The long-anticipated announcement that Ozzie Guillen would not be back as White Sox manager in 2012 became reality Monday night. The White Sox official statement is that they are letting Ozzie out of his contract to explore other options. This was more of a mutual firing/resignation. There is no way the Sox were bringing Ozzie back for the last year of his deal. There has just been too much drama between Ozzie and General Manager Kenny Williams. If he came back as a “lame duck” manager the story all year would have been about him rather than the players.
There is a deal in place with the Florida Marlins for a couple minor league prospects. Ozzie maintains a home in Miami, and that is his destination of choice.
I can definitely say that I disagreed with Ozzie on many of his managerial decisions, but he was a big part one of the greatest memories of my life in 2005 when the White Sox won the World Series. I know as the great Coach Mike Ditka once said “The past is for cowards and losers” that he would not be able to stick around forever off one title. Having only one playoff appearance since has been a disappointment.
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I personally think the wrong guy has been let go. If it were my decision Kenny Williams should have been fired. It became blatantly obvious that the 2011 disaster was a result of the roster that was given to Guillen. I am not sure how the 2009 waiver acquisition of Alex Rios and the signing of Adam Dunn this past offseason does not get a General Manager fired. All that money wrapped up in two players and they were basically useless to Guillen this year. The money wrapped up in the current roster may cost them fan favorite Mark Buehrle this offseason. Expect a fan revolt if they let Buehrle leave.
As for a replacement I would think that Buddy Bell is the favorite to land the job. He is currently the director of Minor League Operations for the Sox. They will not go after any big names. That is not Jerry Reinsdorf’s style. Pitching Coach Don Cooper has an offer from the Sox to stay regardless of who the new manager is. That is a good thing because Cooper has been somewhat of a miracle worker with the pitching staff.
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I want to thank Ozzie for the job he did here and wish him luck in the future. He’s an even better person than he is a manager or was a player. I can say one thing for sure the White Sox will never have a manager as crazy and colorful as Ozzie. The Marlins fans and media especially are in for a treat.
