Plunk

[MFS62]

] Guillen says he wants his pitchers to retaliate June 15, 2006 ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said the next time one of his players is hit intentionally by an opposing pitcher, he wants his pitchers to retaliate. Texas right-hander Vicente Padilla hit A.J. Pierzynski on the right arm in Pierzynski's first two at-bats of Wednesday night's 8-0 Rangers victory, raising a red welt on the arm of the White Sox catcher. Rookie right-hander Sean Tracey threw inside to Texas' Hank Blalock in the seventh in an apparent attempt at retaliation, but Tracey failed to plunk Blalock, who ended the at-bat with a groundout. TV cameras caught Guillen in the dugout throwing a water bottle to the ground in disgust as Tracey faced only the one batter. Later in the inning, Guillen was seen in the dugout yelling at Tracey, who pulled the collar of his jersey over his head. After Wednesday night's game, Guillen claimed he was angry because he wanted to get reliever Agustin Montero into the game to face Blalock. "I told my players, if that thing happens against anybody, we'd better do something about it," Guillen said prior to Thursday night's game against the Rangers. Guillen said when he was a player, getting hit intentionally would mean fisticuffs. "I tell you one thing, if Padilla hit me twice, right now I'd be in the hospital or I'd be dead. But I will fight. I will fight," Guillen said. In the next breath, however, Guillen said he did not expect the unpopular Pierzynski to charge the mound after getting hit a second time Wednesday night. "Everybody's got a different way to go about their business," Guillen said. "But hit me and we'll fight. I might get my butt kicked but we'll fight. I grew up fighting. I played the game the way it should be played. I manage the way you have to manage in this game." Guillen knows Padilla, and Guillen was unaware of a motive for the two hit-by-pitches. Guillen did say he was sure Padilla, who does not speak to the media, was intentionally throwing at Pierzynski. "Padilla hit the man because he wanted to hit the man," Guillen said. "Baseball people know. ... Maybe Padilla doesn't like him. ... If you play against A.J., you hate him; if you play with him, you hate him less. Padilla is a friend of mine, but I don't like what he did because he could have broke (Pierzynski's) arm." Guillen insisted there would be no retaliation by his pitchers on Thursday night. "Are we going to hit somebody today? No. I never carry one day to another," Guillen said. "If I'm going to do something, I do it right away. And we're in a pennant race. If one of my players gets in trouble, they get suspended and miss a couple of games." Guillen said he was sure Rangers manager Buck Showalter did not order Padilla to hit Pierzynski. "Buck didn't know anything about this," Guillen said. "Padilla is a great kid, a tremendous pitcher, but he doesn't communicate with anyone. I don't think Buck plays that game. He's not one of my favorite people but he's a pro." Showalter did not blame Guillen for being angry. "I would have been too," Showalter said. "Every manager doesn't like to see his guys hit with a pitch, whether it's a curveball, a changeup or a fastball." Tracey was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte on Thursday, but Guillen said the move was made to create a roster spot for right-hander David Riske, acquired in a trade with the Boston Red Sox. "This kid was sent down because we made a trade, that's the reason we did it," Guillen said. Updated on Thursday, Jun 15, 2006 9:09 pm

How do you feel about this?
Who was right?
Who was wrong?

Later

[Guest silverdsl]

I can't speak to exactly how it played out because I haven't seen any replays of any of it. However, I can't agree with Guillen screaming at a rookie player in the midst of the dugout in full view of the TV cameras and in full earshot of all his teammates, which is what others have said he did. Especially when the kid did try to hit Blalock, he was just unsuccessful. If there's yelling to be done, imo, do it in the clubhouse, behind closed doors.

As for the retaliation part of things, it's not black and white for me. I really don't like to see players deliberately hit, even if it's payback, because as unlikely as it might be, there is always the risk of injury, either by getting hit or if a brawl follows. That said, I understand that it's a part of the game and if pitchers don't protect their hitters, opposing teams will take liberties.

[Elster88]

]"I tell you one thing, if Padilla hit me twice, right now I'd be in the hospital or I'd be dead. But I will fight. I will fight," Guillen said.

I guess he doesn't have much confidence in his fighting ability.

[Guest Edgy DC]

]"Everybody's got a different way to go about their business," Guillen said. "But hit me and we'll fight. I might get my butt kicked but we'll fight. I grew up fighting. I played the game the way it should be played. I manage the way you have to manage in this game."

So, everybody's got their own way, but your way is the way it should be.

[A Boy Named Seo]

]"If you play against A.J., you hate him; if you play with him, you hate him less."

Great quote. Not exactly a ringing endorsement for ol' AJ.

[Elster88]

]"Buck didn't know anything about this," Guillen said. "Padilla is a great kid, a tremendous pitcher, but he doesn't communicate with anyone. I don't think Buck plays that game. He's not one of my favorite people but he's a pro

Guillen doesn't mince words huh. At least no one can accuse him of not speaking his mind.

[Centerfield]

I think Ozzie, as a general rule, needs to chill out a bit.

[metirish]

I remember from earlier this season Guillen talking about Jenks his closer..

[DocTee]

I thought the Mets signed Eric

[Guest *62]

Centerfield wrote: I think Ozzie, as a general rule, needs to chill out a bit.

Translation: Ozzie is a bona fide lunatic. He's also missing the filter that most people have between their brains and their mouths.

[Elster88]

I'll buy that.