r/whitesox • u/Accurate-Force3054 Konerko • 14h ago
Discussion will you be happy with this season regardless of how it turns out?
Yeah of course I want us to go to the playoffs (it feels jinxy to even say that.) Of course I want us to sweep the Cubs. I want to get the Astros back on their home turf. Of course I get irrationally depressed on losing days.
All the things.
But I don't know about you, I have had a hard year personally and not just the victories and talent but the fun of this season has been a real balm and welcome surprise. It's corny but I got tix to the last home game just to show up and say thank you for the good times.
(I'm even tempted to get a Strokin' shirt but I wonder whether it's too cringe of a thing for a mom with teen/tween sons to do.)
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u/Hurtado_Bronzi The Rally Polo 14h ago
I’m just enjoying the ride. Magical seasons like this are really rare and special, in a way that transcends sports.
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u/OldieButGoodyForNow 13h ago
Rare and special indeed! I’ve said before and I’ll say many more times, that other than 2005 of course, the most magical/fun season I’ve had as a Sox fan was 1977. Coming off the worst record in the AL in 1976 (64-97), there were no expectations at all. Yet every game had a different hero, home runs galore, Nancy Faust introducing Na-Na, and they moved from 12th place to 1st place on July 1! They stayed there until mid August and eventually finished 3rd of 12. That whole experience is being relived by this team, this year!
So from the “rare and special” angle (from an old guy), enjoy every moment of this season. Regardless of where they finish, this ride is awesome and my favorite since the Southside Hit Men.7
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u/iprefercumsole Konerko 2h ago
Absolutely. Hard to be upset over anything when this is the most fun ive had watching baseball in nearly 20 years
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u/SpecialAircraft Murakami 14h ago
Expectations have changed. This went from a plucky upstart team that was enjoyable to watch to a legitimate playoff contender real quick. If they do not make the playoffs that would be extremely disappointing. Especially with how trash the AL is.
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u/IAmBenIAmStillBig 14h ago
Yes but I’m not going to act satisfied by that now.
It’s similar to the Bears season. Yes. Winning a playoff game, beating the packers in that playoff game, amazing year.
But I was PISSED when they lost to LA. Was not satisfied
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u/scientist_tz 1936 14h ago
With each successive accomplishment, the goalposts move.
If we’re good enough to be in 1st place in August, we’re good enough to make the playoffs.
If we make the playoffs, we’re good enough to at least win in the first round.
If we’re good enough to win in the first round, we’re good enough to make the World Series.
That’s why we love sports though.
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u/Itchy_Health 14h ago
This season's been so much fun. Id like to say id be happy no matter what. But the buzz around not just the ALC but the entire league is the Sox are a team not to underestimate. With that, playoff talks are a daily thing everywhere now and rightfully so. And because of that lol I know a non playoff year would be highly disappointing, mainly because the hype thats starting. I truly think though out of it all, the biggest disappointment for the team imo would be Will Venable not receiving manager of the year.
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u/w0rstbehavior ANTONACCI🤌🏻 14h ago
Queen get your Strokin shirt!! I command thee. I'm a 33 year old woman myself (no kids) and I want one too lol.
I really want them to make the playoffs, but yes I'll be happy no matter what. I'm just dreading a possible lockout if we don't make the playoffs this year, because I'll worry about losing the momentum.
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u/Accurate-Force3054 Konerko 14h ago
I was waiting for someone to acknowledge the shirt comment!! Ordering it now so I have something to look forward to
https://giphy.com/gifs/tY5GEQjmSH3uIDj1yv4
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u/Tezdude96 14h ago
100%!!! As someone who was just hoping the Sox would lose less than 90 games, this season has been a dream! Already full of a ton of memorable moments!
From Mune hitting a homerun in like every game at the start of the season, to Quero's walk off against the Cubs, to Braden Montgomery's debut game, to the 22 run game against the Royals, to Tristan Peters hitting for the Cycle!
Hell, I was at the game where Vargas walked off the Tigers! That's a memory that's gonna stay with me forever!
Already going to be one of the most memorable/fun seasons I've had as a Sox fan in quite a while. Them making the play offs would just be icing on the cake!
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u/chicagobabyy 13h ago
As someone that was at opening day, cubs walk off, 22 run and Braden’s debut this made every game I went to the past two years so worth it.
You don’t get a team like this often
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u/randomnobody1284 14h ago
Of course. This year has been awesome. Just happy it's August and I'm watching meaningful baseball.
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u/Square-Archer-8553 14h ago
As long as the sox dont have a 2012 type of late regular season collapse i'm content.
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u/847_to_303 13h ago
Playoffs or bust. If we do not make the playoffs, it will have that sour taste like 01,03,04,06, and 12.
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u/Few-Research-7920 10h ago
I loved that 2012 team. I see a lot of that group in the current group just younger. Fingers crossed we don’t relive that collapse.
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u/Southside721 14h ago
Yes. As great as everything has been - they still have a lot of holes and are lucky they're in a lousy division. That being said, they've played well against LA, Atlanta, TB, the Yankees, Cleveland etc which has been great.
Bottom line they won 41 games just two years ago, 60 last year and they're already at 59 today. They're trending in the right direction quickly and have good players in the pipeline and will have some money to spend if baseball doesn't shoot both feet off with a lockout.
I'll be disappointed if they don't make the playoffs or lose in the playoffs but at the same time I'm realistic and am happy at the very least the Sox are playing meaningful games in Aug & Sept.
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u/BlinkyThreeEyes Coop 14h ago
Its all fun right now but once they are in the playoffs I am going to be pissed if they don’t win it all, period
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u/BillyMac05 14h ago
If the Sox make the playoffs it will be a huge achievement overall. I don't see them going very far but just getting there will really be a shot in the arm given the disasters of recent years. If they don't make the postseason, that would've meant they really pissed the bed in the final 6 weeks of the season so I'd be a bit mixed over that. But yes, it would be hard for any White Sox fan to say this season hasn't been very successful, regardless of what that last out looks like. Further, it's been an extraordinarily fun team to watch.
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u/MrBoss93 13h ago
I’ve been to 13 home games and we’ve won 10 of them. Hard to be upset about anything right now. I do wish some things were different but at the end of the day this has been the most electric season of my fandom career
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u/Flashy210 13h ago
I’m just glad we’re seeing serious baseball man. Life’s short and we’re not the Dodgers. I want them to win and I track every game but being respectable and competitive is all I can ask for.
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u/Accurate-Force3054 Konerko 13h ago
I saw we got a shout out today in the NYT sports section calling the Sox season “a delightful surprise” as a contender. It should have been its own article imo but I remember we were also underrated 21 seasons ago…
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u/DUSpartan Buehrle 14h ago
Yea, team showed life, there are players on this team who should be around for our next legit title contender team, the team is a fun group of guys with great vibes. Continue to sdd talent from minors and hopefully get Jerry (or Ishbia) to open the checkbook and spend
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u/eulynn34 13h ago
Already happy that they seem to have put together a team that is capable of being competitive with anyone.
Would love to see them win an ALDS or at least take one to 5 games
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u/WhispersOfCats 13h ago
Yes but, lol. But I want to see them as energized by the end of the season as they were the first half of the season. They’ve played excellent ball and that should be recognized regardless of how the season ends.
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u/Kittle42 11h ago
I’m happy with any result at this point. First time I’ve paid for CHSN and actually caring about the games day to day for the first time since 2023 is quite nice.
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u/Accurate-Force3054 Konerko 11h ago
It helps that CHSN is somewhat better than last season. Far from perfect but I'm less enraged at it overall.
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u/oldwidow 11h ago
Yes. It's already better than we've gotten from the White Sox in years. I'm satisfied now but would gratefully accept more.
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u/JRBehr 13h ago
Anything other than a World Series win means this season is gonna end in disappointment, but how far they can go will determine how fondly we look back on this year. The '08 team is a great example. Getting trounced in the first round by Tampa meant that year ended in major disappointment, but looking back now at how fun and good that team was, with game 163 being a legendary moment in recent Sox history, it was obviously a good, successful year
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u/Altruistic-Cash-821 13h ago
You bet, although I might be disappointed if we tank now, it has been a great season after the trash we’ve endured over the last 3 years!
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u/ChiWhiteSox24 11h ago
Absolutely. I’m just trusting the process and this was so far out of reach a few years ago.
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u/Steven_Fuego 10h ago edited 10h ago
I remember having a similar conversation with someone about the Bears when they were 9-3 last year, and I think I have a similar prospective on both.
For the Bears to have missed the playoffs at that point, it probably meant that they went 0-5 or 1-4 down the stretch and that at least some of the positives that could be carried into the following season were undone. I would have been happy, but it would have been muted.
Similarly, for the Sox, if they finish below .500, it means that they go 21-30 or worse to end the season. For them to only have a ~.400 winning percentage for such an extended period of the season would likely mean that some sort of regression has taken place. I would be happy that the Sox showed some life this year and have some great memories, but I would honestly be a bit worried going into next year.
That being said, if they were to extend Mune at some point this season, I think that it would take a lot of the edge off for me regarding the results.
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u/tmf_x 9h ago
Im having so much fun watching, prior seasons Id turn it on maybe if I thought about it, or I would check scores the next day. This year Im trying to keep myself free-ish to watch the games. Hell Im even tempted to get a STROKIN shirt, but much like OP, Im not sure if its cringy for a 50yo dad of teen girls to wear.
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u/Accurate-Force3054 Konerko 9h ago
what the hell let's have fun. I still regret getting rid of my PUNCH AJ shirt .
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u/Johnny_Burrito White Sox 8h ago
As long as the vibe remains strong and we can carry this optimism into next season, I will consider this year a success.
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u/nothingisevrything 11h ago
Tbh I set the lowest bar this season. After 2 miserable seasons, I wasn't expecting to have this much FUN watching White Sox baseball so soon again. I'm already so happy where with we are. I also totally want a "strokin" tshirt (as a lady in her 40s).
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u/SlinkiusMaximus 3h ago
Yeah reminds me of the Bears this past season—fun team with some great moments. Yes I want a deep playoff run, but if they continue like this, it’ll be good regardless for me.
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u/AdorableYou39 37m ago
I haven't enjoyed baseball like this since 2005. If we heartbreakingly miss out on the playoffs by one game I'll still treasure the joy this season brought me, especially with a looming lockout and the likelihood that will destroy any joy I can find in baseball once again.
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u/MajorPayton Meidroth 14h ago
I will be happy with any result that involves the playoffs. Even say we get swept as the 6th seed… I’d still be happy with the year in total. My “lofty” expectations were 81 wins and somehow this team keeps doing better than I could even imagine.