Sox believe Guillen will win again
Somebody is going to pay the price for the White Sox' worst season in 18 years. It won't be manager Ozzie Guillen.
In a season gone horribly wrong, Guillen on Tuesday emerged with a contract extension that could keep him in a Sox uniform through 2012.
Clearly, the effervescent manager is not being blamed for the performance of a roster stacked with unproven players. While also a safe distance away from the firing line, White Sox general manager Kenny Williams again took the blame for a year to forget.
"The problems that we are having right now, I simply do not believe that they are problems that are with our coaching staff or with our manager,'' Williams said before the last-place Sox played the first-place Indians at U.S. Cellular Field. "You can take that how you want to take that. I have already said previously that I put all that weight on my shoulders.
"I'm the one that has to put them in a better position to win baseball games, and that means going out and making the necessary adjustments to get this team where we are better and get guys back up to their normal level of production.''
With the off-season looming, Williams likely is faced with the challenge of finding a center fielder, shortstop, second baseman, two or three reliable relief pitchers and some capable reserve players.
That's a lengthy list, but at least Williams won't have to shop for a manager.
"I could not imagine anyone who would give us a better chance to do (win),'' Williams said of Guillen. "The passion is still there to bring a championship to Chicago. Obviously that remains our primary goal and primary focus.
"I know it is difficult to tell in a season like this, but I'm looking for things that I think the mass of people aren't looking for. He is actually becoming a better manager.''
Guillen, who guided the White Sox to the 2005 World Series championship, initially was signed through next season, with a club option for 2009.
An extension rumor surfaced last week, but Guillen said a formal proposal didn't come until Monday night. He agreed to the new deal Tuesday morning.
"It's a good day for me, if we win,'' said Guillen, nearing the end of this fourth year in the Sox' dugout. The Sox fell 8-3 to the Indians. "I'm just happy Kenny and Jerry (Reinsdorf) believe what we can do here together as a group. I think they give me another chance to do what we're supposed to do as a winning organization.''
The irony of getting a contract extension while managing a last-place team was not lost on Guillen.
"I think I should be criticized for the way we've played this year,'' he said. "I've taken a lot of heat, and I don't blame the people for putting me on the spot because of the way we've played. I always take the blame when we're not playing the way we should be playing. The most important thing for me is to have success and win games.
"If I don't win games, I should be criticized. But they gave me an opportunity to stay a little longer. We don't win games, sorry, hopefully we do better next year. It's my job to get better next year.''
Starting pitcher Mark Buehrle and right fielder Jermaine Dye also agreed to contract extensions earlier in the season. Both took less money to remain with the White Sox, and Guillen's presence was a huge factor.
"He makes it easier for you to go out there and play,'' Dye said. "He knows the game and he knows what players go through. With him being the manager and the amount of talent we have in this clubhouse, that's one of the reasons why I stayed.''
"I think it's a step in the right direction. Lock up the manager and go out and build a team under him and see what happens.''