There are a number of valid ways to process Andrew Vaughn's close call with a hip injury after a galumphing diving catch, but whether you think his lack of athleticism is the root cause or he merely crashed into some bad luck, everybody would agree that the White Sox have no truly sound options for right field, leaving Vaughn to be the best option -- or at least possess the most upside -- of a flawed bunch.
Unless you're Tony La Russa.
Yermín Mercedes notwithstanding, La Russa is hardwired to defend the honor of his players, even if it requires him to go to lengths he doesn't actually believe (see his about-face over Kendall Graveman's HBP of José Abreu), so it doesn't surprise me that he turned a blind eye to the deficiencies in that corner. That he went the No True Scotsman route shows the desperation required to advocate for the crop.
For just a few hot hours while Vaughn’s status was unknown, free-agent right fielder Michael Conforto’s name resurfaced in speculation about the Sox going outside the organization to fortify right field, but the Sox seem prepared to go with who they have.
“Those are probably the fans who are not White Sox fans,” La Russa said. “White Sox fans know there are guys in this camp who can handle it.”
It's a dopey counter, but whether it actually holds water isn't the point here. He's merely looking to close ranks and advance past the issue of the day.
As we enter the second year of La Russa's second tour with the White Sox, I'm mostly inclined to take insubstantial arguments to mean that La Russa doesn't have a valid defense, but he'd rather say something laughable than acknowledge weakness. Therefore, there's no reason to take what he says to heart during the times it's so clearly coming out his butt.
Anyway, with Vaughn out of game action for one to two weeks with a hip pointer -- here's a first test for new strength trainer Goldy Simmons when it comes to seemingly minor lower-body injuries -- the White Sox will juggle the other irregular candidates in hopes of a hot hand.
When the White Sox stage their delayed home opener, the landscape of Guaranteed Rate Field is going to look a little different, especially if you show up to the park hunting for beers.
News leaked earlier this week that the naming rights for special seating section in right field previously known as the Goose Island was bought by Miller Lite as part of a whole takeover. That means Revolution Brewing's deal with the White Sox for the lounge over the seats near the left field corner also expired.
The White Sox made the news official at 5:00 this morning.
The new deal includes naming rights of multiple spaces, including Miller Lite Landing, the Leinenkugel’s Craft Lodge and the Vizzy View Bar, plus signage throughout the ballpark, such as LED video boards, extensive in-game advertising and promotional features, multiple promotional giveaway experiences in 2022, as well as promotions in market.
Considering the transient nature of corporate names, it shouldn't register as a shame, yet I can't help but feel a small sense of loss. I didn't like the development of the seating section due to my longstanding disdain for cordoned-off areas of a ballpark's lower bowl, but by partnering with Goose Island and dividing it with water features, at least it had some semblance of local character, even if the beer is a national/global property. And by planting a big fiberglass goose head behind the seats, it gave the park's landscape a sorely needed target for crushed home runs.
Nobody ever hit the goose. We didn't get enough time to see it happen. And now there's just a part of the park you can't sit in even when nobody else is around.
