CHICAGO - The crowd at U.S. Cellular Field chanted "Ozzie! Ozzie!" on Monday afternoon. The White Sox manger had jumped from the dugout in the third inning to argue balls and strikes with home-plate umpire Phil Cuzzi and was promptly ejected.
"I'm here for my players," Ozzie Guillen said. "That's my job -- to protect them."
After a 7-4 victory over the Minnesota Twins, and feeling good overall about the club's 5-2 start, Guillen was notably restrained, opting to keep quiet and not criticize Cuzzi.
"One thing about this business," Guillen said, "if I say what I have on my mind, I might lose a couple days."
At this point Guillen's players still appreciate his willingness to cover them, and his ability to create a certain atmosphere around the organization.
"Ozzie's our leader," third baseman Joe Crede said. "He's a guy that really makes us feel loose out there, especially in the clubhouse and in the dugout. That's one of the biggest things that everybody, you know, rallies around."
How do you see the next six months playing out for Guillen and his players? How will the 2008 season end for the White Sox and their combustible manager?
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