Jermaine Dye: A Tribute
The White Sox announced today that they will not renew the $ 12 million 2010 option on RF Jermaine Dye. The Sox have paid $ 1 million to buy out Dye, making him a free agent for the 2010 season. Statements made by Kenny Williams and earlier by Ozzie Guillen make it sound like JD will not be playing on the South Side any longer starting in 2010. Dye had a horrible second half in 2009, when he hit under .200 as the Sox faded out of contention. Yes, the move makes sense, but despite that, it’s hard for a hardcore Sox fan to swallow. Why? because Dye has epitomized everything that my White Sox team has been about during their great run from 2005-2009.
During the four year stretch from 2005-2008, the White Sox won a World Series, a division championship, and had another 90 win season. Jermaine Dye hit .284 and averaged just over 34 HR and 95 RBi in that stretch, and went almost completely unnoticed by the national media. He also won the World Series MVP in 2005. He took Roger Clemens long to get the Sox rolling in Game One, and drove in Willie Harris with the game and series winning RBI single in Game Four. JD also played a stellar right field, even if his range diminished a bit over the years. He made lots of spectacular catches, hit the cutoff man, and played hard all of the time.
Dye also won a Roberto Clemente award and was nominated for another for his outstanding charity work off of the field. Jermaine never whined, never called out the fans, and keep his head up even when he was benched in the second half of 2009 in the midst of a horrible slump.
Yes, Sox fans have loved their team lately due to a recent World Series championship and another division title. Several fans, myself included, also have loved this team recently because of players like JD, who are very very likeable. It’s easy to cheer for guys like Dye, Konerko, Buerhle, Thome, Crede, Rowand and Jenks and others. Ozzie Guillen may make innapropriate comments and look like an ass at times, but his players do not. They respect the game, play hard, and don’t throw tantrums like so may other big leaguers do (i.e. 9 miles north of U.S. Cellular Field). Jermaine Dye was a leader by example, put up great numbers, and never embarrased himself or the White Sox. It is for these reasoons more than any that he will be sorely missed, and will always be one of my favorite White Sox players of all time.
