The Chicago White Sox start to the 2023 season is concerning

It is still very early in the 2023 season for the Chicago White Sox. Still, the start of the year has a familiar feeling to last season.

The hope heading into the 2023 campaign was hiring a new manager and making some minor roster tweaks would erase the issues of 2022.

Instead, the 2023 White Sox looks a lot like the forgettable 2022 version.

In case you forgot or were trying to, that team got off to a slow start in April and then played .500 baseball the rest of the year. The belief throughout that season was it was just a matter of time before the Chicago White Sox turned it on and take the division. They were just too talented to be mediocre.

Turns out they were just an average team and the Sox went on to be one of the biggest disappointments in baseball.

Injuries, underachieving, and poor management contributed to the downfall of 2022.

The White Sox brought in a new training staff to help with their injuries. Players worked in the offseason to arrive at spring training in the best shape of their careers.

New manager Pedro Grifol demanded the team hustle and bring intensity to every game. Also, Grifol would bring a fresh perspective to the clubhouse.

The Chicago White Sox have the same problems as last year.

The injury bug has already bitten Eloy Jiménez. The Chicago White Sox will miss his bat for the next couple of weeks. Jake Burger is thankfully here to cover for him, but Eloy is an MVP-caliber hitter that continues to spend time on the injured list.

Lucas Giolito got roughed up in Pittsburgh and looks like the same pitcher we saw last year–a bad one. Lance Lynn and Michael Kopech also got knocked around in their latest starts. The bullpen has been inconsistent.

The Houston Astros, San Francisco Giants, and the Pirates had no trouble taking Sox pitchers deep.

The defense is still having breakdowns. The Pirates had a little-league grand slam for crying out loud because of poor fielding.

There are still reasons to be hopeful.

Dylan Cease is dealing on the mound. Yoan Moncada, Tim Anderson, and Luis Robert Jr. are off to great starts at the plate.

The Chicago White Sox still have 95% of the season left to play.

Michael Kopech seemed to be tipping his pitches. If he can fix that, he can still be a really good pitcher. Lance Lynn just looks like he needs to adjust to the new pitch clock and the impact it has on the pace of play.

Bullpens can always be fixed in season. Bullpen pitchers are like volatile stocks, you need to be able to find the ones that are performing well and ride them until they are not. Plus, it seems like the Sox are willing to move on quickly from a pitcher who is failing. See Jose Ruiz being designated for assignment as evidence.

After the 2022 season, the Chicago White Sox lost the benefit of the doubt. Their play right now leaves the hope of an AL Central crown in doubt.