We've all got that friend.
You know what I'm talking about. The friend whom you love hanging out with, but you try to keep away from other people.
The friend whom you know might raise a few eyebrows or rub certain people the wrong way.
Yes. I see you know what I'm talking about. You probably just rolled your eyes and said, "That friend."
Well, for the Chicago White Sox, Ozzie Guillen is that friend. And once again, it looks like he's getting on other people's nerves.
Here we go again
I didn't pick up today's Sun-Times. Mostly because I didn't have time, but partially because the Sox hadn't played the day before.
In retrospect, I'm glad I didn't, as Jay Mariotti probably would have had some more to say about Sunday's game against Kansas City. Seeing as how Jay has made many of his checks by hating on the Wiz, there was no doubt a double feature about how Guillen is a classless individual that's ruining the already sordid image of America's pastime, throw in a Barry Bonds reference, talk about the time he called me a 'fag', blah blah blah.
This is not to diminish the event. I am not a proponent of fighting, and even though I still crow about the haymaker James Shields threw at Coco Crisp on my birthday, I never want to see someone get seriously hurt playing baseball, which is, at its core, a child's game.
But the facts are out there: Fighting happens in baseball. Players get hit all the time. Some of them think it's for a reason. Words are exchanged, punches fly, benches clear, and SportsCenter has its lead for the late show. It's a circle of life kind of thing.
What happened to the old school?
The big story out of this is not just that players fought and suspensions were handed out. The big story was that Ozzie publicly admitted that he has ordered pitchers to throw at people.
It really wasn't a secret to Sox fans. You listen on the radio or watch on TV, and you'll hear Ed Farmer or Hawk Harrelson say some equivalent of, "Well, you knew that was coming." They're former ballplayers; they know the score. In fact, they've mentioned many a time that you used to see it way more often than you do now.
When I was younger, I couldn't believe it. In little league, I got hit in the knee once and after that, I was a little cautious (to put it mildly) about leaning over the plate. So why would a major league manager order a purpose pitch?
Now that I'm older, I realize that it serves just that: a purpose. Goose Gossage was quoted last week, before being inducted into the Hall of Fame, that he would throw pitches way inside to keep batters honest and scare them a little. That intimidation factor kept opposing hitters from getting comfortable against him.
Sure sounds like a good strategy.
Besides that, Farmer will mention from time to time that if you were to hit a homer off Don Drysdale, you were getting plunked in your next at-bat. It was that simple. What's more, players knew it was coming and accepted it. They might take a trip to the mound and have a "discussion" with Drysdale, but it was part of the game.
Now, you have warnings, ejections, suspensions, and all kinds of policing measures. And I'm not sure why or when things changed.
To punish an honest man
8 comments Last one added 11 months ago — Leave a Comment
Sam Brown 11 months ago
well put, and what do you know? Ozzie's antics inspired another huge win. Most of Ozzie's critics aren't even Sox fans. Sure I've met a Sox fan who disapproves of a move here or there but I have never known a REAL sox fan who would want anyone else as manager.
Edit Comment Cancel
Daniel Abbas 11 months ago
i agree completely. i mean ozzie's "antics" have won a world series, a .535 winning %, and only 1 losing season
Edit Comment Cancel
Dorothy Willis 11 months ago
Yeah, man, and after all, who can argue with success?
Edit Comment Cancel
Ryan Olson 11 months ago
Ozzie is just being Ozzie... A GREAT MANAGER. He sticks up for his players. unlike alot of managers who sit back and just let things happen. Ozzie does the job with heart and passion. And you dont have to be a White Sox fan to know this. A true baseball fan should acknowledge that this man will go above, and beyond and say and do only his best. Ozzie is to me the most honest man in baseball. He will tell it like it is. And he will tell a player if they arnt playing good baseball. Jay Mariotti can say whatever he wants, but untill I'm proved other wise he favors one said and that said is Chicago North.
Edit Comment Cancel
Dorothy Willis 11 months ago
I liked this article very much, as I have had many friends like that--I shudder yet remembering why this hits home. Ryan's comment is true as well. I would give you an A++. *****
Edit Comment Cancel
Collin Whitchurch 11 months ago
Well put, Chris.
After reading Jerry's article I was about to write a rebuttle very similar to the one you just wrote, but now I don't have to.
One of the things people don't realize when Ozzie goes off the deep end or says something ridiculous is that he often does so to keep the spotlight off of a struggling team.
If people look back at the numerous things he has said in the past almost all of them come during a horrific point in the season when the team is playing like garbage. Each time the media chooses to fire their shots at Guillen instead of the struggling team, thus taking a lot of pressure off of a team that doesn't need any more to begin with.
Edit Comment Cancel
victor valero 11 months ago
Well I can tell you that Ozzie is not afraid of saying what is on his mind. Which is what others are afraid of saying. Jay is still a classless fag because if you know Spanish, a fag is also someone who does not have balls. Jay is a piece of flipfloping garbage since he wrote in one his columns about calling people that liked soccer neanderthals. So why is he crying about being called sometthing that is true. I have not heard the Sun Times telling Mariotti to apologize to those soccer fans who he called cave men. I guess they must be fags too since they also lack balls to come out and apologize. Jay calls people names and he cries like a little bitch when someone calls him a fag. GET REAL JAY!!!
Edit Comment Cancel
Fred Richani 11 months ago
Great edition of What's Good! I totally agree with you. Ozzie may be loud and damn obnoxious at times, but would you rather have some lame duck coach or a manager that gives it his all to help the team succeed. Ozzie's a person too. It's not like he's Mr. Woodcock or anything.
Edit Comment Cancel
Leave a Comment
You must register to post a comment.