Though he gets most of the attention for doing so, Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen isn't the only member of the Windy City's baseball teams who sometimes talks just to hear his own voice. Guillen's not even the only Venezuelan in town to do so. On the other side of the city there's Carlos Zambrano.
Zambrano has told the media a lot of things he didn't really mean over the years, and on Sunday he likely gave them his latest. The Big Z was talking about his disappointing 2009 season and said that if 2010 goes the same way, he's going to retire from the game of baseball.
The Chicago White Sox have no chance of getting to the playoffs this season as the AL Central is only a two-horse race between the Detroit Tigers and Minnesota Twins. They do have a chance to play a deciding role in who will win the division, though, since they have a few games remaining against the Tigers.
One of those games came Saturday night as Ozzie's team blew a 5-0 lead and gave up 12 straight runs to the Tigers, who were able to pick up the come-from-behind win and maintain their two-game lead on the Twins. While the loss itself didn't bother manager Ozzie Guillen all that much, the fact that his players were watching college football in the clubhouse immediately after the game sent the Sox manager on a tirade.
All three teams faced near must-win games Wednesday, and all came through -- late.
Chicago, which would have fallen eight games out in the AL Central and 4 1/2 behind second-place Minnesota, rallied against Twins closer Joe Nathan with four runs in the ninth for a 4-2 victory.
"Hopefully we start playing better and have a little more fun, at least have a little more fun," [Sox manager Ozzie] Guillen said. "You think we're out [of post-season contention]. People think we're out, just go out there and enjoy it. Hopefully things turn around."
In surprisingly out of character news, Ozzie Guillen is losing his ability to remain positive in light of the unfortunate, existential things happening to the White Sox lately. They've suffered fourth walk-off losses in the last two and a half weeks, the percentages are failing, lineup changes are fruitless... basically Ozzie is standing on the dugout steps while everything else cracks and breaks and is swallowed into the Earth.
Today's Dugout takes a step back to examine the psychological reasons behind the Chicago collapse. Hey guys, it's the examined life!
Starting Five is our wrapup of the previous day's baseball action with a quick nod to what is ahead.
You Oughta Know ... That Scott Feldman is having a big season for the Rangers, especially on the road. Feldman beat the Twins, 3-0, on Saturday in Minnesota. Although Feldman lasted just 5 2/3 innings, the scoreless outing helped him improve to 10-1 with a 2.92 ERA on the road. Feldman has won his last six road starts, equaling Adam Wainwright for the longest streak in the majors this season.
For the season, Feldman is 14-4 with a 3.72 ERA. He has a chance to be the first Rangers pitcher to win 15 games with an ERA below 4.00 since Ken Hill went 16-10 with a 3.63 ERA in 1996.
NEW YORK -- After the Chicago White Sox on Friday fell to third place for the first time since the morning of July 31, manager Ozzie Guillen said he is "confused."
Robinson Cano's 10th-inning, three-run homer for the Yankees sent the White Sox to their fourth walk-off loss in 16 days, Guillen said he is on the verge of no longer being "positive" about his club.
"We change lineups every night, for different reasons," Guillen said. "We try to get a lot of people playing time -- not working. I try to be positive. But meanwhile, you can't be positive too long.
"We've got a lot of games left. You never know what's going to happen. But if we continue to play the way we are, it's going to be shorter than people think -- or going to be longer than people think. It's going to be a long month for us."
OAKLAND -- Infielders and former infielders around the majors have long admired Adrian Beltre for his Gold Glove play at third base.
Now, many of them are looking at Beltre with a different kind of disbelief.
"I can't believe a guy is playing third base without a cup," said White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, a former All-Star shortstop. "That's ballsy. That's a dangerous place, especially third base."
Detroit Tigers closer Fernando Rodney has only one blown save this year. He's recorded 23 saves, has almost a strikeout per inning pitched and at 3.86, his ERA, while not superb, is manageable. So, why is his job on the line?
It could be the 18 walks he's issued since June 1st in only 28 innings of work. It could also be the five home runs he's given up since June 1st compared to only allowing one prior. But, most likely, it's the way he's started out the month of March. In five appearances Rodney has two saves and a win, but he's allowed four earned runs in only five innings. Patience is wearing thin in Detroit, and they have other options.
Though he gets most of the attention for doing so, Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen isn't the only member of the Windy City's baseball teams who sometimes talks just to hear his own voice. Guillen's not even the only Venezuelan in town to do so. On the other side of the city there's Carlos Zambrano.
The 
Starting Five
In surprisingly out of character news, 
Every Sunday, 
Starting Five
NEW YORK -- After the 
OAKLAND -- Infielders and former infielders around the majors have long admired 
Starting Five
Detroit Tigers closer 
