White Sox situation sure does feel familiar
This might be a good time to start looking for it.
Check in the attic. Check the bargain bin at Cooperstown. Check Jerry Reinsdorf’s back pocket.
Where is that dang white flag, anyway?
The question is relevant after the White Sox’ recent fade in the American League Central race.
The Sox haven’t surrendered yet, but they have retreated dramatically, punctuated by Sunday’s 6-4 loss at Detroit.
Even Hawk Harrelson’s voice sounded beaten down after the Sox were swept over the weekend, outscored 17-7 in three games and dropped from 1½ games ahead to 1½ behind the first-place Tigers.
The Sox have seven games left with Detroit, but what’s in the math doesn’t add up to what’s in the mind.
The Tigers are hot, the Sox are cold, and the climate feels frigidly similar to that of 15 years ago.
On July 31, 1997, the Sox were 3½ games behind Cleveland when they pulled off the White Flag trade.
As back then, the Sox have attendance and financial problems. As back then, the Tigers have ample funds like the Indians had to add pieces.
Could the same thoughts of concession cross the mind of Reinsdorf, the Sox’ chairman, considering his club couldn’t then and can’t now add much to the payroll?
The Indians were on a long roll as pennant contenders in the late ’90s and made it to the seventh game of the ’97 World Series.
The Tigers started this season as prohibitive favorites in the AL Central, if not favorites to reach the World Series, if not favorites to win it all.
Reality apparently sunk in for Reinsdorf and general manager Ron Schueler back then, so they waved that white flag despite technically still being in contention.
The Sox conceded the division by sending three veteran pitchers to the Giants for six prospects.
So, what’s the reality now? Is it the same as then? Do the Sox have little chance to make the playoffs?
For all the similarities to 15 years ago, one major difference is that Kenny Williams was the head of Sox player development then and is the general manager now.
As GM, Williams is more likely to quit the race too late instead of too early, especially with a second wild card available this season.
True to his DNA, Williams has been adding veterans to the current cause rather than trading them.
But let’s say that as next week’s trade deadline approaches the Sox have fallen further behind Detroit. Let’s say the Tigers keep rolling toward being the power they are supposed to be. Let’s say the Sox’ young pitchers tire, the savior at third base has little more to give, the offense shows signs of exhaustion and the rookie manager looks like a rookie manager.
If all that transpires before the end of the month, maybe the Sox should consider allowing their heads to overrule their hearts into becoming sellers instead of buyers.
I thought this would be a novel notion, but cruising through Google indicated others already pondered it.
For the record, I wrote 15 years ago that Reinsdorf and Schueler did the right thing by giving up when they did. Now, 15 years later, I’m not suggesting yet that they do it again.
But they might want to start checking the attic for that dang white flag.
You know, just in case the climate is even chillier by next week.
mimrem@dailyherald.com