Imrem: Chicago White Sox again go contrarian route
The Chicago White Sox didn't begin rebuilding Monday like so many suggested they should.
Doing what others suggest isn't how the Sox operate.
At noon Monday, a headline on mlb.com read, "Sale, Quintana deals possible for White Sox."
At 12:30 p.m. on ESPN, analyst Jim Bowden said, "I think Chris Sale has a chance to go."
At baseball's 3 p.m. nonwaiver trade deadline … nothing had happened.
The Sox, with left-handed pitchers Sale and Jose Quintana as blue chips, didn't make a deal.
Nor did the Sox trade lesser commodities like David Robertson, Todd Frazier and Melky Cabrera for prospects.
Perhaps demand was limited for those guys, which would explain why the Sox aren't serious playoff contenders.
The past couple of weeks played out almost as if executive vice president Kenny Williams wanted to tie the Sox's left shoelace and general manager Rick Hahn wanted to untie the club's right shoelace.
Or maybe Sox management had no idea what to do, so they did nothing.
The possibility remains that the Sox did the right thing for right now and will entertain better offers for Sale and Quintana in the off-season.
However, trust is dwindling in the Sox's ability to restore the franchise to relevance.
The only pre-deadline move the Sox made was relief pitcher Zach Duke to the Cardinals for minor-league outfielder Charlie Tilson on Sunday.
As the St. Louis Post-Dispatch website put it, "Cards upgrade bullpen at modest cost."
Yep, the White Sox's biggest transaction was acquiring a player who was a modest loss to the Cardinals.
Meanwhile, the Cubs needed much less help than the Sox but aggressively acquired lefty relievers Aroldis Chapman and Mike Montgomery in early strikes.
Then, shortly before the deadline, the Cubs traded for Angels reliever Joe Smith, a relatively minor move that was more major than anything the Sox did.
The Sox called up Tilson on Monday and maybe in time he'll become the major leagues' best leadoff hitter.
Right now … ho-hum.
Sale and Quintana made the Sox one of the most intriguing teams leading up to the deadline.
Would they be buyers to make a desperate run at the 2016 playoffs? Or would they be sellers and trade Sale, Quintana or both to make future runs toward the postseason?
How about neither?
Sox fans have become impatient for this organization to commence a massive rebuild, which might explain why the Sox held on to Sale and Quintana … right or wrong, for better or worse.
One of the common characteristics of the Sox and Bulls, both chaired by Jerry Reinsdorf, is that they're inclined to do the opposite of what others say they should do.
Fire manager Robin Ventura? No, the Sox keep him through five unsuccessful seasons. Keep Tom Thibodeau as head coach? No, the Bulls fire him. Go through a complete makeover? No, at least for now the Sox stand pat.
Reinsdorf and Williams - and possibly Hahn by association - want to be perceived as the smartest men in the room. If they conduct business like others say business should be conducted, those outside the room would be considered the wise men.
So, Sox fans, if you want them to rebuild, tell them to stay the course, and if you want them to stay the course, tell them to rebuild.
mimrem@dailyherald.com