Are changes coming for Chicago White Sox?
In the cutthroat world that is professional sports, losing is typically not tolerated.
A team might be able to slip up a season here and stumble a season there, but more often than not sustained failure is followed by change.
The Chicago White Sox lost 99 games in 2013 and finished last in the AL Central.
The Sox lost 89 games last year and finished fourth.
After the season, the White Sox sent a clear message they were tired of losing.
While boosting the payroll nearly $30 million despite a marked decline in attendance at U.S. Cellular Field, the Sox beefed up the roster with players such as Jeff Samardzija, Melky Cabrera, David Robertson, Adam LaRoche, Zach Duke, Geovany Soto and Emilio Bonifacio.
Expected by many to make it to the playoffs for the first time since 2008, the White Sox lost three straight at Kansas City to open the season and are still trying to climb out of the early hole.
“It obviously hasn't gone according to how we had hoped, other than in short stretches there we haven't been able to maintain for an extended period of time,” said Sox general manager Rick Hahn.
This is Hahn's third year on the job, and it's the third straight year the White Sox are a lot closer to last place than first.
Given the nature of the business, the Sox could be considering a GM change. Then again, chairman Jerry Reinsdorf is as loyal and patient as they come, and he's always been a big Hahn fan.
Before Monday night's game against the Angels, Hahn was asked about his job status and the speculation that former Detroit Tigers GM/White Sox employee Dave Dombrowski is lurking as a potential replacement.
“I don't think that changes anything in terms of how we approach our job,” Hahn said. “There are always quality guys. There are 30 of these GM chairs and there are a lot more than 30 people in the industry who are capable of doing excellent jobs as general managers.
“Regardless of whether there's a Hall of Fame caliber guy available to all 30 clubs as a free agent, so to speak, or a young, up-and-coming assistant GM type that's ready for a shot, I don't think that changes how any of us approach our jobs.
“No one does this job out of fear, motivated out of fear for their own job or self preservation. It's about the competitiveness and the desire to win and the desire to put a product out there that the organization is proud of, that ownership is proud of and that you have played a role in building.
“You do that because you like to compete, you want to win and you want to honor the franchise that's giving you that opportunity, not because you're operating in fear of losing your job.”
Since Reinsdorf rarely talks to the media anymore, it is unclear what he is thinking about Hahn, executive vice president Kenny Williams, manager Robin Ventura and the current roster.
Odds are, Reinsdorf is still formulating an opinion.
As for the White Sox, Hahn said they are still in the wild-card hunt until there is an “X next to our name.”
Maybe the Sox get hot again, or maybe Hahn moves whatever pieces he can before the Aug. 31 waiver trade deadline.
“It doesn't really change how 25 guys in there, the coaching staff, go about their business,” Hahn said. “Their focus will remain on trying to win that night's ballgame. As for us in the front office, obviously we have to be cognizant of where we sit in the standings and how each loss makes that road to the playoffs a little more difficult to travel down.
“So we're aware of the situation and we're aware of what potentially needs to be done in the coming weeks, but for me in that clubhouse the focus has to be on winning that night's ballgame.”