southsider2k5 Posted August 26, 2003 Share Posted August 26, 2003 Still sounds like everyone thinks he is the GM Perhaps this would be an appropriate time for White Sox general manager Ken Williams to thump his chest and tell skeptical fans and cynical media, "I told you so." The White Sox invade Yankee Stadium Tuesday night with a head of steam and a first-place attitude. Williams' patience with beleaguered manager Jerry Manuel and an often underachieving roster seems to be paying off as the White Sox enter the homestretch of a three-horse race with Kansas City and Minnesota. "What patience?" Williams asked with a smile. "I've been on the same roller-coaster that all of our fans have been on. Obviously, we didn't start out in the fashion that we would have liked. It's still an uphill climb." Winners of six of seven on their just concluded homestand, the Sox must begin reconstructing their lackluster 26-39 road record to put some distance between themselves and their pursuers. The Sox play the Yankees for three games, then head to Detroit for the weekend. They lead the Royals by one game and the Twins by 1½ games in the American League Central Division. It may seem easy to say now, but Williams insisted he always believed in Manuel, even as the team struggled to get above .500 in the first half of the season. "Jerry, his staff and the players … I admire the fight in all of them," Williams said. "For a long time this summer, you know, they have taken a lot of shots. … They got knocked down, got up off the canvas, and here they are with a chance to achieve their season-ending goal, which is to get to the World Series and hopefully win the World Series. They all have fight in them, and Jerry—with all that he has had to endure—I probably admire that quality the most in him." When the hometown fans booed Manuel before last month's All-Star Game, Williams took him aside to console him. "Oftentimes he's misread in terms of the passion that he brings to the ballpark and the passion he has for the game," Williams said. "Sometimes it's unfair and he needs a reminder that the people who are close to you know." Manuel has guided the Sox to a 24-13 record in the second half of the season, best in the American League. Can the Sox win a world championship? Williams responded with a question of his own: "Why not us? Hell yeah, why not us?" Still, those are lofty goals for a franchise that has not appeared in a World Series since 1959 and has not won one since 1917. Getting to postseason play for the first time since 2000 might be more pragmatic. "[but] getting to the postseason means nothing to me," Williams said. "Either you are the last team standing at the end of the year or you're not." Williams has tried to bring the Sox to the postseason through a series of major signings and trades, but many have not worked out. David Wells was a bust. Bartolo Colon, dominating at times, doesn't have the record the Sox were expecting. And former closer Billy Koch has been a disappointment. "There are a couple of different ways you can approach your job in this position," Williams said. "You can make the safer types of moves that don't bring the type of scrutiny that a higher-profile move might bring you if it doesn't work out. Or you can go after the very best players and hope you can secure them. If you do that then you can dream about going deep into the postseason and having World Series dreams." But his most significant trades this season have paid off. Roberto Alomar, acquired from the New York Mets, has been rejuvenated as a leadoff hitter, and Carl Everett has added left-handed power since coming from the Texas Rangers. "If I have made some mistakes, I am telling you right now that there will be some more that follow," Williams said of his willingness to take chances. "… If you have the type of revenue that some teams have, they can outspend [to compensate for] mistakes," he added. "We can't do that. We have to be right on it, or at least creative enough to be able to rebound from a mistake to accomplish the same goal." With a roster full of former All-Stars such as Frank Thomas, Magglio Ordonez, Sandy Alomar, Jr., Paul Konerko, Mark Buehrle and now Esteban Loaiza, expectations were high entering this season. Asked if he felt he and Manuel are facing an ultimatum from Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf to make it to the postseason this year or else, Williams replied: "He hasn't given me any indication along those lines. I don't think he needs to give me anything along those lines. He knows what my goals are every day that I wake up. If anything, sometimes he has to slow me down. If that [demand] is out there, so be it. But then again, when and if that day ever comes around when someone says: 'Hey, you've done this job long enough,' I will know as I walk out the door that we gave it a shot. We tried to do anything and everything we could to bring a championship to Chicago." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rafacosta Posted August 26, 2003 Share Posted August 26, 2003 If he is not in charge of the moves, who is in charge? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bmr31 Posted August 26, 2003 Share Posted August 26, 2003 If he is not in charge of the moves, who is in charge? Oh dont believe that BS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted August 26, 2003 Author Share Posted August 26, 2003 If he is not in charge of the moves, who is in charge? The story goes, Eddie Einhorn and Rick Hahn are doing the work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chisoxfn Posted August 26, 2003 Share Posted August 26, 2003 These deals reak of KW's agressiveness and I have a lot of confidence in the man. I hope this team goes out and wins it all and becomes a dynasty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bmr31 Posted August 26, 2003 Share Posted August 26, 2003 These deals reak of KW's agressiveness and I have a lot of confidence in the man. I hope this team goes out and wins it all and becomes a dynasty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rafacosta Posted August 26, 2003 Share Posted August 26, 2003 I read this on a column by Gammons. Link, in the end. "No GM has worked any harder this season than Ken Williams," said one of his AL counterparts. "Robby Alomar, Carl Everett, Scott Schoeneweis and Scott Sullivan were all significant acquisitions." Not to mention Bartolo Colon and Esteban Loiaza during the offseason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chisoxfn Posted August 26, 2003 Share Posted August 26, 2003 I read this on a column by Gammons. Link, in the end. You don't know how much I love reading that type of quote. I can't say I've ever known the Sox to be this agressive. They really seem to want it all and even if they fail, at the end of the year I can say, s***...this team could of done it. Not many times can I say that when it comes to a team I love. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rafacosta Posted August 26, 2003 Share Posted August 26, 2003 I read this on a column by Gammons. Link, in the end. You don't know how much I love reading that type of quote. I can't say I've ever known the Sox to be this agressive. They really seem to want it all and even if they fail, at the end of the year I can say, s***...this team could of done it. Not many times can I say that when it comes to a team I love. I'm with on this, Jas. I hope we can do fine in postseason. About KW isnt in charge...i dont think so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MurcieOne Posted August 26, 2003 Share Posted August 26, 2003 Well I think our questions about who's running this team will be answered once this year runs it's course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steff Posted August 26, 2003 Share Posted August 26, 2003 Well I think our questions about who's running this team will be answered once this year runs it's course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cali Posted August 26, 2003 Share Posted August 26, 2003 It'll be a battle for Executive of the Year between Williams and Epstien. All this from a guy who resigned back in early May. How bout that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YASNY Posted August 27, 2003 Share Posted August 27, 2003 I'm keeping my mouth shut on this issue from here on out. With me sitting here in Kentucky, I feel uninformed and any opinion I have on this matter would eventually reflect that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capn12 Posted August 27, 2003 Share Posted August 27, 2003 Hell, I don't care who is in charge. Whoever it is, they've sold me on their ability to try and make a winner on the Southside. I'll take that go for it attitude every year. Its been sorely lacking for quite some time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jordan4life_2003 Posted August 27, 2003 Share Posted August 27, 2003 Still sounds like everyone thinks he is the GM Perhaps this would be an appropriate time for White Sox general manager Ken Williams to thump his chest and tell skeptical fans and cynical media, "I told you so." The White Sox invade Yankee Stadium Tuesday night with a head of steam and a first-place attitude. Williams' patience with beleaguered manager Jerry Manuel and an often underachieving roster seems to be paying off as the White Sox enter the homestretch of a three-horse race with Kansas City and Minnesota. "What patience?" Williams asked with a smile. "I've been on the same roller-coaster that all of our fans have been on. Obviously, we didn't start out in the fashion that we would have liked. It's still an uphill climb." Winners of six of seven on their just concluded homestand, the Sox must begin reconstructing their lackluster 26-39 road record to put some distance between themselves and their pursuers. The Sox play the Yankees for three games, then head to Detroit for the weekend. They lead the Royals by one game and the Twins by 1½ games in the American League Central Division. It may seem easy to say now, but Williams insisted he always believed in Manuel, even as the team struggled to get above .500 in the first half of the season. "Jerry, his staff and the players … I admire the fight in all of them," Williams said. "For a long time this summer, you know, they have taken a lot of shots. … They got knocked down, got up off the canvas, and here they are with a chance to achieve their season-ending goal, which is to get to the World Series and hopefully win the World Series. They all have fight in them, and Jerry—with all that he has had to endure—I probably admire that quality the most in him." When the hometown fans booed Manuel before last month's All-Star Game, Williams took him aside to console him. "Oftentimes he's misread in terms of the passion that he brings to the ballpark and the passion he has for the game," Williams said. "Sometimes it's unfair and he needs a reminder that the people who are close to you know." Manuel has guided the Sox to a 24-13 record in the second half of the season, best in the American League. Can the Sox win a world championship? Williams responded with a question of his own: "Why not us? Hell yeah, why not us?" Still, those are lofty goals for a franchise that has not appeared in a World Series since 1959 and has not won one since 1917. Getting to postseason play for the first time since 2000 might be more pragmatic. "[but] getting to the postseason means nothing to me," Williams said. "Either you are the last team standing at the end of the year or you're not." Williams has tried to bring the Sox to the postseason through a series of major signings and trades, but many have not worked out. David Wells was a bust. Bartolo Colon, dominating at times, doesn't have the record the Sox were expecting. And former closer Billy Koch has been a disappointment. "There are a couple of different ways you can approach your job in this position," Williams said. "You can make the safer types of moves that don't bring the type of scrutiny that a higher-profile move might bring you if it doesn't work out. Or you can go after the very best players and hope you can secure them. If you do that then you can dream about going deep into the postseason and having World Series dreams." But his most significant trades this season have paid off. Roberto Alomar, acquired from the New York Mets, has been rejuvenated as a leadoff hitter, and Carl Everett has added left-handed power since coming from the Texas Rangers. "If I have made some mistakes, I am telling you right now that there will be some more that follow," Williams said of his willingness to take chances. "… If you have the type of revenue that some teams have, they can outspend [to compensate for] mistakes," he added. "We can't do that. We have to be right on it, or at least creative enough to be able to rebound from a mistake to accomplish the same goal." With a roster full of former All-Stars such as Frank Thomas, Magglio Ordonez, Sandy Alomar, Jr., Paul Konerko, Mark Buehrle and now Esteban Loaiza, expectations were high entering this season. Asked if he felt he and Manuel are facing an ultimatum from Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf to make it to the postseason this year or else, Williams replied: "He hasn't given me any indication along those lines. I don't think he needs to give me anything along those lines. He knows what my goals are every day that I wake up. If anything, sometimes he has to slow me down. If that [demand] is out there, so be it. But then again, when and if that day ever comes around when someone says: 'Hey, you've done this job long enough,' I will know as I walk out the door that we gave it a shot. We tried to do anything and everything we could to bring a championship to Chicago." I've said in earlier posts. I'm no fan of Kenny Williams. I think for the most part he's f***ed this team over. But for this season I gotta give the man props. He's brought in front-line starting pitching, All-star caliber hitting, And 3 solid relievers. And like that article said. He showed patience in Jm and the rest of the team when everybody else "including me" wanted to give up... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBAHO Posted August 27, 2003 Share Posted August 27, 2003 I think Frank Thomas summed it up best when he said KW was one of those old school GM's who's aggresive and has a "Win Now" mentality. This year he's done his job, now it's up to the players to deliver. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YASNY Posted August 27, 2003 Share Posted August 27, 2003 I think Frank Thomas summed it up best when he said KW was one of those old school GM's who's aggresive and has a "Win Now" mentality. This year he's done his job, now it's up to the players to deliver. The thing that I find most refreshing is that Frank seems to be really committed to leading this team to the promised land. He's not interested in individual honors. He just wants a ring. With that attitude, I believe he is capable of leading the charge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ncorgbl Posted August 27, 2003 Share Posted August 27, 2003 These deals reak of KW's agressiveness and I have a lot of confidence in the man. I hope this team goes out and wins it all and becomes a dynasty The moves reek of Hemond's aggressivness. They have Roland's signature all over them. Vetern acquisitions like these are his strength. Einhorn and Hemond are the ones benind it all, and Hahn does the legwork. Williams is still G.M., and will be until he isn't. But he's not making any decisions, his boss is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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