More fun with numbers
After Tuesday night’s 4-2 loss in Minnesota, the White Sox had played 23 games, which works out nicely to one-seventh of a season (yeah, yeah, there’s a remainder of one, but let’s just say a September game against a fellow non-contender gets rained out and not made up). The 5-18 record is a pace to set another record with just 35 wins, but it is better than the 3-20 of a year ago, so there is a bright side. Bright-ish, anyway.
We looked last week at how averages in this young season compare with 2024, but how about the raw performance? What happens if we multiply this year’s numbers times seven — we’re going to concentrate on offense — and match them up with the final tallies last season?
TEAM OFFENSE
There’s actually some good, some bad, but of course, mostly ugly, since the Sox continue to be at or barely above the bottom in MLB.
The White Sox so far have hit 26 doubles, working out to 182 for the season against 226 in 2024, quite a bit worse. Just ONE triple in 2025 compared to nine in the 2024 season, really are non-factors and too small to mean anything. Home runs? Despite an outburst on Opening Day the White Sox have hit just 17 (projecting to 119 for 2025), compared to 133 in 2024, so should be blame this April’s weather?
On the other hand, there are some positive signs. The 2025 White Sox have 72 walks, projecting to 504 on the season, vs. 395 in 2024 — that’s a nice improvement. The 2025 club has come through with six sacrifice flies projecting to 42 on the season, vs. 27 in 2024, a decent upturn. Stolen bases? The Sox have stole 16 so far, projecting to 112 on the season, vs. 90 in 2024, so finally we might have some team speed. In terms of GIDPs that kill innings, the White Sox have 12 so far this season, projecting to 84, vs. 116 in 2024 … a case of more loft, or fewer guys on first base?
Speaking of guys on base, in 2024 the White Sox hit .219 with RISP — and in 2025 have sunk to an absolutely horrendous .168.
In terms of individuals, players, there are only three who carry over as starters. Andrew Benintendi is doing better than 2024, and much better in the case of power. Luis Robert Jr. is doing much, much worse, even though he hit very badly last year (remember how long they’ve been hanging on to him to get a better trade return?). Andrew Vaughn with his .145 BA and 34 (honest, 34!) OPS+ really belongs in Charlotte. Or Birmingham. Or Kannapolis. Or home in California coaching high school.
WHAT ABOUT FIELDING?
espnpressroom.com
moldcreations.com
White Sox fielding was at the very bottom of baseball last year, but that’s been the case for many, many years now despite annual front office pledges of improvement. So far this year, Baseball-Reference credits the Sox with doing much better in defensive runs saved, an actual positive (even if the plus side is all on positioning), compared to an incredible -87 DRS (yes, that’s a minus sign) in 2024 (the eye test does give the impression they more often throw to or cover the right base). However, the 17 errors so far this year make for a 119 annual pace, which is even worse than last year’s 90, apparently offset or generated by much better range scores.
As for individuals, it’s worth noting that while last year Vaughn was near the bottom defensively among first basemen, his company then was Pete Alonso and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., both of whom hit a tad better. This year his main company at the very bottom is Paul Goldschmidt who is not only 10 years older, but is hitting .371, or 126 points higher than Vaughn (did we mention Kannapolis or coaching high school?).
PITCHING
Any good side may take a hit now that the most consistent starter is out for most if not all of the rest of the season, but there are a few positives. The 2025 ERA is better, 4.26 to 4.67, though FIP is worse (4.86 to 4.55) perhaps a factor of the improved defense. Strikeout rate is down, 7.7 per nine innings compared to 8.7 — missing Garrett Crochet a bit there.
But here are a couple of fun pitching numbers. With 92 walks, the staff projects to 644 this season, compared to … 643 in 2024. The White Sox seem to be in a rut there. And in hit batsmen, the White Sox have been off the charts. In 2025, they’ve hit 18 batters, a third of 2024’s total and on pace for 126 for the year; the club has got the MLB lead, by a bunch.
Maybe if the Sox can’t beat other teams by actually scoring more runs, they can pummel them into submission.