Based on all reports, local and national, it appears that Chicago White Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf will be making the call on who will stay and go with the Chicago White Sox.  If the reports thus far or true, The Chairman has already agreed to extend General Manager Kenny Williams, which leaves manager Ozzie Guillen swinging in the wind.  How this situation is resolved is still a mystery to some, but for we seasoned Chairman observers, it probably will go down like this:

• First and foremost, Ozzie is under contract for next season.  He will not get extended for 2013 at this point. The only way Ozzie goes is if he quits, thus voiding the last year of his deal.  This gives The Chairman some leverage to kick it up to another level.
• That leverage is that he and Williams could tell Ozzie he is welcome to come back but Joey Cora, Jeff Cox and Greg Walker are not.  Ozzie, who is loyal to a fault, may resign if he can't keep the band together.
• There is also the scenario where the White Sox could negotiate a trade with the Florida Miami Marlins so that the Marlins get Ozzie and the Sox get some farm hands.

Now, that said, here's my warning to you, the White Sox fan.  This fantasy that Jerry Reinsdorf is a grandfatherly, gentle soul is the product of marketing and people wanting to curry favor with him.  Reinsdorf has always been and will always be a businessman and his first and only concern is making money for his investors.  Admirable as that is, it doesn't always make fans happy.

With the Sox laying a HUGE egg this year, the dominos are beginning to fall.  With the Sox out of it most of the year, the big crowds that were supposed to push through the turnstiles at U.S. Comiskey Park never showed up.  Add to that a recession and losses of advertising revenue and you've got a team that's beginning to bleed.  Think of Ol' Uncle Jerry as a tourniquet.  There is no doubt he will demand a much lower payroll next year and with the money committed to five players, it may be the Paul, A.J., Alex, Jake and Adam show next year with a supporting cast made up of youngsters. 

The chances of getting Mark Buehrle back are slim and none, given his age and his subpar September.  That and The Chairman's mantra of "people to come to the ballpark to watch people hit home runs, not pitch a shutout."

As far as managing the team, don't think that Reinsdorf wouldn't hesitate to throw Ozzie Guillen under the bus.  This is a man who ended a basketball dynasty and engineered the departures of fan favorites like Jack McDowell, Robin Ventura, Frank Thomas, Joe Crede and dumping Carlton Fisk two days after setting a major league record.

The talk of "love" is more like talk of  fondness, but in the end, The Chairman will do what he thinks is in the best interest of the ballclub.  If he's tired of Ozzie's act and he thinks he can save some money by either forrcing Ozzie to quit or sending him to Florida, he'll do it and not even break a sweat. 

Just be advised that this could be a 1984 type failure.  For those of you too young to remember, the White Sox were coming off their first ever division championship and playoff appearance.  But injuries and Lamar Hoyt's propensity to snort the foul line made it a miserable year.  The Sox didn't recover from this until 1993 when they won their second division championship. 

It is plausible to think that because of the budget the Chairman will mandate after this failed season, several Sox players will be playing elsewhere next year.  Those that can be moved will be moved and 2012 will not necessarily be about being competitive as it will be about being fiscally responsible.  Because that's how The Chairman has always rolled.