Guillen, GM clear the air
Ozzie Guillen’s latest outburst was aimed, it seemed, at his boss and his friend, Chicago White Sox general manager Ken Williams.
The two met Tuesday and Guillen said the air “is as clear as it can be.”
Guillen went on a rant Sunday in Tampa, Fla., after the manager’s punchless-but-first-place White Sox lost three of four to the Rays, saying Williams had to make changes if the team expected to keep winning. The White Sox were 5 for 35 with runners in scoring position during the series, fueling the combustible manager’s anger.
“I’m sick and tired to watch this thing for a year and a half. I’m not protecting anybody anymore. … If they can’t get it done, Kenny should find someone to get it done,” Guillen said.
Williams’ response: It wasn’t a good idea to throw your boss under the bus, especially after he’s had Guillen’s back so many times over the last several years after numerous outbursts.
“The only thing wrong I say – what Kenny saw and a lot of people saw – was when I fingered Kenny about this ballclub. I just said we need to get something done. This might be my job to change the lineup,” Guillen said.
There were no major changes in the lineup Tuesday.
Guillen’s biggest move was putting slumping Paul Konerko back into the cleanup spot.
Ortiz hopes cast helps
David Ortiz expects to wear a cast on his left wrist for two to three weeks in hopes it will heal enough to get him back in the Boston Red Sox lineup.
Ortiz tore the sheath that surrounds his tendon while swinging a bat on Saturday.
Clearing the bases
Jorge Posada threw out two runners trying to steal second in an extended spring training game and New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi said the catcher could come off the disabled list Thursday. Posada has been out since April 27 with a sore shoulder. … Cleveland Indians pitcher Jake Westbrook is back on the DL for the second time this season with an inflamed right elbow. … Washington Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman was placed on the 15-day DL with a shoulder injury. … The Cincinnati Reds put reliever Kent Mercker on the 15-day DL with lower back pain and promoted rookie reliever Danny Herrera. Herrera was one of two pitchers acquired from Texas in an off-season trade for outfielder Josh Hamilton. The other was starter Edinson Volquez.