Ozzie: 'I can say whatever I want to say'

Ozzie: 'I can say whatever I want to say'

SEATTLE -- Despite a report on Monday that Major League Baseball is looking into his comments regarding beanball retaliation, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen doesn't expect to hear from the league about it.

Guillen said on Sunday that he was tired of his players being hit, and that the next hit-by-pitch that he deemed intentional would be met with similar retaliation.

He reinforced those comments before Monday's game against the Mariners.

"I don't think Major League Baseball has to do anything because of what I say," Guillen said. "I can say whatever I want to say. As long as I'm not saying anything about them, it's fine. I know the integrity of this game better than anybody. I'm very professional, but meanwhile, enough is enough."

Guillen was upset that three White Sox players were hit during Saturday's game against the Indians. He was clear in saying that he didn't think any of them were intentional, but also that the next time someone throws at one of this players on purpose, "it's two guys going down."

"If they want to know why I say that, make sure they check the games. Check the games. Then they say, 'Wow, I don't blame Ozzie for saying this.' You look at [Paul] Konerko's body, he's bruised all over the place. If I don't do that to protect Pauly, I don't blame PK for not wanting to play for me."

Guillen said he's only commanded a pitcher to throw at a batter once in his managerial career, and says he would never do it just for the sake of doing it -- which is why he doesn't think the league will contact him.

"I don't think they should, because I haven't hit anybody yet," Guillen said. "I'm not going to do it. I'm not a headhunter. There's one thing about hitting players: I don't like to hit people, because I'm not playing. If some of my players get hurt because I wanted to hit somebody, then I put those guys in the position to get hurt. That's why I never, never will hit somebody just because. I never will."
