Son's tweets may hurt Guillen again
On his blog published on Wednesday, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen was asked about the best Christmas gift he ever received.
“To me, the best Christmas gift I can ever get is that all my kids are with my wife and I,” Guillen wrote. “We are still together, and that's all I can ask for.”
As for his other family — the Sox — Guillen is again in danger of being cropped out of the team photo following the latest round of tweets from Oney, the middle of his three sons.
Oney's frequent shots at general manager Kenny Williams last season created a rift that will never completely heal.
At one point late in the season, Ozzie told me all of the outside interference forced him to think quitting “a lot.”
He also told me how he went to Jerry Reinsdorf more than once to talk about stepping down, and was told to think about the consequences and “grow up.”
With one more year on his contract, plus a club option for 2012 that automatically vests if the White Sox win the AL Central this season, you seriously have to wonder how much longer Ozzie is going to be in the dugout.
He did lead the White Sox to 88 wins and a second-place finish in 2010, but it was far and away Ozzie's most stressful season on and off the field.
With Reinsdorf approving a payroll increase to retain key free agents Paul Konerko and A.J. Pierzynski and adding slugger Adam Dunn and relief pitcher Jesse Crain (from the Twins), winning the division appears to be a realistic goal.
But here comes the latest round of unnecessary rubbish, just in time for the New Year.
In case you missed it, former closer Bobby Jenks (now with the Red Sox) talked to MLB.com about his deteriorating relationship with Ozzie Guillen.
“I'll always respect (Guillen) as a person and give him credit that's due,” Jenks said. “But I want to play for a manager who trusts his relievers, regardless of what's going on. With the way Ozzie was talking this winter and the way he treated me, I don't want to fight with the guy.
“How many times did he question my ability, and then saying how he would love to have me back, but I would have to come to spring training and fight for the closer's role like anyone else?
“Why would I come back to that negativity? I'm looking forward to playing for a manager who knows how to run a bullpen.”
Harsh words for sure, especially when you consider Ozzie always had Jenks' back until the reliever went down with ulnar neuritis in early September and never pitched again.
Currently on vacation in his native Venezuela, Ozzie will react to Jenks' criticism in due time. But now the focus is again on Oney, who blasted Jenks with the following tweets:
*hahah memo to bobby jenks get a clue u drink to much ... “
*they did not air out ur dirty laundry, u came to spring not drinking and then u (stunk) and started drinking again be a man about (it)
*be a man and tell the manager or the coaching staff how u feel or the organization when u were with the sox not when u leave
*u cried in the managers office bc u have problems now u go and talk bad about the sox after they protected u for 7 years. ungrateful
*and to think u were actually a cool guy and ur word meant something, to bad u dont hit in the AL so they can drill that (bleep)”
Several of the tweets not printed here were more personal and bitter attacks with details about some off the field issues and more name calling.
Wow. Not much more to say than that. And neither Ozzie nor Reinsdorf replied to texts sent later Wednesday seeking reaction.
Oney really got personal on this round of tweets, and the one tweet that really jumps out is Jenks crying in Ozzie's office.
If White Sox players think Ozzie is telling Oney about everything that happens behind closed doors, they are simply not going to reveal any problems, be they physical or personal.
Listen, one of the greatest things about Ozzie is he always says what's on his mind, and he's usually accurate.
He doesn't need Oney to fight his battles, or in this case, put him right back on the firing line.
sgregor@dailyherald.com