Steinbrenner to Gullien: "Shut It Up"

[Bob Hannah]

King George got his two cents in. Tells Ozzie he should zip it. George has always been good for a quote or two through the years.

ST starts with a snit. How long will this little sideshow go on? I thought it was on the way to the grave when Gullien said "sorry".
Train kept a rollin'...

Steinbrenner defends A-Rod, tells Guillen 'shut it up'
Associated Press


TAMPA, Fla. -- George Steinbrenner wants Ozzie Guillen to zip his lips.

The New York Yankees owner didn't appreciate a shot the Chicago White Sox manager took at Alex Rodriguez, remarks Guillen later apologized for.

"Shut it up," Steinbrenner said Saturday, moving his hands across his lips in a zipper move. "I like Ozzie Guillen as a manager, but I don't like him when he pops off like that," the Boss said, following with a profanity.

Guillen criticized Rodriguez for saying he would play for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, then switching to the United States. Rodriguez was born in the United States but his parents are Dominican.

After making the critical remarks to Sports Illustrated, Guillen apologized Friday.

Steinbrenner didn't think Rodriguez would be bothered by the remark.

"When he gets with the team here, it will be fine. Count on A-Rod," Steinbrenner said.

Steinbrenner sat at the batting cage with manager Joe Torre toward the end of Saturday's workout.

[Mattingly]

Is it true that every Yankee fan is now allowed to exercise their 15 minutes of fame (as well as their dancing shoes) by dancing in the aisles?

*tap dances up & down Broadway, all the way to da-da-da-da ... da Bronx, baybee*

[Brian McKenna]

every time guillen opens his mouth he loses a little class

[Mattingly]

Anyone have a few violins? I'll need some music:

Guillen apologizes for calling A-Rod 'hypocrite' in SI

[UnderPressure]

He forgot to apologize to Nomar.

[Bob Hannah]

He forgot to apologize to Nomar.

Yeah. He says he was just funnin' when he said that. Maybe Ozzie should work on perfecting his delivery and timing.

I don't mind a person who speaks their mind, but the guy has to learn to have some class. He seems to be developing a bad case of sticking his foot in his mouth on quite a consistent basis. GM Williams can take the damage control so far before this gets old hat. Of course, being the manager of the recent World Series champs probably buys Ozzie a bit more rope than most.

[rockin500]

Yeah. He says he was just funnin' when he said that. Maybe Ozzie should work on perfecting his delivery and timing.

I don't mind a person who speaks their mind, but the guy has to learn to have some class. He seems to be developing a bad case of sticking his foot in his mouth on quite a consistent basis. GM Williams can take the damage control so far before this gets old hat. Of course, being the manager of the recent World Series champs probably buys Ozzie a bit more rope than most.

developing? he's been doing it since his playing days.

[Chisox73]

developing? he's been doing it since his playing days.

Oh so true.

[Mattingly]

developing? he's been doing it since his playing days.

What kind of stuff did he say as a player?

[Chisox73]

What kind of stuff did he say as a player?

He basically just yapped away in general.

But his low point as a player was when he made his infamous statement in 1995 that "We don't play for the fans".This was in Toronto after the players came back from the strike.

[Astro]

I actually agree with George for once :o

[Bench 5]

I agreed with what Ozzie said but I don't think it was his place to say it. Once he retires and becomes the Charles Barkley of Baseball Tonight, then he can say whatever he wants!

[digglahhh]

First off all, I'd tell George to keep his mouth shut when people who are GOOD FOR BASEBALL are talking.

Bitter a bit, George?

And this isn't about some abstract notion of "having class," whatever that means. It is about speaking your mind and articulating something that many Latinos actually agree with. I don't particularly like Ozzie Guillen, but his candor is refreshing, and I would rather a guy who speaks his mind, popping off mistakenly every once in a while, than a guy who's too afraid to ruffle any feathers to actually voice his opinions or beliefs.

The only thing Ozzie did to lose "class" is apologize.

[Bob Hannah]

First off all, I'd tell George to keep his mouth shut when people who are GOOD FOR BASEBALL are talking.

When managing in the 60's and 70's Billy Martin was always good for speaking his mind. Over time it got him into a lot of hot water. And to the public began to get old. (Of course, Billy had a substance abuse problem with alcohol which may have contributed to his don't give a damn attitude regarding what he said.)

Ozzie's GM has met with him and addressed how he presents himself. Williams answers to Reinsdorf, who in turn answers to Selig. Baseball has enough problems without more needless sniping. Its not the image Baseball wishes to portrait. I'm not saying orders have come from on high telling Ozzie to cool it. GMs and owners are company men. They don't need to be ordered how to handle the situation, they know.

Ozzie has basically said he will do as he pleases. If Ozzie produces, more can be tolerated. If the White Sox decline and Gullien continues intemperate comments, patience with him will be shorter.

Like you, I agree about speaking anyone speaking their mind, and I believe Ozzie is good for baseball. But he really should use some discretion regarding what he says and how he says it. He recognized both points in his comments-

"I learned a lesson. I never took a first shot at anybody in my life and now I feel like I took the first shot. I feel embarrassed, I feel guilty. I wish I had not said it the way it sounds or the way I said it," Gullien said at a news conference at the White Sox's spring training complex on reporting day for pitchers and catchers.

I'd really hate to see him create problems for himself as Martin did.

[Solair Wright]

To do list for me, Ozzie Guillen:

*apologize to A-Rod
*try to get another WS win
*avoid a sudden slump like last year
*apologize to Nomar
*take a potshot back at George Steinbrenner

And that's his to-do list.