Sox GM shares the blame

In the wake of Ozzie Guillen’s abrupt departure as manager following Monday night’s 4-3 victory over Toronto at U.S. Cellular Field, many frustrated White Sox fans put the blame on general manager Kenny Williams.

After all, it was Kenny, not Ozzie, who went out and got underachieving — and costly — players such as Adam Dunn, Alex Rios and Jake Peavy.

Last year Williams was the one who signed Manny Ramirez after trading top pitching prospect Daniel Hudson to Arizona for Edwin Jackson.

And as we mentioned last week, Williams also acquired other forgettable players such as Mark Teahen, Scott Linebrink, Nick Swisher and some really awful relief pitchers from the Kansas City Royals in recent years.

If you are wondering why Guillen is on the verge of signing a big contract to manage the Marlins while Williams is still on the job, here is the answer:

Williams said that over the past year, he repeatedly has told chairman Jerry Reinsdorf he’d step down as GM and assume another position in the organization.

“I offered it because, listen, I’m a big believer in self-analysis and self-assessment,” Williams said Tuesday. “I have a perspective that is one of needing, not wanting, needing this organization to be amongst the best in baseball.

“Another world championship puts you on the map, in my opinion, as an organization that stands and speaks for something. And that’s what I wanted.

“That’s what I still want out of my tenure here. But if I’m the cog in the machine that is tripping us up, and my decisions are such now that they don’t warrant, or my style doesn’t warrant, more opportunities to get that done, that’s fine.

“I’ve been sitting in this chair for a long time anyway. I think I’ve told you guys before that there comes a time where everyone has an expiration date.

“I can accept that. But I’d still like to be a part of building something and hope that it can transition into that. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t. And you move on. But for now I’m a White Sox and I want another banner up there.”

Williams has been the Sox’ general manager for 11 seasons, the fourth-longest run in baseball behind Oakland’s Billy Beane, the Yankees’ Brian Cashman and Colorado’s Dan O’Dowd.

The Sox were .500 or better in eight of Williams’ first 10 seasons, but they are going to wrap up the 2011 campaign Wednesday with a losing record despite starting the year with the highest payroll ($128 million) in franchise history.

When Williams most recently offered to move to a different position, what answer did he get from Reinsdorf?

“He didn’t like it very much,” Williams said. “But I felt compelled to reiterate again that I was completely prepared to vacate the seat.

“And I even expounded on that by telling him if, in fact, it was his feeling that Ozzie and I needed to work together, I had no problems along those lines.”

Now, Williams soon will be working with a new manager and focusing on making the Sox better in 2012. But unlike past off-seasons, he won’t have the money to pursue big-name talent.

“I guess the good thing is that from ’08 to this year we have been in position to win,” Williams said. “The bad thing is we haven’t been able to bring it home.

“This is a year in which I go into the off-season thinking more so of us having to take a step back.”

sgregor@dailyherald.com