DETROIT — White Sox crowds in 2024 did not exactly embrace the notion of patience general manager Chris Getz is asking for.
Fans waited through one rebuild that failed. Now they’re being asked to wait through another, which, aside from some promising pitching in the farm system, isn’t offering much else.
“There are situations that front offices have endured before where you’re stuck in the middle and perhaps you’re stuck in mediocrity, and you don’t know how to get out of that,” Getz said this week. “Where we stand right now, it’s very clear that we’ve got some work to do and the pathway out of that is to be healthy underneath the organization. And that’s what we’re determined to do. We’re not going to take shortcuts.”
It’s one thing to tank as the Orioles and other organizations have in recent years. But new rules designed to discourage tanking prevent the Sox from getting the first pick in the draft with the worst record.
Getz joked that he’s not going to bother asking the commissioner to change them.
“The rules are the rules, and it’s our job to find competitive advantages for us,” Getz said. “It’s about going out and identifying players we want to bring in and develop properly.”
Again, patience. Grin and bear it. Getz is confident a reward is waiting.
“We’ll go into this offseason and do what’s best for the long-term health,” he said. “You’ve got an ability to go into the free-agent market; you’ve got potential trade acquisitions. We’re going to do everything that we can to improve this major-league club, but we’re certainly not going to be shortsighted.”
There will be no big-money signings, however. Left fielder Andrew Benintendi’s five-year, $75 million contract as the biggest in franchise history is safe.
Sour taste
The Sox are done for 2024 at Guaranteed Rate Field, where players experienced something they won’t forget and might never feel again.
“A lot of us maybe had a sour taste,” infielder Nicky Lopez said. “It felt like the home [crowd] was cheering against us, which was tough.”
Disgruntled fans, unhappy with the team’s performance the last two seasons and the historic loss total in ’24, booed the Sox and cheered the Angels, who were swept in a three-game series. Many showed up hoping to see the Sox break the 1962 Mets’ record for losses in a season.
“But we understand it was a tough season for all of us, even the fans,” Lopez said. “I get where they’re at, but it was good to get that sweep at home.”
Lopez drew a comparison to the Phillies’ fan base, which is notoriously harsh on its team. But for a winning team, as the Phillies are now, the home support is full-throttle, which is how Sox fans have backed winning teams over the years.
“It’s been tough,” right-hander Chris Flexen said. “To have a real ovation was pretty special. That was awesome.”
Robert out with sore ribs
Luis Robert Jr. had soreness in his rib cage and didn’t play Friday. Interim manager Grady Sizemore said Robert could play Saturday in the second-to-last game of the season.
“At this point of the year, I want to make sure we try to get everybody finishing healthy and not aggravate anything that might be bothering them,” Sizemore said. ‘‘Should be good to go [Saturday], but definitely want to be mindful of something sore.”