The Most Valuable Player awards for 2020 will be announced Thursday. White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu is a finalist in the American League, along with Jose Ramirez of the Cleveland Indians and DJ LeMahieu of the New York Yankees.
All three of these men had excellent seasons and played for teams that qualified for the playoffs. The race for this honor is too close to call, frankly, and whichever one of these players wins will be deserving. I have no prediction.
But what if Abreu wins and needs to hold a press conference Thursday?
It's worth noting that no high-profile member of the Sox organization has spoken to the media since manager Tony La Russa was charged with DUI in Arizona earlier this week.
Jerry Reinsdorf, the man who created this mess by hiring La Russa, has remained silent. Nothing from general manager Rick Hahn, either, and certainly nothing from La Russa himself.
It's unfortunate that circumstances are set up to where Abreu -- who has been nothing but a good player and has represented the organization with class and pride during his seven years with the Sox -- might have to be the one who faces the media firing squad first to answer questions about the La Russa debacle.
If Abreu wins this award, he would be only the fourth Sox player in team history to achieve the honor -- and the first since Frank Thomas in 1994.
It would be one of his career highlights, and a historic moment in the history of the franchise. But it would be soiled because of this La Russa mess, and because the cowardly 85-year-old billionaire who owns the Sox doesn't feel he needs to answer for his decision-making.
This whole thing just stinks.
Perhaps you've heard of the phrase, "innocent until proven guilty"?
ReplyDeleteNo, never heard that before. Thanks for commenting. Now my perspective has completely changed.
ReplyDeleteNot.
I never said Tony La Russa is guilty, or that he belongs in jail. The legal process will decide that.
What am I saying is he was not the best choice for Sox manager. This hire has alienated a large portion of the fan base. This is a manager who is having legal troubles. And this is a manager who is causing possible free-agent signees to have second thoughts about considering the White Sox.
It's a bad hire. Period.