There are going to be lots of recriminations when the White Sox fail to make it to the post-season, which feels all but assured at this point. Did they have enough talent on the squad, especially depth in the bullpen when it comes to middle relief? Did GM Ken Williams stand pat on trades when he should have acted more like the Dodgers Ned Colletti, wheeling and dealing throughout the season? Did Manager Ozzie Guillen blow it, with his gay-bashing rhetoric and runaway mouth? Of all of these reasons or excuses, I believe it is Guillen, largely, who is to blame. With all of the negative media scrutiny he aroused, he looked more like a scared turtle in the dugout from late May until the end of July. Sensitivity training didnt help the once, all-powerful Oz, or his once-feared club. Starting with Oz, theyve all been operating out of their comfort zones, and thats why theyve been in a dead zone for much of the season. Im guessing that Paul Konerko is probably one of the nicest guys in uniform, but he wasnt comfortable in the role of Captain despite Ozzies wishes. Promoting Paulie to a position of leadership, making him more conspicuous and responsible than he already was after helping to secure the World Series championship, was way too much to ask. Dealing Aaron Rowand and Frank Thomas to other teams may have been a big mistake, too, from the standpoint of swagger, and even winning chemistry. Yes, they picked up slugger Jim Thome from the Phillies, who if anything, has come through more than expected, but they lost someone who plays as if his life depends on it in daredevil Rowand. Also, they jettisoned a big bat and some of the soul and baseball history of the South Side, in parting company with the Big Hurt. Even Sun-Times columnists are complaining the Sox dont have a pulse, let alone fire in the belly. You just arent left with much of those things when you try to micro-manage a team for personality or chemistry instead of for on-the-field performance. |
