CLEVELAND -- The schedule will be the ultimate judge of the 2008 White Sox.

But to believe their many critics, the Sox will not only fail this year, but fail so miserably that they ought to wipe from their résumé the 2005 World Series title and the 90 wins they took down the following season.

That's how brutally negative the perception is of this year's club, not to mention the ability of team management to build a successful program, or even a successful season.

"This is about as bad as it's ever been during the time I can remember,'' said White Sox GM Kenny Williams. "I'll tell you, I want to have another parade, and when we have another parade on the South Side, then I'll really tell people what I think.''

Is it so bad that it would ever cause Williams to leave the job?

"Leave the job or leave Chicago?'' Williams asked, lobbing a bomb in return. "I better not answer that.''

Williams didn't have to. His question and reply was a clear indication he'd love to stuff another title in their Christmas Sox, and then perhaps head for a new destination, if not a new administrative position.

He has hinted in past winters about having grown tired of the personal attacks on his character and on owner Jerry Reinsdorf and others about whom he cares deeply.

But he no longer sounds like a man aiming to alter perception.

"I try to differentiate between the job and the stresses of the job, and remember there are people who have real stresses in life,'' Williams said. "I try to navigate the changes in sports and the changes in media and how people do their jobs.

"But in the end, if I do my best to put the very best team I can on the field, then it doesn't matter who says what, or who writes what, or how the team performs, because I've done my best to give us a chance to win and I can hold my head high.''

The good news for Sox fans is that the flood of negativity hasn't been lost on the 25-man roster.

"As difficult as it's been to absorb the criticism, I think this team is motivated by what they've heard and seen,'' Williams said. "They're aware of what's being said about them. There are some proud guys on this team, and some champions who don't like what they've been called.

"They're going to try hard to prove people wrong.''

A quick poll of the players found agreement.

"People think we (stink),'' said A.J. Pierzynski. "The guys in this room don't agree, and we'll just have to prove people wrong. We plan to do that.''

This is more than just the eternal White Sox inferiority complex. There was a palpable feeling this spring that the Sox were relegated to last place before camp even began, while the Cubs were crowned NL champs.

It may turn out just that way, but in the meantime the Sox are, in many ways, an afterthought.

"I love Opening Day because all the predictions don't matter and nothing I say matters anymore,'' Williams laughed. "No one will be interested in me again until July.''

By then, the gray skies of April will be a distant memory, and preseason forecasts will be as clear as a sunny summer afternoon.

"Predictions are great, and we'll see what happens,'' Williams said. "Some other teams are finding out now what it means to be the World Series favorite.''

"That ain't so easy,'' chimed in manager Ozzie Guillen. "Sometimes it's better to be someone no one thinks about. It's not so easy to have people put the World Series (tag) on you when you haven't even played a game.''

The Sox had that the year after they won, and found it to be heavier than the piano on Paul Konerko's back.

"The weight of the world is on the team the next year,'' Williams said. "The thing we found out was that there's no manual, no map for what to do after winning a baseball championship in Chicago, so we had to learn a few things.

"We won the World Series and we won 90 games the next year and we were embarrassed last year, but the perception is like we've been garbage since we won it all, and that's not exactly accurate.''

And so one more time, Williams travels the high road, as he generally does, while others select an avenue considerably lower.

The next time the White Sox secure a title, Williams may choose an entirely different path.

brozner@dailyherald.com