Chicago White Sox: Wish list for the second half

The unofficial second half of the season begins, and the Chicago White Sox would benefit from a few things.

The season has had its ups and downs for the Chicago White Sox. But, they have shown signs of life.

From Lucas Giolito to Eloy Jimenez to Tim Anderson, I have thoughts on what I want to see from this team as the rebuild continues, and as 2019 slowly comes to a close.

No, I am not talking about playoffs – pause for Jim Mora reference – although this team does have chance of sneaking into a wild card. A slim chance, considering they entered the break a hair under .500, but a chance nonetheless.

I am not going to debate whether the Sox should make the playoffs. Some will say there’s no good reason for this team not to try – they’re going to need to learn how to win, and a playoff spot would be good for the team’s growth. The counterargument is that the Sox still need to stock the cupboard going forward, and reaching the playoffs in 2019 will make it harder to build a contender that will be able to be in the mix every year for the long run.

With that in mind, I have plenty of things I want to see out of this team, playoff run or not.

So without further ado, here’s my second-half 2019 wish list.

Lucas Giolito: The cynical Sox fan in me is very worried about Giolito. Not because he lost the strike zone in his final regular season start before the All-Star break against the Chicago Cubs, or because his crosstown rivals had their way with him twice, but because as a Sox fan I am conditioned for the other shoe to drop. Especially when we’re talking about a pitcher who struggled mightily in 2018 before putting together the year he’s had so far. Is 2019 a true step forward or a mirage? Will opposing hitters adjust in such a way that Giolito will get batted around? Will he succumb to fatigue in the second half?

None of these things are a given. He may end up being just as good in the second half, or he may level off but remain productive. It’s not logical or rational to worry about Giolito’s future based on the past performances of others, but it’s what White Sox fans do. I wish and hope I am wrong.

Tim Anderson: He should be returning from injury at some point in the second half, so I am hoping he continues his amazing season once he’s back. Please keep the bat flips coming, Timmy – not just because they are fun, but because it means the ball has left the yard.

Dylan Cease: My wish for him is simple. I want to see him continue to develop at the major-league level. I am not expecting great things from this highly rated prospect just yet. For now, I simply want him to grow at this level so he’s ready to be a part of a postseason push in the future.

Eloy Jimenez: Not much to say here other than I hope he continues to bring joy via prodigious home runs to center field. Keep it up, Eloy.

Reynaldo Lopez: I was going to ignore him and his godawful ERA until the Chicago Sun-Times pointed out he may be worth watching in the second half, just to see if he turns it around. Maybe he’ll pull a Giolito, and he won’t wait until 2020 to do it. Here’s hoping.

Trades: I have no idea if the Sox will or should trade Jose Abreu, whose contract is up at season’s end, or if they could move Alex Colome, James McCann, or Leury Garcia, all of whom the Sun-Times mentions as possible trade targets. I don’t want to be debate the merits of potential trades in this space – I simply hope that whatever trades Rick Hahn makes are good ones.

That means deals the will make this team competitive over the long run and strengthen the rebuild. A .500 team on the fringes of the playoff race better not be making any gambles meant for a 2019 October playoff push. If the Sox make it, fine, but all moves need to be made with 2020 and beyond in mind.