Imrem: Maybe women execs could have helped with Chapman situation
The events of the past few days involving Chris Sale and Aroldis Chapman made something clear.
The game needs more diversity.
Namely more women in prominent baseball operations positions.
A female executive in the Chicago Cubs' baseball department could have averted the public-relations mishaps of the past couple of days.
She likely would have better explained the Chapman acquisition than Cubs baseball president Theo Epstein babbled Monday.
Perhaps she even could have helped minimize the embarrassment Tuesday of Chapman's inability to express an understanding of the domestic violence for which he was suspended earlier this season.
Cubs manager Joe Maddon attributed Chapman's lack of recognition to a language barrier. A woman exec might sense that Chapman just doesn't get it.
It's enough to make you wonder how much better baseball would be if women were included in processes like evaluating Chapman and controlling Sale.
Not from the human resources department or as administrative assistants or on the board of directors where Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts' sister Laura sits.
As members of the baseball ops, which if nothing else would improve perceptions of the process.
Women haven't played the game at the highest level, but neither have local baseball luminaries such as Theo Epstein, Rick Hahn, Jerry Reinsdorf and Tom Ricketts.
So why couldn't a woman be a senior adviser to Epstein, the Cubs' president of baseball? The answer is some could.
Maybe she would or wouldn't have agreed with acquiring Chapman, but it would have been interesting if one were involved in the discussions.
The North Side Men's Club vetted Chapman and judged him fit for the Cubs. It would have been interesting if during the process they could have turned to a colleague named Susan or Lynda for her opinion.
“Here's the information that we gathered,” they could have said. “What do you think? Did we miss anything? Is there anything else you would like to know about Aroldis Chapman?”
A man can't feel the issue of domestic violence the same way a woman does. An informed female assistant GM could offer valuable insights on the subject.
OK, now for Chris Sale melting down and shredding throwback uniforms in the White Sox clubhouse.
Sale was suspended for five days and later criticized manager Robin Ventura for not supporting his grievance.
Sox vice president Kenny Williams said Tuesday afternoon at U.S. Cellular Field, “I don't think it could be handled any better than Rick (Hahn) and Robin handled it.”
Except, Sale doesn't seem to respect Ventura. He has feuded with Williams. No man in the organization has been able to smooth the edges of Sale's conduct.
How about a woman's touch? How about a different voice from someone Sale might be reluctant to disrespect? How about a different set of sensibilities?
Childish behavior isn't uncommon in sports generally, so motherly advice from a female executive might help.
Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf is a prime candidate to lead progress for women as he's a longtime proponent of equal opportunity.
As of now, though, neither the White Sox nor the Cubs list a high-ranking woman decision-maker in their baseball department.
Maybe it's time they did.
mimrem@dailyherald.com