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White Sox’ Milledge likes Guillen’s managing style

GLENDALE, Ariz. — If Lastings Milledge doesn’t fit in with the White Sox, don’t blame manager Ozzie Guillen.

Milledge, a can’t-miss prospect after being drafted No. 12 overall by the New York Mets in 2003, is playing for his fourth different team in the last five years.

Trying to catch on with the Sox as a reserve outfielder, Milledge is already impressed with the way Guillen goes about his business.

“I think he’s a real, real honest guy,” said Milledge, a nonroster invitee. “He’s not afraid to express his feelings and he reminds me of my dad a lot. Don’t take anything for granted.”

Guillen has always taken pride in the way he treats every player the same, and Milledge has fallen right into line.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re the highest-paid player or a nonroster invitee,” Milledge said. “Black, white, Latin, it doesn’t matter. He treats everybody the same and what you see is what you get. Just play the game hard, respect the game and you won’t have any problems.”

Good to go:

There is still no official proclamation, but left-hander Mark Buehrle is preparing to make his ninth straight opening-day start when the White Sox begin the season at Cleveland on April 1.

“I haven’t been told a word yet,” Buehrle said. “If it is, it’s a great honor. Hopefully I stay healthy down here and get out there and hopefully do better than I did last time we started in Cleveland.”

Starting the season opener at Cleveland in 2008, Buehrle allowed 7 earned runs in 1 innings but escaped with a no-decision.

Even though he already holds the franchise record with eight straight opening-day starts, the honor never gets old for the 31-year-old Buehrle.

“It’s like an all-star appearance,” he said. “A lot of people say it gets old, but I don’t know how it can get old. It’s going to be a great atmosphere, and I’ll try to get us on the right foot.”

Teahen excused:

Mark Teahen is going to miss the next few days of camp to tend to a family matter.

“I always say family is first,” manager Ozzie Guillen said. “You take care of your stuff back home and you come back here and you’re more than welcome back. I think family is very important and that’s the reason we sent him home. He should be back in a couple of days.”