White Sox lose to end disappointing season

CHICAGO -- The 2022 White Sox campaign was an injury-filled run of mediocrity and disappointment, ending with a somewhat emblematic 10-1 loss to the Twins on Wednesday afternoon at Guaranteed Rate Field.

Granted, that contest meant almost nothing in the overall scheme of things, aside from the possibility of a third straight White Sox season finishing over .500. But it seems almost fitting for a team that never reached more than five games over the break-even point or slipped below five games under to conclude at 81-81, with a 44-37 record on the road and 37-44 ledger at home.

After entering the ‘22 campaign with World Series aspirations, the White Sox have plenty to sort out with the intentions of contending in 2023.

MANAGER
General manager Rick Hahn and the front office will be undertaking an extensive search for their next skipper, which already began this week but could take a little bit of time with potential candidates involved in playoff baseball. Acting manager Miguel Cairo, who finished 18-16 after taking over for La Russa on Aug. 30, will be one of the candidates interviewed.

“I know I’m going home. I’m going to go with my family and watch volleyball games,” said a smiling Cairo. “I loved the challenge. I loved the adrenaline that comes with it. I get to lead really good people here.

“It reminded me of when I played. I like the excitement of being in the clubhouse, being in the dugout and being able to kind of put myself like when I played. It was kind of cool, it was fun to manage this group.”

ABREU
Cairo announced postgame Tuesday José Abreu’s desire to sit with him in the dugout and not play on Wednesday. That piece of news was followed by a statement from Abreu Wednesday morning, released by the team, stating he wanted “to enjoy this game with [Cairo] and have the manager’s perspective of the game.”

Player/manager José Abreu is not very likely. The likeliness of Abreu’s return for a 10th season with the White Sox and beyond will be decided over the next month or so as the roster configuration is worked out. But his absence would be noticeable, on and off the field.

“People have no idea,” said White Sox shortstop Elvis Andrus, entering his first free agent foray, of Abreu. “A lot of people ask me that question, and I tell them he's the closest -- in terms of player and personality -- to Adrian Beltre, very similar.

“I've got nothing but great words about him, his work ethic, professionalism. A great human. He's a better human being than a player, and that tells you everything. He's the heart and soul of this organization, and hopefully he can come back. Because I feel like if he's gone, it would be a huge loss for this team."

Abreu said Tuesday he doesn’t like goodbyes, and chose not to be honored in what could be his last game with the White Sox.

“I got three guys on my list, [Derek] Jeter, Albert Pujols and Pito Abreu,” Cairo said. “Those three guys are class acts, true professionals and someone you want to follow. All my respect to him.”

GOOD HEALTH
Davis Martin, who was a rookie revelation this season after not even being invited to Spring Training, left in the second inning Wednesday with right biceps soreness but did not seem worried about the situation postgame.

This is the same team that lost reliever Garrett Crochet, starting pitcher Lance Lynn and third baseman Yoán Moncada to injuries the week before the ‘22 season began and then starter Lucas Giolito and outfielder AJ Pollock by the end of the first weekend in Detroit. Every team dealt with injuries with the shortened Spring Training due to the lockout, but the White Sox could not overcome.

IMPROVEMENT
The White Sox didn’t hit consistently or hit much for power, with Andrew Vaughn leading the team at 17 home runs. They played subpar defense and didn’t seem to have the same winning vibe shown on a daily basis by the American League Central champs from Cleveland. They don’t need to chase the Guardians as much as get themselves closer to the position they were in during ‘21.

This switch might involve personnel changes from the talented core, although not wholesale changes. Whatever the final call, the White Sox want to have a more meaningful finish to ‘23 than being mired in mediocrity as they experienced over the past few months.

“That's part of the game, makes you appreciate how hard it is to be in the postseason,” Andrus said. “At the same time, it makes you think, a little bit, about what you need to get better for next year to make it happen and to not have this feeling of going home after today's game.”