Oh, Well

The White Sox played their biggest game of the season yesterday, at home and to a full house. They responded by losing 10-1 to the Astros, who move on to the ALCS against Boston. The game was not as close as the score might indicate. The old saying about defeat being an orphan doesn’t apply here; the White Sox debacle had plenty of fathers, and I mean that literally, because this is an organization prone to glass ceilings. As ever, it starts with owner Jerry Reinsdorf, who goes through life oblivious of the consequences of his actions. See the post-Michael Jordan Bulls as but one example. Reinsdorf wanted Tony La Russa to manage, and he got him. Never mind that La Russa did no better this postseason than his predecessor did last year. All that matters is what the Chairman wants. The consequences are for mere mortals to face. And let’s not forget White Sox GM Rick Hahn. Last season, Hahn declared the rebuild over by signing free agents Edwin Encarnacion, Yasmani Grandal and Dallas Keuchel. How did that go, Rick? Let’s see. Encarnacion hit too poorly to have his option picked up for a second season; Keuchel, aka The Hitter’s Friend, didn’t make the ALDS roster; and Grandal proved to be everything I thought he would. Which isn’t much. Houston stole five bases against him yesterday. The Sox led the majors in stolen bases allowed during the regular season. And, as James Fegan pointed out in today’s The Athletic, they also led in passed balls and wild pitches combined. Funny, but I didn’t hear anyone extol Grandal’s pitch-framing skills. Maybe the 7.94 team ERA in the ALDS has something to do with that. Far be it from me to dwell on the past. Looking ahead, I see a 2022 team headed up by La Russa, barring any health issues. I don’t know what Hahn is inclined to do about free-agent signings. I’d say the South Siders need another starter, which probably means Hahn goes out and trades Adam Engel for a Double-A reliever. So, color me pessimistic about next year. To move to the ALCS and beyond, one of two things has to happen—the Sox get new hitting and pitching coaches, or members of the core get traded. Personally, I’d do both. Pitching coach Ethan Katz should be one and done. Yes, the team ERA was 3.73 in the regular season, the fifth-best in all of baseball, but Lucas Giolito was better in 2019 and better in the postseason last year. Dylan Cease? He still looks pretty clueless on the mound. Michael Kopech and Garrett Crochet? Young, with plenty of talent, but consistently hittable in tough situations. How exactly will Katz help those two go from the bullpen to the rotation? As for hitting coach Frank Menechino, all I can say is, Eloy Jimenez and Yoan Moncada; both definitely look to be regressing. Either find a coach who can draw out their potential, or trade them while they still have plus-value. The only problem with that is Hahn’s spotty record in the trade department. The last thing this team needs is another Craig Kimbrel and/or Cesar Hernandez. Yes, I’d trade Jimenez and Moncada, and Cease, too. Done right, those could be transformational deals. I keep thinking of the young, impressive Reds’ teams of the late ’60s and early ’70s. Look what happened after they acquired Joe Morgan. Just imagine a full season of Andrew Vaughn (playing just one position, not five, thank you very much) and Gavin Sheets mixed in with the talent two or three big trades would net. And let’s not forget Jake Burger, Luis Robert, Jose Abreu…