Three American League disappointments in the MLB
The 2022 Major League Baseball (MLB) postseason was defined, with some surprises and disappointments. Among them, the return to the playoffs of the Seattle Mariners after a 21-year absence, and the division title of the Cleveland Guardians.
But under that same American League lineup, what were the three big disappointments?
A special mention to the Detroit Tigers, who despite not appearing in our ‘Top 3’, were left owing after committing some $217 million of their budget on bullpen player Javier Baez ($140 M) and left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez ($77 M).
Also to the Minnesota Twins who, although they made Carlos Correa the highest paid shortstop in a season, also failed to achieve their playoff goal.
Without further ado, our experts pick their three biggest disappointments in the American League.
- Chicago White Sox
The 2022 season was a complete disaster for the White Sox, one of the most expensive and inefficient teams in the Major Leagues.
After Chicago was eliminated in the first round of the 2020 postseason, management decided to fire Mexican-American manager Rick Renteria, who had taken the club from losing 100 games in 2018 to a .599 fielding percentage in the coronavirus year, and into a position to contend for the long haul.
Against all odds, the White Sox brought out of retirement Tony LaRussa, a Hall of Fame manager who hadn’t done that job since 2011, to replace Renteria. In his first season, LaRussa mimicked Renteria by qualifying for the postseason only to be eliminated in the first round.
In 2022, with the seventh largest payroll in the industry ($208 million) and a roster full of talent, the White Sox were the heavy favorites to win the American League Central Division, but through a series of events, including star injuries and major LaRussa screw-ups, the team never played up to its potential and right now is in danger of finishing with a negative percentage.
The White Sox were a total disappointment that, to top it off, ends with LaRussa retiring for the second time, now due to physical problems.
- Boston Red Sox
Two words: six games. That was the distance between the Red Sox, who finished in the cellar of their division, and the Baltimore Orioles, who finished fourth. How bad did your season have to be to finish below the Orioles?
Well, in Baltimore’s defense, they have a great team going forward. But, still, it’s unacceptable that a team like the Red Sox had such a bad tournament.
To add more pain to their fans, they were officially eliminated in a loss to the New York Yankees. Where did they fail?
The starting pitching was a bust. Chris Sale, Nathan Eovaldi and Michael Wacha all went on the injured list. James Paxton didn’t even pitch. They also traded away a fan favorite, Puerto Rican catcher Christian Vazquez.
Another detail: they were not relevant in the trade market. They never went after Juan Soto or other figures. Now, they will have to decide whether or not to pay Xander Bogaerts, ‘tie up’ Rafael Devers and without letting JD Martinez go.
The good news, at least for Alex Cora’s team, is the super prospect Triston Casas and to see how Jeter Downs continues to develop, who will play in the Puerto Rican winter league.
- Los Angeles Angels
The Los Angeles Angels had as much talent on paper as any of the top teams that will be in the postseason, in a year when they seemed to have a better chance.
But with Joe Maddon’s very poor management from the beginning, who also failed to get it together with interim manager Phil Nevin, seemingly absurd and very prolonged injuries to Mike Trout, lack of preparation, coupled with the large number of execution errors and performance of key players like Anthony Rendon, far below expectations, resulted in a total disappointment.
It is incredible that a team with Shohei Ohtani and Trout, as stars of a very expensive roster, is out of the postseason almost by ‘habit’ to have a losing record every year.
Neither with Ohtani having a better than unanimous season in 2021, nor with Trout connecting 39 home runs in only 431 at-bats, the Angels seem to find the formula to win. Two legendary players ‘losing’ their best years. They have a 73-87 record
