Downward Spiral: White Sox Face Familiar Freefall

Many people wondered if rookie manager, Will Venable, really knew what he was getting into when he took this job. Statistically speaking, you would think the probability of having another season similar to 2024 wouldn't be great, yet, a mere 12 games into the campaign, there are a lot of striking similarities. An offense that is unable to drive the baseball, as is evident by the fact that they haven't homered since last Monday's victory against Minnesota. A bullpen that has been unable to limit free passes has been leading the way to late-inning meltdowns. And just random bad luck striking in classic White Sox fashion, as we saw with Mike Tauchmann's reaggravation of a hamstring injury while attempting to score the tying run, only to be tagged out to end the game on Wednesday. At Sox On Tap, we like to say, "That's so White Sox," and well, thus far, that has been just the case.

Will Venable's predecessor, Pedro Grifol, found himself in a similar spot to his successor in each of his two seasons at the helm of the club. The team had modest hopes for a dead cat bounce in 2023, but those hopes came crashing down immediately after the team endured a ten-game losing streak that began on April 19th when they entered play at 7-11. The skid mercifully came to an end on the 29th when Andrew Vaughn hit a walk-off three-run homer to complete an improbable late-inning comeback against Tampa Bay.

But the damage was done at that point. With that win, the team found themselves at 8-21, already nine games out of first, and all hope was gone. It would, in many ways, set the tone for a disastrous tenure with Grifol as manager. The rookie skipper proved inept at being able to push the right buttons to put an end to a skid of lengthy proportions, but sadly, this wouldn't be the only time he would be faced with one during his time as skipper.

Just a year later, the team would endure a 3-22 start, capped by a 7-game losing streak from April 19th through April 25th. During this time, there were closed-door meetings, questioning the effort of players, only to have verbal shots exchanged in the media by unproven players like Korey Lee. It became apparent that the clubhouse had become fractured and that Grifol simply didn't have the wherewithal to turn the tide. While the team was lacking significant talent, Pedro compounded the problems with questionable decision-making that only exacerbated things. His brash defiance in post-game media sessions led many within the fan base and media to call for his job before the season's first month came to a close. He was put out of his misery in mid-August, following the team tying the AL record for consecutive losses at 21, in an almost fitting way.

That brings us to rookie manager, Will Venable. I've been very public in my support of the Venable hire, believing that his background and experience in a multitude of roles across the game could bring valuable experience to the dugout. Let's be clear: this team has a talent deficiency unlike anything we've ever seen, but this is where a manager's ability to keep a clubhouse intact comes into play. We are already creeping into the dangerous territory of players looking like they're just going through the motions, expecting bad things to happen around every turn. 

I'm not expecting Will Venable to wave some magic wand and all of a sudden have the team start hitting home runs and striking out opposing hitters at great rates. What I think is important right now is to see Venable manage with a sense of urgency and an understanding that getting this team its next win is of great importance. I realize it sounds crazy to call for a manager to act with a sense of urgency when they are 2-10, but we saw in each of the last two seasons how a long early season slide can drive the morale of the team and fans into the ground.

A losing streak that reaches double digits in the first month will effectively end any goodwill that may have been garnered over the winter (you can argue that it's already gone). If this protracted streak of bad baseball isn't halted quickly, I fear things may get really ugly. With little help coming from the minors, the team will have to look within the walls of 35th/Shields to dig themselves out of this mess, and that has to start with the manager. 

Not Getting Any Easier 

After dropping eight consecutive games against division rivals, one would think that getting a break from AL Central play may help things. But, alas, the revamped Boston Red Sox come to town looking to kick our Sox while they are down. The Red Sox come in at an even 7-7, but their offense has shown renewed signs of life since Rafael Devers broke out of his early season malaise. To make matters worse, former Sox hurler Garrett Crochet takes the mound on Sunday afternoon in the finale, looking to pour salt in the wound of the team that brought him to the big leagues. 

We heard a lot on the corporate podcast and from national pundits that there was a different mood in the Sox clubhouse this spring. Well, that mood has quickly dissipated to a familiar feeling of dread as the losses are already piling up. The injury bug is already hitting this team as veterans Andrew Benintendi and Mike Tauchmann have landed their way back on the injured list, leading to even less desirable options seeing increases in playing time. Luis Robert Jr.'s disastrous start is compounding the problems as he was supposed to be the glue for this lineup, and it appears as though being surrounded by a less than competent supporting cast is dragging him down into the depths of baseball mediocrity.

Things are already off to a bad start in a season where most were hoping for just a modicum of improvement. The hope is that Will Venable is able to find some way, any way, to put an end to this downward spiral sooner rather than later. Otherwise, the fear is that as the losses continue to mount, his energy and good spirits will drift away as they did for his predecessor. 

This team desperately needs some kind of positive energy, and the best way they can get that is to find a way to get the 27th out with a lead.