Guillen Rants Yet Again

By Benjy Lipsman in News on Aug 19, 2010 2:20PM

Is it really newsworthy when White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen goes on yet another of his profanity-laced tirades? His latest one, before Wednesday night's game against the Twins, began after he was asked about Jim Thome. The former Sox slugger beat the team with a dramatic 10th inning walk-off homer the night before. Guillen obviously felt the need to defend the organization's decision to let Thome move on.

When the team had to decide whether to bring the popular Thome back after a brief stint with the Dodgers or move in another direction with regard to the DH position, the decision was portrayed as Guillen's ultimate call. On Wednesday, he took the blame,

''I talked to [Thome] before I made that decision. I told him why I don't see him fitting here. And believe me, I love Jim having a season like that because I look up there and he's very close to 600 home runs. ... For all those people saying it was my fault about Jim Thome, yes, it's my fault. If those people don't like that, f--- them.

However, the Sox skipper tried to suggest he wasn't the only one who had a hand in the decision, just the only one willing to face the media. The questioning of the team's roster must be a sore subject about now, as the team continues to fall further back of the Twins in the AL Central. Ozzie was quick to point out that the team only made the postseason once while Thome was on the team, and finished in third three times. But does it really matter where you finish if you go home come October? After the past couple weeks, that looks exactly like where the Sox will be headed after the regular season is over. Maybe he thinks another of his rants can fire up his team and force one more push to climb atop the division.

Of course a capable closer might help, too.