For the first time in a few years I'm optimistic with this WS team in 2026.  Hopefully they will be competitive throughout much of the season.  Time will tell but at least there is some hope.

I think they'll be a much more interesting team to watch than years past, but being competitive would require a lot of things to go right and few things to go wrong.  Depending on our definition of competitive, I guess.  They'll win more games and be "in" more games but probably won't approach .500 down the stretch.  I do think 70 wins is a realistic target.

All that being said, I'm already planning on hitting a few games this year.  We only went to one last year and none the year before.  I'm definitely optimistic of an entertaining season of baseball.

It seems, at least, that we bounced off rock bottom and are trending upward.  I'm looking forward to seeing the progression of some of the youngsters on the MLB roster and following the promotions of some key prospects throughout the year.  The beginning of the season doesn't give me the same feeling of dread I've felt since '23.

1 hour ago, Tomas said:

For the first time in a few years I'm optimistic with this WS team in 2026.  Hopefully they will be competitive throughout much of the season.  Time will tell but at least there is some hope.

They should be more watchable, that's for sure.  I still think they lose around 90 games, but there's definitely more players worth watching than in the last several years. 

Off the field, the MLB draft will be exciting, not just for the 1-1 pick, but how the Sox fare in the rest of the draft.

2 hours ago, Tomas said:

For the first time in a few years I'm optimistic with this WS team in 2026.  Hopefully they will be competitive throughout much of the season.  Time will tell but at least there is some hope.

Getting off to god start is essential. Getting in a deep hole early could be devastating.

6 minutes ago, soxrwhite said:

Getting off to god start is essential. Getting in a deep hole early could be devastating.

I agree. I've been saying it a while, no more crap Aprils. Start that belief in yourselves early . The 2 consecutive AA Championships showed some of them what it takes to win. That's important. It starts with believing in yourselves and teammates. 

They are a pitcher short. of being above "interesting". but as always each year my attention turns to this and i perk up way more than i should

On paper they should be better but lots of issues could derail the season again. 4th place finish is probably the best you can hope for in the division and to not lose 100 games. 

Im excited for baseball to start. Will be fun following a few guys, but the optimism certainly not there for me. Im jealous and envious of all of your approaches and mindsets here.

Between 1977-2016 the White Sox lost 95+ games once. They're projected to lose that this year. Here's to hoping for a good outcome and some exciting progress so next year, we're truly staring down some semblance of competitiveness. Ill add i dont think they'll be embarrassingly bad, and unlike the past two years i do plan on attending some games and taking the little dudes to their first games.

Edited February 18Feb 18 by Look at Ray Ray Run

They should have a very competitive lineup and hopefully will be much improved in the bullpen. But they really lack starting pitching. If they could get to 70 wins I think that would be a huge step in the right direction and might generate some actual investment for 27 or whenever the strike is over. 

The team should be more interesting and entertaining and not in the watch how many different ways we can lose way. 

1 hour ago, soxrwhite said:

Getting off to god start is essential. Getting in a deep hole early could be devastating.

Well, the Pope IS a Sox fan.

23 minutes ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said:

Im excited for baseball to start. Will be fun following a few guys, but the optimism certainly not there for me. Im jealous and envious of all of your approaches and mindsets here.

Between 1977-2016 the White Sox lost 95+ games once. They're projected to lose that this year. Here's to hoping for a good outcome and some exciting progress so next year, we're truly staring down some semblance of competitiveness. Ill add i dont think they'll be embarrassingly bad, and unlike the past two years i do plan on attending some games and taking the little dudes to their first games.

Nothing like taking your kids to a Sox game....enjoy the experience through them no matter the outcome of the game.

33 minutes ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said:

Im excited for baseball to start. Will be fun following a few guys, but the optimism certainly not there for me. Im jealous and envious of all of your approaches and mindsets here.

Between 1977-2016 the White Sox lost 95+ games once. They're projected to lose that this year. Here's to hoping for a good outcome and some exciting progress so next year, we're truly staring down some semblance of competitiveness. Ill add i dont think they'll be embarrassingly bad, and unlike the past two years i do plan on attending some games and taking the little dudes to their first games.

It sounds like your mindset is nearly identical to the other posters here, really.

59 minutes ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said:

Im excited for baseball to start. Will be fun following a few guys, but the optimism certainly not there for me. Im jealous and envious of all of your approaches and mindsets here.

Between 1977-2016 the White Sox lost 95+ games once. They're projected to lose that this year. Here's to hoping for a good outcome and some exciting progress so next year, we're truly staring down some semblance of competitiveness. Ill add i dont think they'll be embarrassingly bad, and unlike the past two years i do plan on attending some games and taking the little dudes to their first games.

I hope it'll be a positive experience for the whole family, not about who wins but fostering a love for the game  that leads to  their old man playing catch and pitching to them for many years. 

40 minutes ago, 35thstreetswarm said:

It sounds like your mindset is nearly identical to the other posters here, really.

For quite a few fans a small upwards trend despite obstacles and building the foundation is all about the future of the franchise more than it's about instant gratification or placing blame. It's just about moving on and letting old prejudices die and not looking at things with jaundiced eyes.

Children learn how to be a fan through their parents attitudes towards favorite teams. If you show disappointment and indifference. Children may see a subconscious connection to how you feel about them. Having a positive attitude helps in many situations, be it homework ,where looking forward to a good future is imperative to their efforts or other endeavors. 

Edited February 18Feb 18 by CaliSoxFanViaSWside

I've said it before and i will say it again, The White Sox Are Coming, Tra La, Tra La!!!!

I just want to see some continued progress from the young position players. The pitching for now is what it is. We have maybe a couple decent 4th starters, maybe a couple solid relievers, and that's about it. Can't win much with that.

1 hour ago, 77 Hitmen said:

Well, the Pope IS a Sox fan.

Ha! Of course I meant good start but maybe I was guided to GOD start.

5 minutes ago, chitownsportsfan said:

I just want to see some continued progress from the young position players. The pitching for now is what it is. We have maybe a couple decent 4th starters, maybe a couple solid relievers, and that's about it. Can't win much with that.

Maybe they can put together solid efforts in both halves of the season with increased run production and a better record in close games with better relief pitching also.

With a deeper lineup and bullpen they could avoid prolonged periods of losing and have more late inning comebacks. 

4 minutes ago, CaliSoxFanViaSWside said:

Maybe they can put together solid efforts in both halves of the season with increased run production and a better record in close games with better relief pitching also.

With a deeper lineup and bullpen they could avoid prolonged periods of losing and have more late inning comebacks. 

Eh, we don't have any real superstar projections. Offense will probably be bottom 1/3, pitching bottom 1/4. Maybe we can improve to an average overall position player crop given that on paper we should have strong defense up the middle.

6 minutes ago, chitownsportsfan said:

Eh, we don't have any real superstar projections. Offense will probably be bottom 1/3, pitching bottom 1/4. Maybe we can improve to an average overall position player crop given that on paper we should have strong defense up the middle.

Im sure you know that projections for young players are generally very conservative. 

I'm not asking anyone to be more positive than usual ( or maybe I am) but if I have a choice to think there will be more growth with the youngsters that are in the lineup and the ones likely to make an appearances mostly from July through September then I can see a better than expected outcome.

If it doesn't happen then we're another year closer to a change of ownership so its all good. 

1 hour ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said:

Im excited for baseball to start. Will be fun following a few guys, but the optimism certainly not there for me. Im jealous and envious of all of your approaches and mindsets here.

Between 1977-2016 the White Sox lost 95+ games once. They're projected to lose that this year. Here's to hoping for a good outcome and some exciting progress so next year, we're truly staring down some semblance of competitiveness. Ill add i dont think they'll be embarrassingly bad, and unlike the past two years i do plan on attending some games and taking the little dudes to their first games.

I have many fond memories of taking my kids to Sox games when they were little.   I'd sometimes take them to the Fundamentals kids area and watch the game from the balcony up there.  Enjoy, they'll be grown up before you know it.

To quote The Monkees:

I've got to admit it's getting better

A little better all the time (It can't get much worse)

8 minutes ago, ron883 said:

To quote The Monkees:

I've got to admit it's getting better

A little better all the time (It can't get much worse)

Beatles😉

 

Edited February 18Feb 18 by CaliSoxFanViaSWside