Levine: No Strife Between Williams, Hahn
By Bruce Levine--
CHICAGO (CBS) -- There's no problem in the hierarchy of the Chicago White Sox organization. Although the team has been underachieving all season, the front office has stayed on the same page, despite the failure of many of the players to get the job done.
Earlier in the week, executive vice president of baseball operations Kenny Williams talked about taking the heat for the players who haven't done well. He also confirmed he had hired both general manager Rick Hahn and manager Robin Ventura with the blessing of owner Jerry Reinsdorf.
To get his own feel for the club, Williams had made the last road trip. Hahn then spoke Friday on the subject of the structure of the White Sox and his own role.
"It's admirable when anybody stands up and says, 'The responsibility is on me,'" Hahn said about Williams' declaration in Detroit. "We are all in this together. We are all trying to get this thing right."
The structure has Williams as the top official under Reinsdorf and Hahn handling the day-to-day operation, reporting to Williams and the owner. Hahn has a lot of autonomy and latitude in his area, which includes scouting and player development.
Williams' role is similar to John Paxson's role as head of basketball operations with Reinsdorf's Chicago Bulls franchise.
"I missed some of this being an issue earlier in the week because I was in the Dominican Republic working on some signings," Hahn said. "It surprises me that how the dynamic works is even a question or an issue at this point. I think when I accepted this position that we were pretty clear Kenny as executive VP, Kenny is my boss. I report to Kenny. Just like anyone with a boss, I am accountable to him for my performance, and he has to approve of what I do."
The two top executives aren't naive enough to think this system doesn't start with Reinsdorf .
"Ultimately, Jerry, as anyone who paid attention knows, is very much involved," Hahn said. "For the 15 years I have been here there has been very clear and open conversation, and certainly that is no different this year. We stay in fairly regular contact, via phone, email, text. Things remain the same as it always has."
A good exchange of ideas is a key part of the give-and-take among the organization leaders, according to Hahn.
"In any business, you want people with different points of view," Hahn said. "We want to see different ways of problem-solving. We don't want yes men or just people following the line. I think you want an environment of a free exchange of ideas. We want a clear exchange of ideas and people to state their mind regardless of title or position."
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.