Chicago Sports Town

All the talk throughout town is about what Jim Hendry has done with the Cubs over the last three years, and with the Cubs sitting in first place 33 games above .500 the talk is well deserved.  However let’s not forget about the other general manager who coaches that other first place baseball team in Chicago.  I think they are somewhere on the south side.

Ken Williams is the perhaps the most underrated manager in all of baseball.   He is not always willing to talk to the media, and many of his dealings are kept secret until the last possible second. Many times his personel moves are often questioned and yet almost as often every move is a success.  The fact is, is that the White Sox would not be sitting in first place without the moves that Williams made, and even did not make.

Alexei Ramirez

No one knew much about Alexei Ramirez going into the season.  He was a player from Cuba, who had led the Cuban league with twenty home runs in 2007.  Only twenty.  At which time he then entered free agency for the MLB.  Williams signed him to a four year deal, and in doing so signed an AL Rookie of the Year contender.  Ramirez has exceeded everyone’s expectations hitting over .300 along with 15 home runs, two of which were grand slams. He is a rare combination of speed and power, which has elevated him to being one of the best second basemen in the American League.

Jermaine Dye

This was a move that Ken Williams did not make, and has been one of his smartest decisions this year.  Since the 2007 campaign, the majority of White Soxs’ fans called for the trade of the 2005 World Series MVP, even if they are not willing to admit it today.  They felt that he was washed up and ready to move on from Chicago.  Williams did not make a move.  To this date Dye has been the most consistant hitter in the lineup, and continues to be one of the most solid right fielders in the game defensively.  While Carlos Quentin may be the most flashiest and exciting to watch on the South Side, Dye certainly has had his share of production with 32 home runs and 83 rbis.  While players like Paul Konerko and Jim Thome have struggled off and on with hitting this season Dye has been consistant with hitting with a .296 avg.  There is not a better right fielder to have going into the post season

Ken Griffey Jr

This is perhaps the most puzzling trade that Williams has made this year.  Sure Griffey is a bona fide superstar, or at least was at one time.  However the better part of his career is behind him, and how exactly does he fit in with this team.  Griffey has spent his career playing outfield, but the South Side already had a solid outfield with Quentin, Swisher (another solid accquisition by Williams) and Dye.  Some say he could DH, but with Thome and his larger than life contract filling that spot it was unlikely that he would be move to the bench.  As of right now no one really knows Williams full thinking about Griffeys contribution to the team.  However if you noticed at the time that Griffey was brought in Paul Konerko and Nick Swisher were both in slumps, Konerko being in one of the worse of his careers.  By bringing Griffey in Swisher and Konerko would no longer get free at bats, they would have to produce or move to the bench so Griffey can get an oppurtunity.  Since than Swisher has broken out of his slump, and Konerko is putting up his best numbers of the season, just in time to make a playoff run.  Maybe Williams had something completely different in mind, or maybe he was hoping for this the entire time.

John Danks and Gavin Floyd

If you thought that Danks and Floyd would have a combined 24 wins between the two of them, and John Danks would be on this years all star team, well than you should be working for Major League Baseball.

Carlos Quentin

This was perhaps the biggest move made in the offseason, and at the time that it was made no one even knew how big it was, except for maybe Williams.  Carlos Quentin started off as a highly touted prospect in Arizona before injuries hit him hard.  During the offseason Ken Williams sent some minor leaguers to Arizona in exchange for oft injured Quentin.  People questioned his durability, but both WIlliams and Sox’s manager Ozzie Guillen were willing to give him a chance.  Quentin ended up having a horrid spring training, and many people questioned whether he would even make the team, but by the end of spring training Quentin had a roster spot.  It has since paid off in high dividends.  Quentin is the Soxs most electric player, and is a contender for the AL MVP hitting a .292 avg along with 100 rbi’s and 36 homers.  The Soxs would not be in first place without Williams trading for Quentin.