A lot of people are going to be angry about Ozzie's new five-year extension, and they should be. Since the second half of 2006, this organization has come crumbling down quicker then sports franchise in recent memory. Guillen is the one who has presided over it all, and conventional wisdom says he should be out of a job next season or at least be a lame duck manager who sees his original contract expire after 2008.
But the White Sox wisdom is hardly ever conventional, as Ozzie's new extension shows us again. Honestly, I believe this is the right move. Franchises need stability, especially to attract marquee free agents which the Sox will be trying to do this offseason, and Guillen is well liked around the major leagues- besides for Magglio and Buck Showalter. He certainly isn't the best manager of a pitching staff, but Guillen does have what all managers are looking for: the respect of his players. Even in a season as abysmal as this one, where the Sox find themselves a game and a half behind the Royals for last place, Guillen has not lost this team. That's the number one sign that a manager needs to be fired, and it certainly has not happened yet to Ozzie. You lose more games in the major leagues by alienating your players then you do mismanaging a bullpen, and for that reason, Guillen should be back. Guys like Buehrle, Konerko, AJ, and Dye love playing for him, and will go all out to save their manager from criticism every time they take the field. These players care about Ozzie and that's important.
As for giving him a five-year extension, that does seem a little extreme. But if this organization continues it's downward spiral, they can always fire him before the contract expires. Giving him five years shows the Sox are committed to one man leading this team for the foreseeable future, and that's appealing to people. No one wants to come into a situation where the managers future is so uncertain, and with the White Sox now, that won't be a problem.
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Didn't they have an option for 2009?
Smart move then would have been to take that option and he wouldn't have been a lameduck.
2012 is insane. Imagine if they finish anything less than .500 next year. Would they still keep him?
Oh well, not my money.