The Proof’s in the Pudding

Thank you, Bears, Blackhawks and Bulls for being so less than good this year.  Thank you, Cubs, for going into postseason hibernation, which is better than saying or (not) doing stuff that only alienates your fan base.  Whatever the reason, all of the other Chicago teams have let the White Sox steal a whole news cycle for themselves, again.

On Thursday, the Sox announced they signed top prospect Louis Robert to a six-year, $50 million deal, with two club option.  So, we won’t be playing the service-time-clock game on the South Side this April, unless it involves Nick Madrigal.  Ask, and you shall receive.  Be careful what you ask for.

Barring injury or an 0-for-50 spring, Robert will be in the Opening Day lineup, and fans will see if the 22-year old is worth the $102 million have invested in him since his 2017 signing.  (That figure includes the $26 million signing bonus and $26 million luxury tax.)  I imagine the wannabe GMs are busy figuring out the postseason roster(s).  Not me.

Where other people might be clamoring for free-agent outfielder Nick Castellanos, I want to see what this team, its coaching staff and front office can do with the talent on hand.  Teams that get caught up in win-now mode do stupid stuff, as Sox GM Rick Hahn surely knows.  Anyone care to recall James Shields for Fernando Tatis Jr.?

If this is a playoff-contending team, let manager Rick Renteria and his staff show it.  Instead of adding hitting and/or pitching at the cost of young talent (see Tatis, above), put the pressure on Don Cooper and Frank Menechino to produce that talent through their knowledge of pitching and hitting, respectively.  Every trade-deadline deal constitutes an admission that an organization miscalculated, that they’re not good enough as constituted.  In that case, how will they ever be good enough to win a championship unless they steal away another Gehrig or Koufax?

Not too long ago, the Sox had a marketing campaign centered around the notion that Ricky’s boys don’t quit.  OK, then let’s see what Renteria can do with a team that has some really good players on it before we risk trading away another Tatis or adding an albatross of a contract a la Dunn, Shields or LaRoche.

Personally, spring training can’t come soon enough.