ESPN.com is reporting that according to an MLB source, Ozzie Guillen's remarks after Saturday's game against the Indians are not being taken lightly. Three Sox players,Paul Konerko, Gordon Beckham and Scott Posednik were hit by pitches in the game. Guillen was careful to say he didn't think the pitchers were throwing at his players but he is frustrated. Sox players have been hit by pitches 44 times this season. The Indians, leading the majors, have been hit 65 times.
"If I see someone hit my player, and I know they hit him on purpose, it's two guys going down," Guillen said. "I don't care if I get suspended. I rather have me suspended for two games than have my players on the DL for 30 days.
"I know for a fact they're not throwing at nobody, but enough is enough. I have Konerko bruised all over the place. Around the league, be careful because we're going to hit people. I don't care if I get suspended because I need to protect my players.
"When we went to Cleveland, they hit two guys, not on purpose, but someone can get hurt out there. You can pitch in, but if you don't know how, don't do it. It gets to the point when they hit us seven times, 20 times in one week, and we hit one and they're the headhunters and that's a [problem] with Major League Baseball."
What the MLB is thinking about doing over his remarks remains to be seen. Is there a manager out there who does not think the same way about looking out for his players? Love him or hate him, Guillen cares passionately about his players and the well-being of his team. He's absolutely right that a pitch intentionally thrown too close could result in an injury that leads to the DL.