Most White Sox fans were very aware of the incompetence that stretched all the way from the front office to the product on the field. Now, after firing Rick Hahn and Kenny Williams, the national media is starting to pick up on it. It is about time, if they pressed the White Sox in the national media sooner, maybe a change would have happened years ago.
But on MLB Network, Brian Kenny went in on the White Sox and where it all went wrong. He does a great job of calling out the exact problems for the White Sox and shows them no mercy. Watch that here:
He’s Not Wrong
So much has gone south for the Sox this year and the past few years. To even point to one specific thing would be impossible, as everything that could have gone wrong has gone wrong. Brian Kenny does a good job of summarizing everything into one video.
One of the main points he mentions is the moves made by Rick Hahn. He points out how the three trades that started the rebuild in 2017 were not actually bad trades. They got a lot of talent in those trades, but it just unfortunately did not pan out. I tend to agree, as at the time, all of those trades got some of the best prospect talent around. Now, not moving on from certain players when necessary and not building around them properly is really what killed them.
For the most part, Rick Hahn made some solid moves. But, there were plenty of moves that he made that would sink him, even before the collapse of the Sox this season. Kenny does a good job of showing that.
Is It Management Or The Players?
Kenny also makes a good point regarding the managerial change from Rick Renteria to Tony LaRussa. He gives Renteria his props but points out that under LaRussa they were nowhere near this bad. That is true. How much of this is a manager problem remains to be seen. Some think that it is a big issue, others not so much.
I believe it is a combination of things. LaRussa did not do his job last year and that led to some changes this year. Now, they are even worse with virtually the same exact team. Some of that has to be on the manager, as the team on paper is not the fourth-worst team in baseball, even with some of the injuries. I wonder if the new management will see that and make a move.
He also makes the most important point. The team really hasn’t been healthy. This is Robert’s first full season. Eloy is always hurt along with Moncada. Grandal hasn’t been healthy most of the time he has been with the team. This has really sunk the White Sox.
A counter argument would be 2021. With most of their players out for a significant time, they still were able to persevere through and win the division. It’s really hard to say what the exact issue is. Even Kelly can’t put his finger on it, as he lists so many reasons.
I applaud Kenny for this segment, as it really highlights the dysfunction in the organization and it doesn’t even touch on what Middelton said about the team. I truly hope there are more significant changes this offseason.
LaRissa was a much better hire than incompetent Grifols. Move Moncada toninth in the batting order.
GrinBearit, nailed it.
The one common denominator, who has been there through it all is Reinsdorf, himself. Never underestimate his meddling influence. He is the one who chose LaRussa over other better-suited candidates. He is the one who promoted Williams after he’d ultimately failed as GM. So, naturally he failed as Team President. Same thing with the Bulls. Allowed GarPax to stay in their positions too long (promoted Pax after he’d failed as GM too). And, how has their fortune turned since replacing both of them? Still the same. It’s Reinsdorf who needs to move on.