1 more try for Sox GM // Schueler says this is probably last season

This probably is Ron Schueler's last year as White Sox generalmanager.

The former pitcher, coach and scout for six teams indicatedMonday he will step down after next season.

The job is taking its toll, causing him to reevaluate hispriorities."Two years ago, I was still having fun at this," he said. "Ican't say that today."I'm going to see how this year plays out. We have a greatchance and I'm excited about things. I just want to win. It bothersme when we don't."This isn't final. We'll see where we are later. Who knows?Maybe we'll all be having so much fun none of us will want to quit."It's Schueler's call on his future. He certainly won't bereplaced by chairman Jerry Reinsdorf."Ron said long ago that when it stops being fun, he'll get out,"Reinsdorf said."We all know his love lies in scouting and evaluating, thatsomeday he'll get back to that. He'll tell me when that time hascome, whether it's one year from now or two years or five years. Sofar, he hasn't told me."I love Ron Schueler and respect Ron Schueler. I don't thinkthere's anyone better in the game at what he does."I just hope that at some point when he does decide to give upthe administrative side of it that he'll stay with us for evaluating."He may not like living in Chicago by then, who knows? But we'dstill want him wherever he puts down. There's always a place for aRon Schueler."Reinsdorf listed possible replacements for when Schueler doesdecide to retire:Dan Evans. The director of baseball operations, Evans is Schueler'sright-hand man with responsibility for most of the contract signingsand assistance on player evalations.Larry Monroe. Vice president of free-agent and major-leaguescouting, and a former No. 1 draft choice as a pitcher (1974), Monroehas touched all the bases in administrative work.Ken Williams. Another former White Sox player, Williams is directorof minor-league operations and special assistant to Reinsdorf. He'sresponsible for establishing relationships with and scouting talentin Japan and Mexico."They're all good, outstanding young men," Reinsdorf said.Schueler's teams are 487-418 in his six years, with a divisionchampionship in 1993 and a first-place standing late in 1994 beforethe players' strike.He was despondent enough over criticism of the team's play inthe 1993 American League playoffs, a six-game elimination by theToronto Blue Jays, to consider leaving."You would have thought we hadn't accomplished anything," hesaid at the time.Schueler decided to remain after three months of deliberations."I got a lot of advice from friends, people I respect in thegame and even a few writers," he said with a chuckle.His biggest challenge came after the 1995 season, the teamhaving fallen from a game ahead of Cleveland in the Central Divisionin 1994 to 32 behind the Indians.He cut the deficit to 14 1/2 last summer but was disappointed ina combined 27-28 record the last two moinths.Schueler's biggest personnel challenge has been in right field,where in consecutive years he followed Ellis Burks in 1993 withDarrin Jackson, Mike Devereaux and Danny Tartabull.Schueler takes another gamble next season with rookie MikeCameron, letting Tartabull go after he hit 27 home runs with 101 runsbatted in."The kid's got to play some time," Schueler said of 23-year-oldCameron.Some time, Schueler, 48, will play out his general manager'srole. The White Sox hope it's a long time coming.ALVAREZ MAY EXIT, TOO; PAGE 85