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Ozzie Guillen Released from Contract


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Konerko said Guillen "got it done" as manager of the Sox by winning the 2005 World Series, and he relished the era he's gotten to play with the Sox under Guillen.

 

"I’ve said - and I respect all the people that have ever played for the White Sox - this organization’s been around for a hundred years, and I feel like I’ve been right in the middle of the wildest, craziest time of this organization in its existence. And (so have) guys like A.J. (Pierzynski), (Mark) Buehrle, the guys that have been here the last few years. But yeah, it’s been crazy, it’s never been boring.

 

"Like I said earlier, I’m not one to always look back and say, ‘well we won a World Series’ because I’m still active, I’m still playing, I’m still working toward that next one. You always want t be looking ahead, but when something like this happens and it’s a closure on something, I think you need to look at it as a whole. And when you do that, it got done. It got done in that time. The day they hired him if they said, ‘you’re going to be here for eight years and you’re going to win a world championship,’ everybody would have raised their hands, including you guys, that it would have been a success. So you have to remember that."

 

Konerko appreciated the way Guillen looked after him, giving him ample rest when needed and not trying to push him on the field if he was hurt or fatigued.

 

Konerko added he had no inkling this was Guillen's final game until he called a meeting an hour before the game.

 

"I don’t think anybody’s more relieved than kind of the principal people involved, himself and the people that have to make those decisions – that they’re finally getting on with something and starting fresh on something," Konerko said. "But same thing with us, this has been kind of a thing hanging over the organization for awhile. If we would have come out this year and performed well on the field and done well, this could have maybe been avoided. So as a player you kind of feel a little bit a part of that because of the way the season went on the field it caused all these chain reactions of things that happened.

 

"But even if we had won, maybe this would have happened, who knows? I think relief is probably the best word to describe everybody’s feeling. Everybody in here is still a human being – Ozzie, Kenny, Jerry (Reinsdorf), players in here – everybody’s a human being. So when it comes to your job there’s only so much you can take of just every day, the stress level and everything else. I think when something like this happens, everybody kind of feels a little relieved and everybody realizes this isn’t life and death. Ozzie’s going to be fine, Kenny’s going to be fine, everybody’s going to be fine. And we’re going to move on."

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http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/07/10/2308...the-future.html

 

When Marlins prospect Jhan Marinez pitched in a major-league park for the first time in almost a year at the All-Star Futures Game on Sunday, the right-hander got to show the world how much he has improved in the past year — albeit in a short stint.

 

With injuries decimating the Marlins’ staff last July, then-manager Edwin Rodriguez summoned Marinez from the farm system, hoping he could bolster a struggling bullpen that had blown four consecutive saves. But the 22-year-old native of the Dominican Republic, who signed with Florida as an international free agent in 2006, had a forgettable big-league debut. He went 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA and two blown saves in four appearances before being placed on the disabled list with a right elbow strain. He pitched only twice the rest of the season.

 

Now with Double A Jacksonville, Marinez said he learned from his short stint in the majors, and he was eager to show his growth on baseball’s center stage as the Marlins’ representative at the Futures Game. Marinez pitched 1/3 of an inning, striking out the only batter he faced with a 96-mph fastball after an 11-pitch at-bat.

 

“I learned a lot from being in the big leagues, especially from the veterans being up there, like Leo Nunez, Jorge Sosa and Jose Veras,” Marinez said through translator Andres Gispert, Jacksonville’s strength and conditioning coach. “They helped with my command of pitching, and they gave me lessons each day I was up there. I’m excited, and I’m ready to pitch against the best talent we have in the minor leagues.”

 

After experiencing shoulder soreness during spring training, Marinez has struck out 43 batters in 33 innings and held opponents to a .248 batting average, pitching mostly as the Suns’ set-up man. He has stranded seven of 14 inherited runners and recorded one save. Maybe most importantly, Marinez has stayed healthy and appeared in 33 games, putting him on pace to shatter his previous career high of 40 appearances.

 

“What most guys find out when they get to the big leagues is that their stuff plays, but they have to be a better pitcher,” said Jim Fleming, the Marlins’ vice president for scouting and player development. “In most guys’ first experience in the big leagues, they find out that you can’t make mistakes, and you can’t have one pitch.”

 

The same can be said for Marinez, who Baseball America ranked as the organization’s fourth-best prospect entering the season.

 

Previously a one-pitch power arm, Marinez relied strictly on his mid-90s fastball that can touch 99 mph. The Marlins’ player-development staff has worked closely with Marinez to add an upper-80s slider and a changeup, which he was reluctant to throw in the past.

 

Coming into the season, the Marlins’ front office asked Marinez to continue developing his secondary pitches and improving his consistency within the strike zone.

 

“We asked him to harness his stuff, is the best way to say it,” Fleming said.

 

And how has it gone so far?

 

“Mostly good. It’s getting better,” Fleming said. “He still has his days. In Double A it’s easier to bring that point home: When you make mistakes, you’ll get hit. … But when his location is good, he’s dominant.”

 

Fleming said Marinez has the ability and mentality to pitch in late-game situations, possibly as a closer, but his role will not be determined until he pitches regularly in the big leagues.

 

“He’s what guys coming out of the bullpen look like,” Fleming said. “But pitching in the big leagues in the ninth inning takes a special guy, and you really never know until you get there.”

 

If Marinez continues progressing, he could join these members of the Marlins who have played in the Futures Game: John Buck (2002), Omar Infante (2002), Hanley Ramirez (2005), Anibal Sanchez (2005), Mike Stanton (2009) and Logan Morrison (2010). The annual contest that includes the game’s best prospects, now in its 13th year, sets the stage for the MLB All-Star festivities.

 

Marinez hopes it won’t take another year before he toes the rubber on a big-league mound.

 

“That’s my main goal, to get back to the big leagues,” Marinez said. “I can’t wait to get up there. I just want to keep working hard every day and get back soon.”

 

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/07/10/2308...l#ixzz1ZBCQyy00

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QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Sep 27, 2011 -> 01:18 PM)
Cooper, who hasn't managed in the Sox's system, will be assisted by first base coach Harold Baines.

 

The decision means that Sox bench coach Joey Cora likely will join Guillen in Florida. Cora lives in South Florida in the offseason and has interviewed for several managerial positions.

:pray

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QUOTE (Harry Chappas @ Sep 27, 2011 -> 10:24 AM)
He was on at 7:30 as well. He had nothing to say other than he was ahead of the story in January of 2010 as he knew it would end this way.

 

If the Sox play to their potential this season, it does not end this way.

 

Guillen did not want to be here and the Florida thing could be epic especially if Zambrano ends up down there. The Phils and Braves will be tough and if the Mets clean themselves up and the Nats youth get better...may be a tough ride down on south Florida.

 

I like Dave Martinez and he will be every teams #1 candidate. He has a history with the Sox so that should bode well.

One of Guillen's downfalls was not having a stronger bench coach after Nossek left.

 

I also look for the hitting coach to hopefully impact the team like Walt Hriniak (sp?) did. Laker and Martinez have crossed paths I believe.

 

I don't think Nossek was ever in the same clubhouse with Ozzie managing.

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QUOTE (Fantl916 @ Sep 27, 2011 -> 01:43 PM)
the two prospects we got from the Marlins were ranked as their #4 and #5 top prospects by Baseball America heading into the year. not a bad return at all. Jhan seems like the prototypical KW relief pitcher type arm (COOP WILL FIX HIM!).

I cant believe we got something in return for Ozzie. WTF.

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QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Sep 27, 2011 -> 12:51 PM)
Marinez's peripherals are pretty damn extreme. He's either going to strike you out or walk you.

Well when you're trading your manager that's pretty much the perfect guy to try and get back. Get a guy that has some talent here and see if you can make it work, if not...oh well.

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QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 27, 2011 -> 06:58 PM)
Very low IP totals. Makes me wonder if there is some decent upside with some regular work.

 

Seems like he might be an injury concern with some shoulder/elbow issues. However, definitely a high ceiling player that could help in a year or two.

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I am loving the Miami fan reactions (yes, I consider myself a "part-time" marlins fan). They are so happy he's coming and they think the new park is going to save the franchise and give them a $100+ million payroll. I dont think the park will save this team one bit. It might marginally increase attendance over 3-5 years after an initial year or two spike because of the "new factor", but that is about it

Edited by Athomeboy_2000
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QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ Sep 27, 2011 -> 07:29 PM)
I am loving the Miami fan reactions (yes, I consider myself a "part-time" marlins fan). They are so happy he's coming and they think the new park is going to save the franchise and give them a $100+ million payroll. I dont think the park will save this team one bit. It might marginally increase attendance over 3-5 years after an initial year or two spike because of the "new factor", but that is about it

 

They should be thrilled to get Guillen.

Why wouldn't they be?

Excellent for them in a new ballpark and perfect for Ozzie as well.

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