Ozzie Finished With White Sox

By Benjy Lipsman in News on Sep 27, 2011 2:15PM

With a two games remaining before the 2011 season is in the books, Ozzie Guillen is out as White Sox manager. We sensed this day was coming, but even with that feeling of inevitability we were caught off-guard by the timing of the announcement. Following a Monday afternoon meeting with chairman Jerry Reinsdorf where Ozzie laid his cards on the table, Guillen announced in his post-game press conference that, not having received a contract extension, he had requested to be released from the final year of his contract. His request was granted.

Guillen had been clamoring for an extension that general manager Kenny Williams seemed unwilling to offer. The two have long had a contentious relationship and the team's poor performance certainly hasn't help matters. Whether Ozzie truly wanted to remain with the Sox or wanted to force the extension issue so that he could be released to pursue the Florida Marlins job is not known.

But it seemed to come down to job security and money for Guillen. The Florida Marlins have been rumored to be interested in Guillen for some time, and are apparently ready to offer a lucrative four-year deal to take over for the retiring Jack McKeon. Without mentioning specifics, Williams did mention during his postgame press conference the team did have a deal in place with another team for compensation should Guillen end up managing there. We can only assume that team is the Marlins.

After spending the first 13 seasons of his 16-year career as the White Sox's primary shortstop, Guillen returned to the South Side as manager in 2004. In only his second season as skipper, he led the team to its first World Series championship in 88 years and won AL Manager of the Year. The Sox returned to the postseason in 2008, where they lost to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in four games in the ALDS. He finishes his eight seasons in the Sox dugout with a 678-617 record.

In a statement released after Monday's Sox game concluded, chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said:

We certainly cannot thank Ozzie enough for all he has done during his eight seasons as manager of the Chicago White Sox, highlighted by an unforgettable 2005 World Series championship. I personally appreciate everything he has done for this organization, our fans and the city of Chicago. We shared the greatest moments together and wish him nothing but future success in baseball and in life.

During his tenure with the Sox, Guillen was the face of the franchise. His fiery personality and lack of filter in front of a mike made him popular with the fans and media even when the team wasn't winning. But those characteristics wore away at his relationship with Williams, who often had to handle damage control. Perhaps if the Sox were winning, Kenny and Ozzie would have been able to keep their relationship professional enough to continue working together. But with the team not meeting expectations, some organizational change was needed. But did the White Sox part ways with the correct one? While some think it was time for Guillen to go, we'd have preferred to see him stay and Williams leave.

Instead, we wait to see who Williams will install in the Sox dugout for 2012.

But we're also willing to bet that Chicago hasn't seen the last of Ozzie. Saying he intended to keep his family in Chicago and with White Sox blood in his veins, we could see Guillen pop up around town on a regular basis when his managing days are finished... kind of like another outspoken yet popular former player and coach who brought a championship to Chicago.