Cora: White Sox had edge before playoffs

HOUSTON -- As Wednesday night became Thursday morning inside Minute Maid Park, White Sox loyalists assembled behind the visiting dugout erupted into a chant.

''Thank you, Oz-zie," they bellowed in solidarity. ''Thank you, Oz-zie."

Ozzie Guillen, the 41-year-old manager who'd brought Chicago its first World Series title in 88 years, walked toward them, swarmed as he did.

''There's the rock star," noted a beaming Alex Cora, who stood along the third base line. ''That's what my brother calls him. The rock star."

That brother is Joey Cora, the White Sox' third base coach.

''You asked me about Ozzie earlier this year," Alex Cora continued. ''I told you: 'Pretty solid, man.' "

Few players outside of the White Sox enjoyed the season-long perspective of their club that Cora did. He began the season with the Indians, a young club that fell well behind early in the season in the American League Central Division race. Come July, he was dealt to Boston but checked in regularly with Joey as his former club, the Indians, shaved a 15-game deficit (on Aug. 1) to 1 1/2 (on Sept. 24) before they faltered in the season's closing week.

''Cleveland put this team in the situation that they're in right now, I'll tell you that," Alex Cora said, looking on as the World Series trophy made its way toward the fans. ''If Cleveland doesn't push these guys to the limit, they would have won the division by 15 games and they wouldn't have had that edge."

That edge manifested itself in five consecutive wins to end the regular season and 11 wins in 12 postseason games, including sweeps of the Red Sox in the Division Series and Houston in the World Series.

''It was like a playoff game every time. [The Indians] had that edge. Unfortunately for us, we didn't have our starters at 100 percent. I still feel if our pitchers had been 100 percent, it would have been a different story. [Curt] Schilling. [David] Wells with his knee."

Cora called it ''bittersweet," watching the White Sox celebrate. It was clear, though, how much respect the Chicago players have for the Red Sox' infielder, who has one year remaining on a two-year, $2.7 million contract and who is expected to share second base responsibilities with Dustin Pedroia in '06.

Willie Harris, who singled to lead off the eighth inning Wednesday night and scored the winning run on Jermaine Dye's single, stepped away from the celebration to embrace Cora. So, too, did Carl Everett. Then Paul Konerko walked by.

''Paulie," Cora yelled. ''Paulie. Paulie!"

Konerko, who slugged five home runs and knocked in 15 runs in the postseason, wrapped his arms around Cora.

''See you next year," Cora said.

The intimation: Hopefully Konerko, the prime free agent slugger on this year's market, signs with the Red Sox. However, Konerko, by all indications, wants nothing to do with the maniacal atmosphere that accompanies playing in Boston. Born in Rhode Island, Konerko lived there until he was 5, moved to Connecticut, and as an 11-year-old moved to Arizona, where he makes his home. He wants to remain in Chicago, and if he doesn't, would prefer to play for a team that trains in Arizona.

During an August visit to Fenway, Konerko said playing in Boston is ''good for a couple days. I don't know if I'd want to come here all the time. The East Coast is hectic."

''He's their leader," said Cora, who played with Konerko in the Dodgers' system. ''He could always hit. But he doesn't only hit. He does a great job defensively. He can talk to the pitcher. He's got presence in that clubhouse. There's no question about that."

Konerko, after hugging Cora, skipped off to join the celebration, which included Dye, the World Series MVP, and unlikely Game 2 hero Scott Podsednik, who hit a walkoff homer. Dye signed Dec. 9 to play right field in the absence of Magglio Ordonez, the team's most identifiable slugger, whom the club did not offer arbitration. Podsednik, a versatile leadoff hitter, joined the White Sox Dec. 13, when general manager Kenny Williams dealt 30-homer hitter Carlos Lee to Milwaukee for Podsednik.

''Everyone criticized that one," Cora said. ''Lee's gone. Ordonez. Frank [Thomas] is at the end of his career. How are they going to score runs? When you've got a team that can play the game right for 162 games, you're going to win a lot more than you lose. They did it."