And maybe a stranger rest of the month
The week of the All-Star break began with ESPN self-ordained macho man jerk Pat McAfee doing the Ted Kluszewski look (what’s the matter, McAfee, they couldn’t get you a full wifebeater in All-Star colors?) and making the Home Run Derby WWE-style intros all about him instead of the contestants (this clown has millions of followers on various platforms, which once again proves H.L. Mencken had it right about the taste of the American people). It may have been understandable that ESPN wanted to do some cross-promotion, but why would baseball allow itself to be very publicly paired with a psuedo-sport everybody knows is rigged?
Then came the game itself, ending in a nice break for seven-year-olds who got to stay up late, because they could see major league stars play coach-pitch, just like they do.
In between, the contest and game were fun, but not nearly as much fun as the end of the week, when the White Sox destroyed the Pirates by a combined score of 27-7. Sure, it was the Pirates, and sure, Pittsburgh inexplicably didn’t use Paul Skenes (who had thrown all of 14 pitches back on Tuesday) or even Mitch Keller (who hadn’t pitched in a week) but what the heck, any upside is fine these days.
With the Rays, Cubs and Phillies next on the schedule, life may not continue to be quite so easy, but it was a sweep for fans to cheer, players to pad their stats, and everybody to have good vibes going into the meat of trading season, and having to face what happens later.
There was some fan euphoria over the results, which is sweet, but not exactly connected to reality.
Speaking of which:
The deadline looms
Ed Wagner Jr./Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images
The only White Sox piece of trade bait who lowered his value over the weekend was Adrian Houser, who got clobbered by the worst offense in MLB — but contenders desperate for starting pitching are unlikely to write him off over his only bad start of the year, especially if he recovers next time out. Meanwhile, the hitters and relievers on the market, and even Aaron Civale, got to strut a little and hope some nice team with a winning record will save them from their current fate, as GM Chris Getz aspires to get more than an 18-year old rookie ball first baseman with an OPS of .500 for one or more of them.
There is little question Luis (or Louie, as the idiot Dan Plesac insists on calling him, perhaps confusing batting with trumpeting, since Louis Armstrong’s autobiography was Swing That Music) Robert Jr. will be gone. So will Mike Tauchman, who looks like a good find for a team needing an outfielder and/or lefty hitter.
That leaves an outfield of Andrew Benintendi (whom the Sox are stuck with unless they eat scads of salary) Michael A. Taylor (a vaguely possible trade candidate himself), and a platoon of Austin Slater and Brooks Baldwin. Subbing in will be somebody dragged up from Charlotte, not exactly cause for optimism.
Backstopping is fine with Edgar Quero and Kyle Teel, but they need to stay healthy: Contenders desperate for catching, such as the Padres, may have sights on Korey Lee, who’s doing well in Charlotte.
The infield is unlikely to change, because for better or worse Miguel Vargas, Chase Meidroth, Lenyn Sosa and Colson Montgomery are all considered part of the team’s future, whenever that may come (2028? 29? 45?) and Josh Rojas is untradeable. Toss in the occasional visit by Tim Elko, and there you have it. Sad, but true.
Which brings us to pitching
Houser and Civale will be gone by the deadline, which pops up at 5 p.m. Central on July 31. That leaves four young starters who have done better than expected, but who are all bound to wear out as they far surpass the load they’ve been used to. The Sox are talking like the injured Martin Pérez could take one of the slots since he’s started to throw a little, but that’s a long shot — and if he looks at all good in rehab Peréz may be gone, too.
Take a mitt to the game, and you may find yourself on the mound.
As for relief pitching, which has been an extremely pleasant surprise, that’s going bye-bye soon, too. Steven Wilson is a very tradable rental. There are rumors of interest in Brandon Eisert from teams truly desperate for a southpaw. Dan Altavilla and Mike Vasil have years of team control left, but may well go into a package with some of the trade bait in hopes of getting more than a mediocre hot dog vendor back.
So?
Enjoy the moment. Revel in the big slaughter of the Pirates. Remember Sox ownership is bound to change one day, and you may still be alive when it happens.