Since the Marlins contacted the Chicago White Sox as early as September 2010 to seek permission to talk to manager Ozzie Guillen, Sox general manager Ken Williams has been prepared to find a successor.
That time finally has arrived, although Williams declined to elaborate Monday night.
“I have definite answers on that,” said Williams, who had yet to name an interim manager for the final two games of 2011. “I will say just very briefly that because of the warnings, we’ve had ample time to kind of dwindle a list to a few select candidates. And we think that we can act swiftly, but I think that accompanies a plan of attack to the 2012, ’13, ’14 seasons.
“But I don’t want to get too far away from, too far into that. I think that takes away from Ozzie on this day and what he means to the White Sox fans, to baseball fans, and certainly to a lot of people in this room and in our front office. I need to respect that and respect in such a way that he needs to be the story tomorrow, not what our future plans are.”
Nevertheless, some things are starting to settle in. Bench coach Joey Cora is expected to accompany Guillen to Florida. Pitching coach Don Cooper will stay with the Sox, as he and Williams have worked together since 1995 in the Sox’s minor league system.
Cooper staying with the Sox could affect the destiny of Cardinals manager Tony La Russa, who has a mutual option to stay with the team in 2012. La Russa and pitching coach Dave Duncan have worked together for nearly 30 seasons.
The status of the rest of the Sox’s coaching staff remains unsettled, but that could be left up to Williams and Guillen’s successor.
One team source said late Monday night that Buddy Bell, the Sox’s director of player personnel and a former major league manager, is content in his current position and has no urge to manage again. Bell has provided stability and structure to the farm system.
The fact that Williams said he has a few candidates in mind means that he could be able to settle on a manager and set up a plan of attack for the 2012 team soon.
“Well, I have an answer to that question,” Williams said. “But again, the further I get away from Ozzie and talking about next year and future plans, I think there’s a time and a place for it and I don’t believe this is it. This is a time to express thanks for all that he’s meant to the organization right now and I wish him well. I wish him and his family well.
“As far as I’m concerned with regards to some of the things that are more noted than some of the good things, I choose to focus on that. I’m not going down the road of negativity. We’ve had enough of that this year.”
