If the White Sox' Nick Swisher or Orlando Cabrera were looking for their manager to back down from his recent criticisms of each after the Twins series, they found out on Friday that they must not know Ozzie Guillen too well yet.
"A lot of people look at me wrong," Guillen explained. "It's fun to play on this club. I let these guys do whatever they want. But when the game starts, it's really, really tough, because I expect a lot from them. And they got to respect my rules. "When we put our uniform on, it's about business. I try to get the best out of my players and I will let them know right away when they're doing wrong or right. Some people like it. Some don't. I can't please that many people."
Swisher, specifically, seemed very displeased in the Twins series, admittedly because of the lack of playing time.
"I'm a hyper guy, that's how it is," Swisher said, breaking his silence. "But I think that sometimes my frustrations take over, and I'm a pretty emotional guy. At that time, I wasn't playing up to my capability. So, hey, they put the best guys in the lineup. Now it's my turn, and it's time to get it going."
Swisher did get his turn, but still didn't impress. But his time, like the other rotation of players Guillen will use this weekend, is performance based.
If Swisher has a problem with that, Guillen reminded his players that his door is always open. The reminder, however, also came with a warning.
"But if you knock on the door, be careful," Guillen said. "Because I'm Judge Judy. I will say something you don't want to hear. And I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings but in the meanwhile, they don't care about my feelings. Why should I care about theirs? I played the game. When your manager doesn't play you, you got to look yourself in the mirror and ask 'Why are you not playing me?' "
As for Cabrera and his coup to add clubhouse leader to his upcoming free-agent resume, he also never entered through Guillen's door Friday afternoon to discuss why his manager told the Sun-Times that Cabrera, "thinks he's better than what he really is."
INDIANS 11, WHITE SOX 8: The Sox were given the break they were hoping for, as Kansas City handled first-place Minnesota in their game in the Metrodome, but the Sox still couldn't take advantage of it. Thanks to two Ryan Garko home runs in back-to-back innings, including the fifth-inning blast being a grand slam, the Sox remained a half-game behind the Twins in the Central Division race.
Pitcher John Danks didn't help his own cause, allowing seven runs on seven hits in just four innings of work. The Sox did hold the 4-2 lead at one point thanks to homers from Paul Konerko and A.J. Pierzynski in the second, but coughed it up.
