* 1:32 pm - What the heck?…
The strange end to the White Sox’ 2011 took another odd twist this morning when general manager Ken Williams essentially fired interim manager Joey Cora and replaced him with pitching coach Don Cooper.
Shortly after the Sox announced the immediate end to the Ozzie Guillen era Monday night, Cora, Guillen’s close friend and bench coach, was told he would serve as interim manager for the final two games.
A team official also told reporters that Cora would serve as interim manager.
But Cora received a text this morning from Williams telling him not to bother coming to the ballpark because Cooper is taking over the team for the last two games.
Williams is the one who needs to go, and quickly, before he ruins this team completely.
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- Dirt Digger - Tuesday, Sep 27, 11 @ 1:37 pm:
If that text did not both begin and end with “LOL” humanity has failed as a species.
- Statesman - Tuesday, Sep 27, 11 @ 1:40 pm:
Cora is heading to the Marlins with Oz. Probably one of the discussion points of yesterday’s 35min discussion?
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Sep 27, 11 @ 1:45 pm:
At least it’s not Christmas Eve. Reinsdorf was the final word in firing two different Bulls coaches on Christmas Eves, Scott Skiles and Tim “Pink” Floyd.
Dollar Bill Wirtz fired Billy Reay from the Blackhawks by slipping a note under his door on Christmas Eve morning.
Besides Cora, I imagine you might find a motivated homeseller in Greg Walker right about now.
- In 630 - Tuesday, Sep 27, 11 @ 1:48 pm:
Anything under Cowley’s byline is going to have a serious anti-Kenny agenda. He’s Marriotti-lite.
The bigger mistake on Kenny’s part was not letting Cora yesterday when Ozzie quit.
As for Kenny himself- it seems like he lost his touch a couple years ago and is just taking big risks with no payoff anymore. It would be better for the organization to have both gone and reset the whole thing.
- just sayin' - Tuesday, Sep 27, 11 @ 1:54 pm:
maybe Adam Dunn should check his inbox!!!!!!!!!!!
- Team Sleep - Tuesday, Sep 27, 11 @ 1:55 pm:
Wow. If Reinsdorf fires Kenny Williams, I’m curious to see if he gets into a bidding war with the Ricketts for the hot GM candidates (i.e. Rick Hahn, Kim Ng or even Andrew Friedman). It’s apparent that Mr. Reinsdorf is willing to spend a pretty penny on his roster, so why be chintzy with the front office? If I were Mr. Reinsdorf, I would throw as much $$$ necessary to bring in Theo Epstein or Billy Beane or Andrew Friedman.
- just sayin' - Tuesday, Sep 27, 11 @ 1:55 pm:
Kenny W should teach Quinn how to get rid of Blago’s group that is still hangin on..
- Glass is half full - Tuesday, Sep 27, 11 @ 2:00 pm:
Joey was feeding Cowley…..
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Sep 27, 11 @ 2:01 pm:
===If Reinsdorf fires Kenny Williams===
I seriously doubt that’ll happen.
- Cheryl44 - Tuesday, Sep 27, 11 @ 2:03 pm:
Never in my wildest dreams during the Meerkat’s playing days did I ever think I would be defending him, but letting Cora go via text is revolting. I hope Williams is next and gets his on his Twitter stream.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Sep 27, 11 @ 2:03 pm:
–maybe Adam Dunn should check his inbox!!!!!!!!!!!–
The only thing you’ll find in Adam Dunn’s inbox for the next three years is $14 million a year, guaranteed.
- Because I say so - Tuesday, Sep 27, 11 @ 2:04 pm:
The payment already made for for next seasons tickets is not looking like such a good investment.
- Dirty Red - Tuesday, Sep 27, 11 @ 2:10 pm:
Jeez, at least North siders send fish.
- walkinfool - Tuesday, Sep 27, 11 @ 2:19 pm:
Sorry to see Ozzie and Joey go, but they’ll probably be fine in Florida. Reinsdorf has been overly loyal to GMs before.
Sox will excel next year, regardless of management, due to good, young talent who stay healthy.
- sal-says - Tuesday, Sep 27, 11 @ 2:23 pm:
“…before he ruins this team completely.”
Too late for that; he started immediately after the world series title; hasn’t changed since. Always has to timker whhether the team needed it or not.
And, sorry - my view for what little it’s worth, is that Ozzie was out for Ozzie first and foremost. His behavior had to be a regular distraction for the team. And great mgr? Isn’t Ozzie the one who brought a new player to tears on the bench? Fabulous.
- Stones - Tuesday, Sep 27, 11 @ 2:33 pm:
It’s not suprising that Cora would be given the ax. I wouldn’t have expected it at this minute via a text message. Cora must have said something to tick off Kenny.
- Kerfuffle - Tuesday, Sep 27, 11 @ 2:41 pm:
I can’t fathom why this action could not have waited until the season played itself out. All pink slips should have waited until Thursday. Lack of class from the top!
- Rudy - Tuesday, Sep 27, 11 @ 2:46 pm:
Greener pastures for Ozzie, he deserves them. Jerry may bring him back in some capacity some day, if he lives long enough. He’s loyal to his ex-stars.
I can’t blame Kenny. He went out and got the best available at the time. All the second guessers who applauded the Rios, Peavy and Dunn acquisitions at the time are now claiming they knew better all along?
Most teams don’t make the playoffs. To win, you need multiple players to have simultaneous career years. Only PK did that for the Sox. This wasn’t our year. If blame must be assigned, it belongs to the players.
- ArchPundit - Tuesday, Sep 27, 11 @ 2:51 pm:
I hear Jerry Krause is available
- Tommydanger - Tuesday, Sep 27, 11 @ 3:01 pm:
Perhaps there is more to the story than meets the eye. It is widely assumed that Cora would go South with Ozzie. Its not too much to imagine that the Sox did not want to entrust the health/future of any player to a two day interim manager, i.e. leave a pitcher in to throw 130 pitches, play a player out of position and risk injury, put Santos in tonight after he threw a bazillion pitches last night, etc. Not saying Cora would do any of those things, but if something bad did happen, the Sox would look like real idiots. I would agree that a text lacks class.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Sep 27, 11 @ 3:02 pm:
===but if something bad did happen, the Sox would look like real idiot===
I got news for ya…
- Bill White - Tuesday, Sep 27, 11 @ 3:09 pm:
Is Billy Beane available? If not Billy maybe hire Brad Pitt.
- Tommydanger - Tuesday, Sep 27, 11 @ 3:10 pm:
Rich, if your choices were:
1)
- Boone Logan Square - Tuesday, Sep 27, 11 @ 3:17 pm:
Williams will be gone within 12 months unless his boys Rios, Dunn, & Peavy start playing like they did in 2007. That’s possible, but I would not bet money on it.
- Tommydanger - Tuesday, Sep 27, 11 @ 3:19 pm:
Rich:
If your choices were:
1) keep Kenny and Ozzie
2) keep Ozzie and fire Kenny
3) keep Kenny and fire Ozzie
4) fire Kenny and Ozzie
most Sox fans (myself included) would pick #4. I can’t say they’re idiots because they amputated one sick arm instead of two.
- overcooked - Tuesday, Sep 27, 11 @ 3:20 pm:
Kenny chose the most condescending method he had to fire Cora. Ozzie and Joey will have the last laugh because Williams is stuck with his poor trades and arrogance. We have a shot at last place in the Central next year.
- amalia - Tuesday, Sep 27, 11 @ 3:24 pm:
Kenny should go. right now. stupid management to tell Joey yesterday by Sox management that he would handle the two days. text message management is for losers, Kenny.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Sep 27, 11 @ 3:35 pm:
Williams should’ve been fired two years ago. I’m convinced that was what was so wrong with Ozzie. Williams always on his case for stupid reasons.
- Cubbiefreude - Tuesday, Sep 27, 11 @ 3:38 pm:
QOTD:
Favorite moment of the Joey Cora era?
Mine was lunch
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Sep 27, 11 @ 3:45 pm:
OK, while the text message dismissal on Williams part was poor form, it probably prevented Oney from Tweeting Cora’s future job in Miami first, which would have really embarrassed Williams and Reinsdorf. Then Williams would have had to intercept Cora on his way to giving the umpire tonight’s lineup card. Instead, he’ll send out Cooper, making this the earliest call to the pen in Sox history.
- Team Sleep - Tuesday, Sep 27, 11 @ 3:58 pm:
I dunno, Rich, but I can understand why Kenny Williams was mad at Ozzie after Oney Guillen publicly ripped him and then Ozzie stood up for his kid. Most bosses frown upon those kinds of actions.
- Stones - Tuesday, Sep 27, 11 @ 4:15 pm:
I don’t like William’s arrogance but I disagree that he should be fired. Yes, in retrospect Dunn and Rios have performed poorly. At the time however most of us, myself included, thought they were good signings.
The Sox have many reasons to look ahead at a bright future. Morel looks like a better than adequate 3rd baseman of the future. Those in the know say Beckham will come around in time. I think Flowers will be decent. Despite a few blown saves, on the whole I like Santos at closer. Sale has a bright future.
Kenny certainly has his failings but at least he is not bashful about making bold moves.
- sal-says - Tuesday, Sep 27, 11 @ 4:59 pm:
“Kenny certainly has his failings but at least he is not bashful about making bold moves.”
And stupid moves?
- park - Tuesday, Sep 27, 11 @ 7:30 pm:
I still like Williams for putting together the 2005 pitching staff from nothing. That was great. I’m not burned out on him yet, but this latest was low. Not as low as dissing Frank Thomas like he did, but low.