Fall is here, the White Sox sit atop the AL Central, and the scent of a postseason run — albeit likely a very short one — is wafting through the air. Although Chicago fans have been looking forward to a competent team since before Pope Leo was inaugurated, one of the Sox’s latest roster moves highlights several more mistakes made along the way.
On September 1, Tommy Pham officially returned after two years of accumulating a reputation for picking fights and signing with five teams in three years.
Pham’s signing brings a twist no one saw coming: He’s now the starting right fielder for a team headed to the playoffs.
If the slow, sarcastic handclap hasn’t begun yet, feel free to start it now.
Temperament and clubhouse concerns aside, Pham has little to offer this team off the bench, much less as a starter. He failed to record a hit in nine games as a Met, and he hardly impressed in his time in the minors with New York and Philadelphia. Somehow, though, the Sox front office must’ve taken a cursory look at his .238 batting average and .773 OPS on the farm and decided he’s better than or the equal of budding Braden Montgomery. Montgomery’s disappointing August is certainly a factor in this seemingly impulsive decision. With his batting average barely better than the Mendoza Line and slugging percentage short of .400, Montgomery’s subpar performance this year shouldn’t be the focus of the outfield. Rather, his hose of an arm should be the reason he’s earned a lineup spot.
Though Pham isn’t expected to take over right field completely, taking reps away from Montgomery is still inexcusable — certainly when the reps are being stolen by a 38-year-old who hasn’t had a good season this decade.
Two more front office decisions will haunt Chicago this year: Refusing to give Michael Turner a chance, and keeping Noah Schultz in a starter role.
Hiding Turner in Triple-A despite him outhitting Korey Lee, Kyle Teel and Edgar Quero is detrimental to the Sox’s reputation and Turner’s self-esteem. Getz’s initial plan was to focus on his young talent, but his contradictory actions at the trade deadline (including the Joey Bart acquisition) show that neither the fans nor players can leave their faith in him. For Turner, it’s a huge slap in the face to be in the minors for four years and the team that drafted you isn’t willing to give you a chance to prove yourself. With a .284 batting average, OPS nearing .800, and fielding versatility behind the dish and at first, Turner could be a quality backup or even starter. Instead, he’s wasting his talent in Charlotte.
The Schultz miss is less obvious, but equally as damaging. For a team that went all-in on Schultz and Hagen Smith as their future lefty rotation staples, the Sox quickly threw their hands up when the former didn’t break out of the gate. Despite tossing two quality starts and five games with fewer than three runs in the majors, Schultz’s poor outings stuck out most. The southpaw got 14 chances to chisel his ERA down to less than 5.00, but it never happened. Instead of sending him down to Triple-A in August, Getz and co should’ve moved Schultz to the pen, where Smith has shined.
The excuse that Schultz always has been a starter doesn’t fly, as Smith never pitched a relief inning in the minors before being called up. Schultz’s lone appearance out of the arm barn for the Knights went beautifully back on Opening Day, culminating in no hits or runs allowed, one walk and five strikeouts in four frames. While there may not be a place for Schultz on the roster now, Schultz’s fate was decided the moment José Urquidy was acquired in August. It was a horrible decision at the time, and seemingly paints starters and relievers in their boxes.
It just goes to show that Getz often loves to take chances on any player — except the ones in his own organization.
