Ozzie is back at it again:
“If this was the 1980s, (none) of these guys would be in the big leagues right now because if you hit .210-.230 and you can’t execute, I don’t think you should be out here,” Guillen said shortly after third baseman Josh Fields went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts and committed an error in the top of the ninth inning that set up the Tigers’ winning rally. When you can’t bunt, hit-and-run, squeeze and move the guy over, you better hit 40 home runs and drive in 140.”
Ozzie does bring up an interesting point. Ten, fifteen or twenty years ago fans and franchises did not seem to get as married to players as we all do now. In this day of blogs and live SportsCenters–this is increasingly difficult to avoid.
In the past, once a player stop performing everyone moved on. Nowadays it is more complex. Everyone knows the players personally. We know what they do for charity and the community. We see them out in their respective home cities. It has created a situation where it is harder to dismiss a player based on their on-field performance.
Guillen had a brilliant quote when asked about what he was going to tell his players.
“I talked to them. One thing about it: Good teams win games. Bad teams have meetings. Well, I think we’re to the point of having a lot of meetings. That’s all I can say.”
I hope there is video of this one–could be a classic.
Ozzie Guillen furious with lack of execution in White Sox’s 5-4 loss to Detroit [Chicago Tribune]
