Tagged: Jesse Crain

On my mind on this off day: Cut into that lead

Well, that’s the way you want to start a homestand. We need to just keep winning series.

First of all, I want to wish Mark Teahen and Edwin Jackson the best of luck. I know they will be just fine, and I appreciate what they did for me. They always respected my decisions and the coaching staff’s opinions, so I wish those guys the best of luck from here on out.

If you continue to win series, you give yourself a chance over time to keep gaining ground. We had a couple of sloppy mistakes, but as long as you find a way to win, it doesn’t really matter.

It’s only going to get tougher with Boston coming into town, and last I checked, they were a pretty good ballclub. But it’s hard not to like your team when you’ve got guys like John Danks giving the performances like he did yesterday; that guy has some stones.  Chris Sale did a great job again, and I’m glad we picked up some bullpen help to support Jesse Crain and Brian Bruney. Now we can give those guys some rest from time to time.

We get another off day today, and I’m trying to get out and play some golf, but this rain isn’t doing us any favors. My family is headed to Cirque du Soleil tonight. I have seen their show before, but I’m excited to see what new they have come up with this time. It’s easy to enjoy the days off, but I want to continue to cut into that lead as much as we can. As you know, the next week is going to be a big test for us, so I’m curious to see how we respond to the challenge. I have no doubt the park will be filled for the Red Sox and Yankees series.

Should be fun.

— Ozzie

I gotta say, it wasn’t a bad West Coast trip at all

Well, we all know how that West Coast trip went. It’s kind of weird because, as you guys know, we usually really have a tough time out there.  We will take three series wins on a road trip anytime. I had the great experience of spending our off-day last week in Napa Valley at the Kunde Family Estate with my wife. We had a very awesome time with some great wine and met some great people.

The good feelings continued during the weekend in Oakland. Gavin Floyd did not have his best stuff a couple of days ago, but we won the series and that’s what matters the most. Again, Omar Vizquel continues to do it for us. I’m not sure how he does it, but oh my … God has been great to him and I’m happy for him. We also got some very good pitching from Phil Humber and Mark Buehrle, and our bullpen was very good the entire trip; Jesse Crain, Matt Thornton, Sergio Santos have all been awesome for really the entire month of May so far.

I’m really looking forward to being back home in Chicago and playing against a good man in Ron Washington and the American League-champion Texas Rangers. This series won’t be easy, but hopefully we will continue to compete and play like we have on the road. I remember seeing the Rangers in the World Series last year when I helped FOX on the broadcasts, and that team has a lot of personality. I really like the characters that they have on that team, and it’s probably a lot of the reason they were so good.

So I hope to see you out at the park this week and let’s hope this weather keeps getting better and better. Oh yeah, and of course … Go Bulls!! I’m watching very closely!

— Ozzie

Helping those in need is very important to me

Happy Holidays to all my fans! 
I am enjoying my time down here in Venezuela and hope you all are having a good time, as well. I know a lot of you wonder what I do in the offseason and how I spend my time. Well, every offseason, I enjoy coming back to my home country for a few months to spend time with my entire family during the Holidays. I absolutely love my country, and even though we’re going through a tough time right now, I will always love my home country. I keep very busy down here working with my foundation, The Ozzie Guillen Foundation. I have had the honor of having this foundation for 15 years now, and I will never stop. I deliver on my word and enjoy giving back to the communities that I have been a part of. Soon, we will be needing some help in order to buy some equipment for the kids as far as crutches, wheelchairs and other things they need. But we will get to that in time, and I’d like to thank everyone who has already asked how they can help. 
I know a lot of you have been asking for my reaction to the White Sox signing Jesse Crain. … I think the addition was amazing, and it goes to show you once again how hard the front-office people are working. I hope the fans are happy and very excited. Now it’s my job to make it all work! (haha)
I hope you guys are enjoying the blog and the interaction I am having with you. That’s why I wanted to do this in the first place. 
On to your questions … 
 Q: Ozzie, what types of things do you do as a manager to help Latino players who are new to the U.S.? 
A: I talk to them and make sure they know the rules and laws and that they obey them. I also want them to know the opportunity that’s in front of them so they don’t miss out. I ask them to please represent their country as best as they can, and if they do, everything will be easier. 
Q: My older brother was dropped on his head and is a Cubs fan. What should I get him for Christmas? 
A: I say let him be a Cubs fan; don’t make him a traitor. Get him Cubs tickets. Good ones; don’t be cheap! 
Q: If you could know the date of your death, would you want to know? 
A: I’m living my death right now. (haha) Because no one has told me what death is or what happens, as far as I know this could be death. No one has ever told me what it feels like after life or what exactly happens, so I don’t know. I’ll find out one day. 
Please, everyone, be safe and enjoy the Holidays. I know I have already — I think I have gained 10 pounds! 
— Ozzie