In the movie “Rushmore,” Bill Murray plays Herman Blume, a desperately lonely steel tycoon who competes with the eccentrically underwhelming student Max Fisher (Jason Schwartzman) for the affection of first grade teacher Miss Cross (Olivia Williams). The two go to ridiculous lengths to win the heart of a woman they barely know, but cannot possibly live without. Ultimately, Max sympathizes with Herman’s position, and eventually bows out of a fight that he cannot possibly win. Max then decides to team up with his former nemesis in order for Herman to end up with the young teacher. Amidst the wooing of the fare lady, the unlikely duo have the following exchange:
Max Fischer: “How the hell did you get so rich? You’re a quitter, man!”
Herman Blume: I spent eight million dollars on this.
Max Fischer: And is that all you’re willing to spend?
This of course was a long route to get to my point, but the scene proves to be rather applicable to the situation in which Chicago White Sox currently find themselves. There are two competing interests in the movie that also exist with the team. Max represents the overly optimistic side, believing he is far greater than how everyone else views him, but ultimately struggles just to stay in school. Blume spent nearly his entire fortune to achieve his dream, but quickly loses heart, and even begins to contemplate giving up his endeavor entirely.
There’s just something about this movie that is eerily similar to the 2015 Chicago White Sox.
Max has a higher opinion of himself that simply is not rooted in fact. He is a poor student who tries to cover up his academic failings with an exorbitant amount of extracurricular activities. Reality painfully teaches him that he really wasn’t as great as he thought.
And maybe that is true of the Sox. Maybe they are not as good as we thought they were. Certainly, this is a possibility, and one in which more and more fans reluctantly accept with each disappointing series.
But I tend to side with the alternate belief system that the Blume character presents us. A lot of money was spent in the offseason, especially for a team that is not as accustomed to spending as the New York Yankees do on a regular basis. Even though nothing is guaranteed no matter how much is spent, any struggles this team would endure this year would inevitably be met with extreme cynicism coupled with the early cries to tear down a project that never had a fair chance to get off the ground.
Why are we losing hope already? Yes, the team is in last place while earning every bit of such a lowly distinction. But as bad as the White Sox have been, they find themselves only seven games out of a division that has been turned upside down with the Minnesota Twins tied for the lead in the division with the Kansas City Royals with the Sox and Cleveland Indians shockingly bringing up the rear. And do any of you truly believe the team from the “Land of 10,000 Lakes” will still hold their spot atop the AL Central division when the leaves begin to change color? Suddenly, overcoming such a terrible start doesn’t seem like the impossible task it once did.
We knew heading into this season that holes still existed in the lineup at 3B and C, with 2B left up in the air until one of the prospects permanently takes control of the position. Currently, no one has stepped up, and for whatever unknown reason, Micah Johnson remains a Triple-A Charlotte Knight. The brilliance of GM Rick Hahn is steadily losing its luster with the prolonged struggles of Adam LaRoche, Melky Cabrera, and Adam Eaton. All three have been unable to live up to what appeared to be very reasonable expectations given their talent level. The team cannot compete when one third of the entire offense can’t hit. That is, unless a move is made.
One of my dearest friends suggested at the start of the season that Adrian Beltre would be the starting 3B for the Chicago White Sox sometime before the end of the 2015 season. At the time, I didn’t believe they needed such an addition and gave the idea little thought. But as often as the case has been, he has been much better at predicting needs with this team than I have been. At this point, such a move would be a reprieve for Beltre, giving him a legitimate shot at a title that does not exist for him at the moment, while giving the Sox a sorely needed offensive boost.
This team has too much invested in it to start looking for ways to dismantle it. While a playoff-laden season is seriously in doubt, management cannot and must not waste the prime years of SP Chris Sale and 1B Jose Abreu by arguing that they have already spent whatever money was available. These are two rare talents that can disappear in the blink of an eye. Injuries are constantly lurking in the shadows to destroy these promising careers, and, therefore, nothing can be taken for granted.
The rotation is still a force to be reckoned with, but the Sox are only guaranteed the rest of this season with Jeff Samardzija, their lone righthanded SP. This is as deep of a pitching staff that the Sox will see and have seen in years. If they can acquire additional offense to help carry the team through the end of the season, their starting pitchers can dominate in the postseason. Few teams can yield three straight ace-caliber pitchers. In a five or seven game series, the teams with those stud arms are the ones who bring home the rings.
So one question remains unanswered.
Is that all you’re willing to spend?