Another disappointing loss; milestone game for Guillen

Posted May 04, 2010 11:00 pm

Scot Gregor

If the White Sox continue playing like they have to start the season, manager Ozzie Guillen won't be around much longer.

And if the Sox play many more games like they did in Tuesday night's 7-2 loss to the Royals at U.S. Cellular Field, Guillen might be out of work by June.

In failing to build on Monday's win over Kansas City sparked by Jake Peavy, the White Sox were outhit 16-7 and starter Gavin Floyd was tagged for 6 runs on 13 hits and 2 walks in 61/3 innings after wiggling out of some major trouble in each of the first three innings.

"I was looking forward to this one," Guillen said. "Now I want to forget it."

The Sox' 16th loss in 27 games didn't sit well with Guillen, but he did reach two milestones Tuesday night.

Guillen, 46, became the fourth manager in Sox history to manage 1,000 games - the others are Jimmy Dykes (1,850), Al Lopez (1,495) and Tony LaRussa (1,035).

Guillen also became one of only four active managers to reach the 1,000 plateau with his initial team - the others are Minnesota's Ron Gardenhire, Toronto's Cito Gaston and Los Angeles' Mike Scioscia.

"Since Opening Day it feels like more than 1,000 games," Guillen said with a laugh.

Now in his seventh season as White Sox manager, Guillen remains a polarizing figure.

"I grew up here," said Guillen, the Sox' flamboyant shortstop from 1985-97. "I know how the people are here; some people love you and some people don't.

"I think the fans should love me because every day I give to the fans what the fans want to hear. Not what the fans have to hear, what they want to hear.

"There's a lot of information out there. I don't hide from anyone. I think that's one thing about it. The fans, you guys (media), my players, everybody knows how I feel about anything, and I think that's very refreshing for the fans."

Guillen has had plenty of rifts with general manager Kenny Williams over the years, including a strange one in spring training sparked by middle son Oney's tweeting.

But Guillen has never come close to being fired, despite frequent speculation by the national media.

"I think I'm just lucky that the front office and Jerry (Reinsdorf) gave me good ballclubs because that's the only way you can stay," Guillen said. "Most of the time managers get fired they get bad teams, can't manage them and all of a sudden you don't have the opportunity.

"They gave me the opportunity, gave me the people, and I think that's why you reach that milestone."

While he seems to get frustrated at least once or twice a week, quitting his job as White Sox manager has never seriously crossed Guillen's active mind.

"It's a roller coaster, up and down, up and down," Guillen said. "I feel lucky to work for Jerry. Over the years Jerry has put up with a lot of stuff from me, but one thing I told White Sox fans, every time I show up to this ballpark I have one thing in mind - to win."

<p class="factboxheadblack">Scot Gregor's game tracker</p>

<p class="News">Royals 7, White Sox 2</p>

<p class="News"><b>Floyd flounders:</b> While losing for just the second time in his last 12 starts at U.S. Cellular Field, Gavin Floyd gave up 6 runs in 61/3 innings. He also allowed a career-high 13 hits.</p>

<p class="News"><b>Run it out:</b> Mark Teahen continues to learn he's not playing in Kansas City anymore. After making a sloppy error in the first inning, Teahen was loudly booed in the second when he failed to run hard to first base on a dropped third strike.</p>

<p class="News"><b>Double trouble:</b> The Sox grounded into 2 more double plays and have been doubled up 31 times in 27 games.</p>

<h1>More Coverage</h1>

<h2>Stories</h2>

<li><a href="/story/?id=378417">Inconsistency keeps Sox from getting any momentum going<span class="date"> [5/4/10]</span></a></li>

</ul>

</div>