By Alishia Thompson
I think it’s been so long since you’ve heard from me because the thoughts in my head haven’t stopped swirling for quite some time now. Do I eulogize the White Sox and the season that should have been. Am I going to cry (again) over Ozzie? Should I curse Rios, Dunn, and Beckham for ruining what could be what’s left of the narrow window the Sox have to win with Paul Konerko? There’s even the countless new trade rumors and plans for next season spewing about.
Most of us had high hopes at the beginning of the season, with the addition of Dunn and retention of both Paulie and A.J. Pierzinski. Pitching was strong, defense was good and finally the offense looked like it could do some serious damage to the division. Unfortunately, Dunn, Rios, and Beckham decided not to show up offensively, (with Rios being useless on defense, as well) and game after game, chance after chance, the season fell apart and playoff hopes were lost.
Not helping matters any, Ozzie and Kenny continued their drama straight through to the end. For Ozzie, however, the end came before that of the rest of the team. Before the final game had been played at The Cell, Ozzie Guillen had decided to take his talents to sunnier weather and an empty park in South Beach. Ozzie was released from his contract which continued through 2012, and signed a four year deal with the Miami Marlins. The team was left in the hands of Don Cooper to manage the final two games of the season, and with that, the beloved, entertaining manager and face of the organization was gone. The Ozzie Era was over.
Though many felt that Kenny should have been shown the door right behind Ozzie, he survived the on-going feud and shocked the nation , naming former White Sox third baseman, Robin Ventura, as the new manager for the club. Only Kenny himself could have seen this coming, seeing as Ventura hadn’t even considered managing until offered the job. On October 31st, the Sox filled out their coaching staff, adding Jeff Manto as hitting coach, Joe McEwing on third base, and Mark Parent as bench coach.
I’ll save the trade talk for another day, but will leave this to consider of the upcoming season: Has the window closed on Konerko’s chance to win another ring within his playing career with the White Sox? And if so, should he still want his final days as a player to be spent in Chicago?
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