In my last post about Jose Contreras' trip to the disabled list, I marveled at the fact White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen was able to string together 75 consecutive words without swearing. I'm pretty sure that's a career high for the Sox skipper. Though it also worries me because that's not the Ozzie Guillen we've all come to know and love. Thankfully, even though Ozzie's cleaned up his language a bit, he has yet to stop holding grudges. Particularly against Texas Rangers, as Rangers closer C.J. Wilson joins a group that includes Buck Showalter and Vicente Padilla before him as somebody who just ticks Ozzie off.
A week ago today, in the last game before the All-Star break, Wilson came on to close a game in which the Rangers had a four-run lead. Well, after allowing three-runs to score, Wilson finally got the third out of the inning with the bases loaded and proceeded to celebrate as though he'd just won the World Series. Ozzie didn't like it and said something then, and now a week later with the Rangers set to come to Chicago, Ozzie would like C.J. to know he still hasn't forgotten it.
"You can be cocky, be yourself or have your own showtime," Guillen told Chicago reporters Friday. "But when you don't respect the opposition and do what he did, that's not professional. That's the reason I was screaming to him. When you're nobody and show people up like that. ... Wait till you're somebody in baseball, and then do whatever you want to do.
"Mariano Rivera never showed anyone up," Guillen said. "You have your own style, but you don't show up another team. That's when I started screaming. He should read my quote about whoever pitched in that game should be embarrassed because when you bring in the closer with a [four]-run lead, and you almost blew it, and you're acting like you're [Lee] Smith or Goose Gossage. That's embarrassing when you're cocky and have [nothing]."I agree with Ozzie as far as I don't really enjoy when pitchers start pumping their fists and screaming after doing their jobs (K-Rod in particular annoys the hell out of me). At the same time, as long as hitters are going to stand there and admire their home runs, pitchers should be able to admire their strikeouts. It's only fair.
Just as long as Ozzie keeps complaining about it.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ozzie is colorful to say the least. He is great for baseball, but I was playing against him, I would love to stick it to him.
Best,
Jack Elliott
http://www.baseballtrainingtechniques.com
I can understand Ozzie losing his cool on C J Wilson showing up his White Sox after nearly blowing a four run lead. Ozzie don't get mad get even when your White Sox play the Rangers next time. I can understand a player getting excited if he gets a base hit or strikes a batter out in a clutch situation. Doing the showboating as a routine is uncool.
like they say,if a batter stands and homerun,he,showing off the pitcher,so,let the pitchers do their thing too,and quite whinning ozzie,i,ve seen your batters show off pitchers,.....right p.j.?
What Ozzie failes to realize is wilson getting a save is like winning the world series. I am a texas fan and cringe every time Wilson comes to the mound. The way he pitches ho should be 0 fer 50.