The controversies surrounding the White Sox generally center around manager Ozzie Guillen because, well, because he’s Ozzie. The roster is the creation of GM Kenny Williams and he’s been shielded from criticism to a remarkable degree.
I’m wondering why.
Is it because he’s won a World Series?
Is it because he puts forth the image (which I believe) that he doesn’t care what anyone thinks of him or what he does?
Is it because of Ozzie?
Why?
If you look at the series of moves he’s made in recent years, many would be accurately described as mistakes—you could refer to some as disastrous.
They don’t have legitimate big league third baseman; Adam Dunn is eventually going to hit, but he’s been an expensive (4 years, $56 million) train wreck so far with a .175 BA, .637 OPS and 7 homers; Alex Rios‘s contract was taken off waivers from the Blue Jays and he’s been terrible this season too after rebounding in 2010—his deal has a guaranteed $38 million after this season; Edwin Jackson and Jake Peavy were acquired in trades for inexpensive young arms that included Daniel Hudson and Clayton Richard—arms with whom the White Sox would be better and cheaper in place of what they got.
This isn’t an indictment of Williams. I think he’s a terrific GM and agreed with all of the moves except for Peavy. I admire his deep-strike mentality in going after what he wants regardless of perception and consequences.
That doesn’t alter the fact that the White Sox are a $128 million mediocrity with rampant infighting among the manager and the GM.
That infighting has gone on forever and doesn’t affect the club in any significant way; the White Sox main troubles have come from the combination of a lack of offense from Dunn and Rios; the struggles/injuries of Jackson and Peavy; and from failing to close games they should’ve won early in the season.
I maintain that the White Sox as the best team in the AL Central; they’ll right the ship to get back into legitimate contention, but how did Williams turn to teflon? He deserves and should receive his share of the blame while things are still going poorly.
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While I am big Kenny Williams fan, I’m also surprised few people give him much blame (even here in the Chi!). Everyone expected Dunn to be Dunn, for Peavy to be Peavy. They’re not and that hurts. A lot. You should hear the nasty vitriol on Dunn from Sox fans right now… enough to make ME blush.