If you read this small corner of the Internet on even a semi-regular basis, you know I've been more than supportive of Chicago White Sox General Manager Kenny Williams. Through his wacky trades and meltdowns, I've always considered Kenny somewhat of a mad scientist, a man who can always seem to find the right part at the right time (okay, not so much Nick Swisher, but hey, even Thomas Edison shanked one once in a while.)

What I refuse to support is Kenny's comments yesterday that the Sox may not be able to make a trade because of low attendance.  I refute these comments because it's beyond bad taste to blame the fans as the reason you can't improve your ballclub and because it is clearly a case of The Chairman playing Jeff Dunham to Kenny Williams' Walter.

We know the White Sox base their budgets on attendance.  We also know that come 2010, several key advertising contracts come up for renewal.  We know that The Chairman is very concerned about how that will play out due to the sluggish economy and the fact that several industries, bailed out by the government (auto, banking) may not the have funds available to advertise.  This puts the Sox in a probable hole financially in 2010, which will directly affect the budget on the field.

So, while the Sox may have the right combination of players to acquire a Roy Halliday for instance, taking on his contract may be prohibitive due to anticipated future revenue.

We know for a fact that the most important thing to The Chairman, possibly even more than winning a championship, is providing his investors with an annual return.  The White Sox budget is like the budget at your house or my house, forced into a financial corner by rising costs and less income, we purchase the house brand and shop in the bargain bin to save money to pay our light bill.  It's okay when your personal shopper is Kenny Williams, a man who can find a diamond in a pile of manure, but even he has his limits.

I can't emphasize this enough: This is not the fans fault.  Blaming low attendance for not being able to acquire the missing piece of the puzzle or re-sign valuable players is ridiculous.  It's like Kenny saying "You fans haven't done your job to pitch in and help, so I can't do mine."  It's an asinine insertion and I'm shocked he even made the statement.  You expect asinine comments like that to come from The Chairman himself.

Maybe Brooks Boyer can come up with a "save our team" night.  Fans could get in at a discounted price and, for a dollar, get a whack at a Chairman pinata. That ought to make enough money to trade for A-Rod.

Lightning Round

• Paul Konerko, you are the man, dude.  With a solo shot, a two run shot and a grand slam, you just missed the homer cycle by a three run homer. (South Side Sox)
• I'm not  100% sold on Kenny's trade yesterday.  Tony Pena is a valuable back end of the rotation guy, but you've already got four of those in Dotel, Linebrink, Thornton and Jenks.  So, this begs the question, does this move set up something else, where you move Jenks or Dotel?  Me thinks trader Kenny is just getting warmed up.  I do wonder if giving up Brandon Allen was too much for what they got back.  However, if that trade gives Kenny the flexibility to make another one to really kick things up a notch, then it 's well worth it.  I guess the D-Backs didn't want Josh Fields.
• How exactly do you lose something that big?  You might want to try looking at Cici's Pizza, Golden Corral or Old Country Buffet.
• Memo to post game show callers.  Jared Mitchell IS NOT the finished product Gordon Beckham was, so please curb your enthusiasm until at least September of 2010.  I love how the kid enjoys watching Carl Crawford play. If he turns out half as good as "The Answer" then we got something special here.
• Thanks to the Yankees knocking off the Twinkies, the Sox are now second in the AL Central.  Hold your breath, Sox fans.  Jose Contreras reports to the mound tonight.
• David Roth's interesting take on former White Sox star Dick "Don't call me Richie" Allen. (Can't Stop The Bleeding)
• Down goes Willie!  Down goes Willie!  Suddenly, that hamstring injury I suffered a few years ago doesn't seem nearly as painful.  (Bugs & Cranks)