Chicago White Sox: Liam Hendriks already hates the Cubs
By David Hill
The Chicago White Sox are often considered to be baseball’s forgotten team. While the Cubs may not be the Lovable Losers any longer, they still dominate the headlines and the media. The White Sox? Well, even their World Series victory in 2005 seems to be forgotten, overshadowed by the Red Sox ending their own curse the year before, and the Cubs title in 2016.
It did not take White Sox closer Liam Hendriks long to figure out how little attention the team gets. He called out the media for that on Sunday, showing that he already has a bit of a chip on his shoulder.
Liam Hendriks signed in January and has already accrued the South Side chip on his shoulder.
— James Fegan (@JRFegan) May 30, 2021
"I feel like we have to take four steps to get any sort of national recognition while our crosstown rivals just have to put together one game and then they'll get on it."
Chicago White Sox closer Liam Hendriks frustrated with lack of attention
It is easy to see why Hendriks would feel that way. The White Sox entered Sunday with a 31-20 record, leading the AL Central by three games. They were coming off of a dominant sweep in their doubleheader on Saturday, one where he had saved both games by striking out five of the six batters he faced. And yet, relative crickets.
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But that has not always been the case this year. The White Sox generated plenty of headlines in the offseason. Their acquisition of Lance Lynn, as well as signing Hendriks, showed that they were serious about returning to the postseason. By solidifying the ninth inning and adding another workhorse to the rotation, the White Sox had emerged as the favorites for the AL Central.
They also generated plenty of headlines for their choice in manager. Tony La Russa was pulled out of mothballs to assume the reins of the franchise, returning to the bench for the first time in a decade. Although they lead the division, his return has not gone smoothly, as La Russa has been embroiled in controversy since he was hired.
But that is all in the past. Once the season began, the focus shifted away from the Southside. The Cubs are the sexier team, the one that generates headlines and clicks. The White Sox may be better, but no one is going to notice. And Hendriks has come to realize just that.
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Liam Hendriks is frustrated with the lack of attention on the Chicago White Sox. He had better get used to it as that is never going to change.