White Sox GM not thinking about awards
Kenny Williams wasn’t biting.
When asked about the possibility of being named Executive of the Year — assuming the White Sox don’t tank over the final quarter of the season — Williams dismissed any speculation.
“It’s not going to happen,” he said. “If you don’t win it when you win a World Series, you ain’t going to win it.”
The Sox won the World Series in 2005, but Cleveland’s Mark Shapiro was named baseball’s top GM by Baseball America. The Indians finished second to the White Sox in the AL Central that season.
If the Sox hang on and finish in first place again this season, you have to figure Wiliams has a good shot at winning the award.
“You know, I guess we haven’t slowed down … maybe at the end of the year that’s something you can take a look at,” Williams said.
“But if I wasn’t listening to all the things people were saying, the outlook for this season was less than bright, then I’m certainly not going to listen now and don’t have the time to listen now when we’re in a fight of our lives with Detroit.
“Thanks, I guess, but here’s what I know, too, especially around here … one bad week and I’ll be back to being the village idiot pretty quickly.”
Considering the White Sox were not even considered marginal contenders heading into the season, you would think Williams would be enjoying life atop the AL Central, even if it is by a narrow margin over the Tigers.
Again, not true.
“I enjoyed one season, but that was at the end for about a couple days,” Williams said of 2005. “I’ve said it before, I still haven’t learned how to do this job the way that it brings satisfaction.
“When we lose, I agonize way much more than the celebration when we win. I’m happy when we win, but we start immediately focusing on the next game and how we’re going to win that game. I’m working on it.”
In his 12th season as general manager, Williams has no designs on a career change.
“Have you seen what’s happening in the economy?” he joked. “It’s hard to find a job out there right now. This is what I do. I take great pride in what we managed to do here and keeping competitive through the years, but there is still work to do.
“When I sat down for that first press conference, when I was appointed this position, I didn’t talk about one championship. I said multiple championships. People laughed, but I meant that.
“That’s what keeps driving me.”