you're done posting to let them know I sent you.
What did we not love about the 2020 WhiteSox?
I did not love most of all that this team didn't go quite as far as they should have in the playoffs, which was a disappointing thing to see. I did not love seeing the pitching staff pitch to a 3.81 ERA and a 217/523, which is only a 2.41 K to Walk ratio, which isn't great.
What do I personally not love? I don't love that you aren't using the extra storage space you have in the garage, the shed, the attic, or basement. You could be making money off of it. You could buy 1 $20 storage rack at Lowes and then rent that space out. Do I need to say no more, great! My friends over at Stash-It Self Storage has you covered; use the promo code "YOUNG" when you're done posting to let them know I sent you.
What do the WhiteSox need to compete in 2021 further?
The ChiSox need their pitching to take the next step forward. Giolitto, Dunning, Cease, and hopefully Keuchel again next year need to keep moving forward and improving. The pen outside of Bummer needs help this offseason. With the Twin's and Indians also making the playoff's pitching depth and high-quality bullpen arms are at a premium. But the ChiSox scoring 1-2 of those would be huge going into 2021.
What was the biggest takeaway from the 2020 WhiteSox? Fun. That was what I am taking away from the 2020 ChiSox is that they are fun. They are fun to watch and more fun to follow their Twitter. This team is packed full of talent, energy, and youth, and this is a dynasty in the making.
Thank you guys for being with me today. I hope you are enjoying the blog today. Please stay tuned through the winter; we have more Around the Horn, Yearly Reviews, Ball Boy Talk, and of course, the Podcast. Don't forget to share with a friend and until next time Ball boys & girls.