What if 60 games for the 2020 White Sox carried through 162?

The White Sox just completed their 60-game regular season, and it is indeed complete, even if it doesn’t look like it. José Abreu’s Baseball-Reference.com page shows black ink for the games, hits and RBI Columns, even though none of these should be league-leading columns:

  • Games: 60
  • Hits: 76
  • RBI: 60

And yet you can scour the record books and find nobody else that eclipsed those totals.

This 60-game season is abridged on the whole — it had a beginning, middle and end — but for the individuals involved, it’s abbreviated. Luis Robert’s 60 games featured a meteoric rise followed by an arduous adjustment period. He would’ve spent the rest of the season trying to reestablish his first-month form, or at least finding a favorable middle ground for the rest of his rookie campaign. Instead, his season only had two acts. A late rally helped him keep his head above water.

On the other end of the career spectrum, Edwin Encarnación might have been designated for assignment by hitting .157 through 60 games. The same could be said for Nomar Mazara, unless he spent the first weeks of the season in extended spring training to regain the pep in his step with the prep lost to strep. Thanks to the conditions of the 2020 season, they both hung around for just about the entire journey.

It’s creates a weird dynamic where you can extrapolate the 60-game totals for 162 games and end up with extremes we’ve rarely seen. Fortunately for the 2020 White Sox, the seasons mostly project for the better. There are only a few stragglers who make this an uglier exercise, with a concentration of them in the rotation.

2020 WHITE SOX HITTERS OVER 162 GAMES

FIVE TAKEAWAYS

No. 1: Jose Abreu was deprived a chance at setting franchise records for home runs and RBIs, as he was on pace to exceed Albert Belle’s 49 and 152 from 1998. He would’ve also posted the single highest WAR total by a White Sox position player since Dick Allen’s 8.6 in 1972.

No. 2: Where can I collect on my bet that Yolmer Sánchez would have more extra-base hits than Nick Madrigal, Josh?

No. 3: And yet Madrigal had a higher OPS+ than Luis Robert, which is a testament to the gap in hit tool. Robert’s season numbers. Given Robert’s relatively thin track record, ZiPS did a nice job (104 OPS+, 55 extra-base hits, 27 steals). He drew more walks than anticipated, which helped keep his production afloat even despite the September slump.

No. 4: Speaking of walks, the White Sox hadn’t had three players collect 49 or more walks since 2011 (Adam Dunn, Paul Konerko, Alexei Ramirez). Yoán Moncada might’ve drawn fewer walks had he been able to get the bat through the zone with the same intensity as previous seasons, but it’s one of the better byproducts of his compromised state.

No. 5: Speaking of 2011, Edwin Encarnación would’ve challenged Dunn for the lowest batting average on record, although this has him coming up 13 plate appearances short of qualifying. Nomar Mazara invoked 2011 Dunn in another column, as that was the last time a guy played over 100 games while slugging below .300. Here’s hoping neither factor into the White Sox’s postseason games. Heal up, Eloy Jiménez.

2020 WHITE SOX PITCHERS OVER 162 GAMES

FIVE TAKEAWAYS

No. 1: Dallas Keuchel would easily lap the field as Rick Hahn’s greatest proven veteran free agent signing, with only the innings being a mild disappointment. And even that, 170 innings from a 32-year-old crafty lefty is fine.

No. 2: Lucas Giolito’s 262 strikeouts would be good for third on the White Sox’s single-season list behind Chris Sale and Ed Walsh. I’m not sure whether he would’ve been able to last 195 innings, as Rick Renteria seemed to manage him with the 60-game sprint in mind.

No. 3: I like the idea of Matt Foster going 16-3 over 76 innings. I think Cy Young voters have advanced beyond wins and losses as a chief metric, but that might’ve broken the electorate regardless.

No. 4: Jimmy Cordero would have posted a -2.2 WAR while stranding 94 percent of his inherited runners.

No. 5: Scott Eyre holds the White Sox record for the fewest innings pitched by a guy who gave up 24 homers in a season, as he threw just 107 in 1998. Reynaldo López would’ve beaten his record by 37 innings.

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Greg Nix

This really highlights the holes Rick Hahn still needs to fill whenever the offseason starts. Can’t be content with the current version of the team, or assume Abreu/Anderson/Keuchel will be able to replicate their excellent seasons.

HallofFrank

The good news is it should be simple for Hahn: find a good SP & RF. He may need to add some depth (bench and bullpen), but there should be two main targets with at least $30m coming off the books.

dwjm3

It may not be simple if Jerry doesn’t want to open the wallet. If Jerry opens the wallet George Springer would be a nice piece.

Now that Hahn has built a solid core my biggest worry is Jerry.

texag10

We’re going to be at around 80M once the necessary options are declined. That should give us at least 40M to play with in free agency and I don’t think we need to put any money into the bullpen unless there’s a bargain to be had.

Greg Nix

It’s not really $80m. Lots of guys going into arbitration for the first time, plus minimum contracts to fill out the roster. So more like $95m to $100m is committed.

Oddvark

The team’s decisions re the bullpen will be some of the most interesting ones during this offseason. Do they try to bring back Colome as the closer? If they let him go, do they plan to make Bummer or Heuer (or Marshall?) the closer (or try a closer-by-committee strategy), or do they get a new closer in FA? Do they keep Crochet in the bullpen or (more likely) give him an opportunity as a starter (which will require a fair bit of time in the minors)? Do they non-tender Rodon, or if they keep him, do they try to move him into a bullpen/long-relief role? Similarly, do they try to move Lopez (or even Cease) into the bullpen? Do they expect Zack Burdi to start the season with the big league club, or will he have to prove himself in the minors?

HallofFrank

It should be that simple. Even if Jerry only matches this year’s payroll, then spending $35-40m for 2021 is a reasonable expectation. And keep in mind it will likely be a (very) suppressed market.

Ideally, Jerry opens up the pocketbook (this is all relative) for Springer and a SP like Tanaka or Q. That, and some depth, would put the Sox in a good position for another run in 2021.

Oddvark

I have a feeling (hope) that Jerry will be willing to spend this year. He’s 85 years old, and this might be his last chance to build a championship team that can be consistently competitive during his golden years. The team’s performance this year should give him reason to believe and to continue to build on last year’s actions. I just wish there were more good options in free agency.

John SF

A Joc Pederson / Adam Engel platoon honestly makes so much sense, I will be genuinly upset if this front office doesn’t make it happen.

I very rarely pin my hopes to one specific off season aquisition— but we’ve developed this really valuable homegrown platoon player, and the free agent market is offering us his better half at a reasonable price.

We also desperately need starting pitching depth; and thankfully the market has plenty for us.

Stroman and Bauer headline the class, both at more approachable price points closer to Wheeler from last year than Gerritt Cole or Strasburg.

Odorizzi, Tanaka, Paxton, and Quintana are all totally legit options. And TBH, the “scrap heap” SP depth available is quite good.

It’s not just Ivan Nova level guys. It’s Cole Hamels, Tyler Chatwood, Alex Wood, Kevin Gausman, Rich Hill, Rick Porcello, Garrett Richards, Robbie Ray, and maybe a couple more.

Not to mention the 3 Mikes: Mike Leake, Mike Minor, Mike Fyers.

joewho112

Sorry to be off topic: I have ESPN+ thru my Disney+ subscription but I do not have cable. Will I be able to watch the Sox first round playoff games on ESPN+? Or do I need to order cable?

NDSox12

I doubt you will be able to watch with only an ESPN+ subscription. Usually, a cable subscription (or a subscription to a streaming service like YTTV that has the ESPN channels) is required to stream ESPN broadcasts that are on one of their cable channels.

egib52

I have never had an issue getting live events with ESPN+. However, I haven’t tried it lately because I had to get YouTube TV to get NBC Sports Net.

Shingos Cheeseburgers

The disconnect between Cordero’s usage and production is really troubling

At the risk of falling into “If he just fixes his [Blank], he’ll be a top tier pitcher” trap. As long as Cordero can get his changeup working again and not be leaned on so heavily, he’ll be a useful part of the pen for a long time.

joewho112

On topic comment: Scott Eyre is a name I haven’t thought about in a while. Looked up his stats and was shocked to see he was still pitching in 2009

As Cirensica

Unless you are Randy Williams

Just John

In 162 games, White Sox devour lefty starting pitchers, go 38-0.

So for tomorrow…
Highly likely to win? Or
Highly due to lose?

As Cirensica

First game pitcher: LHP Jesus Luzardo. He is a lefty…but a pretty good one.

NDSox12

Two former Nationals prospects squaring off in Game 1.

carbiner

Seems pretty meh in terms of both advanced stats and traditional ones.

Edit: 101 ERA+, almost perfectly league average.

As Cirensica

I thought he was better than that, but, yes, he has alternated great outings with some meh outings and have had a couple of rough outings.

yinkadoubledare

We are pretty good at causing rough outings for lefthanders.

It might be moot though, they’ll have him on a short leash. They have a very good bullpen heavy on the quality righties. I think they’re pitching Bassitt in game 2 because he’s the most likely to pitch deep enough to use less pen, so they can use the pen heavily in games 1 and 3.

carbiner

162 RBI is second since 1938, behind Manny’s 165 on the 1009 run scoring 1999 indians; slightly ahead of 1998 and 2001 Sammy Sosa. I suppose it should go without saying that he would have finished with like 145 or something, but that’s still a pretty hefty number for an interesting; not particularly useful stat.

Psyched that we don’t have to play against Bieber until the ALCS.

Yolmer

TA and Abreu are getting a lot of the attention, but that is a pretty sexy line for Eloy Jimenez.

GrinnellSteve

Several roster questions.

1) 28-man throughout?

2) Can it be reset before each series?

3) Assuming both answers above are yes, there is no way any case can be made for rostering Lopez (not that there was much of a case to be made anyway). Should he be replaced with Collins? That would liberate Ricky to use McCann at DH/C if DH doesn’t need to be saved for Eloy. It would also provide a left-handed power bat for when that might be needed in a last-gasp situation.

4) If Gonzalez is injured, who replaces him? Detwiler, if he’s eligible? McRae?

burning-phoneix

4)It was a crime to DFA Big Boss Ross Detwiler, he had exactly like 1 or 2 bad innings all season long. Utterly shocked when they sent him down.

dongutteridge

Offseason – sign Taijuan Walker and George Springer. Try hard to bring back McCann and Colome.

Just John

Remember this?

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/heres-the-david-robertson-trade-the-nats-white-sox-were-reportedly-close-to-making/amp/

I wonder how tomorrow would have differed… And what trivial amount of money was the axe.

John SF

Actually, I’d forgotten that.

I know we almost got Soto for Quintana— which, considering Eloy is not quite as sad. But if there’s one outfielder in the game I would for sure take in a 1 for 1 trade of Eloy, it’s Soto.