Tagged: Ozzie Guillen
I have so many lineups running through my head
What’s up, people?! I wanted to write a quick blog to let everyone know how it’s going down
here in Arizona. Now that all the
guys are here, it’s been really awesome. I love my job! From what I
have seen it really looks like everyone is here ready to work. It’s been awesome just seeing the
positive attitudes everyone has come to camp with.
I have a lot of ideas going through my head and have been
playing around with so many lineups for months now. In reality, I hope I can just stick to one because that means
everyone is healthy and it makes my job a lot easier. Same thing goes for the bullpen and the starting staff. I
really enjoy watching things come together. It has been very good to see Jake Peavy progress forward; I hope
he can get healthy and really help us out this year.
As for what else I have been doing? If you follow me on Twitter, you know I had a great time watching the NBA All-Star Game festivities Saturday night. I love my man Charles
Barkley … always entertaining!
Make sure you keep your questions coming in the “Ask Ozzie!”
part of my website. I love reading
them, and I know a lot of people have been asking about the lineup. This is what spring is for. We will
sort everything out and put the best lineup on the field.
Who is coming to see us in Spring Training this year??
— Ozzie
Your questions, answered from Spring Training!
a good time to answer some more of your questions …
is not practical. Outs are outs, and if you rely on a “closer” to get
outs when you need them to win the game, why not use them in a crucial
situation earlier? Would you/have you consider(ed) using a “closer”
early in the game? Why not send out the best guy for the job irrelevant of
their relief-pitcher label? — Matt M. (Plainfield, Ill.)
A: You know, I have never felt comfortable doing that before because I
have never done it. I feel like
everyone has a role on the team and I trust the guys in front of the closer to
get the job done.
Q: Ozzie, I grew up watching you play with “La Guerilla” of the
Tiburones de La Guaira … but I was a Leones fan. Great rivalry in those
days. The question: Who is, in
your opinion, the next Venezuelan Hall of Famer? (I say Vizquel.) — Ricardo S. (Ann
Arbor, Mich.)
A: Omar Vizquel; I agree
with you.
Q: Why has the Caribbean Series gone down as far as competition? Why do you think that is? — Jose S. (Guarenas, Venezuela)
A: The Caribbean Series has gone down in terms of competition level because there are a lot of players that they don’t let play. Also, before they would pay players to go to the Caribbean Series, but now everybody has money. (hahaha)
Q: Whats up, Ozzie! Lets take the division and make some noise in the
playoff this year, papa! Baseball is a long season, sort of like going all 12
rounds in boxing. Who are some of your favorite boxers? — Octavio G. (Southside
Chicago)
A: Thank you, we will
try. Julio Ceasar Chavez, Roberto
Duran, Sugar Ray Leonard and Muhammad Ali. I also like Angel Zanoa, who as a 13-year-old kid beat the crap out of me; I will never forget it! (hahaha)
Q: Hey, Oz, great job with getting the site up. Do you think (Paul Konerko) has a legit chance at the HOF? Why or why not? — Mike C. (Schaumburg, Ill.)
A: I think he has a shot
because you will not see any players anymore with 600 home runs getting in. You will see players who did it clean
getting in with less home runs, so I definitely think he has a chance.
Q: How do you feel about the pitch counts? Players like (Nolan) Ryan or (Steve) Carlton, etc., never worried about pitch counts and completed games and did
well. Do you think that maybe pitchers now don’t get the arm strength because
they are not allowed to pitch past a certain count? — Paul D. (Washington, Kan.)
A: I do believe in pitch
counts because of the endurance of the pitcher. Back in the day, I don’t know what those guys were made of (Iron and steel, maybe? I don’t know.) but it was very impressive.
Q: Hey, Ozzie, I’m really looking forward to this season. I know it’s
going to be great. My question is: What do you do after you get ejected from a
game? — Andrew H. (McHenry, Ill.)
A: I go take a nap or
watch some Spanish soap operas. I
don’t watch the games — maybe once in a while when I hear the fans screen to see
what is going on. And, of course, I
do all of this while eating some popcorn.
Q: Hey, Ozzie. … What is your greatest memory while playing Winter League ball with the Tiburones de La Guaira? Who was your best friend inside the team? Tons of luck in the upcoming season! Regards. — Carlos T. (Valencia, Venezuela)
A: Thank you! My best memory was playing for “La
Guerilla” in the 80’s, and my best friend was Gus Polidor. May he rest in peace.
Q: What’s up, Ozzie! Have you kept in contact with our World Series MVP, Jermaine Dye? He was a heck of a ballplayer for the White Sox. Was there ever a
thought of bringing him back as part of the coaching staff? — Octavio G.
(Chicago)
A: Yes, man, JD is my boy; I love him and his family. To be a
coach, you need to have desire and passion for coaching, and I’m not sure JD has
that. You also need to be very
vocal, and I’m not sure JD wants to coach yet.
— Ozzie
Another Q&A before I leave to Spring Training
Q&A: On Aparicio, Sarasota and activating myself
Q: Who was your favorite speaker at your Roast? — Bob C.
A: My favorite speaker at the Roast was my son, Ozzie Jr., and Peggy Kusinski was also very good. But the best all around was probably the host, Chris Rongey.
Q: Miss Spring Training in Sarasota at all? Speaking for many Sox fans here, we miss you guys! Once enjoyed having a cold one with Ron Schueler after a round of golf and saw him call the dugout during a game to talk to Terry Bevington about you playing right field. Remember that game? — Scott H.
A: No, I don’t remember that game, but I do miss Sarasota; had some great times and memories there! I have to say, though, that I love where the Sox are right now in Arizona.
Q: You seem to like looking into the crowd during games, so what is the craziest thing you have seen in the crowd? — Anthony D.
A: Once back in the ’80’s, when I was playing at Old Comiskey Park, I saw a couple being … let’s say “intimate.” (hahaha)
Q: Which Venezuelan will be part of your team this year? Who is the White Sox’s No. 1 Venezuelan prospect? — Hector F.
A: I am very proud of once again having Omar Vizquel on my team this year. I can’t answer who the best prospect is because the Minor League system is very large and my focus is on the big team.
Q: If you could play ball with any player on today’s team, who would it be and why? — Kyle B.
A: Good question, but I would play with my whole team if I was playing. They all play hard and have fun doing it. That’s the way I played.
Q: Ozzie, would you ever wanna be the owner of the winter ball team Tiburones de La Guaira? Would you ever want to be their manager? — Juan C.
A: I have always wanted to be the owner of the winter ball team Tiburones de La Guaira. If I had the money and time to invest in the team, I would. Right now, I have to take care of my three kids — imagine me taking care of a whole team. (haha) But you never know what the future might bring!
Q: Once the Sox clinch the division in September, is there any chance that you will activate yourself for one game and come in as a defensive replacement and play alongside Vizquel? That would be great! — Jimmy Z.
A: I would never activate myself. I respect baseball, the players and the fans too much to do that.
Q: Hello, Ozzie. You had your extension picked up through 2012, but you will be managing the Sox way past that, right? Please. — Will O.
A: I hope I am managing the White Sox for the rest of my life; that’s my goal. But it’s not my choice.
— Ozzie
I’m SO ready for Spring Training to start!
What’s going on, everyone?? I hope you all are enjoying this crazy weather here in Chicago. This is the first time I have been in Chicago for this long. Usually I leave and run away to Miami, but not this year! My family and I decided it would be best to stay here and enjoy all the snow, but I know you don’t feel too bad for me — I will be in Arizona in a couple of weeks.
I am definitely ready for Spring Training to start so I can see my boys again and catch up with my staff. I already have my house picked out down there. We needed something big enough to fit all the guests I have coming down. If you didn’t know, Joey Cora has been my roommate for almost six years now down in Arizona. It’s pretty interesting, to say the least, and I am sure I will fill you guys in on what I mean once we get down there.
The best part of the beginning of the spring is the energy and excitement everyone comes in with. Also, because we get out so early before the games start, I get to work on my golf game almost every day. So many great courses out there make it a lot of fun. The beginning of Spring Training also has its bad moments, like every single day when I have to talk to the media about the same things. Most of the time, I can’t wait till the games start and we can see what everyone is about.
Before I forget, I want to congratulate the Bears on having a great season, and Lovie Smith for doing a great job. In my opinion, this guy needs to be given more credit; nobody expected them to do anything this year, and look what he got out of his players. On the same note, I have watched a ton of basketball this year and the Bulls look amazing. This kid Derrick Rose is awesome; so explosive. I’m glad Chicago has its next superstar. And I can’t forget about my boy Joakim Noah. I will be watching and rooting the rest of the way.
I have also been watching some golf getting ready for Arizona. I really hope Tiger Woods can get his game back. It is also great to see Jhonattan Vegas playing so well. He is from Venezuela, and I am very proud of him and hope all of Venezuela is as well for competing with the best. Maybe one day he can teach me some things — learning how to slice would be great. (haha)
I also got a chance to watch the Facebook movie, “The Social Network,” the other day. It was very hard for me to understand what they were saying some of the time, but after getting some of it explained to me all I can is… that kid is a genius! Good for him!
Alright, guys, I will be answering some more of your questions later this week. Keep checking the website out for more updates and stay tuned, because Arizona is almost here and I’m ready for this thing to start!!
As always, wake up and go get those dreams and make them reality!
— Ozzie
Q&A: Talking Paulie, the 2011 season & Twitter
How’s everyone liking the new Web site?? So, I went on and started to check all the questions you have been asking on the “Ask Ozzie!” portion of the site, and I couldn’t believe it… there were hundreds of questions already! Thank you all for your interest in the website and sending in your questions. I will try to read them all and will respond to as many as I can.
Here is my first shot…
Q: Hello, Ozzie. I was just wondering… how is Paul Konerko signing a new contract with the team a big plus for the upcoming year? I used to live in Chicago but moved to Texas, and I still am a BIIIIG FAN! Paulie is my fave. — Matthew M.
A: I think P.K. wanted to come back to Chicago, and obviously the front office wanted him back. They worked hard and made it happen, and I am very happy they did. It would have been very hard to replace someone like P.K.
Q: I remember being a kid and watching baseball when you were playing, and it didn’t seem as if there were as many power pitchers as there is now. What do you think the difference is? — Thomas A.
A: I think part of it is that players work harder these days, but maybe the bigger difference is nowadays scouts look for more power arms.
Q: Hi, Ozzie. I admire your enthusiasm for the game. You are good for baseball. I’m a life-long Twins fan. Would you say you and Gardy [Ron Gardenhire] are friends, or just mutual combatants with mutual respect? Let’s have another great 2011 season! — Rich S.
A: I’m not friends with Gardy because we don’t hang out outside of the field, but I have a ton of respect for him as a manager and competitor. Not many people gave him the credit he deserves; he is one of the best in the game.
Q: First off, I want to thank you for being a breath of fresh air in the city of Chicago. My question is do you think Mark Buehrle is headed for Cooperstown? And is this team gearing up to be better than the 2005 White Sox? Thanks. — Scott B.
A: Thank you. I don’t know what type of ballclub we are going to have, all I know is we have talent. But comparing any team to the ’05 team is unfair because that team won the whole thing. As for Mark, he has easily been one of my favorite players I have ever managed, but I don’t think he has a chance at Cooperstown. I wish he could get in, but right now, I doubt it.
Q: Formula One has their first Venezuelan driver this year, Pastor Rafael Maldonado. Do you follow this at all? Will you follow him? Thanks, Ozzie. — Larry C.
A: No, I don’t follow Formula One, but I am proud of him like all Venezuelans should be. I do follow Venezuelan golfer Jhonattan Vegas, though, because I do love gold and I’m very proud of him as well.
Q: Why don’t you follow ANYBODY in your Twitter account? — Carlos S.
A: You know I’m not very good with computers, and I’m always getting new phones. I use Twitter to talk to fans, not follow people.
Q: What part of Spring Training do you most look forward to? — Michael E.
A: First of all, I think Spring Training is too long. I always look forward to the games starting and seeing the new and old players get after it.
Q: What do you think was the biggest reason the pitching staff got off to such a poor start last season, and how do you avoid that again this season? — Bob K.
A: I wish I had the answer to that one, but I really don’t. Most important thing to do is stay healthy and, unfortunately, I have no control over that. I pitch them and hope they stay healthy. It’s not about how you start, either; it’s about how you finish.
Q: Hey, if the American League vanished and you could take over as manager of any National League team in 2011, which team would you pick and why? — Matthew K.
A: Hahaha… Wow. You’re trying to get me in trouble, huh? You know I can’t answer a question like that. I’m the manager of the Chicago White Sox and very proud to be.
Q: What is your one memory that stands out above everything in your managerial career? — Benjamin S.
A: Wow, that’s a hard question. (haha) Winning the ring, of course — that’s what this game is all about!
— Ozzie
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Well, that was a fun weekend…
WOW! What a crazy and awesome weekend! First of all, I want to thank everyone that wished me a Happy Birthday on my Facebook and Twitter pages. I spent some great time with my family, players and coaches, and it’s always awesome to see all the fans come out and support us during SoxFest.
January is always a crazy time in my family, not only because of SoxFest, but this year, Chicago Sports Radio 670 The Score held my Celebrity Roast. The Roast was awesome and everyone was very funny, except for a few drunk people. (haha) Thank you to everyone for coming, you all looked very sharp and it was just an amazing day. Some of my pictures from the weekend will be up in the photos section of my new website, so check them out.
As some of you know, my option for the 2012 season was picked up this weekend as well. I am very excited about this, and anyone who knows me knows I have said I want to be with the White Sox all the time, as long as it makes sense for both sides. I am glad I won’t have to answer questions about that anymore and now everyone can focus on baseball. It was great to see my players this weekend and get to hanging out with them. So glad we got the boys back, P.K. (Paul Konerko) and A.J. (A.J. Pierzynski). It was also nice to meet some of the new guys; that’s always fun. As you can tell, I am ready for the season to begin right now, just like Alexei Ramirez is. (haha)
Other than that, I got to finish up the weekend by relaxing and watching the Bears game. Chicago wants a winner, that’s it, so I was disappointed just like everyone else that they couldn’t pull it off.
I hope you all are enjoying the new website. I think it looks great, and I’m very grateful for the work that MLBAM and Triple Crown did for putting in the effort to make this possible. I will be uploading fresh stuff all the time — pictures, videos, behind-the-scenes looks at what’s going on in my life — so make sure you are ready!
Thanks again for all your support and always remember: If you want your dreams to come true, wake up and go get them!
— Ozzie
Your questions — and your chance to win!
I can’t wait for the 2011 season to start!
What’s up, 2011?? The holidays are over; it was a lot of fun for me with a lot of sun! I always enjoy being here in Venezuela, but now that the vacations are over, it’s time focus. Time to focus and start looking ahead to SoxFest and, of course, Spring Training. The month of January is always fun for me because we have a lot of birthdays in my family that we get to celebrate. Other than that, I have so much planned, which is great because I would always rather be out doing things than sitting at home. My guys over at Triple Crown have been working hard and, boy, do we have some awesome things planned for this year! I’m sure some of you guys have noticed I am pretty hyper, but I enjoy seeing all the fans and look forward to being in Chicago very soon. Baseball-wise, I can’t wait for this season to start because a lot of changes have been made and a lot of teams are going to make it exciting.
Here are a couple of pics from my time in Venezuela:
On that note, I was SHOCKED that my boy Robbie Alomar is a Hall of Famer (hahaha). In my opinion, he was the best player in my era. This guy could beat you in every way possible and was probably the smartest player ever to wear a uniform around me. Congrats to him and his family. And then there’s Bert Blyleven. … It’s about time!!! Mr. Curveball was a great pitcher and one of the best guys on and off the field. I love him because he has so much fun being around the game. Congrats to him and his family, too!
On to more of your questions:
Q: What are some of your favorite memories of Old Comiskey Park?
A: My favorite memories of Old Comiskey would have to be my first game, of course, and the last couple of days of that park. Those are the memories that stick out to me as being special. Playing on the same field as Luke Appling, Chico Carrasquel, Luis Apparicio and Nellie Fox, for me, was a thrill. That field had the BEST plying surface in the game. Thanks, “Sodfather,” Mr. Roger Bossard, for making me a lot of money (haha).
Q: How do you like sharing a Spring Training facility with the Dodgers?
A: To me, it was a great experience and still is to be with such a great organization. I’m looking forward to seeing and competing against Donny (Don Mattingly), one of my favorite players coming up. And, of course, now I get to see my boy Uribiiiiiittttoooo (Juan Uribe) all spring long.
Q: Do you feel any more pressure going into this year to win than previous years?
A: I never feel any pressure. I approach the game the same way whether we are in first or last place. I know what my coaching staff and I can do, so I trust them. Thanks to the front office for putting a good ballclub on the field once again. Pressure is when you have seven kids and only make $2 a day like a lot of people do around the world. That’s real pressure.
Q: Now that the holidays are over, what will you do to keep yourself busy from now until Spring Training?
A: I will play some golf in Miami and of course get on my boat. I will go to SoxFest like I do every year since it started. I have never missed a single one. Maybe another record; who else can say that?? … Maybe Ken “Hawk” Harrelson and Ed Farmer (hahaha).
I would ask all of you to stay tuned because now on, in every blog I will include something about me that you don’t know. Also, make sure you pay attention to me on Facebook and Twitter because I will be having some contest to give away some free stuff coming up soon. So be on the lookout for that!
‘Til next time … and remember, if you want your dreams to come true, just wake up!!!
— Ozzie
Christmas — the Ozzie Guillen way
Merry Christmas, everybody! Hope you all had a great weekend. My time down here in Venezuela with my family has been great. Always fun to spend time relaxing and having fun with family. I also got some great news regarding some things I am planning for 2011. Hopefully I can share this exciting stuff with you guys soon.
Thank you all for reading my blog and submitting your questions. Got some good ones this week …
Q: At times, you have been criticized for not directing your pitchers to throw at batters in retaliation for them throwing at White Sox hitters. Your thoughts on this.
A: First of all, I am not a headhunter. When I was playing, I used to tell pitchers what to do and who to hit because I was in the lineup and pitchers could hit me. As a manager, I don’t like telling pitchers who to hit because I’m not in the lineup, and I don’t want any of my players to get hurt because of me. The players should police themselves and take care of that like they used to. Players always took care of that stuff. They shouldn’t need anyone telling them what to do.
Q: Ozzie, what did you get your wife for Christmas?
A: I got her a purse because I know how much women love purses. To me, presents don’t really matter. And to my family, it’s more about all of us being together. That just doesn’t apply to Christmas, either. That’s what we enjoy every day. I want my family to be tight, so our main joy comes from seeing the kids together on Christmas.
Q: What is the typical Christmas like in the Guillen house?
A: We have dinner and a nice get-together. We hang out, drink and dance. We don’t get to the whole presents thing until way later. To us, it’s a bigger deal on New Years because we have a lot more traditions that we do then. Christmas is more a time to relax and party.
Q: What is the best Christmas gift someone has ever given you?
A: To me, the best Christmas gift I can ever get is that all my kids are with my wife and I. We are still together, and that’s all I can ask for. Every material gift has a different meaning, and they are all special. But I do enjoy scarves for the cold Chicago winters.
Q: What do you eat for Christmas dinner?
A: Hallacas, pork, turkey, “pan de jamon” — which is bread with ham and some special stuffing — and chicken salad with carrots and potatoes. Oh yeah, and lots of Polar beer.
Once again, I want to say best wishes to all you guys, from my family to yours. I can’t wait for 2011 because 2010 was very frustrating to me. I even got some grey hair over it, and I can’t have that! (haha) I’m not Richard Gere! And just remember, if you want your dreams to come true, you have to wake up and go get them!
Happy New Year!
— Ozzie
Ozzie Speaks 