(670 The Score) World Series-winning manager Ozzie Guillen has never been shy about his feelings. And if he were managing the White Sox presently, struggling star shortstop Tim Anderson would not be hitting near the top of his lineup.
Guillen told the Mully & Haugh Show that he would move Anderson out of the second spot in the White Sox lineup and down the batting order, but believes those in charge of the team are scared of upsetting Anderson.
“I will myself,” Guillen said. “I’d do it like, ‘That’s the way we’re going to do it. If you don’t like it, OK, brother, sorry. Tell me why I should keep you batting second. You tell me the reason, then I might react. But the you’re playing now.’ They’re scared of TA. They are. They are scared of TA. They panic with TA. TA is a great kid.
“This is a guy who goes out there to play and win the game. Nowadays, I don’t know. But back in the day, yes, that guy worried, cared, he wanted to be the (leader) of the ballclub, yes. For some reason, it’s not happening right now.
“I’d say, ‘I’m the manager and that’s the way it’s going to be. If I'm the general manager, the general manager would say I’m behind you, I'll protect you, I think you’re right, we got to take TA out of the first two (spots in the lineup). Why not? What’s the reason you can’t?
“(Players) demand, they tell people what to do, worry about what he’s going to say, how he’s going to be in the clubhouse. I don’t care how great you are in the clubhouse. I’d rather you be the worst guy in the clubhouse and when you go to the field, you’re the best player on the field.”
A two-time All-Star and former American League batting champion, Anderson is hitting .223 on the season and has a .521 OPS – more than .200 points below his career .740 OPS and well below his career-best marks. Anderson hit .301 last season in earning his second straight nod to the All-Star Game.
Anderson has also struggled in run production, still without a home run this season. He has knocked in just 13 RBIs over 67 games.
However, the White Sox have hit Anderson either as the leadoff man or second hitter in every game he has started this season. Manager Pedro Grifol shifted Anderson from the top spot in the order to the second position on June 17, the only change he was willing to make thus far.
The White Sox stand at 38-54 on the season. They return to play Friday when they travel to Atlanta to take on the Braves.
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