What can Sox expect on defense in 2010?

As much as people like to take pokes at him, Kenny Williams' track record is superb.

The White Sox GM finds diamonds where others find only rough, he's confident in the face of criticism, and, above all else, he remains the only general manager in the last 193 years of combined Chicago baseball to win a World Series.

But Williams and Ozzie Guillen were wrong about Alexei Ramirez at shortstop this year. In his first major-league season at the position, Ramirez was awful in the field until recently, when he has been a bit better.

The Sox are saying he'll be back at short, leaving their best defensive player - and natural shortstop - Gordon Beckham at third base.

Granted, it would be unfair - and maybe disastrous - to ask Ramirez to move again, to second or third, which would mark three position switches in three years for Ramirez.

At least Ramirez admitted a few weeks ago that it was a tougher adjustment than he expected, and that he will need more work at the position.

But Ramirez is hardly the only problem.

"We're somewhere around the 70 unearned run mark. That's disturbing," Williams said Wednesday. "But some of these things are growing pains.

"We tried to go with a little more youth, a little more speed. Sometimes, that has resulted in some miscues here and there.

"But we're certainly getting a much better defensive effort of late, knock on wood."

Crossing your fingers is a good start, but it's scary to think of the Sox' defense if Ramirez and a couple of others don't take big steps forward defensively in 2010.

Williams sounds confident the coaches will stress more fundamentals next season, get the players on the field earlier on game days to get them engaged sooner, and even take pregame infield practice, something - sadly - few teams do anymore.

A lot of this sounds like basic mental preparation that is the responsibility of the manager, and so maybe a new strategy is necessary.

Maybe it will help, too. It has to, because the defense as a whole absolutely killed the Sox in 2009.

If it's bad again next season, the Sox will also be home in October again.

Moving van

It has been obvious for more than a month that Milton Bradley wouldn't be back with the Cubs next year under any circumstances.

All that has changed in the last few days is Bradley has made it more difficult for the Cubs to get a trading partner to pay some of his remaining salary.

It's just one final "thank you" to the Cubs and their fans from a man they handed $30 million.

In any case, e-mailer Sanjay H., my favorite GM not working in baseball today, has been on the case since we started discussing a Bradley exit plan in July, and in this latest installment he revisits the Todd Hundley for Eric Karros and Mark Grudzielanek trade of December 2002, also engineered by Jim Hendry.

Considered unmovable, Hundley was owed $12 million over two years, and the Dodgers were on the hook for $13 million for Karros and Grudzielanek for one year.

The Dodgers wanted immediate financial help, while the Cubs were looking at the year after.

Similarly, Detroit now owes Magglio Ordonez $18 million for 2010, and the Tigers need payroll space next season.

The Cubs could take on that contract, give them Bradley ($9 million next year and $12 million in 2011) and gain financial flexibility when Ordonez leaves after the 2010 season, giving them cash on hand for free agents like Ted Lilly and Derrek Lee.

Fine print

Ordonez does have a vesting option for $15 million (2011) based on 135 starts or 540 plate appearances in 2010, or 270 starts or 1,080 plate appearances in 2009-10.

So the Cubs would have to let him know ahead of time that they don't intend to let him get much past what he's doing this year, which will be roughly 130 starts and 500 plate appearances.

Tiger tales

Tiger Woods was spotted on the Colts' sideline Monday night in Miami, and he was asked in Atlanta on Wednesday about the difference between watching Peyton Manning and Michael Jordan.

"Well, no one's trying to rip Jordan's head off, maybe unless he's playing the Pistons," Woods laughed. "But overall it's just amazing the speed and how fast a decision (Manning) has to make. You know he's got to throw it, and you still can't stop him. That's impressive."

Nice tribute

Denis Savard's "Our Douglas," so named in honor of his friend - injured jockey Rene Douglas - won in a romp as a huge favorite (3-5) Sunday at Arlington Park with Junior Alvarado aboard.

Play action

From Daily Herald political blog, Animal Farm: "Mike Ditka campaigns for public office are a lot like Walter Payton Super Bowl touchdowns. A lot of people wish they existed but they don't and for the same reason - Mike Ditka."

Just asking

At this point, who would you say is less interested in his own opinion at postgame news conferences, Lou Piniella or Jay Cutler?

Best headline

Sportspickle.com: "Lane Kiffin accuses Florida of recruiting better players."

And finally -

E-mailer Arlington Heights John: "I'm surprised the White Sox ate Bartolo Colon's contract. Only surprised that Bartolo didn't eat it first."

brozner@dailyherald.com