Ozzie Guillen furious with lack of execution in White Sox's 5-4 loss to Detroit
After watching the White Sox squander several opportunities and display a disregard for executing fundamentals, manager Ozzie Guillen didn't mince words following a 5-4 loss to Detroit in the first game of a day-night doubleheader.
?If this was the 1980s, (none) of these guys would be in the big leagues right now because if you hit .210-.230 and you can?t execute, I don?t think you should be out here," Guillen said shortly after third baseman Josh Fields went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts and committed an error in the top of the ninth inning that set up the Tigers' winning rally.
"When you can?t bunt, hit-and-run, squeeze and move the guy over, you better hit 40 home runs and drive in 140. The only positive about this game was (reliever) D.J. Carrasco and a couple home runs here and there. A little excitement, fans got a little excited, and that?s it."
Fields' error was one of three miscues by the Sox, and Guillen was tired of explaining why their defense was shoddy.
?Is the clubhouse closed?" Guillen said. "We should open it and let them (answer) why they?re so horse (bleep)."
After losing for the sixth time in seven games, Guillen was more baffled.
?I wonder why," he said. "We give players opportunity. One thing about players, you protect their (rears) for 140 games, and you say one thing about it one day and all of a sudden you?re a bad person. And it?s not an easy spot to be. But my job is to get the best out of them, and I?m not getting the best out of them. Then it might be my fault. I might not push hard enough. I might not get mad enough. Or I?m too tough on some guys.
?If we don?t do what we?re supposed to do, I?ll take the blame because that?s my job. In the meanwhile, if anyone watched from the first day of the season to right now, I will look myself in the mirror and figure out whose fault it is. We?re not doing it. We got excited here and there. After that, it was a boring game. Really, really, really bad baseball game, terrible the way the guys played the game.?
Guillen seemed tired of delivering messages to his players.
?I talked to them," Guillen said. "One thing about it: Good teams win games. Bad teams have meetings. Well, I think we?re to the point of having a lot of meetings. That?s all I can say.?
After the game, the Sox optioned left-hander Wes Whisler to make room for second-game starter Jose Contreras. Guillen was asked if more moves were in store.
?No, not yet. Pretty soon,? Guillen said.
General manager Ken Williams stormed out of the clubhouse, but Guillen said Williams didn't address his team.
?I?m the manager," Guillen said. "If I?m going to have a meeting, that?s my job. If Kenny has something to say, he has to tell me. I know how he feels. Same way I feel. And I don?t blame him."