We get games like this almost every season.
The quality over quantity argument would suggest that a better General Manager would be one who hoarded assets over time in order to make sustained runs at a World Series title for a few years, before restarting the cycle of rebuilding and development once more. Alternatively, Kenny Williams opts for a sort of slapped together, critically flawed run at perhaps a division title every single-season, altering the organizational approach often from year-to-year, and throwing multiple years dedicated to developing a prospect into the wind for a half-season rental on some occasions. It's a quantity of quality seasons approach.
But since Kenny Williams took over before the 2001 season, he's only delivered two losing seasons out of ten; and one of those years (2009), the White Sox were in 1st in the division in late July. Perhaps aided by an AL Central that's been fiercely competitive exactly once this decade (2006), the White Sox have afforded their fan-base to baseball games played after the All-Star break with playoff implications as regularly as the Pittsburgh Pirates have not.
At the possible risk of the long-term fate of the team, Mr. Williams has flat-out refused to waste a summer submitting the South Side to 100-plus games of prospect watching; a practice that is a complete anathema to the casual baseball fan, and still an acquired taste to the sophisticated one. As a blogger, as a season-ticket holder, there's a pervasive feeling that your commitment to the White Sox means something because they approach every season with a defined purpose. Win it all.
As much as I would push for Kenny Williams to trust his player development system, surround himself with more stats guys, and for the love of God stop signing guys he was in love with 8 years ago, I would want him. Someone fiercely competitive who refuses to put anything than the best team he can muster on the field.
It's short-sighted, foolish, and misguided for the White Sox to gut their future and try to jump a cliff (mental image of Ozzie & Kenny in a convertible, hands linked like Thelma & Louise, flooring the gas as they approach a canyon) for the measly division title every year. But it's admirable in spirit, and consistently watchable.
Although some people choose to mute it.
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Filed under: White Sox culture
Tags: baseball, Kenny Williams, White Sox
