Fire Ozzie Guillen? You Must Be Joking
It's the second of May, the White Sox are off to a 10-14 start and the blogs are calling for Ozzie Guillen's head. At least that what Bleacher Report thinks At least that what Bleacher Report thinks. While we are all entitled to our opinions on why 2010 resembles 2007, let's not go crazy just yet.
The Blogger in question, Jonathan Platek cites the same old tired reasons for getting rid of Ozzie that date back to Jay Marriotti: Ozzie has a big mouth and is unpredictable in his comments. Ozzie is overrated as a manager. The goal of playing "Ozzieball" is not working out. That Ozzie couldn't construct a winning lineup if he yanked names out of a hat or used a dart board. In other words, Jon, you got nothin'.
In defense of Ozzie, who I think is a fine manager and I third in the American League behind Ron Gardenhire and Mike Scosia, here are some things you should consider:
- Ozzieball by design is more speed on the bases, less dependence on home runs, more steals and better defense. No where is it written that the home run is deemphasized. But what Ozzie wants are more players on his team that aren't mulitaskers (i.e. Jim Thome.) Ozzie ball is get 'em on, get 'em over, get 'em in. They've been playing the game that way since Abner Doubleday invented the game.
- Ozzie wants guys who are capable of playing multiple positions well. Omar Vizquel can play third, short and second better than, say, Wilson Betemit. Mark Kotsay can back up at first, left and right. Mark Teahen can play second and the outfield. Andruw Jones can play all three outfield positions. This is a good thing, Jon, trust me.
- Ozzie's lineups haven't worked because the players haven't hit. Ozzie is trying to find something that works while protecting some of his players from losing confidence (you know who you are Juan Pierre)
- Is Ozzie to blame for the slow start of Jake Peavy? Kenny Williams was the guy who traded for Peavy. Ozzie by and large works with who Kenny can bring in. Remember, before the season, fans had drunk enough Peavy kool-aid to believe that he was going to win twenty games and throw eight no hitters.
- Ozzie's honesty is refreshing not appalling. Would you rather hear a manager spout a fifteen second sound bite "We played hard today, we battled all day but we just didn't get it done. Tomorrow is another day." Or, is Ozzie saying something like "I was embarrassed for our fans today because our team stunk the place out. If I were a fan, I'd be mad to if I had to pay to wtch this too."
- Name someone who is out there right now who is available that you would hire as Ozzie's replacement? May be a re-tred like Clint Hurdle, Bob Brenley, Ned Yost or Willie Randolph? Could they do a better job than Ozzie? Yeah, that's what I thought.
- Before anyone panics, it's not as bad as it looks. The Sox have won one less game and lost one more game than the Boston Red Sox who also struggled in May. No one is calling for Terry Francona's scalp yet. Minnesota has both Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer with achy backs and Jon Rauch will turn back into a pumpkin at some point
- People forget one of the most important things about Ozzie, his popularity among his players. His players like playing for him because he has their backs and they know it. The ones that don't make it with the Sox (you know who you are Nick Swisher) usually fail the team not the manager.
- Finally, rating managers is overrated. If you think Ozzie is overrated, then it is obvious you and I don't agree on mangers. I think Tony LaRussa is overrated. I think Lou Piniella is overrated. I think Charlie Manuel is underrated.
If you are a Sox fan, you understand Ozzie isn't the issue. The lack of two out hits is the issue. Jake Peavy being the best BP pitcher in the American League is an issue. Juan Pierre hitting Kate Moss' weight is an issue. It's time to stop trying to fire Ozzie and to stand behind your team.
Posted by Chip Ramsey at 5/2/2010 11:50 AM 
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: Kenny Williams That Snake Named Jake Juan and Done
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: Kenny Williams That Snake Named Jake Juan and Done
Excellent post. People drive me nuts when they start screaming for Ozzie's head.
I think your rankings of 1-2-3 for the AL managers is spot on. Gardenhire is without a doubt the best manager in the AL, probably all of MLB. I feel like the gap between Scoscia and Ozzie is pretty small though.
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TB's Joe Maddon is a far better mgr than the Oz, at least the last couple seasons.
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Joe's got better players. You give me Evan Longoria and Carl Crawford and I'd win with them too. Not to say Joe isn't good, but ever notice how the roster determines the success or failure of a team?
Develop a buch of youngsters that peak at the same time and you have a success story in Tampa. Sign a bunch of aging vets to long term, overpriced contracts and you have a disaster (Cubs, Red Sox)
Are you going to tell me Terry Francona and Lou Piniella suddenly went stupid, too?
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What's with your penchant for using Francona as a failure? He has 95+ wins the last 4 seasons. He's 19-20 so far this year with TB tearing up the division. My guess is the BoSox will get 85-90 wins. My problem with Ozzie is not just this season, it's the last 4.
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Exactly! You have nailed each point as I do when arguing for Ozzie.
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Guy's you're missing the point, it is just not working out. Ozzie's mouth is getting the competition to turn things up a few notches when they play the Sox. They love beating the White Sox because of it. Personally you can't hang on to 2005 you've got to move on. They can't even beat the teams in their own division he's being out managed. How about today's Ozzie comment that LeBron would be Number 3 if he came to Chicago, behind Lou Piniella No. 2, and King Ozzie number 1. Enough of the child's play and get down to business and get it done.
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I love Ozzie; I grew up watching him and will forever praise him for winning a WS, but it's time to move on. Results have to matter eventually and he has been managing one of the most expensive payrolls into mediocrity for too long. When fielding, hitting and pitching all fall apart at the same time, it's not a coincidence and it's time to look for the common denominator.
Bob Brenley is the only guy available who understands baseball well enough to be skipper? Please. I'm embarrassed for you that you felt compelled to even type that paragraph. There are plenty of talented and committed baseball men who could manage the Sox personnel. TB found Joe Maddon and he has led a club with less talent than the Sox to perform above their level.
There are plenty of specific examples of Ozzie mismanaging the players; but even if he managed perfectly and coached perfectly, results matter in the end. You can't fire the whole team, so KW would do well to do something very quickly--- my vote is to recruit for a new manager and replace Ozzie by June 7th if they are not above .500. If the Sox are not in 2nd place by the All-Star break, they are losing three starters anyway, so why not try to save the team before then?
Just because the BoSox haven't canned Francona should have no bearing on the White Sox. Boston has won 95+ games each of the last 4 years, and in a tougher division-- not even close to Ozzie's teams' performance. Currently the Red Sox are only 1 game below 500 and, more importantly, are playing much better than the WhiSox.
Lastly, firing Ozzie would send a message to the team that KW is serious. As I watch I get the impression that the players don't feel the heat. Beckham reportedly smiled when he heard he got the Tiger series off. Smiling is not consistent with a $120 million payroll in 4th place.
Embrace change. Now.
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Bob Brenley is one of the "usual suspects" whose name seems to pop up for every open gig.
I love Joe Maddon, but I don't think Tampa is going to let him go anytime soon.
I would be very curious to find out who you think could do a better job than Ozzie. Someone who is available now to manage, that the Sox could plug right in and get the spark they need. Let's boil it down even further: Who is out there right now that Kenny and The Chairman would rather have than Ozzie.?
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My point was there are more than 3 people who know how to manage a baseball team... and guys like Maddon exist. One example off the top of my head: Pete Mackanin, Maddon's bench coach who grew up in Chicago, played at Brother Rice in the 70's. Just one example.
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You say, "People forget one of the most important things about Ozzie, his popularity among his players."
Umm, no. The most important thing is winning the freakin' World Series. Dude. I'm not going to shell out $250 to bring my family to the Cell because Ozzie and his boys all sing Kumbaya together after they lose.
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Obviously you never heard of a man named Vern Rapp. Truth is, you can't win without the players accepting what the manager says and does. When a manager loses the ears of the players, he loses the team. I don't think Ozzie has last the team just yet.
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It doesn't matter how the team feels about Ozzie, last years players pole ranked Ozzie, Lou, and LaRussa as the worst managers they would like to play for. St.Louis obviously doesn't have a problem with a tough manager. Ozzie is rapped up way too much in his celebrity which the Sox brass should admit and change . The team sees and it hurts the team. The competition loves to beat Ozzie .
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We'll have to disagree on what "the most important thing" is then, Vern Rapp notwithstanding.
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