Chicago White Sox: The 2010s All-Decade team

All-Decade Chicago White Sox

Conor Gillaspie, Third base

• Years: 2013-2016
• HR: 23
• OPS+: 93

Since Moncada is a logical choice at second or third, the decision really comes down to the runners-up at those two infield positions, Gordon Beckham (at second) or Conor Gillaspie (at third).

It is a close call. With six seasons to Gillaspie’s three, Beckham holds the seniority advantage. Beckham also has an edge in the counting stats, home runs, and RBIs, but since Beckham was not a primary run-producer that edge is not significant.

Gillaspie’s edges lie in his superior batting average (.255 to .241) and also in his substantial edge in OPS+ (93.67 to 79.4). In the 2+ seasons, he was a regular, Gillaspie’s advantage in power makes him the narrow choice.

Tim Anderson, Shortstop

• Years: 2016-2019
• HR: 64
• OPS+: 98

Awards: 2019 batting title (.335)

Shortstop is the toughest positional call. The case can certainly be made for Alexei Ramirez, who held down short from 2010 through 2015. Ramirez was a 2014 All-Star selection and a two-time Silver Slugger winner.

But Ramirez was generally a .270s hitter who topped .285 only once, that in his rookie season. Anderson, still in his mid-20s, may yet turn out to be that, but his breakthrough 2019 capped by that batting title argues otherwise. Anderson also has the power edge, producing a .435 slugging average that is 40 points better than Ramirez.

The ideal would be to move one of the two to third base, but sadly for symmetry neither played a single game at that position during the decade.

So Anderson is the pick in part due to his batting title and in part due to the fact that while Ramirez’s record is written in stone, Anderson’s may yet be – and likely will be – improved upon.