Spare Parts: White Sox Gold Glove streak crashes to halt

(David Richard-USA TODAY Sports)

In news that will fail to shock anybody who watched three games in a row during the 2022 season, the White Sox failed to place any finalists in the Gold Glove hunt.

Rawlings published the three contenders at each position on Thursday, and while the Sox’s ghastly work in the field eliminated them from all consideration among position players, I did check the pitchers, because I tend to give little thought to how a Sox starter’s fielding stacks up against his peers, and maybe Johnny Cueto or somebody graded out really well in his small sample this year.

But nope, José Berríos, Shane Bieber and Jameson Taillon will compete for that particular honor, so the White Sox’s four-year streak of at least one Gold Glove finalist — and three-year streak with at least one Gold Glove winner — is over.

Out of morbid curiosity, I figured I’d check SABR’s most recent Defensive Index leaderboard (dated Aug. 28) to see if anybody came within sniffing distance of the podium. It turns out the qualifiers graded better than expected. José Abreu, Josh Harrison, Reese McGuire and MOncada graded out as varying degrees of above-average, while AJ Pollock was decent in left. Alas, Abreu was the only member of that group who hit.

On a related note, here’s a random misplay my brother reminded me of the other day.

Spare Parts

In James Fegan’s overview of the various areas the White Sox require patching, this Rick Hahn quote about lineup balance made literally laugh out loud.

“We always err on the side of great hitters,” general manager Rick Hahn said. “Usually great hitters can hit lefties and righties. There is a fair question about do we need more balance not just from left and right but also from the type of hitters and what their strengths and weaknesses are to complementary to an offensive attack.”

For anybody who might be qualified and thinks you can do better than what the White Sox have done, here’s your chance. If any Sox Machinist ends up interviewing for the job, please let me know everything you discover.

The NLCS opened with three of the Phillies’ major contract recipients all factoring directly in a 2-0 victory, with Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber homering, and Zack Wheeler throwing seven innings of one-hit ball. It’s almost as if there’s a lesson there.

The Guardians won the Central and pushed the Yankeees to five games with a contact-heavy approach at the plate, but saw the problems with limited power when facing somebody like Gerrit Cole twice in a series. Meanwhile, the Astros have showed what it’s like when you don’t have to choose, with four homers against just eight strikeouts over the first two games against the Yankees in the ALCS.

I finally saw my first concert at the Ryman Auditorium, catching one of Jason Isbell’s shows earlier this week during his eight-night stay, but the Craig Finn concert I’d planned to catch this week was one of those dates lost to a COVID-19 case in his band. It seems like residencies are the only easy way to play live, and any greater kind of tour is a miserable gamble, especially for smaller acts.

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BillyKochFanClub

The Jays managerial position has been filled as Schneider is going to have the interim tag removed and signed for 3 years.

With the Rangers seemingly zoning in on Bochy, that leaves the Sox, Marlins, and Royals vying for the rest. Plenty of appealing options available if the Sox are willing to venture out of their comfort zone.

GrinnellSteve

Is there any chance the Yankees could be looking soon?

BillyKochFanClub

I think there’s a good possibility, but the Sox would be much farther along in the interview and selection process once that decision comes down (if it does) which does provide an advantage for us. Maybe the preferred candidate would want to see if they’d be a candidate for the Yankees job if it opens before committing to the Sox, but that’s a bunch of ifs.

steelydan52

Wait. You think someone would rather manage the Yankees instead of the White Sox? You must have forgotten that the Sox are spewing World Series talent and finished as division champs 2 seasons ago. You must not have listened to Hahn.

Or the Dodgers? I say let the Dodgers complete their search, and then hire whoever the runner-up is.

BenwithVen

Friedman has staunchly defended Dave Roberts this week and said he’s coming back, so I don’t think there’s any opening there.

Right Size Wrong Shape

Didn’t realize that. Oh well.

BenwithVen

I generally think highly of Francona, but Fangraphs was really harsh on him in their ALDS Manager grades, giving him a D for both pitching and line up construction. I was actually pretty surprised.

I wonder if the White Sox are expanding their analytics team to 6 or if they’re just filling an opening.

ChiSoxND12

I too think highly of him, I think most do?

In this case, he opted for Civale to start game 5 and the game was decided in first inning in the Yankees’ favor, so i guess it makes sense

Lineup-wise I’m not sure what he was supposed to do differently. Hedges and Straw batted 8-9 each game. Their bench has no better options especially when accounting for defense

BenwithVen

I agree Civale was a pretty big error. On the lineup side, I think two big things were Rosario batting 2nd and Gimenez not batting higher than 6th even though he’s arguably their best hitter outside of JRam. As well as not replacing Naylor whenever the Yanks brought in a lefty to face him, especially since he didn’t really have a good series.

Last edited 1 year ago by BenwithVen
ForsterFTOG

Doesn’t really matter how big the analytics team is when the owner doesn’t give a shit.

upnorthsox

“We always err on the side of great hitters,” general manager Rick Hahn said. “Usually great hitters can hit lefties and righties. There is a fair question about do we need more balance not just from left and right but also from the type of hitters and what their strengths and weaknesses are to complementary to an offensive attack.”

Huh? Does he actually say anything here? I would LOL but I don’t what to LOL at.

Josh Nelson

I had the same feeling. My instant reaction was “What?”

upnorthsox

If he would’ve said

“We always err on the side of great hitters……..but since we don’t draft, sign, or develop them………..”

I might have at least nodded in agreement.

Yolmer

“Generally, we always try to sign players that are good. On the occasions when we have signed bad players, let me reassure you, that was not our intention.”

lastof12

There’s gotta be an ‘ahem’ there.

“We always err in the side of [cough] signing great hitters…”

lastof12

edit: on the side

To Err is Herrmann

My response to that cannot be printed in a family newspaper. I have known many administrators like Hahn over the years who talk like this. This is what a pompous, condescending incompetent sounds like.

itaita

“Do we want to get more hitters we think are good but are more middling, Or do we want to actually get guys who can hit a righty with a slider” is how i read it.

fustercluck

Jim LOL’d, whereas I looked around frantically for someone to yell at. Great hitters are too rich for Renisblood. Rick Hahn settles for misfit toys, a hope and a prayer.

To Err is Herrmann

When the progressive call for a name change comes to the South Side, the Misfit Toys or the Unmatching Sox might be good possibilities.

fustercluck

used to be the Whites-Only Sox. then they traded for Minnie

BillyKochFanClub

Harper, Wheeler, Schwarber, Realmuto, and Castellanos combined for 15 fWAR…and Castellanos was negative.

The Sox insisting on spreading money around on a bunch of scrubs and low ceiling regulars instead of playing at the top of the market outside of relievers is one of the biggest reasons they struggle to build around a young core and sustain any success.

They did want to pay Wheeler more. He signed with the Phillies to be closer to his wife’s home. The last few years are much different if you sub out Wheeler for Keuchel.

I’m sure there was a price that would have got it done, and that price would still be looking pretty good right now.

Denman

I’m sure there wasn’t a price that would have brought Wheeler to the Sox. It seemed clear that once he had an offer that guaranteed him 100 million, money ceased to be a consideration for Wheeler. Moreover, once Wheeler made it known that he preferred to play on the east coast, the Sox were in the position of knowing that they’d lose out to any east coast team that made an offer anywhere near whatever they offerred. I really can’t fault Hahn for missing out on Wheeler.

To Err is Herrmann

I heard through the grapevine that a movie is in the works about the 2022 Phillies. It’s to be called “Stupid Moneyball.”

lastof12

“You can throw money at a problem.”

jorgefabregas

The nice thing about being a data engineer for a baseball team is that it will pay half as much and require twice the hours, at least that used to to be the rap on it.

upnorthsox

Don’t leave out the complete lack of respect for your work. I mean, who wouldn’t want that!

Josh Nelson

Cross Bruce Bochy off the list.

BenwithVen

I was never really a Bochy guy, so this is fine by me.

upnorthsox

I guess my first question is, did we even give him an interview?

ParisSox

Sounded like the Rangers were all in on him from the beginning.

As Cirensica

For the White Sox, “personal connection” means Tony.

upnorthsox

I’m fine with that and I’m fine with losing out for him. I just want to be sure that they are doing due diligence and that it doesn’t come out later that they didn’t even bother.

Foulkelore

“We always err on the side of great hitters”

There, I fixed that quote for Rick.

roke1960

Or he could have said, “we always pass on great hitters.”

upnorthsox

I’m humbled, it was right there in front of me the whole time.

To Err is Herrmann

Or, more simply: “We always err.”

Foulkelore

Good username synergy

lastof12

+1. I just noticed after my reply.

steelydan52

The longer the interview process goes the more likely it ‘s going to be Espada. I really don’t think Bochy was interested even if the Sox were and Washington would have been annointed by now if the Sox wanted him. Plus he would have wanted more money than Espada. And money speaks in this organization. I hope JR fools us and finds somebody experienced but who am I kidding.

Joliet Orange Sox

I’d be fine if Espada is the choice. I’d much rather Espada than many of the other names floated (Guillen, Thome, Pierzynski, Girardi, Madden, Ditka, Amos Alonzo Stagg,…).

steelydan52

I’m starting to come around on Espada but would still prefer the experience that some of the others have. It won’t be Bochy now. More than likely not Girardi, Washington or Maddon. Looks like Stagg died in 1965 so we can probably rule him out. But if they’re considering the deceased, why not Al Lopez?

GrinnellSteve

His reunion tour in 1968-69 was only marginally better than Tony’s.

upnorthsox

Yes but this would be the reanimation tour.

BenwithVen

crossing my fingers so hard right now.

Josh Nelson

Me, day dreaming:

I think Mike Rodriguez is right, Jim.

itaita

Rick sold him to Jerry by saying he was 74 instead of 47 years old.

Steve

Bochy’s gone

abehickock

The Sox canceled Soxfest again. No Covid issues this year. Hmmm, I wonder what the reason could be?

steelydan52

Not only that but Ozzie will be interviewed next week.
As far as Soxfest, I’m sure Hahn doesn’t want to make a public appearance since everyone called for his job.

As Cirensica

Accountability must be avoided at all cost.

GrinnellSteve

Gutless. They’re even talking about it on sports radio here in Iowa.

roke1960

What a bunch of cowards. That must mean they have nothing planned for this winter and are just going to avoid the fans’ wrath. What a totally incompetent organization.

dwjm3

Jerry is going to make the fanbase help Ron Kittle build bat benches as our penance.

GrinnellSteve

I wonder if the plans to interview Ozzie is just to appease that portion of the fan base who want him back. It also shows some respect for the guy you have in the studio critiquing the team for TV viewers. They don’t need to piss him off.

I hope they’re not seriously considering him.

Foulkelore

This is hilarious in that I thought similar things when the news first broke that they were interviewing TLR two years ago. “This is just a favor to show him some respect and get his name back out there if he wants to get into managing again.”

I hope you are more right this time than I was that time.

Last edited 1 year ago by Foulkelore
HallofFrank

Yup, me too. I’ve learned that the answer is usually “yes” to the question, “this can’t be serious, can it?” when it involves the White Sox front office.

asinwreck

Appeasing White Sox fans would be a nice change of pace for this organization.

As Cirensica

My thoughts are that Hahn might be entertaining the idea of having Guillen because his seat is hot for the first time ever. So Hahn could use a manager that can take all the heat and distracts fans. That’s Ozzie’s playground. So Guillen takes the heat and becomes the main focus leaving Hahn alone earning GM money for more years while doing crap. It works for him even if it doesn’t work for the team.

steelydan52

I just can’t imagine Reinsdorf giving the okey-dokey to a Guillen rehire. Or Williams.

ParisSox

This reeks of a Reinsdorf move.

dongutteridge

Why are the Sox taking so long to name Darryl Boston the new manager?

upnorthsox

I like to think positive, if they are interviewing Ozzie then that could mean that KW is stepping away…which I am all for.
On another thought, maybe the Sox are just doing Ozzie a favor and by granting him an interview they are signaling to the league that their grievance with him is over.

ParisSox

I like this take. BUT, I picture it this way.

Hahn: I’d like to make an offer to Espada.

Jerry: hmm. Let’s not rush. Talk to Ozzie first.

Hahn: walking away mumbling “not fucking again”

If Ozzie gets the job, I don’t see how Hahn doesn’t resign.

upnorthsox

You are assuming that Ozzie is not Hahn’s idea, never underestimate his ability to screw things up.

If getting Ozzie means losing Hahn, then hire him now.

BenwithVen

Is there an organization that likes to gaslight their fanbase more than the White Sox?