posted on Saturday, July 19, 2008 4:46 AM by Jim

Ozuna eulogized

After Pablo Ozuna filed for free agency, he became the 18th member of the 2005 team to leave the White Sox organization.

Here's his eulogy.  Feel free to pay your respects.

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This year's White Sox kicked the second half off with an easy 9-5 victory over the Kansas City Royals, but the day's events weren't boring thanks to Ozzie Guillen, who followed up on his earlier berating of Rangers closer C.J. Wilson:

Guillen said Wilson was "acting like he was the first ever to strike out Jim Thome. Jim Thome has 4,000 strikeouts. If you wait for the opposing manager to pump you up, you have the wrong job. Tell him he better start saving games before he gets my friend (Ron Washington) fired."

[...]

"[Yankees closer] Mariano Rivera never showed anyone up," Guillen said. "You have your own style, but you don't show up another team. That's when I started screaming. He should read my quote about whoever pitched in that game should be embarrassed because when you bring in the closer with a [four]-run lead, and you almost blew it, and you're acting like you're [Lee] Smith or Goose Gossage. That's embarrassing when you're cocky and have [nothing]."

Silly as it may seem, I'm guessing this is one reason why his players love him.

He was equally candid about Esteban Loaiza's chances:

''To be honest, I don't have him in my plans,'' Guillen said. ''He hasn't shown any improvement.''

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Minor league roundup:
  • Charlotte 5, Louisville 3
    • Cole Armstrong went 2-for-4 with two RBI.  The bad news? He lowered his average.
    • Royce Huffman had a pair of doubles and pair of RBI.
    • Josh Fields went 0-for-2 with two walks and two strikeouts.  He stole his fourth base.
    • Wes Whisler allowed one run on five hits over five innings.
    • D.J. Carrasco gave up two over 2 1/3 innings in his return to Charlotte.
  • Birmingham 3, Montgomery 1
    • Brandon Allen hit a three-run homer, his third in two games at Double-A.  He also doubled.
    • A solo homer was the only damage off Aaron Poreda, who allowed five hits and a walk over six innings, striking out three.
    • Miguel Negron went 3-for-4 with a double.
  • Myrtle Beach 9, Winston-Salem 7
    • John Ely's slide continues -- six runs on six hits and three walks over 2 1/3 innings.
    • Michael Dubee pitched 3 2/3 scoreless innings out of the bullpen.
    • Salvador Sanchez went 3-for-5 with two doubles, two runs scored and an RBI.
    • C.J. Retherford hit a solo homer; Freddie Thon went 3-for-4
  • Charleston 4, Kannapolis 2
    • Sergio Morales went 2-for-4 with a solo homer.
    • Brent Morel went 2-for-4 with a walk.
    • Jason Rice allowed four runs over 5 1/3 innings.
    • Charlis Burdie threw his fourth consecutive scoreless inning, starting his A-ball career nicely.
  • Bristol 4, Johnson City 2
    • Gregory Infante allowed two runs on four hits and three walks over 6 2/3 innings, striking out five.
    • Jordan Kendall, Jorge Castillo and Andrew Garcia each had two hits.
  • Orem 10, Great Falls 0
    • A Nicholas Damas double and a Kyle Shelton single were the Voyagers' only hits.
    • All four pitchers were roughed up to varying degrees.

Comments

# re: Ozuna eulogized

Saturday, July 19, 2008 11:58 AM by bigsether
That's why I love Ozzie too, he calls out the DBags of the world that pump their fist when they strike someone out. Act like you have been there before.

I never responded to the Thome line after the sign generator but it has become really clear to me that his recent success can be attributed soley to that. Congrats Jim. I think I speak for all Sox fans when I say thank you. We needed Thome to hit even though I said we could live without him.

Can you please do something for Javi and Contreras?

# re: Ozuna eulogized

Saturday, July 19, 2008 10:22 PM by Jim Margalus
You should write Brooks Boyer and tell them to make their own sign commercials. Or at least get pictures of them holding up blank pieces of cardboard.