She Got That Right

 Clare and I have been talking a lot about the White Sox recently and their 14-game losing streak, or its equivalent.  A team that was once 13 games above .500 is now one game under.  Part of the reason is a front office that thought acquiring starting pitcher James Shields would be a good idea.  In three starts for the Sox totaling 8-2/3 innings, Shields has given up 21 earned runs on 24 hits and 9 walks.  That comes out to a 21.81 ERA, folks, and a WHIP of 3.81.  In other words, any team lucky enough to face Shields is all but guaranteed of generating a combination of four hits and walks an inning.

“I’ll tell you one thing,” Clare said to me on Father’s Day, “you can’t blame that on any woman.”  No, but women are still deemed unqualified to be a big-league GM or player.  Go figure.   And, while you’re at it, explain to me the genesis of the idea that A.J. Pierzynski should replace Robin Ventura in the Sox dugout.

A.J. isn’t even done playing yet, so he has zero coaching experience.  On top of that is his personality.  It’s one thing to rub your manager and/or the opposition the wrong way, it’s another thing to rub your players the same.  I want somebody who knows when to do things in a game, when to change pitchers or pinch hit or hit-and-run.  Just because a guy lights up for the cameras doesn’t mean he knows how to manage.  Wait, maybe that’s it.  Chicago sports’ people want A.J. because he’d make their jobs so much easier.  Nothing like putting the needs of the few ahead of the needs of the many.