Trapped in a Sox

 

I don't know if this says something good about Johnny Cueto or something bad about the White Sox, but out of all of the Opening Day people that were supposed to succeed for the White Sox, Johnny Cueto, a late roster addition, is 3rd in WAR. Higher than Lucas Giolito, Lance Lynn, Luis Robert, Michael Kopech and Tim Anderson. 

Now, I'm honestly really happy for Johnny Cueto. He spent a few years on the IL, struggled to get back to dominance in San Francisco, and last season, in the last year of his mega-contract from 2016, he posted a 4.08 ERA in 21 starts. I was not shocked when teams didn't exactly race to sign Cueto, I figured his career was over, and he'd be yet another pitcher who struggled to stay healthy after 30. 

And then the White Sox gave him a minor league deal, Dallas Keuchel underperformed, and suddenly there was a rotation spot with Cueto's name on it. Since coming up in Chicago, Cueto's been stellar, with a 2.91 ERA, 53 Ks and the aforementioned 2.1 WAR. He's performing better than every starter other than Dylan Cease, as Lynn's still catching up, Giolito's having a down year and Kopech has a 1.8. It's gotta be odd for the White Sox fans, having people they trusted to kill it this year fail them and having to rely on people like Vince Velasquez and Johnny Cueto to save them.

And that's really where we're at. It's not the entirety of the team that's underperforming, as Jose Abreu, Tim Anderson, Luis Robert and, perhaps not defensively but regardless, Andrew Vaughn are at least doing well. But the depth that this team promised in 2021 did not deliver, and a lot of people brought in to keep the team strong, like Jake Burger, A.J. Pollock, Josh Harrison and Reese McGuire, haven't helped as much as fans would have liked.

At the end of the day, Tony LaRussa is still managing this team, and he's still making odd moves that fans don't like. Today, he did one that not only did fans lambast, but the BROADCASTERS, and eventually sportscasters like Scott Podsednik and Ozzie Guillen, former White Sox themselves. I don't know who else needs to turn on LaRussa before anything is actually done. I dunno if this is gonna get to Kenny Williams, or if that's gonna matter, but I still think this team can't succeed properly unless LaRussa goes. Because now people are saying they liked Rick Renteria better, and when the guy who supposedly led the team back from competing in 2020 is better than you, you need to go. 

Still, for now, just the comeback story of Johnny Cueto is a good enough hook to lead the White Sox with these days. I just wish there was a bit more to them.

Coming Tomorrow- A very, very tall shortstop for a very very short 3rd place team.