Ozzie Guillen suspended

For 5 games by the Miami Marlins for saying he admired Fidel Castro.

America: a beacon of freedom! (except when ultra conservative, mafia-operating Cuban exiles control your turf)

Ozzie says all kinds of crazy shit who cares as long as he brings you a ring.

You have no freedom of speech with your employer. Is there any place on the planet where you do?

Professional sports is a profit-driven business. The Marlins are attempting to keep someone who they see is a strong manager while not affecting their bottom line.

I agree in spirit with your post, though. In the PC-centric society we've created, one can get punished just for sneezing the wrong way. Not to mention that Guillen's quote was widely taken out of context.

And more than likely, spelled out clearly in his employment contract.

Exactly. Im not saying I dont understand why they suspended him. Im just saying this is in response to pressure from butthurt Cubans who are very powerful not only down there in Florida but in Congress. Why do you think there's a law that offers protection to Cubans when they defect to the US and when people from other countries (Haiti, for example) try to come in they're turned away?

Combine that with what George Carlin called "the pussyfication of America" where you have to be careful because everyone today is offended by anything, and you have this bullshit circus.

who the fuck do you think goes to see the marlins play? not a lot of people want to watch
baseball in this fucking heat

I see nothing wrong with that statement, he wasnt being political or anything. He just gave props for the dude surviving.

Nor do I. We're not talking about a "Freedom of Speech" issue here. It's contractual rules. Jimmy the Greek got fired because of what he said about black athletes.

John Derbyshire just got fired because of what he wrote about blacks. I don't hear you crying about that, you cunt.

ya gotta admit that fucker castro does have some staying fucking power


he said something silly
he got smacked on the bum for it
it'll blow over if the team wins

He has nothing anybody wants that can't be found elsewhere. He's more stubborn than anything. Of course I'm speaking in 2012 terms.

As a Mets fan I can't help but enjoy seeing rivals getting a swift kick in the ass one way or another.

Saying some racial shit is on a different level that some one saying they like the fact that this dude got some staying power. People are acting like stuff like this hasnt been said before about other people in Castro's position. Fuck, the Pope was just there in Cuba and im pretty sure the said some positive shit about Castro.

Yankees Win, ThAAAAAA Yankees WIN!!!!

Exactly, he should have used his common sense, which apparently is MIA.

Cubans in Miami don't want to hear that shit.

I think the Mets are absolutely adorable. LOOK AT YOU...all 4-0. I just want to grab your cheeks.

They'll finish the season in the cellar of the NL East

Yanks blow, overrated as fuck, pitching is atrocious. Sandbox of a stadium and featuring A-Roid the greatest choke artist in baseball. Took you guys long enough to get that 1 win against a sub par O's team, enjoy the cellar.

They're laughing at the AL East standings.

Fuck the haters, kills you to see the Mets actually winning and the overrated Yankees sucking hard. Jealousy gets you nowhere.

This is an absolute disgrace. The Marlins are a totalitarian organization.

Similarities few between Yankees, Mets

Yankees Blog
Last Updated: 9:05 AM, April 4, 2012
Posted: 1:37 AM, April 4, 2012

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Joel Sherman
Blog: Hardball
PORT ST. LUCIE — Aside from playing in New York, the Yankees and Mets do not share many similarities.

The Yankees, for example, are playing for first place, the Mets to stay out of last. Both are attempting frugality these days, but the Yankees still will run a payroll over $200 million while the Mets are now under $100 million.

They both enter Year 4 of a newish stadium with the Yankees trying to lead the majors in attendance for a 10th straight season while the Mets attempt to avoid the embarrassment of falling under 2 million spectators.

The “NY” interlocks on both caps and not much else. As the teams began a spring-ending home-and-home yesterday — if you consider Port St. Lucie and Tampa the homes away from home — I searched for common ground.


AP
Nick Swisher

So what follows is a matchup of Yankees vs. Mets in a few areas of symmetry. The numbers in parentheses represent my over/under number that those in the matchup are trying to outdo (for non-betting purposes — of course):
Andy Pettitte vs. Johan Santana (20 starts) — In this showdown of sage, veteran lefties who did not pitch last season, Santana gets a head start with the Opening Day assignment while Pettitte is not due before May 1. But Santana came down achy in the last week, needed an anti-inflammation shot and, thus, reminded folks that he unlikely is to make it through the season without interruption. The Mets have penciled in an extra day of rest after each of his first seven starts and already recognize there probably will be times they will have to skip him entirely as they try to avoid disabled-list stints.

Pettitte, meanwhile, likely will pitch an inning against the Mets today as he continues trying to get his legs back into game shape. A big difference, however, is Pettitte is somewhat of a luxury for the Yankees while Santana is the Mets’ ace. So Santana’s ability to top 20 starts is more vital.

Phil Hughes vs. Mike Pelfrey (4.20 ERA) — There was hope for continued improvement from both righties last year after strong 2010s. But by the end of April 2011 the former first-rounders were two of the worst starters in the majors, and the results did not improve enough during the season.

Hughes showed up in better shape this spring and firmed up a rotation spot. Pelfrey struggled early, and Mets manager Terry Collins met with the big righty to explain he is not on scholarship and needed to pitch well to keep his job. He has gone overhead in his delivery in his past three starts, including yesterday against the Yankees, and produced a better rhythm and also better life and movement on his sinker.

Both guys are auditioning for their futures — in New York or elsewhere.

Derek Jeter vs. Ruben Tejada (.360 OBP) — Jeter’s on-base percentage climbed from .340 to .355 last year — still down from his career mark of .383, but respectable. Like in the second half last season, he has hit the ball with authority this spring and his legs have looked particularly spry. So maybe he could climb back toward his lifetime mark. If he does, that would be huge for the Yankees because manager Joe Girardi remains committed to leading him off.

Tejada had a .360 on-base percentage last year, validating that his hitting eye is an asset. He is not the offensive threat of Jose Reyes, especially once he gets on base, but if he gets on at a 36-percent clip that would suggest he could be the Mets’ long-term answer at short.

Alex Rodriguez vs. David Wright (25 homers) — Rodriguez was limited to 99 games and 16 homers last year, Wright to 102 and 14 home runs.

Rodriguez has looked healthy all spring and primed for a return to excellence. But that was also said about him last spring before his body began to break down. Wright has hit the ball well since returning from his abdominal muscle strain. He has recommitted to his shorter swing and using the whole field, hoping that in conjunction with moved-in fences at Citi Field helps restore him to a legit offensive force.

Nick Swisher vs. Lucas Duda (25 homers) — Swisher is in his walk year. Duda is trying to prove he is a long-term answer for the Mets in right. Swisher has chiseled himself into super shape. He has 81 homers the past three seasons, just one fewer than Robinson Cano, and only Mark Teixeira (111) has more homers by a switch-hitter in that time.

Duda has significant power to all fields, including to left where those shorter fences in Citi could lead to plenty of opposite-field homers.

joel.sherman@nypost.com

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