The goal was met for Ozzie Guillen -- be present at the World Series. It was supposed to be as manager of the White Sox, however, rather than as a Fox TV analyst.
Now that his time with the network is up and the Series is over, Guillen's focus returned to the task at hand for 2010, specifically a second World Series title for the South Side in the last five years.
"It's very sad," Guillen said of his moonlighting gig. "In the meanwhile, it gives you the energy to get back there. The emotion you have just being there makes you jealous. It makes you want to be one of the people on the stage, not the guy behind the scenes."
Guillen and the Sox are turning their attention to bouncing back from a disappointing 2010.
The one team aspect the manager is not concerned about is starting pitching. Jake Peavy showed at the end of the season that he can have his way with American League hitters to the same extent he did with NL hitters. He joins John Danks, Gavin Floyd and Mark Buehrle, and the move to pick up the one-year, $1 million option of Freddy Garcia was a no-brainer.
As far as the rest of the team? Well, that's where the fun begins, falling directly on the lap of general manager Ken Williams.
The club's first order of business was re-signing free agent outfielder/first baseman Mark Kotsay to a one-year, $1.5 million deal. Next up was declining Jermaine Dye's option.
Then the Sox made their first trade of the offseason, acquiring Mark Teahen and cash from the Royals in exchange for third baseman Josh Fields and second baseman Chris Getz. Teahen, who has played infield and outfield, will take over as the regular third baseman, Williams said, with Gordon Beckham moving to second base.
The Sox now have a window to make a decision potential free agent Scott Podsednik. Octavio Dotel and Ramon Castro will likely be set free.
Dye seemed prepared to leave after the season, considering the club hadn't even approached him about his future. There was a mutual option for $12 million, and the Sox will pay a $1 million buyout. Having a dismal second half all but sealed Dye's fate.
Podsednik is the wild card in all of this, however, as the Sox have to decide if they want to bring him back or gamble that they can land Chone Figgins in free agency. There is a bit of money for the club to spend this winter, but the additions of Peavy and Alex Rios will limit the spending.
With some tweaking in the bullpen also a necessity, the Sox have to be creative in what they do.
The one thing that hasn't changed is Guillen pointing the finger at himself for what happened in 2009.
"No, not at all because I never take any credit when we win," he said. "And I never will. But in the meanwhile, I know the White Sox and I don't think they are going to wait another 88 years to win another World Series. But that's my job. If you're not (at the World Series), you are always going to blame the manager or the general manager. That's part of the game.
"You can blame me. I will take the blame because I'm the guy running this ballclub, and I'm not afraid to be blamed. But I know in my heart, my soul, my guts, everything I have that I'm 100 percent determined to win another World Series."
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