White Sox General Manager Ron Schueler, in explaining why a managerial change was necessary, insisted he was merely doing his duty–to save the season. Following his lead, I have a suggestion that may be more crucial: He should trade for veteran slugger Kirby Puckett or some such established right-handed power hitter.
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Puckett leaps to mind because it’s more than likely he is available. The Minnesota Twins, short on funds, have been trying to get out from under Puckett’s $5 million salary. Whether Minnesota owner Carl Pohlad is still in favor of dealing Puckett is not known. What is known is that Puckett is a franchise player and the Minnesota fans would howl if he’s unloaded.
Puckett is 34 and should have two or three strong years ahead. He is a career .318 hitter and certainly capable of a 20-home run, 100-RBI season, the ideal replacement for Julio Franco. Like Franco, Puckett could bat fourth. With Puckett in the lineup, opposing managers would be reluctant to pitch around Frank Thomas.
Puckett’s presence would make the Big Hurt a much more dangerous hitter and give Thomas considerably more protection, a service wonderfully provided by Franco last season. Also, it would make the Sox less vulnerable against left-handed relief pitchers.
Thomas led the American League in walks in three of the last four years, and even with this shortened season, is en route to breaking two significant records: most walks, one season, held by Babe Ruth, who drew 170 in 1923; and most intentional walks, 45, set by Willie McCovey in 1969.
If the pitchers continue walking Thomas at the current pace he would finish with 189 bases on balls, 50 of which would be intentional. It would mark him as the most dangerous hitter in baseball history. But it would also lessen his production.
Twice this season, with Thomas coiled at the plate, opposing managers have gone against the book and purposely put him on base when he was the potential winning run. The last time this happened was in Cleveland last Tuesday. In the seventh inning, score tied 1-l, two outs and the bases empty, Indians manager Mike Hargrove showed the ultimate respect for Thomas.
The problem is that the Sox player payroll is among the top five. Contrary to popular belief, their payroll, even with the departure of Cy Young Award winner Jack McDowell, is larger than it was last year.
Thomas’ compensation has increased by more than $4 million. Ozzie Guillen is up $2 million, Robin Ventura $1 million. Whether Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf would be willing and able to acquire Puckett and his $5 million take is a question only he can answer.
Schueler, in announcing the dismissal of Lamont on Friday, made it clear that it wasn’t Lamont’s fault. Said Schueler: “We haven’t been playing up to our capability. A lot of the blame belongs to the players. It’s time for the players to give themselves a gut check.”
Firing the manager is the traditional front-office move. As Guillen observed, “It’s easier to fire one guy then release 20 players.”
By coincidence, the Detroit Tigers are in town, and so Sparky Anderson was asked for his opinion.
Sparky, in his 26th season as a big-league manager (he has also been fired), made it clear that he didn’t want to take sides; what the White Sox do is their business, not his.
But he did say that with the exception of Tom Lasorda of the Dodgers, and possibly Oakland’s Tony La Russa, the day of the 25-year manager appears to be at an end. The stakes are higher than ever. There is more pressure on the manager–and general manager–because of the big money involved.
“Nobody’s smarter than the other guy,” said Anderson when asked to compare managers. “The players win the games. The manager is only as good as his players.”
Then Anderson observed: “Since I was hired, 350 guys have been fired. And when they’re fired they’re just as smart as they were when they were hired. The manager doesn’t change. His personnel changes. When things go bad, they’re `hawked.’ “
Schueler was jiving when he told reporters, “I don’t think the club has changed that much. Are we good enough to win the pennant? I think we are.”
It’s still early, but I doubt the White Sox can overtake the Cleveland Indians and win the AL Central. But their chances would increase if their starting pitchers suddenly became effective. And if they acquired Kirby Puckett.