Looking Good
Chicago,Ill – White Sox general manager Ken Williams likes to win and develop at the same time. So despite the loss of several key players from last year’s AL Central champions and an infusion of youngsters, he’s sure the team can do both.
Bet on Major League Baseball
“I’m about as excited as I’ve been in eight years sitting in this chair about our future,” Williams said Wednesday.
Chicago won the division last season by beating the Minnesota Twins in a one-game tiebreaker before being ousted by eventual AL champion Tampa Bay in four games in the opening round of the playoffs.
Without spending huge chunks of money, Williams has been busy making changes this offseason.
The White Sox traded first baseman-outfielder Nick Swisher to the Yankees; dealt starter Javier Vazquez and reliever Boone Logan to Atlanta and didn’t re-sign third baseman Joe Crede or shortstop Orlando Cabrera.
They did sign veteran Bartolo Colon to be part of their rotation with Mark Buehrle, Gavin Floyd and John Danks.
veteran right fielder Jermaine Dye – the subject of trade speculation during the offseason – he likely would not be dealt.
“I told him flat out, `Yes there are clubs asking about you and here is who they are and here’s how serious they are,”’ Williams said.
Dye, Paul Konerko, Jim Thome and A.J. Pierzynski will give the team its veteran base. Carlos Quentin, who became a star last season before hitting a bat with his fist in a flash of anger and breaking his wrist, will be back in left field.
But it’s mostly around the infield where the White Sox are counting on young players like Josh Fields at third base, Chris Getz at second and Alexei Ramirez, a standout as a rookie second baseman last season, to move over and man shortstop.
Williams said he expects infielder Brent Lillibridge, obtained in the deal with Atlanta, to be a factor during the spring as well as Jeff Marquez, a right-hander who came over in the deal for Swisher. The White Sox have also added Wilson Betemit in the Yankees’ trade and Jayson Nix for infield depth.
The fifth spot in the rotation will involve competition among young pitchers such as Aaron Poreda, Clayton Richard, Lance Broadway and Marquez.
Williams said calling Chicago’s approach for 2009 a youth movement or a rebuilding project is not accurate.
“Not accurate because we’ve been doing this the last three years and were able to win a division last year,” he said.
“Not so long ago people were calling us an old team. Now some of the same complaints are that we’re too young going in the season,” Williams added. “The key is neither to be old or too young. The key is to be good. We wouldn’t put these young players out there if we didn’t believe they were good now and had a chance to develop into better players.”
Chicago opens at home on April 6 against Kansas City and several reports say the team has asked one of its high-profile fans to throw out the first pitch – President Barack Obama, who’s been seen in photos with a White Sox cap.
Asked about his relationship with Obama, Williams attempted to clear up a few things with some humor.
“People have written about that as though I’m this guy’s best friend,” Williams said. “He’s an acquaintance. He’s a casual acquaintance. I’ve been to a few barbecues with him. He stops by when he comes through, the ballpark, and that’s about it. I didn’t even get a good ticket at the inauguration.”
Did you like this article? Subscribe to our Baseball news feed for the fastest updates delivered right to you – Click here to Subscribe
Posted: 1/29/09 12:45AM ET
