It was a day of shock and ouch for Chicago baseball followers.
The shock of seeing Willson Contreras nonetheless sporting a Cubs uniform after the commerce deadline was one thing nobody anticipated, whereas the agony of watching the White Sox stand nonetheless on the deadline was one other punch within the intestine for followers already resistant to the ache.
At least Sox basic supervisor Rick Hahn and Cubs President Jed Hoyer can empathize with one another and argue over whose Twitter trolls are the nastiest.
We’ll begin with Hahn, whose Sox stay unintentional contenders as a result of they play in baseball’s most mediocre division.
A season of endless frustration for Sox followers ought to’ve made their lack of motion Tuesday a lot simpler to take care of. Waiting for the workforce to get up from its four-month malaise has been an train in futility, with every step ahead adopted by a comical pratfall and each good pitching efficiency by Dylan Cease adopted by a clunker.
In the center of the mess is supervisor Tony La Russa, who was within the highlight once more for momentarily closing his eyes whereas standing within the dugout Monday evening, resulting in memes and jokes on the web that he was sleeping on the job.
But even in probably the most troublesome season in most followers’ recollections, there was all the time a lightweight on the finish of the tunnel.
The Minnesota Twins weren’t significantly better than the Sox, and the Cleveland Guardians had been taking part in above their heads. All the Sox needed to do was catch lightning for one prolonged scorching streak, and the division could be theirs. Another stable left-handed bat, a pair extra arms within the bullpen and the Sox might take off working.
But that wasn’t within the playing cards. Except for a minor deal Monday for left-handed reliever Jake Diekman, the Sox stood nonetheless on the deadline.
Hahn acknowledged Tuesday he was “sleep-deprived” and in a “crap mood,” very similar to everybody else on the South Side, together with his supervisor. Hahn mentioned he was “disappointed” he couldn’t convert on any of his targets and instructed Sox followers he was “there with you” when it comes to their frustration.
Most importantly, he defused the narrative the Sox weren’t prepared so as to add to the payroll to get higher for the stretch run, taking Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf off the hook.
“I wouldn’t put it as a money issue because at no point did we go to Jerry on anything and be told no over the last period of time we’ve been talking about deals,” Hahn mentioned. “Look, it was a different market this year.”
It was certainly a unique market, with extra consumers than sellers. But that didn’t cease the New York Yankees, San Diego Padres or Seattle Mariners from taking dangers and getting higher.
Of course, Hahn mentioned he nonetheless has religion that the roster that entered Tuesday with a .500 document immediately will discover itself. He mentioned the Sox have to “recapture” the swagger from 2020 and ‘21, though it’s troublesome to swag when there’s nothing to swag about. Hahn mentioned he doesn’t consider in “change for change’s sake,” feeling the clubhouse doesn’t should be shaken up.
Asked if he’s glad with the job La Russa has carried out, Hahn skirted the topic. Asked if there’s something La Russa might do to make the Sox higher, he replied: “Is there anything the manager and coaches can do to make this team better?”
Uh, the query was concerning the supervisor.
“Sure, everyone is involved in trying to make this team better,” Hahn mentioned, “and if we fail to get to the ultimate level we feel is appropriate for this team’s talent, all of us, myself included, should be held accountable.”
But La Russa is the one absorbing many of the criticism for the failure.
“Well, he shouldn’t listen to the criticism,” Hahn mentioned. “That’s what I try to do. You know that.”
The Sox didn’t make La Russa obtainable earlier than the sport.
Meanwhile, Hoyer was in tremendous spin mode Tuesday making an attempt to elucidate what occurred with Contreras.
“Willson is a really valuable player, he’s been a great Cub for six years now and we never got to that place where we felt close to making a deal to end his tenure here,” Hoyer mentioned.
In different phrases, the marketplace for the most effective hitting catchers within the recreation didn’t exist, regardless of the actual fact Hoyer had months to discover a commerce associate. The minute the Washington Nationals put Juan Soto on the commerce market was the second Hoyer ought to’ve realized he wanted to hurry up the method on Contreras.
But he misinterpret issues, simply as he did final yr with Kris Bryant. So as a substitute of getting some invaluable prospects for Contreras, he may have an sad Contreras taking part in out the string for a foul Cubs workforce after spending your entire season coping with the probability of being traded.
There are not any guidelines that say you must wait till the deadline day to make a transfer. Maybe Hoyer simply likes the drama of the last-minute deal. Either means, he blew it, and the Cubs can get solely a draft choose as compensation for his or her invaluable commerce chip ought to Contreras signal elsewhere in free company.
Some Cubs followers could also be blissful that Contreras stays on the workforce for the subsequent two months, however except they re-sign him after the season, it’s going to go down as one of many largest blunders of the Hoyer period, regardless of how lengthy it lasts.
The lengthy goodbye will final just a little longer.
Group hug, anybody?
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Source: www.bostonherald.com