The proverbial saying “any publicity is good publicity” hasn’t really proven to be true for the 2024 Chicago White Sox. The South Siders have been in the news for all the wrong reasons this season. Aside from their league-worst 15-45 record, White Sox news has consisted of everything from the mess in the broadcast booth, fans’ displeasure with owner Jerry Reinsdorf, and now Tommy Pham.
White Sox News in 2024 Has Been More Bad Than Good
In the eighth inning of Sunday’s loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, Pham attempted to tag up and score from third base on a shallow fly ball hit to left field. Brewers left fielder Christian Yelich threw him out by plenty, but Pham slid hard into catcher William Contreras at home, prompting a bit of jawing from the Brewers catcher. Of course, Pham didn’t like that, and proceeded to walk toward the Brewers dugout, voicing his displeasure. Though he had to be restrained, nothing came of it. But following the game, Pham had plenty to say:
“It was a shallow fly ball to left field. You would expect the left fielder to throw the baserunner out on that play. The third base coach (Eddie Rodriguez) sends you, you’ve got to go. I’m nailed out at home by a mile. I’m going to the dugout. I hear the tough guy (Contreras) with all the hoorah s***. I never start anything, but I’ll be prepared to finish it.”There’s a reason why I do all kinds of fighting in the offseason. Cause I’m prepared to f— somebody up. So, take it as what it is.”
There you have it, Tommy Pham is a really tough guy, so much so that he felt the need to share it. That knowledge likely doesn’t help White Sox fans feel any better about the team’s current 11-game losing streak. Pham is a newcomer, signed in April to a minor-league deal by the White Sox. And he has actually been one of the better bats in their lineup, hitting a respectable .280 since his addition. But the good just doesn’t outweigh the bad with Pham.
Tommy Pham is heated after a play at the plate 😳
(via @BallySportWI)
pic.twitter.com/SfdxMb2j1m— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) June 2, 2024
Tommy Pham is No Stranger to Controversy
The problem with Pham has never been his play on the field. Now in his 11th major league season, he’s been consistently adequate, batting a career .260/.350/.434. The problem lies in the fact that he’s on his eighth team change in 11 years. This includes a stretch of five different teams in five years. Why does he change teams so much when he has been effective on the field?
It could be because he was involved in an altercation outside a San Diego strip club in 2020, resulting in him being stabbed. It could also be because in 2022, he admitted that his main goal with the Cincinnati Reds that season was his own personal statistics. Or maybe it was that time he slapped Joc Pederson in the face before a game over a fantasy football dispute. Yes, that really happened. Furthermore, he once challenged former San Diego Padre Luke Voit to a private fight over a questionable slide. That’s right, this is not the first time Pham has told us how skilled he is with his fists:
“They can say what they want. Everybody on that side, man, they know I get down. I know a place here, I know an owner who would let me use his gym if we need to settle anything. So they can take it whatever. That play was dirty.”
Everywhere Pham has played, he’s made headlines, and most of them not for his play on the field. It’s only fitting that he ended up on the White Sox, who share this unfortunate trait. Sunday’s incident in Milwaukee was just the latest White Sox news that has fans past the point of anger.
White Sox Have More Problems Than Pham Alone
Maybe the only thing worse than Pham’s antics was having to hear Sox play-by-play announcer John Schriffen commentate on it. The first-year newcomer to the broadcast booth has already made a series of laughable and cringe-worthy calls that have fans calling for his exit. He also made a thinly veiled comment on-air that has created a feud with the popular Chicago sports radio station 670 The Score.
“Nah we ain’t taking that from the Brewers. I don’t care how many Ls we got this year”
The White Sox booth was HEATED after Tommy Pham got thrown out
pic.twitter.com/nLAOyq5FY5— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) June 2, 2024
The White Sox were supposed to be in their window of opportunity in 2024. Instead, fans are now calling for the sale of the team amid frustration with owner Jerry Reinsdorf. Distractions such as Schriffen in the booth, or Pham picking fights, are not what the White Sox need. Their season is lost, but the organization’s integrity doesn’t need to go with it. If the biggest takeaway from the 2024 White Sox is that Tommy Pham is always down to fight, maybe Sox fans are right about the state of the franchise.
Photo Credit: © Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
