Hm, maybe bringing in a pitcher with awful control with the bases loaded was a bad idea.

Come on, be a little more reactionary. The real story here is that AJ got punched in the head!

Olivo pulled up as if he was ready to punch Carrasco, a former Royals pitcher, when White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski grabbed him from behind. Olivo instead hit Pierzynski in the head, and by then both dugouts and bullpens had rushed the field.

Instead? Come on, everyone knows A.J. is the first guy to get punched in any fight with the White Sox.

I just saw this on BBTN. Given the situation (7-0, bases loaded), it's a little ridiculous for Olivo to charge, but that was actually the third pitch in a row to be high and tight.

More interesting to me was that BBTN reported that the ump went to the Sox and said he should not have ejected Carrasco. I can't remember a time when a hitter charged the mound and the pitcher didn't also get tossed. I don't think it should be automatic, but it is, and this would seem to be an odd time to start apologizing for that.

Guillen said after the game that "If I were going to throw at a guy, I wouldn't bring in a guy who throws 85. I'll bring in Dotel, I'll bring in (blah blah)." While amusing, this is another case where saying that absolutely does not help him, and shows a lack of forethought before popping off in the press.

I think Carrasco slapped Olivo in the back of the head before Olivo hit Pierzynski. Carrasco should have been tossed for cheapshotting Olivo in the fight.

Things got so bad that Jose Guillen came in from third to help break things down and calm people down. No word on if he promised ice cream.

Greinke probably intentionally hit Swisher in the hip. But he waited until someone was warming up.

I think Carrasco slapped Olivo in the back of the head before Olivo hit Pierzynski. Carrasco should have been tossed for cheapshotting Olivo in the fight.

I don't think he touched him. If he did, his fingertips brushed him. I guarantee that Olivo didn't feel it.

Greinke probably intentionally hit Swisher in the hip.

With the obvious caveat of my not being in Greinke's mind, there was no "probably" about that.

Greinke probably intentionally hit Swisher in the hip. But he waited until someone was warming up.

He did. Like you said, he knew he was coming out anyway, and at that point they had like a 12 run lead, so it really didn't matter.

Guillen said after the game that "If I were going to throw at a guy, I wouldn't bring in a guy who throws 85. I'll bring in Dotel, I'll bring in (blah blah)." While amusing, this is another case where saying that absolutely does not help him, and shows a lack of forethought before popping off in the press.

Ozzie's said this before. He's said he has no problems ordering guys to throw at hitters. In fact, there was a reliever a few years ago he sent back to Charlotte because the guy wouldn't throw at a hitter.

Ozzie's said this before. He's said he has no problems ordering guys to throw at hitters. In fact, there was a reliever a few years ago he sent back to Charlotte because the guy wouldn't throw at a hitter.

I remember. Which just demonstrates that not only did he not think (either time) about the fact that saying that could only hurt him and the team right before he said it, he didn't think about it even given a long period of time to reflect.

DJ Carrasco threw a pitch or two behind Billy Butler a few weeks ago in what could have been retaliation for Dye getting hit by a pitch (and having to leave the game)

Ozzie's said this before. He's said he has no problems ordering guys to throw at hitters. In fact, there was a reliever a few years ago he sent back to Charlotte because the guy wouldn't throw at a hitter.


Wasn't it that he COULDN'T successfully hit the batter, not that he wouldn't try?

As I recall, I don't think the kid's heart was in it.

I'll be interested to see how the media plays today's game as the season draws to a close. I have a feeling we'll be hearing about how Gardenhire's smart ejection last week helped spark the Twins run, while the incompetently volatile Ozzie Guillen has lost control of his team as they slip into second place.

####, I just wrote Marriotti's next column.

I seem to remember Ozzie saying something awhile back to the effect that even if it meant that they would lose the game he would want his pitchers to retaliate.

And I think that's just plain crazy.

Sean Tracey was the name of the pitcher #7 brought up. Ozzie berated him in the dugout over it then sent him down. It was pretty bush.

Don't worry guys, Ozzie is going to be calm and rational about this.

Guillen was still hot after the game, saying he should've ordered Mark Teahen to be beaned for bunting with a six-run lead, admitting to having players hit in the past, and predicting more drama in the future.

"Get ready for the warnings," he said. "I signed a five-year deal with this organization, and we play Kansas City a lot."

But John Kruk is mad since it's not fair to the White Sox that their manager is a psychopath who wants to throw at people for the smallest slight. After all, somebody else might defend their players and it's not fair to contending teams that they might have people suspended when their manager loses his ####.

Guillen was still hot after the game, saying he should've ordered Mark Teahen to be beaned for bunting with a six-run lead...

Of all the reasons to throw at someone, this is the absolute stupidest. 6 runs is not a lead that can't be overcome. I'd love to see Ozzie slapped in the face every time he repeats such stupid crap.

But John Kruk is mad since it's not fair to the White Sox that their manager is a psychopath who wants to throw at people for the smallest slight.

I saw that on BBTN before the game. I was eating dinner, and I actually said out loud (I live alone) "That is the dumbest argument I've ever heard." That it's "unfair" that the White Sox can't retaliate because they're competing for a playoff spot and suspensions impact them while not impacting the Royals.

For someone who only got hit by 7 pitches in his entire career, Ozzie sure does love the HBP.

I guess he picked the angry santeria dieties

But Miguel Olivo! He was that paragon of virtue that protected the game from Jose Reyes! He would never start a fight! Milledge and Reyes must have danced or something.

But Miguel Olivo! He was that paragon of virtue that protected the game from Jose Reyes! He would never start a fight! Milledge and Reyes must have danced or something.

"That is the dumbest argument I've ever heard." That it's "unfair" that the White Sox can't retaliate because they're competing for a playoff spot and suspensions impact them while not impacting the Royals.

Holy hyperbole Batman.

"Unfair" isn't the right word, because all baseball fights are stupid and nobody wins. But surely you can't be arguing that the premise that White Sox were not at all inclined to saddle themselves with multiple game suspensions just because the completely inconsequential Miguel Olivo decided to charge the mound (AGAIN) is the dumbest thing you've ever heard.

What happens to the Royals when Olivo is suspended (AGAIN)? What would happen to the Sox would Pierzynski get a 5-day rip? Certainly, it's far more detrimental to the Sox to have a week full of Toby Hall behind the plate while trying to catch/keep pace with the Twins than John Buck behind the plate while the Royals fight the Indians for the AL Central cellar. Kruk's point, while perhaps not stated in the most eloquent fashion, is entirely defensible.

I also love how Ozzie is getting ripped for talking about throwing at people. As if talking, blowing off steam, is worse than, you know, the actual offense. Apparently, it's OK to throw at a player as long as you play dumb. Ozzie=bad for talking. Grienke+Hillman=good for silent premeditated acts.

I also love how Ozzie is getting ripped for talking about throwing at people.

In the same press conference, he spoke of ordering for people to be hit by pitches. So it's not just talk.

I doubt that Hillman knew anything about what Greinke was going to do to Swisher.

So in that scenario, Hillman is alright because he has no control over his players, unless he's calling for the 2-strike bunt.

Hillman doesn't have a record of ordering pitchers to throw at batters like Guillen. Like when he probably sent Carrasco out to throw at Butler (after Dye was hit).

8 Royals and 7 White Sox have been hit so far in 2008.

6/4/08: Dotel hits Guillen and Olivo
6/5/08: Thornton hits Gordon, Peralta hits Toby Hall
7/8/08: Jose Contreras hit Gordon
7/10/08: Mark Buehrle hit Gload
7/18/08: Greinke hit Quientin, Jimmy Gobble hit Konerko
7/19/08: Horacio Ramirez hits Jermaine Dye
7/20/08: Bannister hits Konerko, Horacio Ramirez hits Dye, Dotel hits Guillen again
8/2/08: Mark Buehrle hits Mark Teahen
8/3/08: Carrasco hits Olivo, Greinke hits Swisher

The Royals and White Sox meet again on August 12th in Chicago. I'd expect for pre-game warnings to be dealt out.

D.J. Carrasco and Miguel Olivo - least significant charging-the-mound pairing ever?

And on the topic.. the South Park Little League episode is on now.

I thought this was America

Adam Kennedy v. Scott Feldman has to rank for insignificance

I have no idea who Scott Feldman is without looking him up, but I have to think more people will remember who Adam Kennedy is in 10 years than Miguel Olivo.

ok, how about Dave Hollins v. Bob Scanlan?

Guillen said after the game that "If I were going to throw at a guy, I wouldn't bring in a guy who throws 85. I'll bring in Dotel, I'll bring in (blah blah)." While amusing, this is another case where saying that absolutely does not help him, and shows a lack of forethought before popping off in the press.

Who cares? How does that not help him?
As long as the Sox keep winning ordering HBPs won't affect his job security. Its baseball.
Hell, if anything I think you have to give him credit for straightshooting when it comes to things like this.

I really want someone, someday to explain to me why I should be scandalized that Ozzie had a pitcher throw at someone.

Its been going on for about damn ever. Ozzie ain't the first or last manager to go headhunting.. why is it a big deal?

Guillen just comes from the Jose Mourinho school of management theory. He prefers the press and fans are talking about the outrageous #### he says then the team. It takes the media/fan pressure off the players in a tight race and allows them to do their thing.

"Unfair" isn't the right word, because all baseball fights are stupid and nobody wins. But surely you can't be arguing that the premise that White Sox were not at all inclined to saddle themselves with multiple game suspensions just because the completely inconsequential Miguel Olivo decided to charge the mound (AGAIN) is the dumbest thing you've ever heard.

Well, of course it's hyperbole. It's still a very dumb argument. Life is made of choices. If you're in first and throwing at a Royal in revenge would get a key guy suspended, you just don't do it, then. Fairness doesn't come into it just because you've got a better shot at the playoffs. This would be akin to my boss' boss complaining that it isn't fair if we both go get hammered during lunch and get fired, because he makes more money and would lose more for doing the same thing.

(To be clear, this was Kruk's argument. No White Sox player or employee said this.)

I really want someone, someday to explain to me why I should be scandalized that Ozzie had a pitcher throw at someone.

You shouldn't. You shouldn't even be scandalized that he's talking about it.

Its been going on for about damn ever. Ozzie ain't the first or last manager to go headhunting.. why is it a big deal?

Because this is at least twice that his stupid ass has said it point blank to the media. I can't ever remember hearing another manager do it even once. I don't really care; if Guillen got fired tomorrow, what skin is it off my nose? But he really needs to start thinking *before* he speaks to the press, which was my point. It can't help him to talk about ordering headhunting in the national media, it can only come back to bite him on the ass down the road.

And regarding the "throwing at batters", it's actually a very clever statement.

He's achieved the same result as ordering your reliever to bean a guy without actually having to do it!

Guillen just comes from the Jose Mourinho school of management theory.

Ozzie needs better hair, though. And a semi-regular sketch puppet show on ESPN2. Oh man, that could be incredible.