Why would 10-year MLB veteran Tommy Pham come to the 3-22 White Sox rather than the Padres after playing in the actual World Series less than six months ago?
“I wouldn't say opportunity, because the opportunity would have been there with both teams,” Pham said. “Just in terms of money. You factor in California's taxes, which I’ve already played there, and I know how it is there. San Diego is gonna have to match it in other ways.”
People are always talking about how honest he is!
And now that Kevin Pillar was designated for assignment and Dominic Fletcher was optioned in one blow on Friday, the 36-year-old Pham is now the primary center fielder, not flanked by range-monsters in Robbie Grossman and Andrew Benintendi either.
“I bring a certain skill set and work ethic that can be contagious,” Pham said. “I look at it as a blessing and a good opportunity to show the work I put in in the offseason. I lost some weight to be more athletic.”
There’s surely a subset of Sox fans who have dreamed about unleashing someone with a certain skill set upon their struggling team for a while now. Pham should have relatively free reign in center for a few weeks, since Getz said Luis Robert Jr. is running and hitting again and could return by the middle of next month.
Until Robert returns, vibes will have to suffice.
“When a team is struggling — I don’t even like to say when a team is struggling — you want to bring positive things,” said Rafael Ortega, who is effectively the new backup centerfielder. “Just try to bring good atmosphere to the team. There are good players around here; it’s a good team; you just have to believe in that. Believe in yourself. Believe in your teammates. Believe in what you got in here; go out there and have fun because it’s a game. At the end of the day, it’s a game.”
– Chris Getz was asked what his message to the fans would be amid this putrid start, and since I can’t imagine you’re on this site right now if you’re not a White Sox fan, here is Chris’ message to you:
“Whether it be last August or September when I took over in this position, the easiest thing to do is to just focus on the results of your major league club. And I get it. We’re here to win games at the major-league level. But, you’ve got to look at the foundation of an organization. You’ve got to look at every department, you’ve got to make sure you’re sound in all those areas because at the end that’s a byproduct of every process that exists. And it takes time. You look at player acquisition and what we’ve been able to do on the trade market and some of the players we drafted and some players we signed internationally, there’s been some positives. We have to stay at it. And when you start making poor decisions or you’re short-sighted, that’s when the mistakes happen and that’s when you show up at the major leagues and you’re not happy with the products that are there. It takes a lot of work, it takes a lot of focus, and we’ve got a group that’s sticking together and we’re going to stay at it.”
In Getz's 22-minute pregame media session on Friday, there were no questions about the decision to designate Bailey Horn for assignment. The media has failed you once again.
– Hopefully it will relax Chris Flexen to know that he’s already slated for another start after this one: Wednesday against the Twins.
First Pitch
TV: Apple TV+
Lineups:
| Rays | White Sox | |
|---|---|---|
| Yandy Díaz, 1B | 1 | Nicky Lopez, 2B |
| Randy Arozarena, LF | 2 | Tommy Pham, CF |
| Amed Rosario, RF | 3 | Robbie Grossman, RF |
| Isaac Paredes, 3B | 4 | Eloy Jiménez, DH |
| Harold Ramirez, DH | 5 | Andrew Vaughn, 1B |
| Curtis Mead, 2B | 6 | Andrew Benintendi, LF |
| José Caballero, SS | 7 | Danny Mendick, 3B |
| Jose Siri, CF | 8 | Paul DeJong, SS |
| René Pinto, C | 9 | Martín Maldonado, C |
| Zach Eflin | SP | Chris Flexen |
