Are Chicago White Sox in ... or out?
Is there still a chance for the White Sox to stay together and make a late run at the playoffs?
Once again, general manager Rick Hahn wasn't tipping his hand on Friday at U.S. Cellular Field, but he did lay some cards on the table.
“We've put ourselves in position where July is a very important month for us,” Hahn said. “It's a critical month for our direction for the next several months. We don't have the luxury at this point to continue to give away games or put ourselves in a deeper hole.
“Everybody in that clubhouse knows it. We've talked about it. They are aware of the situation and they have spoken publicly about the fact that they know we've put ourselves in this position where July is critical.”
While they have been playing somewhat better baseball as of late — and while two wild-card spots makes it much easier to stay in the playoff race — the Sox still had the worst record in the American League heading into Friday night's game against the Orioles.
They were also last in the league in runs scored and close to the bottom in pitching and defense.
That's why the White Sox look like a team that will be subtracting players like Jeff Samardzija, Adam LaRoche and others instead of adding before the July 31 nonwaiver trade deadline.
“There's not going to be a time at any point where I come out and say this is the direction we are going,” Hahn said. “I don't think that's strategically to our advantage. But we have spent a lot of time working on contingencies and coming up with different paths that we could travel. Ultimately, if we do head down one of those paths, I'll sit right here and explain why.”
On the Sox' last road trip, executive vice president Kenny Williams made a rare appearance and created a stir in an interview with reporters.
“I take full responsibility for the underperformance right now,” Williams said. “I hired the manager (Robin Ventura). I hired the general manager. Ultimately, I sign off on off-season acquisitions or anyone signed to a contract or trades or anything else. Believe me when I tell you this, the first phone call when the chairman (Jerry Reinsdorf) is upset, it isn't to any of those guys. It's to me.”
That sure sounds like Hahn is still the assistant GM.
“It surprise me that how the dynamic works is even a question or an issue at this point,” Hahn said. “We were pretty clear at the initial press conference when I assumed this position that Kenny is executive vice president of the organization. He is my boss. I report to Kenny. Just like anyone with a boss, I'm accountable to him for my performance and he has to approve of what I do.
“Ultimately Jerry, people who pay attention know he's very much involved. For the last 15 years I've been here, there's been very clear and open dialogue between the three of us and certainly that's no different this year and hasn't been any different for the last couple of years.”
So there is no power struggle?
“When we are trying to solve a problem, all ideas and opinions are put out there and we parcel through and it's a collaborative effort to come up with the best outcome for the organization,” Hahn said. “I think in any business, you want to have people with different points of view or at least different ways of approaching problem solving and not a bunch of people who are necessarily yes men or fall into line. It's important to have an environment, as I feel we have had here for the last 15 years, of a free exchange of ideas and a clear opportunity for people to state their mind regardless of title or position in the organization.”