by Ken Rosenthal

 

Playing with fire in Chicago

 

Nov. 10, 2003

 

 

Cito Gaston would have been a safe choice, but the White Sox couldn't play it safe. They remain second-class citizens in the Second City, and the gap threatens to grow wider. That, above all, is why their hiring of Ozzie Guillen as manager makes sense. His passion will transform a fractious team and restless fan base, presuming he is competent enough -- and levelheaded enough -- to handle the job.

 

Unlike the Cubs, the White Sox don't have a Mark Prior, a Sammy Sosa, a Dusty Baker. Nor is their ballpark a baseball funhouse such as Wrigley Field. Guillen, 39, never has managed, but he immediately makes the Sox more interesting. He could be a train wreck. He could be the next Tony Pena. Given his outsized personality, there probably won't be an in-between.

 

At first glance, it seems illogical that the Sox would choose an untested manager over one who won two World Series. But Gaston, 59, would have been too similar to nice-guy former manager Jerry Manuel, evoking a collective yawn from the Sox's players and fans. Guillen, on the other hand, is a human wake-up call -- one who might lack a snooze button, judging from his initial in-your-face comments about Frank Thomas.

 

A manager's introductory news conference often is revealing, but it can be as misleading as his knockout job interview. Guillen never has handled a pitching staff, never shielded slumping players from media scrutiny, never faced the responsibility of persuading self-absorbed veterans to put team interests first. He will need help from his coaches, lots of it.

 

Then again, Guillen-type energy seems to be the No. 1 prerequisite for a 21st century manager, even above experience. Of the 20 active managers hired since the end of the 2001 season, 12 hadn't managed in the majors. The Red Sox's next manager also could be a first-timer. If that happens, 60 percent of the managers next season will be in their first major league jobs.

 

Teams increasingly prefer younger communicators, partly because "younger" translates to "cheaper." But the recent successes of the Royals' Pena, the Angels' Mike Scioscia, the Twins' Ron Gardenhire and even Grady Little suggest that major league managing experience isn't necessary.

 

Guillen is upbeat, intelligent, unafraid. He demonstrated managing potential even as a teenager in the Padres' farm system, but he needs to tone down his act. Some probably wanted to cheer when he challenged Thomas, saying, "I'm sorry, but Frank's going to play my way." But Pena doesn't single out players like that. Neither does Joe Torre nor Bobby Cox. Players bristle at such talk, thinking, "I could be next."

 

"There may be a guy or two who initially may be put off by his honesty, but I think ultimately you can only respect guys like that," White Sox general manager Ken Williams says.

 

Perhaps, but Guillen wouldn't be the first manager to think he can impose his will on a club, only to learn otherwise. A manager needs a supportive front office to weed out players who don't fit. He needs veterans with strong character to reinforce his leadership. Most of all, he needs to set a proper, professional tone. Royals G.M. Allard Baird says a manager affects five to 12 games per season tactically but creates a culture that lasts 162 games and beyond.

 

Guillen is such an effervescent, forceful personality, maybe nothing can stop him. He will inject a positive current into a team that in recent seasons was drained by the negative energy of Thomas, Albert Belle and David Wells. The Sox, lacking better options, are taking a calculated risk. Their ballpark is boring. Their team is uninspiring. Someone has to provide a spark.

 

Senior writer Ken Rosenthal covers baseball for Sporting News. Email him at krosenthal@sportingnews.com.

Good article and I agree totally. We needed to take a chance this year, the quiet manager type would have meant the same result this year. I was happy w/ ozzie coming here, hopefully he stands by what he said at the press conference and will get on our guys asses

Unlike the Cubs, the White Sox don't have a Mark Prior, a Sammy Sosa, a Dusty Baker. Nor is their ballpark a baseball funhouse such as Wrigley Field.

With the exception of Mark Prior, Thank God!

The reward far outweighs the risk in this situation. If ever we were goin to step out of mediocrity, we had to take a chance, and Ozzie could be just the thing we need to get back into the playoffs and further. And Rosenthal bashing our Ballpark? Some1 put in a Waterslide or a Home Run Porch, or sumthin that'll breathe sum life back into the joint.

If we don't replace Bartolo with a decent free agent pitcher, there will be problems even Guillen can't fix.

I agree, if the sox don't fill in the big holes in the team with fine replacements there will be nothing Ozzie could do to make the team win. If JR wouldn't be such a cheap ass about the team we would have a definite winning team but oh well. Right now we have a make or break team, meaning if we add a couple nice additions we could win or if we don't add anything we will be a wreck...

Surprisingly good article from Rosenthal. I agree that hiring Guillen will either be a stroke of genius or a crash and burn.

Nor is their ballpark a baseball funhouse such as Wrigley Field

 

Hmmm, not sure I wanna see a baseball game in a "funhouse" anyways. But good article otherwise.

Nor is their ballpark a baseball funhouse such as Wrigley Field.

 

A funhouse? Does a funhouse have a bunch of uneducated drunken tourists in it? Does a funhouse have a bunch of people who think every soft fly ball by Shammy is a homer - so they scream and cheer even if the SS catches it? Does a funhouse have obnoxious punks pumping vulgarities every chance they get while they take off their shirts for a nice summer tan? Whatever.

 

A funhouse has games, attractions, and FUN things in it. Unless the Cubs build a Space Mountain, rollercoaster, or Epcot Center outside the park, it isn't a funhouse. It's a relic, a cow pasture, and a dump.