AL Central=Big 12 Conference (AKA Not Good Enough)

[caulfield12]

A dismal 3-18 post-season record since the Indians/Cubs World Series in 2016 (including 2021)

Outscored 129-61 cumulatively

Have finished the last 5 seasons (2020 had no official attendance recorded) with a "mean" MLB attendance number amongst the five divisional teams of 22.2, 19.8, 22 and 22.2 (out of 30).

Started the 2021 season with only one out of the five teams sporting an above average payroll, with the White Sox barely above the cut line at #15.  The Twins were #17 (and that will decline significantly with Cruz/Berrios and then likely Buxton, if they can't "cheaply" extend him, as well as Donaldson, etc., all on the way out), then the Royals and Tigers well behind at #23/24 and the Indians trailing every team in baseball nevertheless but getting the second best ROI behind the TB Rays in terms of spending $$$ per win.

If the Twins and Indians commence their anticipated rebuilding/retooling plans, can the White Sox still get enough of a challenge from either the Royals or Tigers (especially from a financial/payroll standpoint) to make them a better, playoff-competitive team....when they have to play those same four teams 76 games per year???  And it's really close to 50/50 in terms of scheduling when you consider how bad the Cubs are likely to be for the next 2-3 seasons, at a minimum.

 

If the White Sox were in any other division, and for comparison's sake let's call the AL East the SEC/ACC/Big 10 equivalent, they would certainly make the playoffs less frequently but at least they would be legit World Series contenders when they did make it to post-season play, having proved their mettle.

And yes, I know it's HARD to complain they MIGHT actually be better off not making the playoffs when it has still ONLY happened 5 times in the last 22 seasons, compared to something like 17 times during that same stretch for the Cardinals...

 

Should MLB reconsider playing more balanced intraleague scheduling or cutting back on the novelty of interleague play?

Or are the White Sox simply better off as a franchise beating up on the Little Sisters of the Poor for the next 2-3 seasons?

And how do we get better with managers who want to coast to the finish line every season instead of stepping on the gas?

Edited October 9, 2021 by caulfield12

[CentralChamps21]

The team is as good as it is, regardless of the competition. The Sox aren't as good as Houston but that has nothing to do with the schedule.

Also, because of injuries and because of being a year after COVID, this team had to coast to the finish line. I think the manager has made many other bad decisions, but keeping guys rested isn't one of them. In fact, it looks like the starting pitchers didn't get rested enough.

 

[fathom]

It also looked like it coasted because some players collapsed the last few months of the year (Eloy, Vaughn)

[caulfield12]

On the plus side, we’re 1-4 versus the Indians’/Twins’ combined 2-14….20% vs. 12.5% win probability.