Ostrowski: Latest roster additions leave Sox fans begging for change
White Sox fans want to see something new.
No, this isn't about Robin Ventura. This is much more important.
Sox fans are begging for a change in philosophy from the top of the organization and they feel hopeless.
Owner Jerry Reinsdorf made it clear to CBS Chicago this week that his team is still in win now mode. Reinsdorf's club has only made the playoffs once in the last ten years.
The Sox's fan base was reminded of this same old approach when they traded for 34-year-old pitcher James Shields and signed 35-year-old first baseman Justin Morneau in the same week. The optimistic view was they just added a number three starter and potential DH for very little in return. Most Sox fans didn't care.
Those fans are right so far.
Since joining the Sox, Shields has almost pitched a complete game over three starts. In 8.2 innings, he's been lit up for 21 earned runs and 5 home runs. If you include Shields' last game in San Diego, make it 31 earned runs and a .485 batting average against in his last four starts.
Shields and Morneau may be added to the long list of players brought to the south side on a lottery ticket at the tail end of their careers. Sox fans don't want to see Roberto Alomar, Ken Griffey Jr, Andrew Jones, Manny Ramirez, Jimmy Rollins, Omar Vizquel, or Kevin Youkilis. Then there's the high priced failures that did have expectations like the Adams from the Nationals at first base, Dunn and LaRoche.
Some appreciate that this team is always working to improve the product on the field. It's one thing to wheel and deal to help your rotation, losing players like Daniel Hudson, Aaron Poreda, and Clayton Richard in the Edwin Jackson and Jake Peavy trades.
It's very different when you trade away outfielder Trayce Thompson to get 30-year-old third baseman Todd Frazier because you're in win now mode.
Frazier hasn't been a bad addition. Aside from hitting around the Mendoza line, Frazier's power, leadership, and defense is exactly what the Sox expected. The problem is he can leave after next season.
The Dodgers have control of Thompson for the next five and a half years. The outfielder is hitting in the heart of their lineup and his 1.3 wins above replacement is now better than Frazier's 1.2 WAR. Thompson has done this in about 100 fewer plate appearances than Frazier.
Frazier has filled a massive void at third base, but there were other options. 33-year-old David Freese has a 1.3 WAR after Pittsburgh signed him to a one-year, $3 million dollar contract in March.
There are a couple of big differences between the White Sox and successful teams that have a payroll near the middle of the league. Organizations like Kansas City, Baltimore, and Pittsburgh develop position players and pull off trades that help the team for the long haul.
• Joe Ostrowski is a co-host of the "Hit & Run" baseball show from 9 a.m. to noon Sundays on WSCR 670-AM The Score with Barry Rozner. Follow him on Twitter @JoeO670.