The good, the bad and the ugly: A Chicago White Sox first half recap

With the first half over and the all-star break underway, it’s time to recap a predictable- but eventful first half for the Chicago White Sox.

The Good

Avisail Garcia has been the biggest bright spot. Garcia went from being a serious candidate to be cut to becoming the Chicago White Sox lone representative at the All-Star Game, hitting .310/.353/.497 on the year. Tommy Kahnle (1-3, 2.45 ERA) has also enjoyed a good breakout season. Finally, Jose Abreu (.299, 16 HRs, 58 RBI) and Melky Cabrera (.286, 10 HRs, 51 RBI) have been key contributors as well.

The Bad

Part of “The Good” can also be the lack of the bad. Nobody currently on the roster has been out of this world bad. Jacob May struggled mightily in his lone month in the big leagues, hitting just .056 in 36 at-bats. The only real “bad” is the struggles of big name prospects. Carson Fulmer, Lucas Giolito, and Zack Burdi have all struggled at times in Triple-A

The Ugly

Although it doesn’t really matter, the White Sox still sit in last place in the American League Central, with a 38-49 record. The White Sox also have the second-most errors in the MLB, with 69. Carlos Rodon, James Shields, Miguel Gonzalez and Dylan Covey have all missed extended periods of time with injuries. Nobodies trade stock has plummeted, so the ugly is limited as well. A very good sign for a young team like the White Sox

Most Valuable Player: Avisail Garcia

Jose Abreu (see above) could also be considered the White Sox first-half MVP. However, Garcia is the all-star, despite his recent struggles. Avi has hit the ball all over the place and has improved defensively. Garcia has done his part to prove that he can be a franchise cornerstone, but only time will tell if Avi can stay consistent.

Cy Young: Tommy Kahnle

Like Garcia, Kahnle has struggled lately. But Kahnle went from starting the season in Charlotte to become the White Sox high-leverage flamethrower, with a 2.45 earned run average. Nobody has stuck out in the rotation, and David Robertson hasn’t had enough opportunities to be a serious contender, so Kahnle is the first-half Cy Young Award winner.

Rookie of the Year: Matt Davidson

If not for Aaron Judge, Matt Davidson would be leading the AL in home runs by a rookie. With 18, Davidson has crushed the ball all season as the Sox primary designated hitter. Davidson will likely hit 30 Home Runs, making another big contributor from an unexpected player. Adam Engel hasn’t spent enough time in Chicago this season to get serious consideration.

Second-Half Predictions

• The trades begin sooner, rather than later, with Jose Quintana, David Robertson, Melky Cabrera, and Todd Frazier all leaving town by August.
• Yoan Moncada is the first prospect to get called up, getting the call shortly after the All-Star break and taking the league by storm.
• Zack Burdi, Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez, and Carson Fulmer all get called up by September as the trades open up roster spots.
• Avisail Garcia follows up a strong first half with a good second half, finishing 2017 with a batting average over .300.

Next: Five players White Sox should trade prior to July 31st

In the end, it was a solid first half for the Chicago White Sox. Despite the poor record, this young team has shown signs of potential and promise. Trades and call-ups will be the story of the second half, which should prove very entertaining.