PHOENIX. — They can talk all they want about turning the page from last year, that historically bad 121-loss season that broke the modern day record for defeats, held for 62 years by the 1962 expansion Mets.
But that page has some kind of weight. It’s a heavy one for the White Sox to turn.
“It was tough,” said Andrew Benintendi, one of the returning Sox from that debacle of a season that will have books written about it. “All those losses … we lost games where we were like, ‘dang things aren’t going our way.’ Whether it was [new teammate Travis] Jaknowski robbing walk-off home runs, or a team just scoring seven late, it was one of those years where everything went wrong.”
The Sox also ranked last in multiple offensive and fielding categories and were dreadful in the bullpen. Things went wrong because they were bad, too. Bad breaks followed them around as well.
It’s something to process that the 2025 Sox could make a 20-win improvement and still lose 101 times. There’s a new manager in Will Venable and some new coaches but not much in the way of player upgrades. Some of the best ones from last year, including All-Star left-hander Garrett Crochet, are gone.
Will it be any better?
“You have different guys in here than last year,” Benetindi said. “Guys who’ve been around longer, whether it be Martin [Perez] and guys who’ve played in other organizations. There has been a lot of good stuff with guys [knowing] what other places do, try to implement that. The attitude has been good.”
But attitude alone can’t get the third out in a high leverage relief appearance. Or drive in a runner in scoring position when the game is tied. “Whatever,” the 2025 Sox are saying.
“We’re 0-0 going into Opening Day,” Benintendi said.
Andrew Vaughn was there for all 121 defeats. He had his own struggles, rallying late to put up decent offensive numbers but unsatisfactory in his view. He is a quiet but leading voice in the clubhouse.
“Definitely have to change the mindset,” Vaughn said. “We have to turn the page. But we have to do it from Day 1, look forward to it and play hard from the very beginning. Just try to start that new cycle.”
These rebuilding Sox are built to win in 2025 but the goal in the clubhouse is “to win every single night, play winning baseball when the lights come on,” Vaughn said.
“It started on day 1 of spring training,” Vaughn said. “We have to break it down to more than just every day – it has to be every workout, every BP, every game played. Everything matters.”
There are veterans like outfielder Mike Tauchman, Penn Murfee, Josh Rojas and Mike Clevinger trying to maintain or resurrect careers and prospects like Chase Meidroth trying to make their debuts on Opening Day.
“Guys realize they have a fresh start,” Rojas said. “Every year is a new year. It’s a new clubhouse, different set of guys. No team is ever the same.
“I feel a sense of excitement for the fresh start and definitely motivation to make up for last year.”
Rojas played for the Mariners last season, but he hasn’t heard too much talk about 2024 from the holdovers.
“It hasn’t been a big talking point,” he said. “They’ve talked about learning from it and that’s what you have to do.
“A lot of teams come out of years like that for the better. It’s a real test of character to show up day after day and play your a– off even though you may have lost 20 games in a row. When you have a fresh start and win some games it feels really good to be on the other side.”
Venable is a first-year manager. He’s been careful not to speak in terms of win totals, but the focus is on winning. Opening Day starter Sean Burke was chosen because he might be the best matchup for the Angels. The Sox really want to win that opener.
It would be a good start to turning that heavy page.