NewsGuillen shrugs off SI poll of players
Query suggest manager isn't a favorite to work under
By Matt O'Donnell / MLB.com
06/30/09 7:15 PM ET
CLEVELAND -- White Sox skipper Ozzie Guillen finished second in an upcoming Sports Illustrated poll asking 380 Major Leaguers, "Which manager do you least want to play for?" But as expected, Guillen couldn't care less. He finished with 21 percent of the vote, just behind Cubs manager Lou Piniella (26 percent) and just ahead of Cardinals manager Tony La Russa (10 percent). That's not exactly bad company. "I don't blame them," Guillen said of the players that voted in the poll. "To know I'm No.1 with the White Sox is all I really care about. I demand discipline. I demand that players work hard. Outside the lines, I care about them more than I care about my own family. I know for a fact that our rules are pretty easy -- our Spring Training is the best. My relationship is open with my players. " Entering Tuesday's game with the Indians, the South Siders were 38-38 and four games behind the American League Central-leading Tigers.All three managers that topped the poll have won at least one Manager of the Year Award.
"Maybe [players] don't like old school managers," Guillen said. "If you play for me, you're going to have fun. Meanwhile, you better be ready to show up every day and be a pro."Matt O'Donnell is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
