As exciting as the past month has been for White Sox fans, there also has been an eagerness to see Kyle Teel fully recovered from the hamstring strain he suffered during the World Baseball Classic.
Now, Teel will have to wait longer to return after spraining a ligament in his right knee while playing in a rehab game at Triple-A Charlotte. The official timeline is three to six weeks. Teel then was transferred to the 60-day injured list after the Sox traded for left-handed pitcher Joe Rock, costing him his spot on the 40-man roster.
This was particularly tough for Sox fans who have grown increasingly frustrated with the team's catching situation. Edgar Quero, the man who was slated to compete for starts with Teel at that position. Despite being given more of an audition than expected, Quero has not pulled his weight, slashing .167/.252/.208.
Many Sox fans now would rather see Drew Romo behind the plate. Since being called up a month into the season, he hasn't hit for average much better at .178, but he has four home runs and seven RBIs in only 15 games. By contrast, Quero's only home run this season was his walk-off bomb that clinched the crosstown series against the Cubs.
With an unexpected playoff position suddenly at stake, the Sox can't afford to have any dead weight in their lineup. It remains a young season, and the last thing they need is to put someone in the lineup every day that they know isn't contributing a whole lot.
Of course, there's no guarantee that Teel makes a big splash when and if he comes back this season. The injuries he suffered can take a toll on someone who plays his position. Still, a lot of fans believe Teel even at 50% would provide a lot more needed production than Quero currently is while fully healthy.
If the Sox were on track for a fourth straight 100-loss season, perhaps this conversation would be slightly different. As it is though, a postseason opportunity has fallen into the Sox's lap. That shifts expectations significantly, including and especially when it comes to who they're trotting out to play one of baseball's most important positions.
The best the Sox can hope for now is for Teel to come back for the final two months of the regular season and the final playoff push. That might as good as anyone they acquire at the trade deadline. And yes, that sounds cliche. But sometimes, cliches can be applied appropriately as one is here.
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