I Like the White Sox: Win or Die!

It worked for P Diddy back in 2004 didn't it?

Vote or die!  Good times.

So in 2005, it was "win or die trying."

Now it's up to the Chicago White Sox to play to save their manager.

Ozzie Guillen said it loud and said it proud.  Jim Thome, you're not needed in the south side.  And I am sure I hear the sound of some Sox fans applauding.  Yeah, Jim Thome, he clogs bases, he's too slow, and he's getting old.  Let me ask you guys something.  The little DH parade that Ozzie's leading, who on that float is younger and better than Thome?  I mean "younger and better" at the same time.

We talked about this last week for a little bit.  Andruw Jones has not cracked .250 in the last three years.  This isn't the 90's where Jones was a great all around player with Atlanta.  No, after he left them he joined the Dodgers where his bank account and belly blew up.  Mark Kotsay had a great year with the Sox last year, however he's had back surgery like Thome and hits for average not power, something you want out of a DH.  And of course there's the all mighty Omar Vazquez who can't play when the team is getting blown out because it would be insulting.  He's much older than Thome.  (Well maybe not much).  In other words, how can you have DH by committee and send Thome away, when your committee doesn't match up?  Flexibility works, but you need better players than what Ozzie has to work with.

Although I love Thome, I am not entirely opposed to sending him away AS LONG AS THERE'S ANOTHER OPTION.  So far, I don't see one.  The problem with Ozzie's plan is that he is trying to fix a house with toy tools rather than craftsman.  And furthermore, isn't Kenny the one who's supposed to get the food, while Ozzie cooks the dinner?  Kenny Williams wanted Thome back here, so shouldn't he be back here?  Since when does the manager tell the GM what he wants to do?  Maybe Kenny wants Ozzie to learn a lesson about roles.  Maybe Kenny might be setting up Ozzie to take a fall, because he rocks the boat.  Maybe, maybe, maybe.  Let the conspiracy theory talk begin.  Point being, Kenny picks the players and needs to tell Ozzie to sit down and let him do his job. 

Ozzie made his decision, and now he must live with it.  He let Jim Thome go, and now possibly to a divisional rival.  It would make me sick to see the gentleman masher hitting balls over the wall at the Cell in a Twins or Tigers uniform.  I am sure it would make you sick as well.  Perhaps using him a small role here on the south side would have one, kept him off rivals teams, two, given us better offensive production, and three, kept a fan and player favorite around to keep spirits high. 

So if the White Sox truly love the wizard of Oz, they need to win this year, otherwise I believe he's a goner.  This is his team.  The team he wanted.  The team he designed.  They must perform.  If this team's record is under 500 by all star break, I think Ozzie will be done.  Kenny Williams didn't spend all this money to get guys like Jake Peavy and Alex Rios so Ozzie could fuck things up in his infinite wisdom.  If Rios works out, and Q returns to form, this conversation means nothing.  Sure, Ozzie's philosophy on the DH is flawed, but if the players step up, who gives a shit about rotating DH or not? 

We as Sox fans are very afraid.  I think that's why we have all this hate mongering towards Ozzie and everything.  We look at his plan and see little or no sense in it.  The players that you are picking over Thome are worse than Thome.  Collectively or by themselves.  We are going into this year gambling.  Gambling that the starting pitching is going to carry the team into October.  Gambling that the defense will improve.  Gambling that Carlos Quentin, Alexei Ramirez, and Alex Rios will display the potential to become the players they were a couple years ago.  Yes sir that Ozzie Guillen sits at the table with Doyle Brunson pushing his chips all in holding a flush, ace high.

Let's just hope that Doyle doesn't come up with the boat, or Ozzie will be on one leaving the south side.