Between the lights going out at Wrigley and the drama in Cleveland, Wednesday was a very interesting day for Chicago baseball. The White Sox / Indians game was entertaining for more than just the play on the field. Sox manager Ozzie Guillen was tossed in the second inning by Joe West for disputing a balk call made by West against Mark Buehrle. In the very next inning, Buehrle himself was tossed for another balk after he dropped his glove on the mound and argued the call with West.
After the game, Ozzie had some choice, and slightly incomprehensible, words to say about the incident. As Joe Cowley reports in the Sun Times":
Guillen on why West tossed him: "Because he’s a f---ing a—hole, that’s what he is. I just went out to ask him … I wasn’t asking about the balk because you’re not allowed, anytime you go out there to ask about balk or whatever. The thing I went out to ask him about was why he was embarrassing Buehrle. I’m not going out to argue about the balk because the rule, but I went out to ask him why he’s embarrassing Buehrle and he give me one of this [dismissing him with his hands]. When you’re a professional and you have to respect the managers, the way we’re supposed to respect the umpires, they are supposed to respect back. … sometimes he thinks f---ing people pay to watch him f---ing umpire. He’s the type of guy that wants to control the game, it’s good for the game, and to me one of the best umpires in the game, no doubt. But in the meanwhile, those years are on his shoulders and kind of heavy and showing people who he is. I deserve respect and the players here deserve respect here, too. When you tell the manager to get the f--- off the field, I don’t think that’s a good way to handle situations. No matter what you say, what you do, how long you talk here, Major League Baseball doesn’t do s--- for anything. I’ll be waiting for my fine, get ‘em the next day.’’
In the same article, Cowley also has the post game reactions from both Mark Buehrle and Joe West.
Buehrle’s side: "I did the same move the toss right before that and [West] didn’t call a balk on it. I think he’s too worried about promoting his [Country Music] CD and I think he likes seeing his name in the papers a little bit too much instead of worrying about the rules. I’d like to find out what he called a balk on me. Your knee can cross over the rubber. I know your foot can’t and I didn’t do that. I watched the replays trying to see what it was called a balk and I have still yet to see what I did.’’
And West on Guillen claiming the umpire was embarrassing Buehrle: "He didn't say that to me. I don't know what he's talking about. Ozzie came out because Buehrle was making gestures on the mound that could have got him kicked out so he was protecting Buehrle, that's all he was doing. I don't have a problem with that. … [Buehrle] threw his glove. There wasn't that much to it, was there?’’
And yes, Joe West really does have a country music CD. His CD is entitled "Blue Cowboy" and is available on his website. You can also buy a package deal for $19.99 which includes his spoken word CD on the game of baseball "Diamond Dreams." I couldn't make this shit up if I tried.
The Sox did manage to hold on in the game despite the theatrics in the early goings, topping Cleveland 5-4, and taking the series 2-1.