Sunday could be final home game for some Sox
If you are so inclined, check in on the White Sox on Sunday afternoon when they host the Kansas City Royals at U.S. Cellular Field.
After the game, the Sox hit the road for four games at Cleveland and three at Detroit.
And when they return home to play the Yankees on Aug. 5, it is highly likely many of the current White Sox won’t be back.
As he advertised on the final day of June, general manager Rick Hahn is keeping a very low profile until Wednesday, the final day of July. It’s also the nonwaiver trade deadline.
Is Hahn on the verge of making massive changes? A few deals? Is starting pitcher Jake Peavy the only Sox player sure to be moved?
It’s difficult to say, but one of the hoard of scouts that has been at the Cell throughout this homestand indicated Hahn is not happy with the return talent he’s being offered in trade talks and he’s hoping that improves as the deadline gets closer.
As for the Sox’ reaction to the endless trade speculation, they don’t have much more to say on the subject. And if Hahn indeed decides to make massive changes and begin gearing up for the 2014 season, so be it.
“I can’t speak for everybody else, but I’m not even thinking about next year, as far as the way the team shapes up,” Paul Konerko said before the White Sox wasted another Chris Sale gem and lost to the Royals 1-0 Saturday night. “I think everybody’s just trying to get through here and I don’t think it’s in our best interests to be looking ahead to anything. We’re having a hard enough time as it is.”
In the clubhouse, players like Peavy, Alex Rios and disabled relief pitcher Jesse Crain (shoulder strain) look a little stressed from being involved in multiple trade rumors.
Other than that, the White Sox are trying to make the most of a miserable season.
“You just continue to do the job and keep going,” manager Robin Ventura said. “As far as it being easy, hard, whatever, you still have to do what you think is right and find a way to kind of make it fun. But it’s harder at certain times than others.”
With his contract expiring at the end of the season, Konerko is likely nearing the end of highly productive 15-year run with the Sox.
It’s not the way he envisioned going out, but the White Sox’ 37-year-old captain is trying to make the best of it.
“It is difficult, but that’s why it’s not easy being a big-league ballplayer,” Konerko said. “That’s why there are millions of guys who don’t make it. So no, it’s not easy. It’s a grind. But you just keep doing it. This is what we do and this is what we’ve chosen to do, so it doesn’t matter if it’s hard, easy or whatever. It’s just what we do and that’s how it goes.
“The win/loss record (40-61) is not anywhere where we want it to be, and on a bunch of different levels it’s been a struggle. But here we are and sometimes it’s not fun.”