Kenny not planning to blow up Sox just yet -- and Ozzie's staying

Posted May 19, 2010 11:00 pm

Scot Gregor

It's funny how one vague answer to a simple question can create such a frenzy.

Not that general manager Kenny Williams was laughing about it Wednesday before the White Sox lost to the Angels 3-2 at U.S. Cellular Field.

Asked by a Chicago reporter by e-mail over the weekend if he was losing patience with the struggling Sox, Williams replied: "Yes."

"One simple word, I figured I couldn't do too much damage with one simple word," Williams said. "I since learned that even a one-word answer can be interpreted in a completely wrong way."

In other words, so to speak, Williams in not planning to trade the majority of his veteran players and rebuild the White Sox.

During a 25-minute pregame team meeting he called Wednesday, Williams did most of the talking.

"I told (the players) straight out that I've been called on a couple guys," Williams said. "I told them (GMs), 'Wait a sec. We usually make these calls. You're calling me? No, it doesn't work that way.' So they've been told 'thank you, but no thank you.'

"That's the end of it. We still expect to win."

Not only does Williams expect to win, he expects Ozzie Guillen to remain as manager indefinitely and the Sox' coaching staff to stay intact as well.

"No one here has to guess what's on my mind," Williams said. "And the first people who get the benefit of the philosophy are the players and my coaching staff.

"So I explained to them that I've not had one single conversation in terms of making a change of the managerial position or any other coaching position.

"I've got faith in these guys, and I've still got confidence in knowing there are guys that our struggling, but there also are some guys that are performing well. The players are the ones who have to step up, and they know that. You don't have to tell the players that. They know that."

Williams did have to tell his 25 players some things, though.

"In a nutshell, it was 25 minutes of touching on various subjects, ranging from attention to detail, preparation," he said. "That's where we've dug ourselves a hole, and the only way we'll come out of this hole is if we're smarter than the next club, if we pay more attention to the fundamentals, if we're diligent about our work.

"And you know what? Lighten up a little bit. There are some guys that we need to lighten up a bit and remember that we're playing a game."

If the White Sox don't start winning, Williams' next message figures to be much more harsh.

"They understood any trade speculation or anything that as been out there has not been initiated by me," Williams said. "And it won't be until they show me there's a reason to do that. I'm not giving up faith on this club."

Scot Gregor's game tracker

Tough luck: John Danks took the loss after allowing 3 runs (2 earned) on 3 hits in 72/3 innings. The left-hander has lost his last 3 starts despite allowing 7 earned runs in 212/3 innings (2.91 ERA).

Muff it up: The Sox committed a season-high 3 errors. Two came on the same play in the eighth inning, by third baseman Jayson Nix, allowing the Angels to score the deciding run.

Catch of the day: Left fielder Juan Pierre made a standout catch for the second time in as many games, robbing Juan Rivera of a home run in the fifth inning.