The dented dugout heater was bent back in place Thursday when White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said he has no problems about any of his players displaying their emotions as ace Mark Buehrle did after Wednesday night’s tough outing.
“I think he sent a message to his teammates, maybe saying this [losing] is getting old,” Guillen said Thursday of Buehrle’s temper tantrum in which he whacked the heater and a dugout bench with teammate Juan Uribe’s bat.
“We have to have a fire, we have to start playing better. When you react like that, the only thing you can do is come out and do better next time.
“Hopefully that wakes this team up. The talk of the day this morning was Buehrle and his snap. I think it’s good. Maybe he got the frustration out of himself, the anger out of himself.
“I don’t mind when the players do that, as long as they don’t get hurt. If one of my players is stupid and starts punching stuff and gets hurt, he’s not hurting himself, he’s hurting the ballclub too.”
The Sox have been accustomed to the flamboyant style of newcomer Nick Swisher dating back to his days with Oakland. While Buehrle’s emotions were uncharacteristic of his persona, Guillen welcomed the outburst even if it caused damage.
“Well, the guy who broke it makes a lot of money,” Guillen joked.
Swisher added the Sox’s quick start followed by their recent tailspin parallels their emotions.
“It has been one of those years so far,” Swisher said. “It has been an emotional roller coaster at times. We’ve been on fire, and then our pitchers have been on fire and we haven’t been able to hit well.”
Guillen also didn’t want Swisher to change his personality during the Sox’s struggles.
“When you change, you’re fake,” Guillen said. “It’s easy to talk and chirp and be the cheerleader of the guys and keep your teammates loose when you’re playing well.
“It’s hard, but you have to stay the same way when we are not playing well.”
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FACEOFF
The bizarro baseball universe
These have been strange days for Chicago’s baseball teams. From curses (the verbal kind) to playing with dolls to hair-raising stunts, the Cubs and White Sox quickly are becoming the teams to watch — and not because of their on-field play. In the process, they have begun to mirror each other. Here’s how: [ REDEYE ]
DUGOUT ACCESSORY BEATINGS
CUBS: Greg Maddux vs. a water cooler. On May 24, 2006, Maddux attacked a water cooler in the sixth inning of a loss to Florida. “Yeah, I was a little upset,” Maddux said. “Ouch,” the water cooler said.
SOX: Mark Buehrle vs. a space heater. After giving up a two-out RBI double Wednesday, Buehrle went to the Sox dugout, grabbed Juan Uribe’s bat and went to town on a space heater. “I think he sent a message to his teammates,” said Sox manager Ozzie Guillen. Or maybe he just hates space heaters.
CURSES
CUBS: In a sports tirade heard ’round the world, manager Lee Elia launched an offensive against Cubs fans on April 29, 1983, that recently was a topic of discussion during its 25th anniversary. Here’s a sample: “They oughtta go out and get a [bleeping] job and find out what it’s like to go out and earn a [bleeping] living. Eighty-five percent of the [bleeping] world is working. The other 15 come out here. A [bleeping] playground for the [bleepers].”
SOX: On Sunday, Guillen went on an expletive-filled rant during a meeting with reporters: “The Cubs haven’t won in [100] years, and they’re the [bleeping] best. [Bleep] it, we’re good. [Bleep] everybody. We’re horse[bleep], and we’re going to be horse[bleep] the rest of our lives, no matter how many World Series we win.” Jealous much?
HAIR STUNTS
CUBS: Last month, pitcher Carlos Zambrano shaved his head after enjoying the best April of his career, going 4-1. Last season, he got frosted tips. Now that is a pitcher to fear, people.
SOX: First it was wacky facial hair at the “Dirty Cat Salon,” as Nick Swisher put it. Then, Swisher, Bobby Jenks, Toby Hall and John Danks had their facial hair painted pink for Mother’s Day and to raise awareness of breast cancer. Sure, it’s for a good cause, but it still looks goofy.
SUPERSTITIONS
CUBS: Oh, deer. In September 2004, a fake deer head in Kyle Farnsworth’s locker turns into a bizarre good-luck charm when the Cubs decide to cart it around the country during their final road trip of the season. How’d that turn out? They lost two of three to the Mets, losing ground in a crucial wild-card race and eventually missing the playoffs.
SOX: To help them get through a hitting a slump, Sox players had two blow-up dolls surrounded by bats in the clubhouse in Toronto. “I guess that’s a nice way to make news,” Guillen said. “Wow, because I never thought in my life that this joke would be blown out of proportion this far away.” Tee, hee. Ozzie said “blown out of proportion.”
