In sending a firm message Tuesday about their commitment to leadership during one of their worst seasons, the White Sox extended manager Ozzie Guillen’s contract through 2012.
“The passion that he has still is the same passion he had when I first sat down with him at the restaurant out in Naperville to interview him [in the fall of 2003],” General Manager Ken Williams said. “We argued for a little while before getting to the nuts and bolts of things. The passion is still there to bring a championship to Chicago.”
Williams downplayed the timing of the announcement, which came with the Sox (61-83) in last place in the American League Central. Guillen was working under a contract that had him signed at least through 2008.
“The problems that we are having right now … are [not] with our coaching staff or with our manager,” Williams said. “I’m the one that has to put them in a better position to win and that means going out and making the necessary adjustments to get this team where we are better and get guys back up to their normal level of production.”
Monetary figures weren’t released, but Guillen’s service time and his 2005 World Series title could mean he’ll be paid more than $2 million annually, with a chance to earn more if he wins a championship.
Negotiations accelerated over the weekend. Guillen discussed the contract with his family and with Williams on Monday night before agreeing to it Tuesday morning.
“The conclusion was, one of my kids said, ‘Well, I think you’re the first Venezuelan manager to come to the big leagues and manage, and you were the first to win the World Series,’ ” Guillen said. ” ‘And I think you’re the first manager to sign when you’re in last place.'”
Guillen relishes the challenge of trying to lead the team back into contention despite having an inexperienced bullpen, a speed-deficient lineup, some fundamentally unsound players and several youngsters who have struggled at the major-league level.
“I like to have success when people challenge me,” Guillen said. “I want to be the best I can be every day and, once again, prove people wrong.”
Until his candidly harsh criticism of his players two weeks ago, Guillen said he thought he had been soft on them this season, but plans to change.
“At least the media is going to have something to write for the next five years,” Guillen said. “Believe me, after this year and last year I’m bullet-proof.
” … I told Kenny and [chairman] Jerry Reinsdorf, ‘I’m going to be myself.’ Not because I signed this contract. I said I’m going to be myself before I signed this contract. I’ve been criticized all my life. … The most important thing for me is to have success and win games.”
Guillen, 43, received lukewarm applause from the crowd when his extension was announced before Tuesday night’s game with Cleveland. He received a hug from right-fielder Jermaine Dye during batting practice, and several veterans expressed their happiness for Guillen while accepting responsibility for the Sox’s struggles.
– – –
EXIT POLL?
Chicagosports.com asked: “Are you happy that the Sox extended Ozzie Guillen’s contract?”
58.6%
Yes
41.4%
No
– – –
VOTES FOR OZZIE
– Guillen has won 333 games in three-plus seasons managing the Sox.
– He was voted AL Manager of the Year in 2005
– He managed the Sox to their first World Series title in 88 years.
– The man who’s best known for cursing out people and openly calling out players in the media criticized himself for not being tough this season. “This is the worst summer I’ve had in all my career because I was too soft,” Guillen said. “I was kind of worried about what people were going to say about me.”
– – –
VOTES AGAINST OZZIE
– The Sox were 61-83 entering Tuesday, tied with Florida and Tampa Bay for the poorest record in the major leagues.
– The team’s collapse came despite a season-opening $110 million payroll.
– Guillen, who hadn’t been vintage Ozzie all season, waited until late August before ripping into his players (and ripping into the media for chastising his criticism of players). “It’s my job to explain things and I protect [players] a lot — more than I should. … Well, don’t love me anymore. Don’t like me, but win for me and everything will be fine,” he said then. [ AP, TRIBUNE ]
