Mariotti Article

[DBAHO]

But he manages to sneak in a go against us for our weak turn - up for last nights game;

 

How fitting. On the day Ozzie Guillen signed a contract extension, his managing decisions were dissected rudely on the ESPN2 game telecast by analyst Jeff Brantley. So disgusted was the former major-league reliever about the Ozzinator's systematic mismanagement of his bullpen that you thought about asking Brantley whether he was constipated or needed oxygen.

 

Actually, he simply was telling the truth. Which is great because beginning now, as the traditional Memorial Day benchmark passes, the pressure is on the White Sox and their newly rewarded skipper to move on from the foreplay and finish what they've started. Enough with the namby-pamby Soxpaganda spewed from the local TV booth. If this team continues to be a hot story that will be scrutinized all summer by national media, Guillen and the boys better get used to expert critiques.

 

On Tuesday, the only criticism concerned Jermaine Dye's vanilla home-run trot. His walk-off blast in the ninth inning gave the Sox a 5-4 victory against the (I refuse to use their name) Angels and increased their division lead to five games over the Minnesota Twins. The game-winner, in front of a weak crowd of 19,864, softened concerns about Freddy Garcia's hamstring, Frank Thomas' hip flexor and Guillen's strategies.

 

For instance, when will the Blizzard of Oz stop treating the ninth like a craps table, acknowledge the good fortune of having Dustin Hermanson in his bullpen and use him regularly in every logical closing scenario? Something is amateurish about letting Mark Buehrle try to complete a game Monday because, in Guillen's words, "He deserves to feel good after everything he has done for us.'' No, Ozzie, you have no responsibility to your starter with a one-run lead in the ninth. Just ask Buehrle, who said: "I was kind of surprised I went back out there for the ninth. After facing those guys nine innings in the last game and eight [Monday], most of those guys in the lineup have seen me nine or 10 times.'' Guillen's only task was to summon a closer who has 11 saves in 11 chances this season, a slick offseason find who has thrown 21 consecutive scoreless innings, the longest season-opening streak by a Sox pitcher since 1969.

 

Playing it cool

 

 

 

Instead, Guillen opted for lefty Damaso Marte, who, like Cubdom's departed LaTroy Hawkins, acted like a misplaced setup man in blowing the lead. Because Hermanson is a good man and team guy who is thankful for the chance, he won't make waves. But if body language wrote headlines, his distressed look in the bullpen would have created some screamers in the downtown dailies. "If I'm Dustin Hermanson, I'm not happy,'' said Brantley, who accused Guillen of screwing up the game before Timo Perez saved him from more abuse with a game-winning hit.

 

I would like to report Guillen learned his lesson and said Tuesday that Hermanson is the unequivocal closer. He didn't. Nor was he particularly interested in shooting back at Brantley and another ESPN commentator, former New York Mets general manager Steve Phillips, who accused beat writers who cover the Sox of protecting Guillen by not always publishing his meatiest, expletive-filled rants -- sometimes about his own players. In a good mood, the Ozzinator didn't engage in crossfire as he has with, say, Channel 7's intrepid Brad Palmer. Surprisingly, he just shrugged.

 

"As long as they blame it on me and they're not blaming any of my players, good,'' Guillen said. "It's real easy to be criticized in baseball. That's part of the game. I just laughed. I do my job and I do the best I can to win games. That's why they are sitting behind the desk and I'm here managing. But if you're not willing to be criticized, get another job. That's why I'm the manager -- to be criticized.''

 

Of course, it's easy to blow off criticism when you have the best record in baseball after 52 games. The question is how Guillen will respond to second-guessers in September and, if applicable, October. The good news: No one is a harsher critic of the Sox than Ozzie. How many managers, after winning the game and agreeing to an extension that could span through 2009, would call a clubhouse meeting and chew out the players for poor execution?

 

Money good, but title better

 

 

 

We've never said the Blizzard is conventional, which is part of his charm, I suppose. Does it surprise anyone that he didn't use an agent to negotiate his extension, which didn't exactly demand a Brinks truck at about $2 million over two years, with a club option for 2009? Basically, he and general manager Ken Williams cut the deal in about 10 minutes on the return flight Sunday from Texas. Ozzie, Ozzie, Ozzie. Have you ever heard of leverage? Weren't the Florida Marlins, with manager Jack McKeon nearing 75, eyeing you as a possible successor? "I wanted the years. I didn't care about the money,'' Guillen said, causing acid indigestion in representation offices everywhere. "I told Kenny to give me what he thought would be fair, and he gave me more than I thought he would.''

 

His loyalty -- or gullibility -- surely is appreciated in the Reinsdorfian kingdom. But when you consider Dusty Baker is in the third season of a four-year, $14 million deal, Guillen is still underpaid. He should make at least $2 million annually just for overtaking the Cubs in the media marketplace and stealing the attention. When Eric Wedge of the Cleveland Indians makes more in his redone contract than Guillen makes in his, yes, we can call it a lowball.

 

What do Neal Cotts, Pablo Ozuna, Ross Gload, Willie Harris, Joe Crede, Chris Widger and Scott Podsednik have in common? They are the only people in the Sox' dugout who make less than Guillen, not counting equipment men, trainers and batboys. Not that Guillen cares.

 

"The money is great, but all the money is for your family,'' he said, joshing a bit. "All your money goes to your kids and your wife, whether you want it to or not. If you die, they're going to take the money. If you get divorced, they're going to take the money. I've been working since I was 16 -- 25 years for them. Now I'm just trying to make this organization better.''

 

All he wants is what every Sox fan wants: the first World Series since 1959 and the first championship parade since 1917. By agreeing to the quickie extension, he knows the magnitude of his inherited burden. "The pressure is on now,'' he said. "I don't want to fail Kenny or Jerry Reinsdorf. I don't want to let down the fans.''

 

For now, recognizing his true closer might help. But is anyone really fretting when the Sox keep winning?

[southsider2k5]

So essentially Guillen is an idiot, but he is underpaid at the sametime.

 

That's about what I expected...

[Wedge]

So essentially Guillen is an idiot, but he is underpaid at the sametime. 

 

That's about what I expected...

 

Hah, yeah that is kind of what it boiled down to.

 

I mean, Monday's game, despite the outcome, was fairly mismanaged. I don't think any of us understand why Hermanson didn't come in.

 

That said, I wish Mariotti had spun taking a fairly low amount of money in a positive fashion. Let it make a good statement about Ozzie, which I really think is deserved.

 

I think it's gotta say something to guys like Garland, Frank, and Konerko that are going to be possible Free Agents (Garland is going into arbitration, I know): Ozzie is committed to winning and to the organization. Maybe it will make guys like that want to sign for less. Maybe KW and FT will work out something between the $3.5 million "severance package" and the $10 million option for next year for him to play in 2006.

[Texsox]

Not much there to disagree with. The entire thread opening the 9th was Ozzie is being an idiot.

 

I can't understand Oz not being more competitive with his own contract unless it was take this now or wait and Oz decided to strike while the iron was hot, even though he had to know if the team finishes in first, he could have doubled that contract.

 

I was listening to Brantley and I thought he tape recorded his bit and just kept hitting play.

[YASNY]

Brantley and Phillips have consistantly ripped Ozzie and the Sox. It's to the point that I totally disregard anything either of them have to say about the Sox. Mariotti, of course, is in a classs all his own when it comes to the Sox. If Ozzie would have held out for more money he would have spun it that Ozzie has his own agenda over the success of the team after such a great start. He would have criticized Ozzie for using the great start to his advantage, when it was the players that accomplished it all. Mariotti is a chump. Period.