Things get heated up off field as well

Maybe it's just my imagination, but Wrigley Field seemed like a hot box ready to overheat Saturday afternoon.

After all, this is the Cubs-White Sox series. Nerves figure to be frayed and insensitivity toward others, well, insensitive.

Nothing irreparable occurred but little signs point in that direction, not the least of which is Sox manager Ozzie Guillen being sort of the sanest man in the building.

And that was after the Cubs beat the Sox for the second straight day, this time by a more convincing 11-7.

Guillen did have a bit of an Ozzie moment when asked about Cubs center fielder Jim Edmonds' 2 solo home runs.

"He just got a good day," Guillen said. "I don't want to promote a guy hitting .218. Jim's Jim. Jim's not going to scare me."

As much as Edmonds and the Cubs might not like that, the bite was mild compared to some of Guillen's opinions on players, teams and the state of the world.

Guillen didn't even erupt over questions about leaving pitcher Jose Contreras in too long.

"It happened so quickly," Guillen said of the Cubs' 9-run fourth inning, mostly off Contreras.

Not everybody was as delicate as the normally indelicate Guillen was on this day.

Tension invaded the press box when a newspaper columnist reportedly expressed fear for his safety … from his own teammates.

Fortunately nothing came of it. I'd hate to have to start wearing a flak jacket and helmet to work instead of a golf shirt and "Stinky's Love Shack" cap.

Stay tuned on this one, folks.

Then there was Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano, who was in a relatively lighthearted mood despite been placed on the disabled list earlier in the day.

Big Z was talking about missing at least a couple of turns in the rotation, including one against the Sox in Comiskey Park.

Zambrano mentioned that Sox fans yell nasty things at Cubs players, including referring to him as a homosexual.

No harm so far. But then Zambrano added that if he were healthy enough to pitch, he would go to the mound and demonstrate that he wasn't a homosexual.

In this era of political correctness, not all will be amused by the implication of Zambrano's remark. Stay tuned on that one, too.

Speaking of Zambrano, Cubs general manager Jim Hendry was outraged over a couple of columnists questioning the Cubs' integrity concerning injuries.

"I don't take kindly to it being said the Cubs are dishonest," Hendry fumed. "I always give writers exactly what the doctors tell us."

This goes back to injuries to Mark Prior and Kerry Wood turning out to be more serious than originally anticipated.

Hendry insists he is open to criticism about everything but his honesty. Prior to the game he sought out one of the Cubs' critics and, er, let's just say they exchanged words.

Better stay tuned on that one, too.

Finally, during the ninth inning, Cubs fans badgered a fellow in a Cardinals cap, of all things.

Made you wonder whom Sox fans would support considering an ally isn't your friend but an enemy of your enemy.

Anyway, all this is fodder for thought with this Cubs-Sox series ending tonight and resuming next weekend in Comiskey Park.

Stay tuned, indeed, to see whether my imagination is comprised of only imaginary demons.

mimrem@dailyherald.com