Victories the perfect tonic for Sox
Winning usually cures any and all problems. The rift between White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen and GM Kenny Williams is a perfect example.
After exchanging harsh words less than two weeks ago, the two are back to being buddies again - thanks to the Sox' six-game winning streak.
"Ozzie always says, 'Show me a team that lost 105 games that had good chemistry,' " White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf told reporters Saturday. "When you're winning, everything is great. Everyone loves everybody and you all get along. When you're losing and you don't understand why you're losing ... you (reporters) have been here when we've had bad years. But you know going into those years you're not going to be good. But you understand it.
"This year, we felt we were going to be much better than we played, and so it gets on your nerves and makes people somewhat jumpy. I haven't been all that much fun to be around. So, if we keep winning, everything will be great. If we come back and win the division, you'll be writing what great chemistry there is on this team."
Guillen was again asked about his relationship with Williams on Sunday before the Sox completed a three-game sweep over the Nationals.
"I don't have anything against Kenny, a lot of miscommunication, misunderstanding, a lot of disagreements, but that's part of my job, that's part of our job," Guillen said. "I think to me that thing's way behind. Maybe because we've won a couple games the last two weeks it makes things better, but I think if we want to make this work, I have to do my job, he has to do his job.
"We've got to communicate about the ballclub, do what we're supposed to do as a friendship, hopefully get better. It's not 100 percent better but it's getting there."
Looking ahead: In his talk with reporters Saturday, White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf was asked about Paul Konerko and A.J. Pierzynski, who are both eligible for free agency at the end of the season.
"I love both those guys, especially A.J., because he's got my kind of sense of humor," Reinsdorf said. "But I'm not the guy that makes that kind of decision. I give Kenny (Williams) a total budget and then he has to figure out how he allocates his resources. If either of those guys are not here next year, I'll be unhappy because I like them both.
"But there are only so many dollars to spend and Kenny has to allocate the dollars. We've been for a number of years in the top echelon of payrolls or at least in the top quarter almost every year."