Give Guillen another chance

DETROIT -- When the White Sox beat the Houston Astros in Game 4 of the 2005 World Series to complete the sweep, there was a predictable celebration scrum in the middle of Minute Maid Park.

Conspicuous in his absence was Ozzie Guillen. Then again, the White Sox' manager was simply conducting himself like he did throughout the season.

When the Sox were running away in the AL Central, Guillen gave his players all the credit. When they nearly blew a 15½-game lead, he took the blame.

Many managers try to act the same way, but Guillen is actually able to pull it off.

This season, Guillen has stood up and taken hit after hit as the White Sox have absorbed loss after loss.

Last week, his patience finally wore thin, and he ripped into his lifeless team following an extra-inning loss at Texas.

There were some critics who thought Guillen finally lost his mind.

"Get rid of him."

Others wondered how Guillen's outburst would play with his players.

"That's it, he's lost the team.''

Let's address the first reaction first.

Yes, Guillen can go off deeper ends than most, but he is not some raving madman. If he's guilty if anything, it's caring too much.

As for the second reaction, how can you lose a team that has been lost for the past three months, if not longer?

Missing edgy players like Carl Everett, Aaron Rowand, Orlando "El Duque'' Hernandez that were fixtures on the World Series team, Guillen has pretty much been left alone this year in the fire department.

There were probably some snickers on Tuesday when WMVP 1000-AM reported the Sox are likely to reward Guillen with a contract extension after the season ends.

The White Sox have the fourth-highest payroll in baseball, but they headed into Wednesday's game against the Tigers with the second-worst record overall.

Do the math, and it's clear managers get fired for those kinds of statistics, not extended.

But this is a different situation.

Guillen insists any manager is only as good as the talent out on the field.

Well, the Sox are not very talented this season, thanks to a series of miscalculations by general manager Kenny Williams and a rash of injuries.

How far have the once-mighty Sox fallen this season? Just look at Wednesday night's lineup.

Gavin Floyd started the game and Donny Lucy was behind the plate. Jerry Owens started in center field, Andy Gonzalez was at third base and Danny Richar was the second baseman.

All told, the White Sox have 16 players who were in the minor leagues when the season started.

More than a few managers would probably tender their resignations if they had to fill in lineups like that, but Guillen has done it every day for months.

Williams is determined to fill in most -- if not all -- of the holes during the off-season. He has not handled the White Sox' worst season since 1989 very well.

Williams deserves another chance to get it right. And Guillen deserves another chance to put the Sox' house back in order.