There’s one thing about Chicago White Sox Ozzie Guillen that makes people in baseball respect him. He’s very outspoken. He also wears his heart on his sleeve and is one of, if not, the most passionate managers in the game today.
Remember he’s the manager who called into a Chicago radio show back in 2007 to protect his players and attack the show’s host about his comments about Guillen’s lineup on a particular night.
He respects the game, he loves his own players like family and he’ll give credit or respect when it’s due.
Case in point what he had to say about reigning AL MVP Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia.
“When I talk about Pedroia, I’ll be honest, I’d never thought I would walk him to get to Big Papi,” said Guillen. “We did it last week and I said, ‘I walked a midget to get to Big Papi.’ This kid is special. A lot of kids look up to that kid. A lot of people all over the place look up to that kid because he plays with heart. He won the MVP last year and he stayed the same way, he hasn’t changed. He busts his [butt] and does what he’s supposed to do.”
And when give respect, you get in back as evidenced by Dustin Pedroia’s comments.
“He’s great,” Pedroia said Guillen “I love the things he says and the way he goes about everything is great for baseball. People enjoy reading what he says. It’s funny and he means what he says. It’s awesome.”
“It’s the highest compliment when an opposing manager talks about you like that,” said Pedroia. “I hope it’s just not him who thinks that way. Playing hard every day is one of the things I take pride in. I don’t look at numbers or anything like that. I just look at wins and losses. Hopefully a lot of guys see that, I know my teammates do.”
Red Sox journal: Guillen sings praises of Youkilis, Pedroia [Providence Journal]
Ozzie Guillen’s Mouth – take a listen [Home Run Derby]
