Guillen offers Texas' Padilla warning

07/20/2006
DETROIT -- Neither White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen nor catcher A.J. Pierzynski expect a continuation this weekend of the hostility that ensued when Rangers starter Vicente Padilla hit the Sox catcher with two pitches during their last series in June, but Guillen vowed Thursday to retaliate if it does.
Discussion of the Pierzynski-Padilla incident figured to come up with Texas coming to town and Padilla scheduled to pitch Sunday.
"Like we said, it was over as far as we were concerned," Pierzynski said. "But then we didn't know it was going to happen last time, either. It's in one guy's hands."
Guillen made it clear before Thursday's series finale with Detroit that any actions perceived to be intentional on Padilla's part will not be tolerated by the White Sox manager.
"If Padilla hits somebody, believe me, we're going to do something about it and see what happens. That's a guarantee," Guillen said. "You can count on that. I don't care if we're suspended for 100 years.
"[If] you hit people when they do something wrong, I agree with that. But [if] you hit people because you don't like them, I don't think that's a good [way] to play the game."
In discussing the situation, and the brief jawing between Pierzynski and Detroit's Craig Monroe following the outfielder's grand slam Wednesday, Guillen talked about the old days of baseball, when any problem between players was handled on the field.
With umpires' warnings, fines and suspensions, Guillen believes baseball is over-legislated. It's one of the reasons why there was no retaliation for Padilla's actions, after the first White Sox attempt neglected to work that same night. But Guillen can't make the same promise if Padilla decides to play out his emotions on the field again Sunday.
"We have to concentrate and win games," Guillen said. "But I guarantee you, if that happens, I don't know what's going to happen, but something's going to happen. Make sure they know it, too.
"If something happens, I'm going to protect one of my players, hit him and point to [Padilla] when I hit him and then make [the Texas players] fight with their pitcher. I'm not here for Major League Baseball. I'm here for my players, and I'm going to do everything I can in my power to make my players perform in the right way."
The latest Pierzynski incident started in the sixth inning Wednesday night, when Monroe hit what turned out to be the game-winning grand slam. As Monroe crossed home plate following his trot, he fell backwards into Pierzynski after exchanging an intense high-five with teammate Marcus Thames.
Pierzynski put his elbow up to seemingly block himself from the impact -- all and all a rather innocuous little part of an exciting game. But Monroe and Pierzynski had words after the collision, with Thames ushering Monroe back to the dugout.
Although Monroe is said to have apologized to Pierzynski after the game, neither player was making nice Thursday.
"He wants to [upset you]," Monroe said of Pierzynski. "He wants to make you mad, so now you get out of your game plan. Well, they're not going to change my mind-set. I'm going to continue to do what I do. We just try to play baseball.
"You know what, guys?" added Monroe to the Detroit media. "The bottom line is everybody in baseball knows that's A.J. Let's be honest. That's him. He likes confrontation. He likes to play this role. He's so tough. Well, that act is just tired. It's just tired."
"I thought it was over last night," Pierzynski said after hearing of Monroe's comments. "As soon as he came up and apologized and said, 'Sorry. I didn't mean to bump into you,' I was like, 'OK. That's fine.'
"For him to say that, I think it's kind of bush league that he basically changes his complete story. I don't know. It's kind of funny."

Source: http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/