Tweet dreams for Guillen: he has the team he wants

This is the team Ozzie Guillen has been waiting to manage.

The White Sox are loaded with quality starting pitchers, headed by Jake Peavy. They should be much better defensively with Alex Rios in center field, Carlos Quentin shifting from left field to right, Mark Teahen taking over at third base and Gordon Beckham moving from third to second base.

And the offense - far and away the Sox' biggest concern - at least seems to have the potential to manufacture runs rather than sitting back and waiting on the home run.

When Guillen addressed his players before the first full-squad workout of spring training last month, he let them know expectations are high this season.

"Those are two different things, when you prepare to play every day and when you prepare to win every day," Guillen said. "I wanted to keep it on those guys' mind that we came here to win. We didn't come here just to have a season."

What kind of season is Guillen going to have? It should be a good one.

He pushed for the White Sox to eschew using a full-time designated hitter this year and that gives Guillen more options elsewhere.

Instead of worrying about Jim Thome's health and ability to put the ball in play, Guillen has a revolving list of DHs.

Against right-handed starters, he can use Mark Kotsay. Against left-handers, Andruw Jones.

Guillen plans on using as many as six designated hitters this season, with Paul Konerko, Carlos Quentin, Juan Pierre and Omar Vizquel also in the mix.

Unlike past seasons when Thome and Frank Thomas served as full-time DHs, Guillen can mix and match now and actually do some managing.

What's Ozzie's biggest concern? Other than his Twitter account - we'll get to that in a moment - it has to be the bullpen.

As he enters his seventh season in the Sox' dugout, the 46-year-old Guillen has often talked about how difficult it is to handle relief pitchers.

The White Sox have the best starting rotation in the AL Central and the bullpen should also be at the top of the division now that the Twins have lost all-star closer Joe Nathan.

But what if Bobby Jenks carries his Cactus League troubles into the regular season? What if J.J. Putz is too rusty to step up and pitch the ninth inning? What if Scott Linebrink can't get anybody out again?

They are only questions now, but they could develop into major headaches.

What the tweet? That's been the biggest question during spring training.

To refresh, quickly, Guillen was at the center of a Twitter "controversy" a few weeks ago when he decided to open an account on the social media site.

There was also a flap with a Web site he wanted to launch, and the topper came on Friday when Guillen's middle son, Oney, resigned from his scouting position with the White Sox after his "tweets" were apparently deemed too negative by management.

There always seem to be strange storm clouds hovering over Guillen, but they pass quickly and then another one comes along.

How long is Ozzie going to manage? On Jerry Reinsdorf's 74th birthday (Feb. 25) Guillen again expressed his loyalty to the Sox' longtime chairman.

"There's one thing for sure, Ozzie's not going anywhere as long as Jerry is alive unless they fire me, then that's a different thing," Guillen said. "I don't think anybody out there has enough money to buy myself to go someplace else. As long as Jerry's here, I don't think I'm going to walk away from here for any reason.

"As long as Jerry is still alive, he can count on I'm going to be here for him."

Reinsdorf is showing no signs of slowing down and he plans to continue running the White Sox and Bulls instead of choosing retirement.

Could Guillen get fired? Anything is possible, and tensions have been running a little higher than usual between Guillen and general manager Kenny Williams, who is another Type A personality.

But Guillen and Williams have had their disagreements in the past and they too have quickly dissolved.

At the end of the day, it's all about winning and losing and that's where Guillen is going to be judged.

If he doesn't contend with this team, which is loaded with pitching and competing in the AL's weakest division, Guillen is really going to have something to tweet about.

<p class="factboxtext12col"><b>Where we rank the top managers:</b></p>

<p class="factboxtext12col">1. Ron Gardenhire, Twins</p>

<p class="factboxtext12col">2. Mike Scioscia, Angels</p>

<p class="factboxtext12col">3. Joe Maddon, Rays</p>

<p class="factboxtext12col">5. OZZIE GUILLEN, WHITE SOX</p>

<p class="factboxtext12col">- Scot Gregor</p>