Cincinnati Reds' Jonathan India is congratulated by teammates in the dugout after his solo home run in the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Friday, July 30, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
Tommy Pham edge injury might not be enough to dent White Sox’ trade chances.
Tommy Pham’s got edge?
Yeah, we know. The Chicago White Sox know. The whole of Major League Baseball knows.
Pham’s a 36-year-old veteran of 11 big league seasons, a known commodity who has both helped teams to playoff runs and turned in disappointing results, all while establishing a reputation throughout the game.
For fans, that reputation looks a lot like what happened Sunday in Milwaukee, when Pham was thrown out easily on an aggressive send on a shallow fly ball, took a disliking to William Contreras’ celebration, needed to be restrained by his hitting coach, took the field shadowboxing and spent his postgame media session advertising that he’s always ready “prepared to f— somebody up.”
But Pham’s edge has been lauded by baseball folks, a part of his game that seems to be a desired ingredient for a team trying to win.
“He does have an edge to him that many don’t have,” Pedro Grifol said before Tuesday’s game. “I love that part of the game about him because it’s not just an edge in situations like that. That edge is in the cage, that edge is (while going over scouting) reports when he’s reading them and preparing for a game. That edge is in meetings when he’s saying what he needs to say and holding everybody accountable. That’s not just him in that situation (in Milwaukee). That’s how he is 24/7.
“Me as a manager, I respect it. I think every club needs it. There’s nothing like a player with an edge that holds everybody accountable, including staff or whoever. I respect him. I’m happy he’s here.”
Of course, Pham isn’t expected to be here for long.
The White Sox seemingly signed him to trade him, and it’s a bet that has looked likely to pay off, at least so far. While Pham’s bat has cooled after a hot start upon his donning of a White Sox uniform, that reputation and track record — as a professional hitter who wound up a middle-of-the-order presence for a Diamondbacks team that nearly won last fall’s World Series — figures to spark interest before the trade deadline at the end of July.
And indeed, Pham’s headline-making moments Sunday don’t seem likely to deter folks, either. After all, this is what Brewers manager Pat Murphy had to say after the game:
“Tommy is just trying to say, ‘I can play for you guys, man. Bring me over there. See, I’m just like you, I can do that.’ I like Tommy Pham. He’s been criticized, I know, for a number of things, but he plays with intensity and competes hard.”
