White Sox pick up Guillen's option

A few hours before he was roasted in Elk Grove Village on Friday night, manager Ozzie Guillen was toasted at SoxFest.

Before they took questions from fans at the Palmer House Hilton, White Sox general manager Kenny Williams called Guillen aside and told him the 2012 club option on his contract is being picked up.

“I'm very excited about it,” said Guillen, who celebrated his 47th birthday Thursday. “I called my wife (Ibis) and let her know what we just did and she started crying. I don't know if she started crying because she was happy. But this is the thing we had in our mind.

“We know what we want. We know how much we love this city. The only thing they did was give me another opportunity and show how much confidence they have in me and my coaching staff, to be a face, be the guy on the ballclub.”

Among the many distractions dogging the Sox last season, Guillen's uncertain future was a major one.

Had the White Sox won the AL Central this year, the 2012 option would have automatically kicked in.

But Guillen was already dreading the potential questions that would have come during an extended losing streak, so now he can relax and focus on leading a team that many expect to win the division title.

“I've never doubted the man's managerial ability and ability to put people together,” said Williams, who had more than a few public clashes with Guillen last season.

“But sometimes, listen, we can all get off track a little bit and we got off track a little bit last year,” the GM continued. “All I want us to do is get back on track and focus on the baseball team and the fans. They're hand in hand. Everything else, I want out of the equation.”

That especially includes Oney Guillen's tweeting and all other social media.

Ironically, Guillen is launching a new website, although the Sox and Major League Baseball are also going to be involved in the project.

“I think it's been addressed to the point where I don't want to address it anymore,” Williams said of the outside distractions. “I don't want to talk about it anymore, I don't want to address it anymore and I don't anticipate anymore problems. So that's the end of it.”

While his voice will continue to be heard on the website and blog, Guillen is ready to put 2010 behind him and move forward.

“That's what we want,” Guillen said. “I want people just to worry about (Adam) Dunn. Talk about (Jesse) Crain, talk about PK (Paul Konerko). Don't talk about Ozzie's contract, if you guys (Guillen and Williams) get along again. There were a lot of things going on.

“I don't think the players were distracted about it. I think the fans and we were distracted about it. That's not easy when you come to work and you don't want to come to work.”

Most of the Sox' veteran players weren't bothered by all of the off-field nonsense in 2010.

“I didn't really pay attention to it,” starting pitcher Mark Buehrle said. “It's in one ear and out there other, so I really don't care.”

Reliever Matt Thornton has an opposite view.

“The stuff that went out last year, we got it straightened out,” Thornton said. “The stuff this off-season, I hope it's straightened out now. There shouldn't be any distractions with this team. It's about winning baseball games. It's about winning our division, making the playoffs and going from there.”