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Sox GM taking bum rap for weekend personnel decisions as roster moves weren't appealing
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We can agree Ken Williams laughing at a comedy club in Schaumburg on Saturday night while his White Sox were grinding through their longest day of the season in Kansas City looked bad.
It fell well short of a TMZ moment, but there was nothing funny about the way the Sox taxed their bullpen in an extra-inning doubleheader split. And pulling up a chair to hear stand-up comic Carlos Mencia seemed like an odd decision for a guy who talks about pulling on the same rope as much as the Sox general manager does.
What I can't agree with after hearing Williams' explanation to the Tribune is the idea that he shirked his Sox responsibilities because he didn't rearrange his social calendar after Friday's rainout altered the weekend schedule.
"I haven't thrown one pitch all year, how could I have helped?'' Williams said, smiling.
Williams couldn't have done more or less than he does any other game. Bouncers didn't confiscate Williams' BlackBerry. These days technology allows us the freedom to function in our jobs from the most unorthodox places. I am writing this column, for instance, sipping a beer poolside.
I am kidding. As far as you know.
The point is, Williams stayed in constant contact with manager Ozzie Guillen and pitching coach Don Cooper into Saturday night, keeping close enough tabs to approve Edwin Jackson's availability in the nightcap. Guillen and Cooper ruled out that option just before Game 1 because Jackson had thrown seven pitches in Friday night's rainout.
"I gave my OK,'' Williams said. "But better safe than sorry.''
Predictably, Kenny's Date Night created a perception in Chicago fueled by talk radio and the Twittersphere that Williams didn't care as much about winning as his players or coaching staff. The reality was something Williams didn't clarify until Tuesday night before the Sox's 7-5 victory over the Orioles.
In a private, 15-minute conversation after Williams danced around the Manny Ramirez rumors, he detailed his accessibility over the weekend and defended his decision to enjoy a summer night on the town.
"In this case, I sent multiple texts saying, 'Hey is there something we need to do here (with the bullpen)?' And Ozzie and Coop each said, 'No let's ride it out,''' Williams said.
Bringing up a pitcher to ease the bullpen burden in the second game would have forced a roster move nobody wanted to make. Putting a player such as sore-armed reliever Matt Thornton on the disabled list would have meant losing him for 15 days when his valuable left arm is expected to be ready this week.
"So if we had done that, Thornton's sitting around ready to go for 10 days and then I'm a dumb (bleep) for overreacting,'' Williams said.
Additionally, any player the Sox might have sent down to clear a spot would have had to spend 10 days in the minors -- past the Aug. 31 deadline for playoff rosters to be set. When you consider the only options at Triple A -- Lucas Harrell and Carlos Torres -- weren't available to pitch, it was an easy decision.
"If we didn't have an off day Monday, we'd have been forced to make a move,'' Williams said.
A source said Guillen was frustrated particularly after Sunday's loss about the limitations created by a tired bullpen. Williams said he sent Guillen and Cooper a text message after the team's second extra-inning defeat in 18 hours asking again if they wanted him to add a pitcher.
Williams held up his BlackBerry as he shared their response.
"They wrote back, '(Bleep) no,''' Williams said. "Remember, we have 12 pitchers and ideally I only want 11.''
If Williams was out on the town July 30 on the eve of the trade deadline, fire away. If he has concert tickets Monday night, 24 hours before the waiver deadline, he might want to consider eBay. But keeping a social commitment to a show at 9:30 p.m. seems like a reasonable choice for a man who admits struggling to find balance in his life.
"I figured I'd be safe with the 6 o'clock start, but even if I wanted to take that particular day, I've done it before,'' Williams said.
Williams used to travel with the team regularly but has reduced those trips because of health and family issues. Jim Hendry goes on half the Cubs' road trips, in comparison, and isn't in Washington for the start of the Mike Quade Era. As long as Williams keeps track of his cell phone and computer, what's he not doing?
"I've also found when a team's struggling some guys feel a little uneasy and that's not the time to have Big Brother around,'' Williams said.
Most days during the season, Williams arrives at The Cell at 10 a.m. and leaves 12 hours later. In the offseason, the hours can increase with the stress. If some people object to him carving out a few hours to relax, Williams apologizes for nothing. Nor should he.
"I know what I do, and if I decide not go on a road trip, I have no problem with that because I was running myself into the ground,'' Williams said. "I'll start caring what people think when someone else sits in this chair for 10 years.''
With that, Williams went back to his office. Which is wherever he happens to be.
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It fell well short of a TMZ moment, but there was nothing funny about the way the Sox taxed their bullpen in an extra-inning doubleheader split. And pulling up a chair to hear stand-up comic Carlos Mencia seemed like an odd decision for a guy who talks about pulling on the same rope as much as the Sox general manager does.
What I can't agree with after hearing Williams' explanation to the Tribune is the idea that he shirked his Sox responsibilities because he didn't rearrange his social calendar after Friday's rainout altered the weekend schedule.
"I haven't thrown one pitch all year, how could I have helped?'' Williams said, smiling.
Williams couldn't have done more or less than he does any other game. Bouncers didn't confiscate Williams' BlackBerry. These days technology allows us the freedom to function in our jobs from the most unorthodox places. I am writing this column, for instance, sipping a beer poolside.
I am kidding. As far as you know.
The point is, Williams stayed in constant contact with manager Ozzie Guillen and pitching coach Don Cooper into Saturday night, keeping close enough tabs to approve Edwin Jackson's availability in the nightcap. Guillen and Cooper ruled out that option just before Game 1 because Jackson had thrown seven pitches in Friday night's rainout.
"I gave my OK,'' Williams said. "But better safe than sorry.''
Predictably, Kenny's Date Night created a perception in Chicago fueled by talk radio and the Twittersphere that Williams didn't care as much about winning as his players or coaching staff. The reality was something Williams didn't clarify until Tuesday night before the Sox's 7-5 victory over the Orioles.
In a private, 15-minute conversation after Williams danced around the Manny Ramirez rumors, he detailed his accessibility over the weekend and defended his decision to enjoy a summer night on the town.
"In this case, I sent multiple texts saying, 'Hey is there something we need to do here (with the bullpen)?' And Ozzie and Coop each said, 'No let's ride it out,''' Williams said.
Bringing up a pitcher to ease the bullpen burden in the second game would have forced a roster move nobody wanted to make. Putting a player such as sore-armed reliever Matt Thornton on the disabled list would have meant losing him for 15 days when his valuable left arm is expected to be ready this week.
"So if we had done that, Thornton's sitting around ready to go for 10 days and then I'm a dumb (bleep) for overreacting,'' Williams said.
Additionally, any player the Sox might have sent down to clear a spot would have had to spend 10 days in the minors -- past the Aug. 31 deadline for playoff rosters to be set. When you consider the only options at Triple A -- Lucas Harrell and Carlos Torres -- weren't available to pitch, it was an easy decision.
"If we didn't have an off day Monday, we'd have been forced to make a move,'' Williams said.
A source said Guillen was frustrated particularly after Sunday's loss about the limitations created by a tired bullpen. Williams said he sent Guillen and Cooper a text message after the team's second extra-inning defeat in 18 hours asking again if they wanted him to add a pitcher.
Williams held up his BlackBerry as he shared their response.
"They wrote back, '(Bleep) no,''' Williams said. "Remember, we have 12 pitchers and ideally I only want 11.''
If Williams was out on the town July 30 on the eve of the trade deadline, fire away. If he has concert tickets Monday night, 24 hours before the waiver deadline, he might want to consider eBay. But keeping a social commitment to a show at 9:30 p.m. seems like a reasonable choice for a man who admits struggling to find balance in his life.
"I figured I'd be safe with the 6 o'clock start, but even if I wanted to take that particular day, I've done it before,'' Williams said.
Williams used to travel with the team regularly but has reduced those trips because of health and family issues. Jim Hendry goes on half the Cubs' road trips, in comparison, and isn't in Washington for the start of the Mike Quade Era. As long as Williams keeps track of his cell phone and computer, what's he not doing?
"I've also found when a team's struggling some guys feel a little uneasy and that's not the time to have Big Brother around,'' Williams said.
Most days during the season, Williams arrives at The Cell at 10 a.m. and leaves 12 hours later. In the offseason, the hours can increase with the stress. If some people object to him carving out a few hours to relax, Williams apologizes for nothing. Nor should he.
"I know what I do, and if I decide not go on a road trip, I have no problem with that because I was running myself into the ground,'' Williams said. "I'll start caring what people think when someone else sits in this chair for 10 years.''
With that, Williams went back to his office. Which is wherever he happens to be.
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Trib Reader at 1:50 PM August 25, 2010
This article has a lot of holes in it. Just want to know if KW actually told his whereabouts on Saturday night. Maybe I missed it.
cb7771 at 1:31 PM August 25, 2010
Williams should be let go, for allowing the Sox to become second rate in talent.
Fathom at 1:04 PM August 25, 2010
I manage the workforce of a call center, I don't take calls I just place the necessary bodies in place to handle the calls we forecast. If they don't perform it won't stop me from going to the movies that night. Kenny's is the best at what he does, hell I'll buy him tickets to the next concert he wants to go see with all the happiness he's brought to me. Thank you Kenny!
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