(670 The Score) A day after the White Sox were eliminated by the Astros in the American League Division Series, veteran first baseman Jose Abreu reflected on what was a strong but ultimately unfulfilling season.
“It was a very good season for us,” Abreu said Wednesday. “We tried to manage our expectations day by day and game by game. We had a very good season – of course knowing the final outcome wasn't the one we wanted. At the end, we faced a very good team. They were just better than us. I don't think we can say this was a bad season. I am just proud of the effort and work everybody did to have the kind of season we had.”
The White Sox were eliminated without much of a fight in a 10-1 loss to the Astros in Game 4 on Tuesday. The exit came after Chicago went 93-69 in the regular season and won the AL Central crown.
“Houston was better than us, and my points were that they were able to get more clutch hits in very important situations of the game,” Abreu said. “What we need to do in the offseason is to continue to keep working hard. I truly believe if you do that, sooner rather than later, if you work harder, the results are going to be there. A World Series title will be there. The only way is to keep working and keep working hard.”
Abreu expects that 77-year-old manager Tony La Russa will return to lead the White Sox in 2022. La Russa is under contract for next season, and his desire is to be back. But after the White Sox were eliminated Tuesday, he also added he only wants to be back if team brass and the players want him back.
“I am pretty sure he will come back,” Abreu said. “He will not leave us alone. He will be with us.
“We need to get ready to start next season. I can't say what the front office needs to do, because that's not my job. Right now, all we need to do is start playing again and be ready.”
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.