While playing blame game, let’s not forget Williams
Ozzie wants this, and Ozzie said that.
Ozzie’s coming back next season. Ozzie’s going to get fired. Ozzie’s going to be traded to the Marlins.
It’s been all Ozzie Guillen all the time for a better part of a month now, and as the White Sox return home to close out the season following Thursday night’s 11-2 loss at Cleveland, expect more of the same over the final six games.
Guillen’s future is up in the air, even though he is signed through 2012.
We’ve laid out all of the possibilities with Ozzie, and we’ll sit back and see what Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf decides to do.
The same goes with general manager Kenny Williams.
Criticize Guillen all you want for the White Sox’ disappointing season — and many have, repeatedly — but don’t forget about Williams.
Think about it ... how do you properly manage a player like Adam Dunn?
Williams doggedly pursued the alleged left-handed slugger at the 2010 trade deadline and failed to make a deal.
In the off-season, Williams went after Dunn again and signed the free agent to a four-year, $56 million contract.
What about Alex Rios?
He’s another player Williams had on the radar, and Rios was claimed off waivers from the Blue Jays late in the 2009 season.
The center fielder was very good last year, batting .284 with 21 home runs, 88 RBI and 34 stolen bases. The latter two stats were career highs.
Williams was looking pretty smart in 2010, but he’s looked foolish for assuming the big contract this season as Rios is batting .224 with 12 homers, 42 RBI and 11 steals.
What about Jake Peavy?
Like Dunn, he’s another guy Williams twice went after. The White Sox’ GM missed on his first attempt in May 2009, but Peavy gave in and waived his no-trade clause two months later.
It’s been one injury after another with Peavy the last two seasons, and now the Sox can only hope the 30-year-old starting pitcher stays healthy enough next year to earn his $17 million salary.
There have been plenty of other muffs by Williams in recent seasons — Scott Linebrink, Mark Teahen, the Daniel Hudson-for-Edwin Jackson trade, Manny Ramirez and drafting Gordon Beckham No. 8 overall in 2008.
In fairness to Williams, most of the moves looked good at the time, and it is up to the players to go out and perform.
To nearly a man, the Sox have failed miserably in that department this season.
Guillen understands how the game works, and he is prepared to be fired.
Williams said much the same thing on Aug. 30.
“I’ve got to sit down with Jerry (Reinsdorf) at the end of the season,” Williams said. “At this point in time, we’re an underachieving club. So that means players, coaches, the manager and myself, we’re all under review. This is professional sports. I would hope whenever the door is shown to us (Williams and Guillen), maybe we walk out that door together. Everyone has an expiration date.”
sgregor@dailyherald.com