Imrem: Looks like Chicago White Sox's Anderson is real deal
My favorite barkeeper recently asked whether the Chicago White Sox are done.
Without thinking, which is my specialty, I nodded a definitive yes.
Now the Sox are just as definitively back in the American League wild-card race and, as often is said, anything can happen from there.
What went wrong with my assessment and right for the Sox's playoff chances?
Tim Anderson, that's what.
"He's a tough kid," Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "Very confident. Aggressive. The talent is there, and he brings it every day."
Anderson continued his outstanding play during Monday's 8-2 victory over the Yankees.
After a home run and a single raised his batting average to .308, the rookie shortstop had multiple hits 12 times in 23 games.
Maybe it's just coincidence that with Anderson emerging, starting pitcher James Shields is starting to be more effective, Jose Abreu's bat is heating up, and the Sox overall are playing better baseball.
It just might be that no young player in the major leagues is as important to his team - to his franchise - as Anderson is to the White Sox.
Other teams have a player come up from the minors, then another not long after, then another, and so on.
Heck, the Cubs have had prospects come up in waves and the tap doesn't appear ready to run dry anytime soon.
The Sox? They have pitchers matriculate through their system occasionally but have had more trouble producing position players than Chicago Bulls management has producing valid excuses.
Not long ago Gordon Beckham was supposed to be a great infielder of the future when he arrived on the South Side.
Beckham could have been to the Sox what Derek Jeter was to the Yankees: outstanding player, great with fans and a longtime face of the franchise.
Didn't turn out that way. Beckham was mediocre, devolved into less than that, and the Sox still were back to searching for a signature homegrown position player.
The Sox badly needed a young infielder, or outfielder, or catcher, or even designated hitter to break through. Not only did they need that special player to help them win games, they needed him to lend credibility to their scouting, drafting and development departments.
The Sox have been known for trading away youngsters, but not even many of them were good enough to be missed.
Then along came Tim Anderson.
Other young players are better but none is as critical to his team as the 23-year-old shortstop is to the White Sox.
Anderson has provided everything the Sox could have hoped for: defensive range, dynamic offense and a booster shot of energy.
A team searching for an identity began inching toward having one and also back toward contention in the playoff race.
Like all rookies, Anderson will have to remain on probation for a while. In the wake of Beckham flaming out, it's best for White Sox fans to maintain emotional control concerning their newly minted shortstop.
Ventura did say of Anderson, "He's not afraid of anything."
Still, it might be best not to tell the young man what he means to the franchise's image and the team's pennant hopes.
There's no denying, however, that Tim Anderson has been encouraging so far, and the Sox have been too since I told my favorite barkeeper they were done.
mimrem@dailyherald.com