Chicago White Sox: Ozzie Guillen Says Paws Up

by Sean Kane

When the going gets tough in the clubhouse at the Cell there’s a classic saying that circulates, “You gotta fight like a cat. Paws up.” At least that’s the catchphrase Ozzie dropped on reporter’s last Tuesday night after the Sox dropped the first of three to the world’s greatest Canadian ball-club (that’s exactly what they are these days. The Jays swept the Sox and were on a twelve game tear until they spent the weekend at Fenway.)

When reporters questioned the manager’s feelings on the recent injury to Carlos Quentin — the season ending, MVP-run-ending, please-control-your-temper-next-time bangup job he did on his hand in Cleveland — Ozzie replied with the only wisdom he had: “…Fight like a cat. Paws up.” The never-dull manager clearly summoned his immense respect for the fierce, always ready nature of cats and conveyed it in a fit of heartfelt emotion that would make any other manager look like a heartless robot. His squad would not lay down to some silly fear of not winning the Central, they would instead raise paws in an aggressive housecat motion to battle back from their recent woes.

I imagine Ozzie, though, in an online poker room, leaning back in that rolly chair, stroking his beard on the edge of explosion, scratching through his mind for an acceptable simile to grinderball attitude people over-romanticize. Some horseshit to feed the recorders because what the hell can he do? Guys don’t hit home runs? The White Six lose. He knows that, I know that, everyone knows that, except Ken Griffey Jr. He’s still coming around to it.

It’s really all overblown, in fact, it’s ridiculous that Ozzie tossed his “paws up” to fend off the very real fear that his team might not make the playoffs if the Twins stop losing exactly when the Sox do. While the Sox got swept by the Jays the Twins took two, unchallenged by the perennial quality of the Kansas City Royals. Then on the rain delay weekend (that kept me out of the stands on Friday night but left me in a free green hat) there was a brief period that we were once again tied with the Twinkies. Apparently the boys left their paws down briefly, because as we know cats hate the water. So really, they can’t be blamed.

Realistically, though, it’s a very real fear here on 35^th street. Pulling a Junior 2007 Mets skid and letting the Twins catch up is a little too real for the club. Winning two against the Tigers was nice, a cushion that puts us up a game and a half, a cushion that our middle relievers tried to piss on in the 8^th inning tonight.

But then you head to Yankee’s Stadium, where you have to pitch Lance Broadway in game 2, who, in the last time you asked to hold the ball for more than one inning he gave up 9 hits to the Orioles over 4 innings. Needless to say I don’t think we’ll sweep the Yanks, who just took two from the Rays. Plus, the nostalgia X factor with some of the final games coming up at home for Yankees. OH! and they have our number, remember that series in May.

The Twins, however, have a four game trip to Tampa coming their way. Really, it’s coming down to the three game series in Minneapolis and the Sox will need to do more than simply keep their paws up. The Blue Jays were not afraid of the swatting cats Ozzie coaches.

All serious worry aside, you gotta listen to the skipper cause when he gets worked up around the media like that it’s like gold mining for hilarity. I “shhhhhed” my buddy in the car listening with the anticipation of a child waiting for reindeer’s footsteps to hear a sound byte as good as was delivered on Tuesday night. Oh, did Mr. Guillen deliver on Tuesday. When he did, I savored the moment right then, laughing but trying to quiet myself to take in the followup.

So, although, the paws-up-pep-talks might not fend off the Twins, Quentin’s self-inflicted idiocy, the Jays and maybe even the Yanks, the Sox faithful reeled at Ozzie’s words of wisdom and shrugged it off, because at least we still get to hear hilarious pep talks from our one and only.

Tags: "Paws up", AL Central, carlos quentin, Chicago White Sox, MLB, ozzie guillen

---------------

If you enjoyed this post, please consider sharing with your friends: