Emma: White Sox Won't Give Up, Even As Management Plans To Sell

By Chris Emma--

CHICAGO (CBS) -- While anticipation built outside U.S. Cellular Field as the Crosstown Classic arrived Monday, the White Sox's clubhouse was rather quiet and mostly empty.

Three-and-a-half hours before the rivalry was to be renewed between the Cubs and White Sox, a home clubhouse that's usually filled with energy was without much of a peep. Players were hiding out as the media came looking for answers to the latest controversy.

Here are the White Sox, 6.5 games back of a wild-card spot and 8.5 back of the AL Central lead. They entered Monday at 48-50 and with trade winds blowing. The White Sox faced a bleak outlook even before ace left-hander Chris Sale cut up the team's 1976 throwback jerseys in a protest Saturday, then was sent home and suspended.

The White Sox started this season with the whirlwind of the Drake LaRoche saga and subsequent Adam LaRoche retirement that led to Sale's first protest against the organization. They went 23-10 to start the season, endured a tailspin from there and have danced around the .500 mark ever since.

"It's go time," White Sox third baseman Todd Frazier said. "We have a little over two months left. It's time to make a push. We have to get after it and start winning series like we did before the All-Star break."

Frazier's optimistic outlook is admirable. The White Sox need it, too, because they have every reason to hang their heads. They lost five of six to open the second half, and general manager Rick Hahn made it known that players are available, including Frazier. After Sale cut up the jerseys, they went on to win two games.

During their batches of hope this season, the White Sox traded for right-hander James Shields, called up shortstop Tim Anderson and signed designated hitter Justin Morneau. They wanted to patchwork a contender after starting hot. Sticking to White Sox organizational philosophy, they were going for it again.

Now, the White Sox are looking for a last-ditch effort to salvage their season before the trade deadline next Monday. It starts against the Cubs and their best record in baseball. Gone are the discussions of adding Jay Bruce or Carlos Gonzalez, as Hahn is taking calls on Sale and left-hander Jose Quintana while viewing Frazier, Morneau, first baseman Jose Abreu, outfielder Adam Eaton and just about anybody else as trade chips.

"Our job is to play baseball," Morneau said. "We can't really control if you're going to get traded unless you have a no-trade clause."

Added Frazier about the possibility of being traded: "Who, me? Oh, really? I haven't really kept up in it."

The White Sox are 27th in positional WAR at a lowly 5.7 mark. Their strong rotation and All-Star tandem of Sale and Quintana hasn't been enough to make up for a lineup that just hasn't been good enough. The struggles of Abreu are a great concern, and Frazier's .210 average hasn't helped anything. They were supposed to be the White Sox's biggest bats on offense.

Frankly, there have been problems all across the lineup for the White Sox. A comeback in the standings isn't likely. Of course, the White Sox players are committed to fighting for 2016.

"That's what we're here for," said Morneau, who was brought in to help a contender. "I don't think anybody in here shows up not expecting to win and not expecting to play the way the team played earlier in the year."

Added White Sox manager Robin Ventura: "They're resilient. Any time something happens, which we had the other day (in the Sale incident) or earlier in the year (with the LaRoche exit), they bounce back and they play well."

Ventura's status as the fifth-year manager is among many questions facing this team. If the organization was truly dedicated to contending, Ventura may have been fired. Their current approach for reshaping a contender went halfway -- and certainly not any closer in the standings.

Saturday's incident with Sale was just the latest in a bizarre White Sox season. One of the team's most important players and greatest leaders acted in an unfortunate matter over an unimportant detail. He put his teammates and organization in a difficult spot -- as if things weren't bad enough.

Once again, the White Sox were an embarrassment -- a laughingstock for the baseball world.

The White Sox are positioned to sell, whether it's Sale or Quintana, Frazier or Abreu, or just about anyone else who could bring a rebuild to the south side. That would seem to be the wise maneuver after a difficult stretch proved what this team really is.

Players can launch their newest and most important protest to the White Sox organization by winning games and proving this team can contend. They believe it can happen, but it's certainly not very likely.

"There's no more looking back -- could've, would've, should've," Frazier said. "It's that time. Two month's push."

Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago's sports scene and more for CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670 and like his Facebook page.