SB Nation - Jesse Crain

White Sox GM Kenny Williams Is All Business In Crain's Chicago Interview

daver — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 21:10:13 -0000

Kenny Williams, General Manager of the Chicago White Sox, is nothing if not intense. In a four-part interview with Ed Sherman of Crain's Chicago Business, that intensity is on display -- as is a keen sense of humor and an acute awareness of what's at stake on the South Side this season.

The storyline running under the 2011 White Sox is fairly simple: They're "all in." (The team is even using this phrase in its ad campaign.) The Sox have invested heavily in free agents such as Adam Dunn, Paul Konerko, A.J. Pierzynski and Jesse Crain to give the team a viable shot at winning the AL Central. And Williams is honest in his recognition that the South Siders need a quick start to their season to both put (and keep) fans in the seats and allay the worries of owner Jerry Reinsdorf, who opened up his wallet in an unprecedented fashion.

The Sox GM is also forthright, if still a bit testy, about his relationship with manager Ozzie Guillen. Williams confirms that he and Ozzie are "in a better place." But he then adds:

As long as everything is relegated to the job at hand and the goal at hand, I'll be OK with everyone. When it's not, then I'm not OK.

A warning shot across the bow of S.S. Guillen to keep rogue son Oney off of Twitter? (That's what crosses my mind, but the statement could mean nothing more than it appears.)

Williams also feels he's ramped down his personal intensity since becoming more familiar with his staff and job duties. And he notes that, when making roster decisions, he's thinking of players' families right along with the career path of the athlete in question. Here's Part I for your enjoyment:

For parts two through four, click here.

White Sox Put Soxfest Single-Day Passes On Sale Thursday

Al Yellon — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 21:30:44 -0000

If you've been putting off going to Soxfest because you didn't want to invest in the hotel room they had originally asked you to buy before you got passes, now you can get single-day passes.

The White Sox announced today that single-day passes will go on sale Thursday, Jan. 13 at whitesox.com/soxfest. Single day passes to SoxFest are $50 (Saturday) and $35 (Sunday), while two-day passes for both Saturday and Sunday are $70.

Current White Sox players scheduled to attend include: Gordon Beckham, Mark Buehrle, Ramon Castro, Jesse Crain, Adam Dunn, Edwin Jackson, Paul Konerko, Brent Lillibridge, Brent Morel, Juan Pierre, A.J. Pierzynski, Alexei Ramirez, Chris Sale, Sergio Santos, Mark Teahen and Matt Thornton; coaches Jeff Cox, Juan Nieves, Greg Walker and manager Ozzie Guillen; White Sox vice president/assistant general manager Rick Hahn and senior vice president/general manager Ken Williams also are scheduled to be at the event.

SoxFest will be held Friday, January 21, Saturday, January 22 and Sunday, January 23, 2010 at the Palmer House Hilton. Days and times are: Friday, 4:00 to 9:00 p.m.; Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; and Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The Twins May Need A New Middle Infield

Jon Marthaler — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 16:48:10 -0000

Now that the season's over, the winter roster speculation has begun - and it's started in the middle infield. First, reports emerged that the Twins have no plan to re-sign second baseman Orlando Hudson. The Twins are also expected to decline Nick Punto's ridiculous $5 million option for next season. And with J.J. Hardy due for arbitration - where he might be awarded upwards of $6 million - the team may choose to let their starting shortstop walk, as well.

This would leave the team with the uneven Alexi Casilla as their starting second baseman, and with Trevor Plouffe as their best available option at shortstop. Plouffe batted .146 in 44 plate appearances in the majors in 2010, and hit just .244 at Triple-A Rochester in 102 games there. Casilla missed time due to injury in 2010, but ended up hitting a respectable .276 in 69 games.

The problem for the Twins is that they have more than $90 million committed for next season - and that's without Hardy, Hudson, Jim Thome, Carl Pavano, or pretty much the entire bullpen (Matt Capps, Brian Fuentes, Jon Rauch, Jesse Crain, Matt Guerrier - that's five of the six main options in the 'pen - are all free agents.) Minnesota enjoyed the illusion of extra money this year, but with the foursome of Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, Joe Nathan, and Michael Cuddyer due $60 million combined by themselves, payroll flexibility is gone.