This was not a plug-pulling

The Trib called the trades of Jim Thome and Jose Contreras “pulling the plug” on the season.

Really?

First, I would argue the players pulled the plug by deciding not to win any games.  They’re 1-8 on their road trip so far, and things don’t look to get any better with two more in the Metrodome.

But that aside:  will the loss of Thome and Contreras really affect the team that much?  Raise  your hand if you’re going to miss Contreras at all.  That’s what I thought.  The “pitcher” was consistently abysmal the last few months – and every start he somehow seemed to get worse.

As for Thome: the team isn’t worse without him.  He was an extra bat, sure, but he wasn’t playing every day and his departure lets the team replace either Jermaine Dye or Paul Konero – the obvious choices for replacement DH – with better fielding players like Marc Kotsay and Alex Rios.  (Neither of whom are slouches at the plate.)

My reaction to the trade wasn’t shock or disappointment – I started to giggle.  “Really?  There’s a team out there that gave up a prospect to land Jose Contreras?”  “Uh, Thome’s going to the National League?  Good luck in the field, buddy.”  These pieces once fit snugly in the White Sox puzzle.  Now they’re superfluous.  They’ll be missed less than you can imagine.  Now if only the team could win a game…