Liam Hendriks knows not to get too caught up in preseason projections, whether your team is picked to finish first or near the bottom of the division standings.
“Projections, that’s all they are, projections,” the Chicago White Sox closer told the Tribune this week in Glendale, Ariz. “They’re not going to be as clear and as crisp as we are going to put forward. It can go any number of ways.
“Last year, look at the projections, we were meant to be in a dog fight with Minnesota, and it just didn’t happen. In Oakland (where Hendriks pitched from 2016-20), we were always picked to be the third or fourth in the division. It didn’t happen.”
The Sox lived up to the predictions last season, winning the American League Central. But the Twins started slowly and never recovered, finishing last. And the Athletics made the playoffs in each of Hendriks’ last three years with the team.
“You can overplay what the projections are, you can underplay them,” Hendriks said. “Our goal at the start of this year is to go out there and play our game. Who gives a crap what the projections say? We’re going to define our own future, not someone who is sitting behind a computer.”
Forget the prognosticators. The Sox have high expectations of their own after playoff appearances in 2020 and 2021. The season begins Friday against the Tigers at Comerica Park (12:10 p.m., NBCSCH).
“We have one goal in mind,” starter Lucas Giolito said Thursday. “Obviously last year we came up well short, learned a lot from that experience in that first-round exit in the playoffs. But we know how good we are. We know, learning from last year throughout the course of the year, certain things that need to be improved to take that next step and that’s it, that’s the goal.”
The Sox faced numerous injuries in 2021, including playing portions of the season without outfielders Luis Robert and Eloy Jiménez and catcher Yasmani Grandal. Injuries became an issue during spring training the last couple of weeks, with starter Lance Lynn possibly out eight weeks (right knee surgery to repair a torn tendon) and Garrett Crochet lost for the season (Tommy John surgery).
Third baseman Yoán Moncada went on the injured list Thursday with a Grade 1 right oblique strain.
“I started feeling it two, three days ago,” Moncada said through an interpreter. “I think it was (Tuesday), before the last (Cactus League) game. I was in the cage and I felt something the last two swings I did. That’s when it started.
“I told them that if I was feeling better by (Friday) I would be able to play. But then they said there’s no need to rush it, that it’s better to prevent something worse from happening. I think that’s a smart thing to do too.”
The Sox recalled infielder Jake Burger from Triple-A Charlotte, and he likely will start opening day at third. They also recalled reliever Matt Foster from Charlotte and placed Ryan Burr on the injured list with a right shoulder strain.
“Last year we took some big hits and we were able to overcome them,” Giolito said. “This year, same thing, next man up. We have depth.”
General manager Rick Hahn knows the Sox won’t be the only team facing these issues.
“Given the unique offseason and shortened spring, the first six to eight weeks are going to be challenging throughout baseball as teams get their sea legs under them, get used to being out there on a regular basis,” Hahn said. “That’s part of the reason Major League Baseball) allowed the expanded rosters and part of the reason we’re carrying extra arms early in the season.
“But none of that should take away from any of the optimism we all feel about this team.”
The Sox return almost all of their starting lineup and are hoping to get full seasons from Jiménez (who played in 55 games last season), Robert (68) and Grandal (93). Robert could be in the American League MVP discussion, an award first baseman José Abreu won in 2020. Abreu led the team in homers and RBIs last season.
Shortstop Tim Anderson, who said he has to sit the first two games after an appeal of a suspension handed down at the end of 2021, is one of the game’s top hitters and Grandal is one of the most productive hitting catchers. Andrew Vaughn and Gavin Sheets contributed as rookies last season.
Giolito is at the top of the rotation. Dylan Cease made big strides and Michael Kopech moves back into the rotation after spending last season mostly in the bullpen. Dallas Keuchel is the veteran of the group, while Vince Velasquez and Reynaldo López might be called on while Lynn is injured.
Hendriks and Aaron Bummer are among the returning members of the bullpen.
New faces include reliever Kendall Graveman and second baseman Josh Harrison via free agency and outfielder AJ Pollock from a trade. Veteran infielder/outfielder Leury García also returned on a three-year deal. Reliever Joe Kelly, another free-agent signing, is on the injured list as he recovers from a right biceps nerve injury.
“Nobody is talking about last year,” Sox manager Tony La Russa said. “Everybody is talking about a tougher division, tougher challenge, but we want to be a part of it.
“I think the guys we added, can’t give our front office enough credit. Kendall and Josh are real good adds. (Reliever Bennett) Sousa looked good in spring training. … (Reliever Kyle) Crick is now on our pitching staff. There’s a lot here that was here (last season) that’s hungry, and there’s some good guys that joined us.”
The Sox lost their opening-round series the last two years (wild-card series to the A’s in 2020 and the ALDS to the Houston Astros last season). The goal is to take that next step.
“Our first goal is to win the AL Central,” Hahn said. “Then we have higher aspirations after that to achieve. Our main focus right now is on that first goal, but we’re going to be tested. Perhaps because we’re the hunted because we’re the incumbent. We’re the ones who won last year.
“Certainly throughout the game the respect and expectations of this team are high. But we’re going to be challenged. All four other teams are stronger, especially whether it’s due to additions or simply being healthier than they were a year ago. We’re going to be tested. We’re ready for it, but it’s going to be a fun summer.”
Sox finalize roster
Among Friday’s moves, the Sox selected the contracts of pitchers Tanner Banks and Kyle Crick. They designated outfielder Micker Adolfo for assignment and outrighted catcher Seby Zavala to Charlotte.
Here’s the breakdown of the season-opening roster and injured list:
- RHP (10): Dylan Cease, Kyle Crick, Matt Foster, Lucas Giolito, Kendall Graveman, Liam Hendriks, Michael Kopech, Reynaldo López, José Ruiz and Vince Velasquez.
- LHP (4): Tanner Banks, Aaron Bummer, Dallas Keuchel and Bennett Sousa.
- C (2): Yasmani Grandal and Reese McGuire.
- INF (7): José Abreu, Tim Anderson, Jake Burger, Josh Harrison, Leury García, Danny Mendick and Gavin Sheets.
- OF (5): Adam Engel, Eloy Jiménez, AJ Pollock, Luis Robert and Andrew Vaughn.
- IL (7): Ryan Burr, Garrett Crochet, Joe Kelly, Lance Lynn, Yermín Mercedes, Yoán Moncada and Jonathan Stiever (60-day).
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