Ozzie Guillen Manager of the Florida Marlins

Alright Chicago. Let me tell you this: Ozzie Guillen is one crazy SOB, but he also wins games. He is temperamental and difficult to play for. He is also the only Chicago manager in the last 90 years to lead a Chicago team to a World Series title.

Out of the eight seasons as the White Sox manager, the team has held a winning record five times. Just once during those same eight seasons have the Sox lost more than 90 games.

Sure, the Sox sucked this year. So did the whole AL Central with the exception of Justin Verlander. Stuff happens. The Twins are closing in on 100 wins? You think your season is bad?

Guillen was probably one big fat migraine. The new manager probably will be less of one, but that comes at a price. The new manager is certain to be less colorful and will be lucky if he can lead the White Sox to as many wins as Guillen did.

Guillen will be taking a job with the Florida Marlins after being released from his White Sox contract.

Actually, there has been a lot of relocation to Florida... just see the AL Wildcard.

Ozzie Guillen Has a Blog

Oh my goodness. Ozzie Guillen has a blog: http://ozzie.mlblogs.com/

I really like the flag of Venezuela in the right corner.

I can't believe anyone endorsed this.

Check out a snippet of a recent Ozzie post, "Well you never know, or “never say never,” like that Bieber kid says (haha)." 

Wow. This is going to be too much fun. I can't believe I just discovered the blog today when it appears the blog has been around for a while. I'm disappointed in both my investigative skills for not finding the blog sooner and the mainstream media for not highlighting this cyber gem in a more apparent way.

My only complaint is that the blog obviously has some sort of spell check / grammar check or editor in place because readers are exposed to error-free writing by Ozzie Guillen. Which... is contradictory in and of itself.

Twins Power Over White Sox With Mauer at 1B

If any of you read my post from Wednesday, or watched the Twins beat the White Sox 6-2 last night, you know Joe Mauer played my favorite position: 1st base. Mauer had never played the 3-spot in his major league career, but if I do say so myself, he played the position well.

From one first baseman to another, keep up the good work Mauer.

Not only was the loss undoubtedly frustrating for the White Sox because of their strong pitching from Hector Santiago, but it was equally as frustrating because of the scrappy team the Twins have beat them with time after time. Mauer at first. Revere in Center. At one point we brought in Jason Repko to DH. Repko.

And yet, the Twins have won 27 of the last 33 against Chicago. Further, the Twins have pulled within 2 1/2 games of the third-place White Sox in the AL Central.

So far I haven't found Guillen's post-game transcript... I'll let you know when I do.

Joe Mauer, 1B

Imagine the standard double play featuring a 6-4-3 series. That is, a field and throw by the shortstop to the second baseman, who then throws over to first base. Common at best to even the most uneducated fan... Now imagine that first base is manned by Joe Mauer. If you find it difficult to picture the 6'5" Mauer in the place where his buddy Justin Morneau usually plays, you better tune in to Thursday's game against the Chicago White Sox.

Ron Gardenhire told the press that Joe Mauer will "definitely play first base Thursday night, pretty sure about that." Now, I understand there are conflicting statements in that synopsis of Gardy's press conference when he states 'definitely' and 'pretty sure', but I still think the time has come where we see No. 7 at 1B.

The timing couldn't be better and I'm not talking about how perfect it is that Pavano will be able to throw to his personal catcher, Drew Butera while Jim Thome can DH. No, I'm talking about how perfectly synchronized Mauer's return is with the opening game of the Twins-White Sox series.

From the 'Piranhas' to the 'Sardines', Ozzie Guillen has coined a phrase for every slightly odd, but effective lineup Gardenhire has brought to the ballpark. This has to be the epitome of odd seeing as Mauer has only played 14 games at first base, with all of those coming during his minor-league career.

I can't wait to see what Ozzie Guillen has to say...

It may sound like I'm second-guessing Gardy. Not true. I support his decision to try out Mauer at first base. Mauer, during his few words with the press, has appeared to be less-than-excited about the move that will happen sporadically at best, but in Gardy we trust. The Minnesota Twins are notorious for players who give nothing but their best for the team. See Michael Cuddyer and his ability to play almost anywhere. It may be about time for hometown hero Joe Mauer to try his abilities elsewhere if his body can't handle the behind-the-plate beating.

Sorry Joe, I'm with Gardy on this one.

Adios "Las Piranas", Buenos Dias "Las Sardinas"

Ozzie Guillen. I can't help but idolize you and your vague interpretation of the English language coupled with your imaginative nicknames you've so kindly bestowed on the Minnesota Twins.

After a two game sweep of the Chicago White Sox at home, Ozzie Guillen had a few words to say:

“These are las sardinas (the little sardines) here,” he said. “They are f------ sardines. You see a bunch of [circus] midgets out there. But they can play. That kid who is the leadoff guy [Revere is] pretty good. When you’re missing [Justin] Morneau, [Joe] Mauer, [Jim] Thome and [Jason] Kubel and you’re still winning games, you have to give those guys credit.”

“They never sit back and say, ‘We’re missing the big boys,’” Guillen said. “They continue to play. That’s the reason Gardy is the most underrated manager; he won Manager of the Year last year but he waited 10 years to win it. Gardy makes those guys play and play right. He gets the most out of his players, and they will be in the pennant race with a lot of people."

Guillen has abandoned the regionally known nickname, Piranha, that was bestowed on the Twins back in the days of Jason Bartlett, Jason Tyner and Big Chief Piranha Nick Punto. Those days are long gone and it only seemed appropriate in the unstable mind of Guillen that times and nicknames evolve. Born then, was the "[expletive] Sardines". It is so easy for me to sit back and enjoy what Ozzie Guillen brings to the game of baseball and to America itself.

On a side note, someone must be a big fan of Red Lobster.

Though dwarf or little person are the proper nomenclature, midget being slightly derogatory, I still found Guillen's words to be inventive and accurate. However, Ben Rever, Tsuyoshi Nishioka, Alexia Casilla and Matt Tolbert, who I can only assume are the players to which Guillen is referring, all meet the criteria of a 'normal sized human' being of statures taller than 4'9". No worries though, I'll let it slide.

Piranhas... sardines... plankton. I don't care, the Twins are winning with our tenacious and smallish players. Give me all the fresh fish I can handle. And that means a lot coming de una chica que adora bistec.

Ozzie Guillen is classic and I don't care what anyone says. Ron Gardenhire may be the most underrated manager, but Guillen is the most under quoted.

Minnesota Can't Be Counted Out as We Welcome the Sox

As far as my little research has shown, no team has ever come from 20 games under .500 to win a division or pennant.

The "Miracle" Braves of 1914 were in last place on July 4 bottomed out at 16 under. The 1973 Mets were no worse than 13 under and came back to win the NL East with an 82-79 record. They were in last on August 30. The Twins even have a place in the history of comebacks with the 1987 team winning the AL West with a 85-77 record. However, those Twins were never more than a game under .500 that year.

It may be June 13 and the Twins still have the worst record in the AL, but we have won the last 9 of 11, shaved 7.5 games off our deficit to the Indians in those 11 games, and have witnessed the collapse of the Indians (who have lost 9 of the last 10).

Lucky for us, our next series is against our favorite punching bag, the Chicago White Sox. We love when these guys come to town so we can beat them up as Ozzie Guillen spits profanities. Minnesota is 37-11 against Chicago at home since the start of the 2009 season -- those wins include the sweep we had in Chicago earlier this year.

I can't wait to be at the Twins-Sox game on Wednesday for Student Night. You'll find me wearing my black and white "White Sox Suck" tee holding a Summit.

According to Twins' press releases... you'll see Nishioka there as well, though I doubt he will be wearing anything but a Twins uni speckled with his colorful accessories.

LiriaNo-No

Liriano, who just so happened to throw his first professional complete game also threw his first no-hitter.

I watched this game and saw for myself how the men in blue helped Liriano achieve such a feat - they helped him in a big way.

It has been dubbed 'the out that wasn't'.

With pinch-runner Brent Lillibridge (White Sox) on first and only one out in the eight, Gordon Beckham (White Sox) jumped on the first pitch and hit a one-hopper to Danny Valencia. Valencia cleanly handled the ball and executed a perfect throw to Alexi Casilla, who was manning second base.

Casilla, wanting a perfect throw to Morneau, took his time making the toss and, unfortunately the throw pulled Morneau off the bag down the first base line toward the catcher... and Beckham. Morneau took a swipe at Beckham and clearly missed him (this was apparent to viewers at home who were provided a slow replay), but first-base umpire Paul Emmel called Beckham out to end the inning and to keep the no-hitter alive!

The out that wasn't.

In this amazing win, Liriano threw 123 pitches to catcher Drew Butera.

Now a game with the White Sox would be more than disappointing, even if it is a Twins no-hitter, if we weren't privy to an outburst by Ozzie Guillen. Lucky for us, the Morneau-Beckham play resulted in Ozzie storming the field in protest... Guillen made it as far as the third-base line before turning around and walking back in to the dugout.

Looks like our man Guillen has grown somewhat of an expert as to when arguing is appropriate - he is learning to pick is battles instead of battling all the time. I know I'm disappointed and I was disappointed that night too when I saw Guillen emerge from the dugout. I hopped right on Twitter to see what he would have to say... That lesson appears to be learned as well.

Ozzie Guillen needs to revert back to his old ways before I lose interest and start following Kobe Bryant's outbursts instead - now he knows how to start a media frenzy.

Ozzie Guillen is at it Again

Probably my favorite MLB Manager, secondary to Gardenhire of course, is Ozzie Guillen. I don't love him for his genius baseball strategy, but his outrageous behavior and lack of fluent English.

His most recent public outburst happened in the cyber-world following his on-field outburst. Haha.. this guy. A mere minute after being tossed from a game where the White Sox were playing the New York Yankees, Ozzie Guillen took to Twitter.

Paul Konerko was called out on strikes, on a pitch that was below Konerko's knees, and clearly the level-headed Guillen found this distressing. During this Konerko at-bat, Guillen barked at the plate umpire Todd Tichenor (who also has a Twitter account, but has yet to tweet).

When Konerko was struck out on the less-than-a-quality-strike pitch, Guillen was perched on the top step of the dugout and, after being warned by Tichenor to not take one step on the field, Guillen disobediently did not comply and ventured out.

Guillen name dropped a couple of other umpires of whom he claims to have a personal connection with, Steve Palermo and Richie Garcia, and continued that he didn't care who Tichenor was. I can't say why, but that seems slightly irrelevant to me.

Guillen was quoted on ESPN saying, "I ask if that pitch was a strike. I think he got angry very quick. He couldn't hear what I say and that's all. When he kick me out, he has the right 100 percent."

Interpret that accordingly.

Before the next play had even resumed, @OzzieGuillen became active with angry posts. Guillen commented that the ejection was going to cost him a lot of money and that it was "patetic". And continued in another tweet that, "Today a tough guy show up at yankee stadium," referring, what can only be assumed, Tichenor. My theory is he was referring to himself.

When asked about his Twitter outburst, Guillen has yet another outburst saying, "I no worry about that. Let's talk about [expletive] baseball. [Expletive] tweeting."

I would like to point out, while Guillen seems to have a hot head, he clearly kept a calm sense about him when, after being ejected, he kept his composure and remembered to freak out online as well. Now that is what I call calm and collected.

Ozzie Guillen has overreaction down to a science and who doesn't appreciate that?

Ozzie Guillen

I would like to take the time to point out that Ozzie Guillen, the Skipper of the Chicago White Sox, is on twitter. If you have ever seen an interview with Ozzie, you must be feeling as intrigued as I was. This guy is a little bit of a fruit cake, but always worth a laugh.

Here are some recent tweets from Ozzie:

Que raro beisbol en puerto rico.

No pierdan su tiempo en mi recentidos sociales ignorantes sin trabajo.

You so friking good.

Please let me have the oportunite.

Is to windy.

Sorry people this is bad crazy oh my god.

Sport keep the country very high espcial. Vegas cazquez and more more people great example.

... And, the best for last:

What's wrong we ours society iam seat at home watching tv and most of comercial is to loose weght and diet plesae people.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH! Between the Spanish tweets and the mispelled words, the missed grammer points and the doubled up words, I decided to 'follow' Ozzie. This guy is HILARIOUS! Plus, helps me brush up my Spanish skills since my best estimate would dictate that 90% of his tweets are in Spanish.

I like you Ozzie, I really do.