It’s getting late early for the Chicago White Sox

The Chicago White Sox have easily been one of the more disappointing teams in the majors this season. Once expected to contend for a playoff berth, they have instead struggled to remain over .500. They have seemed lifeless at best, and at worst, are just going through the motions.

That can be seen in the standings. As Jon Morosi pointed out on Twitter, not only have the White Sox to be over .500 in the past 45 days, but they now also trail four teams for the final Wild Card berth. Those four teams include the Orioles, a team that was viewed as possibly losing 100 games this season.

Chicago White Sox entering pivotal stretch

August 2 is fast approaching. The White Sox will need to decide by then whether or not they are going be buyers, hoping to go on a hot streak and push their way into playoff contention. But there just may not be enough time left for that to happen.

It is clear that something needs to change in Chicago. The team desperately needs a spark to shake things up. It is equally clear that change should occur on the bench, where Tony La Russa just has not been the success that they had hoped. But that is unlikely to happen.

Instead, the White Sox will hope that somehow, they can catch lightning in a bottle. That their talent will eventually win out over shoddy managerial decisions, mental lapses, and La Russa’s questionable understanding of the current game. And maybe that will happen, especially as they get healthy.

But it has to happen soon. The White Sox are 4.5 games out of that final Wild Card spot. While some teams above them may sell, such as the Orioles, teams such as the Rangers are closing in. If the White Sox are going to make their move, it has to be now. Otherwise, it will be time to put up the For Sale sign and put an end to a disappointing season.

The Chicago White Sox currently trail four teams for the third Wild Card spot. It is starting to get late early for their playoff hopes.