Frequently Asked Questions
How often did the White Sox use defensive shifts last season?
The White Sox were ranked the 7th highest shifting team in MLB last year, shifting on 38% of plays. This means nearly 4 out of every 10 pitches, the Sox were in a unique defensive position.
Which White Sox pitchers will be most affected by the new pitch timer rule?
All White Sox qualified pitchers were above the 15-second rule on average. Hendriks had the slowest tempo at 22.2 seconds, followed by Giolito at 20.7, while Cease had the fastest at 18.5 seconds.
Will the shift ban help White Sox hitters?
The shift ban shouldn't have a huge impact on White Sox hitting since Benintendi and Sheets are the only left-handed hitters on the 40-man roster. Left-handed hitters typically benefit most from the shift ban.
How many pickoff attempts did White Sox pitchers make last season?
The White Sox weren't a particularly active pickoff team, except for Dylan Cease who was 5th in the AL with 86 pickoff attempts. The team will now be limited to three step-off attempts before it's ruled a balk.
Could the new stolen base rules be a problem for the White Sox?
The combination of limited pickoffs and larger bases could expose the White Sox's weakness at controlling the running game. Yasmani Grandal threw out just 24% of runners last season, which could become a bigger issue if steal attempts increase significantly.