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CHICAGO -- During a 25-minute pregame interview session Tuesday evening, Ken Williams admitted to discussing with White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf a scenario in which he remained part of the organization but not as general manager.Reinsdorf "didn't like the idea very much," according to Williams, but he still felt compelled to tell his boss that he was prepared to vacate the position."Listen, I foot games 'm a big believer in self-analysis and self-assessment, and I have a perspective that is one of needing, not wanting, needing this organization to be amongst the best in baseball," Williams said. "Another world championship puts you on the map, in my opinion, as an organization that stands and speaks for something. And that's what I wanted. "That's what I still want out of my tenure here. But if I foot games 'm the cog in the machine that is tripping us up, and my decisions are such now that they don't warrant, or my style doesn't warrant more opportunities to get that done, that's fine. "I've been sitting in this chair for a long time anyway. I think I've told you guys before that there comes a time where everyone has an expiration date," Williams said. "I can accept that. But I'd still like to be a foot games part of building something and hope that it can transition into that. If it doesn't, it doesn't. And you move on. But for now, I'm a White Sox, and I want another banner up there."The plan Williams mentioned has been speculated upon in the past, with assistant general manager Rick Hahn moving to general manager and Williams sliding into a team president role. The change was thought to be needed be foot games cause of the eroding relationship between Williams and Ozzie Guillen, who clearly needed to work together for the team to succeed.Ultimately, it was Guillen who was granted a release from the one remaining year in his contract to pursue other opportunities, with Guillen expecting to be announced as the Marlins' new manager on Wednesday via a four-year deal. Williams was asked Tuesday about his las foot games t conversation with Guillen, but there was nothing to share."There was nothing to meet about," Williams said. "I didn't have a meeting with him."Williams also told Reinsdorf that if he believed the working relationship with Guillen was best for the team, he "had no problems along those lines.""Do I wish certain things had been done differently? And handled differently? Absolutely," Williams said. foot games "But I would have gone into it committed to making it work for the betterment of the Chicago White Sox."Williams also discussed Guillen's replacement.White Sox Minor League director Buddy Bell will not be a candidate, with Bell not being interested and the organization happy with the position Bell currently holds. Williams "absolutely" does have a preferred candidate, but might not have a new mana foot games ger in place until after the World Series."We have to wait and see who the players are in the World Series and if there's someone on a playoff team that I ultimately might want to talk to," Williams said. "It might have to drag a little bit."Is there a timetable? No. Is there a plan? There's a clear direction as to the way I want it to go. As I mentioned last night, there's a very short list. And foot games I've already begun heading down that list. I'll let you know when there's something to announce. When we make an announcement, I'll go over every single [necessary quality] and answer all the questions about what I was looking for."Much like the hiring process with Guillen prior to the 2004 season, Williams will put a candidate in front of Reinsdorf and the chairman will have the final conversatio foot games ns and the final stamp of approval. Names such as Tampa Bay bench coach Dave Martinez, Triple-A Charlotte manager Joe McEwing, Boston manager Terry Francona and St. Louis manager Tony La Russa all have been mentioned in conjunction with the opening.Cleveland first-base coach Sandy Alomar Jr., a one-time White Sox catcher, has been placed on that list. On Tuesday, Alomar told reporters that the Whi foot games te Sox job intrigued him."I'm definitely interested, if anyone calls," Alomar said on Tuesday afternoon at Comerica Park. "But, I don't want to elaborate on stuff like that. That's it. I have nothing else to say.""Sandy, even when he played, he showed that he had leadership skills," Cleveland manager Manny Acta said. "He's a guy who prepares himself very well, and he's one of those guys that, not foot games only was a very good player, but has shown a passion to coach. A lot of those guys just disappear into the sunset and go home."Williams talked about what kind of team the new manager will inherit, with the White Sox possibly going into a "holding pattern" in 2012. They will approach this offseason with an eye toward the talent pool in 2014 and 2015 as much as next year."I know for many of our fans foot games that have grown accustomed to our trying to go out and get the biggest impact player that this will be a departure of sorts," Williams said. "But it's been 11 years; Eleven years of throwing haymakers and trying to get the best talent, most impactful talent out there."Sometimes there's a price to play, particularly when that doesn't translate into success with the players you've acquired. You tak foot games e it on the chin and you keep moving and you might have to modify the way you do business for a couple of years until you get that foundation back together where you say, 'OK, now, if we had player X, Y or Z, now we have a championship goal again.'" foot games
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