 |
| JOHN SLEEZER THE KANSAS CITY STAR |
To say Chicago has been the laughing stock of the baseball world the past two years would be a generous statement -- you have to be noticed to be mocked. It didn't matter if the games were played on the North side or South, both the Cubs and White Sox were hardly a blip in the baseball world. A putrid combined record of 275-373 the last two seasons will do that for you. But now, when the Winter Meetings were at a fever pitch in San Diego this month, Chicago swept through the baseball world and put other teams on notice: Baseball in Chicago is back.
The White Sox got things started this offseason by immediately displaying an obvious desire to stray away from the dreaded "rebuilding" label and retool for 2015.
The White Sox got things started this offseason by immediately displaying an obvious desire to stray away from the dreaded "rebuilding" label and retool for 2015.
With the 28th-worst bullpen ERA in the MLB last year (4.38), the White Sox sought to provide some stability in the late innings of games. Introducing Zach Duke. Duke, who resurrected his career in Milwaukee last season, signed a three-year contract with the Sox on Nov. 18 worth $15 million. The former All-Star starting pitcher with the Pittsburgh Pirates worked on his mechanics and introduced a savvy and effective tweak in his delivery -- opting to throw sidearm -- which baffled hitters all season out of the bullpen. Opponents hit a measly .223 against Duke in 2014 with a meager .278 OBP.
They didn't stop there. The heir apparent to the greatest closer of all-time in New York signed with the White Sox on Dec. 8. David Robertson had 39 saves in his first season as a Major League closer including an impressive 96 strikeouts in 64.1 innings. Not a prototypical fire-ball hurler, Robertson relies on perplexing movement with his low-to-mid 90s four-seam fastball. They also traded for left-handed middle reliever Dan Jennings from Miami who sported an impeccable 1.34 ERA in 2014. He has had great success against right-handed hitters since debuting in 2012 -- righties have hit .238 against Jennings with only a .389 OPS.
 |
| Reuters |
Overshadowed by the grand cross-country retirement tour that surrounded Derek Jeter over the summer, the face of the White Sox, Paul Konerko, retired from baseball at the conclusion of the 2014 season. With no designated hitter to speak of, the White Sox signed Adam LaRoche on Nov. 25 for two years and $25 million. Cuban slugger Jose Abreu projects to remain at first base while the former Gold Glover winner in LaRoche will primarily DH.
LaRoche's 26 home runs were good for eighth-most by a first baseman in baseball last year along with Chris Davis and his .362 OBP was seventh-best for first basemen. Your standard middle-of-the-lineup hitter, LaRoche provides a reliable bat for the White Sox that has been missing over the past few seasons with the declining production of Konerko and comedic ineptitude of Adam Dunn.
The cherry on top for what has been an impressive offseason for the Sox was acquiring All-Star pitcher Jeff Samardzija from the Oakland Athletics. Only giving up a few prospects, none of whom considered to be huge difference makers, the White Sox come out looking beautiful as they attempt to play once again in October next year. Slotted behind by Cy Young candidate Chris Sale, the Sox now have one of the best one-two punches at the top of the rotation in baseball.
Samardzija spoke of his love for Chicago as he returns to the Windy City saying, "Being a Chicago guy, that's one of the craziest things I've thought about," he told FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal, "I'm sitting here thinking, 'Now, do I really have to go get my cleats on and go play for the Bears?' If I could skate, maybe the 'Hawks. My jumper's garbage, so the Bulls are out of the question."
Samardzija spoke of his love for Chicago as he returns to the Windy City saying, "Being a Chicago guy, that's one of the craziest things I've thought about," he told FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal, "I'm sitting here thinking, 'Now, do I really have to go get my cleats on and go play for the Bears?' If I could skate, maybe the 'Hawks. My jumper's garbage, so the Bulls are out of the question."
 |
| REUTERS/USA TODAY SPORTS |
With Adam Eaton manning the most perfect spark-plug role in baseball and Alexei Ramirez coming off an All-Star nod and his second-career Silver Slugger award -- not to mention the Rookie of the Year, Jose Abreu having one of the most prolific hitting seasons by a rookie in years, the White Sox project as the team to challenge Detroit and Kansas City in the American League Central.
Theo Epstein and the Cubs weren't content with letting the White Sox being the only Chicago team making headlines this offseason. Now several years into one of the most prominent rebuilding phases in recent baseball history, the Cubs showed a surprising commitment to improvement. It all started by hiring an elite manager in Joe Maddon. Maddon, who has made it to the World Series while running the Tampa Rays despite their modest payroll, is a manager Epstein believes can mold their high-ceiling prospects and lead the Cubs to the World Series.
The biggest splash of the Winter Meetings went to Jon Lester and his gaudy new contract with the Cubs spanning six years for $155 million, with a vesting option in the seventh year. Lester gives the Cubs their first bonafide front-of-the-rotation ace in years and a legitimate playoff number-one starter should they find themselves back in October.
He faltered in Oakland's lone playoff game this past season, but Lester's post-season numbers remain pristine. In 84 playoff innings, Lester's ERA stands at 2.57 with six wins in 12 games started. His WHIP is a minuscule 1.07 in those games. The two-time World Series champion gives a Cubs locker room with little-to-no playoff experience a presence who is extremely familiar with competing for a ring.
Joe Maddon spoke to reporters when the Lester news broke late Tuesday night stating, "It's not often you get to win the lottery." He acknowledged the added pressure saying, "...but now it's up to us to put it into effect. It's all theory right now. We've got to make it real, but you need pieces like this to make it real."
The Cubs also brought back SP Jason Hammel, whom they traded over the summer after he put up career numbers with Chicago during the first half of the 2014 season. While with the Cubs, Hammel posted a 2.98 ERA in 108.2 innings and only 1.9 BB/9 to go with 8.6 SO/9. He struggled in the second half when they traded him to the Athletics but still had a good enough buffer to earn a two-year, $18 million contract. Hammel will have a new battering mate on the mound with Miguel Montero being traded to Chicago last week.
Coming off his second All-Star season of his career in 2014, Montero's offensive numbers are decent enough for a catcher, but his intangibles will flourish for an extremely young Cubs team. With Jake Arrieta looking to build upon a breakout season and Kyle Hendricks wanting to avoid the sophomore curse, Montero's veteran leadership and ability to frame pitches will prove to be invaluable. According to Fangraphs, Montero was baseball's best at framing pitches last year with a +24 runs rating. The Cubs' incumbent catcher -- now reportedly being shopped in trades -- Welington Castillo was rated at -24 runs, putting him at bottom five in Major League Baseball. With baseball minds like Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer running things, going from worst to best is hardly surprising.
Javier Baez and Jorge Soler have already introduced themselves to the Wrigley faithful and there are more to come. Believed to be 2015's top-MLB prospect, Kris Bryant is expected to make his Cubs debut next summer. The second pick in the 2013 MLB Draft, Bryant won the Golden Spikes Award for being the top amateur player in 2013 and followed it up by earning Baseball America's Minor League Player of the Year Award in his first year in professional baseball in 2014.
In a matter of two months, both the Cubs and White Sox have endeared themselves to their fans and notified the baseball world that they no longer should be ignored. The White Sox have a real shot at challenging for the American League Central Division right away while the Cubs can realistically expect an above-.500 team that can flirt with a Wild Card spot right now. Once the pieces come together within the next three years, the Cubs will find themselves in the pennant race.
One of the best baseball cities in the world, Chicago has been patient enough and the reward is on the horizon for both sides of town.
The biggest splash of the Winter Meetings went to Jon Lester and his gaudy new contract with the Cubs spanning six years for $155 million, with a vesting option in the seventh year. Lester gives the Cubs their first bonafide front-of-the-rotation ace in years and a legitimate playoff number-one starter should they find themselves back in October.
 |
| Elise Amendola/AP |
Joe Maddon spoke to reporters when the Lester news broke late Tuesday night stating, "It's not often you get to win the lottery." He acknowledged the added pressure saying, "...but now it's up to us to put it into effect. It's all theory right now. We've got to make it real, but you need pieces like this to make it real."
The Cubs also brought back SP Jason Hammel, whom they traded over the summer after he put up career numbers with Chicago during the first half of the 2014 season. While with the Cubs, Hammel posted a 2.98 ERA in 108.2 innings and only 1.9 BB/9 to go with 8.6 SO/9. He struggled in the second half when they traded him to the Athletics but still had a good enough buffer to earn a two-year, $18 million contract. Hammel will have a new battering mate on the mound with Miguel Montero being traded to Chicago last week.
 |
| Associated Press |
Javier Baez and Jorge Soler have already introduced themselves to the Wrigley faithful and there are more to come. Believed to be 2015's top-MLB prospect, Kris Bryant is expected to make his Cubs debut next summer. The second pick in the 2013 MLB Draft, Bryant won the Golden Spikes Award for being the top amateur player in 2013 and followed it up by earning Baseball America's Minor League Player of the Year Award in his first year in professional baseball in 2014.
In a matter of two months, both the Cubs and White Sox have endeared themselves to their fans and notified the baseball world that they no longer should be ignored. The White Sox have a real shot at challenging for the American League Central Division right away while the Cubs can realistically expect an above-.500 team that can flirt with a Wild Card spot right now. Once the pieces come together within the next three years, the Cubs will find themselves in the pennant race.
One of the best baseball cities in the world, Chicago has been patient enough and the reward is on the horizon for both sides of town.
No comments:
Post a Comment