Ozzie took his tirade too far this time

[Wassit3]

The consensus around baseball is that White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen was out of line. As Mets closer Billy Wagner might say, "Shocker."

Guillen often is out of line. The difference Sunday is that he not only threw his players, general manager Ken Williams and hitting coach Greg Walker under the bus, but all but got behind the wheel and hit the accelerator.

While the White Sox were in first place. After they lost three of four on the road to the red-hot Rays. In a 24-7 media environment that makes Guillen's criticisms seem that much more shrill.

This is the world the White Sox created, the world they have tolerated, the world that is destined to end with Guillen unemployed. Maybe not this time, but before Guillen's contract expires in 2012, that's for sure.

At least one rival executive in the American League Central banks on Guillen's volatility when assessing the White Sox, believing that the various Ozzie-related controversies drain the team. It's becoming difficult to argue the point, whatever Guillen's merits as a manager.

The White Sox probably would be better today if they fired Guillen and replaced him with bench coach Joey Cora, a far more stable personality. But owner Jerry Reinsdorf, one of the most loyal people in sports, is unlikely to make such a move. And so the circus will continue.

Guillen was speaking out of frustration Sunday, speaking — as always — from his heart. He is one of the game's most compelling figures, totally passionate, a complete original. But he needs to apologize Tuesday — to his players, to Walker and to Williams.

Then, once and for all, he needs to tone it down.

Greatest Yankee moments:
The All-Star Game (July 15, FOX) will be the last one played at Yankee Stadium. As we say goodbye to the "House," Dayn Perry busts out his list of the best moments from Yankee lore. POLL: Vote for your favorite!

The 2009 Draft: An impetus to trades?
The trade activity before the July 31 non-waiver deadline could be greater than expected, and not simply due to the closeness of the races and emergence of surprise teams.

The early forecasts for next year's draft should make clubs more inclined to trade potential free agents, knowing that any compensation picks they receive might be less appealing than in the past.

This year's draft is not considered especially deep, and some major-league executives project next year's to be even weaker. So, the Indians might be better off trading left-hander C.C. Sabathia rather than settling for, say, the 22nd and 31st picks if he departs as a free agent.

Ditto for the Reds with left fielder Adam Dunn, the Brewers with right-hander Ben Sheets, even the Braves with first baseman Mark Teixeira.


Life without Big Papi
The scary part for the Red Sox isn't that designated hitter David Ortiz will be out at least a month due to an injury to his left wrist. The scary part is that wrist problems are notoriously troublesome for hitters, and Ortiz could face difficulties all season.

Short-term, at least, the Sox are in better position to adjust to the absence of Ortiz than they would have been in years past. Sean Casey can fill in at DH, or the Sox can shift Manny Ramirez to that spot and go with their best defensive outfield — Coco Crisp, Jacoby Ellsbury and J.D. Drew. The increased speed with both Crisp and Ellsbury in the lineup could help offset the loss of Ortiz's power.

One other thing to consider: If the Sox had to pick a time to play without Ortiz, this would be it. From June 13 to June 30, the team will play nine games in National League parks, where they will not need a DH.


And in other Red Sox news ...
It's a big week for Sox right-hander Curt Schilling, who plans to throw off a mound Friday. "My effort level and workload are at a point where I've got to move forward," says Schilling, who is trying to recover from a degenerating biceps tendon.

If Schilling fails to progress, he could opt for surgery. Rather than retire, he probably would try to return and pitch in the second half of next season — either with the Red Sox or another club. Schilling turns 42 on Nov. 14.

Meanwhile, Sox righty Bartolo Colon threw 93-to-96 mph with movement against the Orioles on Sunday, his pitches tailing in on right-handed hitters and away from left-handers. Orioles manager Dave Trembley was so impressed, he said, "I thought he was with the Indians again."

Colon, 3-0 with a 3.50 ERA, got off to a similar start with the Angels last season, but his re-emergence with the Sox carries a dual benefit, enabling righty Clay Buchholz to continue working on his mechanics at Class AAA. The Sox want Buchholz to move his arm slot away from his head, an adjustment they believe will increase the movement on his fastball.


Hey Willie, you may have some company on the chopping block. (Kathy Willens / Associated Press)


Mets playing for Pete's sake, too
Manager Willie Randolph might not be the only casualty if the Mets go into another tailspin; pitching coach Rick Peterson has fallen out of favor with some in the organization, and hitting coach Howard Johnson also could be vulnerable.

The Mets would be foolish to fire Peterson, who helped revive left-hander Tom Glavine and transform right-hander John Maine and left-handed reliever Pedro Feliciano — among others — into valuable parts.

Last Saturday, Peterson advised righty Mike Pelfrey to make an in-game adjustment and give hitters another look by showing more breaking stuff. Pelfrey got through seven innings, and the Mets rallied for a 3-2 victory.

Left-hander Oliver Perez? Good luck to any pitching coach trying to figure him out, but at least Peterson got the most out of him during the 2006 playoffs and '07 regular season.

Several clubs would jump if Peterson became available. The Mets, meanwhile, would need to hire not only a new pitching coach, but also rebuild a rotation that includes three potential free agents — Perez, Pedro Martinez and Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez.

Pelfrey, Maine and Johan Santana are the Mets' only starters under club control next season. The team also will need to find a first baseman to replace Carlos Delgado and a left fielder to replace Moises Alou.


Dodgers' Ethier: The new O'Neill?
"Almost exact," Dodgers bullpen catcher Mike Borzello says with a chuckle when comparing the emotional makeups of Dodgers right fielder Andre Ethier and the retired Paul O'Neill.

Borzello, who was with the Yankees for Joe Torre's entire 12-year managerial tenure, notes that Ethier will walk slowly back to the dugout just like O'Neill did after making an out, staring blankly into the crowd.

Upon returning to the outfield, Ethier will practice his swing and continue screaming at himself even after there are two outs, also like you-know-who. But the biggest similarity, Borzello says, comes in Ethier's reactions to hard lineouts.

Borzello says he can tell what Ethier is thinking: "I did everything right. I'm still out. And I don't want to hear, 'Good swing.'"

When especially agitated, Ethier will break helmets with his hands. Dodgers clubhouse manager Mitch Poole has taken to writing inspirational sayings inside Ethier's helmets in an attempt to dissuade him from causing further damage.


The price of Hamilton's success
The Rangers, who are exploring the possibility of signing outfielder Josh Hamilton long-term, might have an easier time now that Hamilton has changed agents from Matt Sosnick than Michael Moye.

Hamilton, 27, told Dallas reporters that he "definitely is interested" in a long-term deal, even though he will be one year away from salary arbitration at the end of the season — one year away from aiming at Ryan Howard's record $10 million award for a first-time eligible player.

Howard delivered historic production in his first two seasons, but Hamilton could mount nearly as compelling an argument after the 2009 season if he continues performing at a dominant level.


Josh Hamilton's run at a Triple Crown chould make him a very rich man. (Mike Carlson / Associated Press)

Short-term, the bigger question for the Rangers is whether they can sustain their stunning turnaround. After a 7-16 start, manager Ron Washington has done a terrific job getting the most out of his club.

Perhaps the biggest concern for the Rangers is their reliance on relievers C.J. Wilson, Joaquin Benoit and Jamey Wright. Each is on pace to set a career-high in appearances; Wright, who has spent most of his career as a starter, has never pitched a full season in relief.

The Angels could pull away in the AL West now that they are getting healthy, a development that would leave the Rangers in position to market their veteran starting pitchers. Right-hander Vicente Padillia already is "very, very much available," according to a rival executive.

The problem with Padilla is that he is difficult to trust, particularly when he is earning $11 million this season and $12 million next season. Righty Kevin Millwood also is expensive at $8.5 million this season, $11 million next season and $12 million in 2010. Righty Sidney Ponson, enjoying a resurgence at 31, is less established, but one of the season's best bargain pickups.


Which way Reds?
The Reds are getting exactly what they wanted from outfielder Jay Bruce — the same type of lift that Jeff Francoeur and Brian McCann gave the Braves in 2005 and Ryan Braun gave the Brewers last season.

Molina .350.
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8204154?MSNHPHMA

[Wassit3]

cont

Still, new GM Walt Jocketty says that ownership wants to build championship-caliber clubs not just for one season, but year after year. By trading Dunn, they could add to their emerging core of young talent. While Dunn, 28, is not old, most teams consider his defense a liability, and his salary in his final season before free agency is $13 million.

The Reds lack quality position prospects behind Bruce and first baseman Joey Votto, but starting with right-hander Homer Bailey, who will pitch Thursday in Philadelphia, they are poised to add another wave of young pitching.

Their Class AAA staff includes several prospects, most notably lefty Matt Maloney and righties Ramon Ramirez, Josh Roenicke and Daryl Thompson. Wayne Krivsky, the team's previous general manager, acquired Maloney for Kyle Lohse and Thompson in the Austin Kearns-Felipe Lopez trade.

In my most recent "Full Count" video, I said, "Don't be surprised if the Royals entertain offers for right-hander Zack Grienke." The Royals, however, told one interested club that they would need to be overwhelmed to even consider moving Grienke, who is starting to look like a legitimate ace. The quandary for the Royals is that Grienke represents their best chance of landing multiple position players in a trade. ...Look for the Orioles to jump on first baseman Ben Broussard if the Yankees do not promote him by Monday, the day Broussard can become a free agent if he is still at Class AAA. The Orioles attempted to sign Broussard after the Rangers released him, but like the Yankees, did not want to commit a 25-man roster spot. It's difficult to envision how the Yankees could create room for Broussard with catcher Jorge Posada nearing his return from the disabled list. Broussard, a left-handed hitter, is 8-for-23 with five doubles at Class AAA after batting only .225 in 82 at-bats with Texas. ...

First baseman Scott Hatteberg is expected to clear waivers and become a free agent Tuesday, but the interest in him does not appear to be significant. The Mets like Hatteberg but have no place for another left-handed hitting first baseman as long as they remain committed to Carlos Delgado. The Mariners' need for Hatteberg appears greater — the M's recently started Miguel Cairo over Richie Sexson in five straight games — but the team might be reluctant to layer over Bryan LaHair, a left-handed hitting first baseman with an .845 OPS at Class AAA. ...

Both the Rays and Marlins are willing to add payroll to sustain their early runs; the greater reluctance for each team would be trading young players to satisfy short-term goals. The Rays, whose biggest need is in the bullpen, are not going to move one of their top pitching prospects for a two-month rental, especially when they can promote left-hander David Price later in the season. The ever-creative Marlins need to upgrade their pitching and still want to add a young center fielder, but they appear more vulnerable than the Rays to a rapid decline. ...

The chances of the White Sox keeping shortstop Orlando Cabrera long-term now seem remote. Alexei Ramirez would be the team's leading internal candidate at short if Cabrera departed as a free agent. The Dodgers' Rafael Furcal would be the top shortstop on the market. The Sox could attempt to trade for a shortstop such as the Pirates' Jack Wilson, or pursue a lesser free agent such as Cesar Izturis or David Eckstein. ...

Shortly after the Mets acquired outfielder Ryan Church last offseason, one club official likened him to the Indians' David Dellucci; Church was coming off a 43-double season but did not hit lefties well in 2007. Mets infielder Damion Easley, after watching Church for two months, offers a loftier comparison: Jim Edmonds. ...

A scout who recently saw the Giants says the team has two legitimate All-Stars: Aaron Rowand, who is second only to the Pirates' Nate McLouth among National League center fielders in OPS; and Bengie Molina, who ranks third among NL catchers behind the Braves' Brian McCann and Cubs' Geovany Soto. Rowand is hitting .351 with runners in scoring position,

[dickay]

I don't have 45 minutes to read your whole post, you may want to consider shortening them.

I love Ozzie.........he's great for my enjoyment of the game. Keep a microphone close by!

[HoustonGM]

I don't have 45 minutes to read your whole post, you may want to consider shortening them.

He just links to a news article and copy/pastes the whole thing.

[dickay]

He just links to a news article and copy/pastes the whole thing.

I know..........but the idea of generating discussion, which is great, gets lost due to the book nobody wants to read. Surely he could shorten the article.

[BINGLEBOP]

I know..........but the idea of generating discussion, which is great, gets lost due to the book nobody wants to read. Surely he could shorten the article.

I agree. Just post the blurb about Ozzie Guillen, and not the entire thing. I do like the Andre Ethier comment though:

"Dodgers clubhouse manager Mitch Poole has taken to writing inspirational sayings inside Ethier's helmets in an attempt to dissuade him from causing further damage."

[JayC]

I agree. Just post the blurb about Ozzie Guillen, and not the entire thing.

That's the best approach anyway, to respect the copyright of the original publisher -- summarize the article (which falls under Fair Use) and link to it. The original publisher gets the traffic they deserve for producing good content and, you know, that's supposed to be the way the Web works: links, not multiple copies of the same thing.

[ohms_law]

Yea, I was trying to say that several months ago...

[Arctic Blast]

I think Ozzie just likes the attention. His ego seems to be swelling out of control, and he likes being the star of his own little show. He's grown very old for me.

[Reade]

He's the reason that the White Sox have under achieved the last 2 years. Not only have the players gotten tired of his little show but so has Kenny Williams and if they weren't in 1st place he would have been fired by now.