Here we go. I’ve been tasked with reviewing the White Sox performance in the Wild Card round. I do so with anger and frustration.

Game One

Adam Engel sparks the Chicago White Sox early with a quick hands- bat thru the ball swing, on a inside fastball at 96 mph, that went over the left field fence at the Coliseum. Tim Anderson and Jose Abreu had several hits throughout the game to add to their individual AL MVP caliber performances. Yasmani Grandal pads a solo HR on a off speed pitch high over the plate to right field. Lucas Giolito had a perfect game thru six innings and silenced the A’s. CHW 4 OAK 1.

Game 2

Bottom of the 1st inning, with the bases loaded, Nick Madrigal had a ground ball that buzzed off his glove for an error into right field allowing two runs to score. A common theme to the game was Sox starter Dallas Keuchel not hitting his spots as Khris Davis and Marcus Semien of Oakland hit HRs on off-speed pitches over the plate.

Furthermore, the White Sox leaving runners on the bases was a huge issue. They stranded three runners early on. Adding to the frustration, Rick Renteria brings in pitch hitter Zack Collins, who had only one hit in 16 at bats during the regular season, to hit with two runners on and one out. Some other options: Yolmer Sanchez, two hits in his last five at-bats, or Jarrod Dyson, three hits in his last nine at-bats.

Jose Abreu grounds out to end the game with the bases loaded. OAK 5 CHW 3.

Game 3

My ohhh my! Luis Robert did it again! In his first at-bat of the game, Robert blasted a fastball 487 feet to left field and put the White Sox ahead.

Both teams go to the bullpen early in favor of the matchups, as starters Mike Fiers and Dane Dunning did not make it past the second inning. Renteria would later regret not trusting the rookie Dunning to go deeper into the game before handing the duties to the bullpen.

Adding injury to insult, Eloy Jimenez and Garrett Crotchet both left the game due to what is believe to be minor injuries.

Renteria proves, again, to be a recklessly bold manager. His six pitcher changes thru the 4th inning, has many scratching their heads.

White Sox tie the game in the 5th on a clutch single by Nomar Mazara.

Bottom of the 5th, Yasmani Grandal commits catcher interference to the bases after a walk and that was followed by a Chad Pinder single to put Oakland ahead. It is worth noting the lack of focus from Grandal, as he has committed several interferences over the regular season.

White Sox pitchers had control issues all game. They walked nine. Oakland holds the lead late, as the White Sox leave another runner on the bases. The White Sox entered Game 3 with 0-8 runners in scoring position. OAK 6 CHW 4.

Wildcard Thoughts

In the end, the White Sox core players needed to shine and not leave runners on the bases. Most of the younger pitchers on the staff are rookies, and it should not be an excuse with the nerves to walk batters in the postseason.

Rick Renteria as the manager is a experiment that needs to end this offseason. This rebuild will be useless if he stays with the team moving forward as his use of the bullpen was reckless, he never had a fluid lineup for the chemistry of the offense, and he was too inconsistent with situational baseball.

Thank you, Ricky!

Your service was valuable in setting the positive culture in place but change is needed moving forward. Ultimately, this was a crucial series as this young team just gained valuable experience to learn from in the upcoming seasons.

Tune into the upcoming days!

As my next posts will be on the offseason and roster moves to come. Better seasons are ahead White Sox fans, as this team is going to be special and evident in 2021 as long as Ricky goes away.