In case you missed it, and I doubt you have, Ozzie Guillen got mad at Chicago Sun-Times columnist and ESPN personality Jay Mariotti. Guillen was upset with Mariotti for a column he wrote in which he criticized Guillen for his treatment of Sean Tracey. He had this to say about Jay:

“What a piece of shit he is. Fucking fag.”

You just can’t do that. Now, Ozzie issued the standard apology that only applies, evidently, “if someone was offended.” But he also explained that in his country, the same insult doesn’t mean the same thing. To him, it’s a shot at a man’s courage, and not his sexual preference.

I buy that… I believe that Ozzie wasn’t actually saying that Jay Mariotti is sleeping with Michael Strahan. But the problem is that his intent doesn’t matter… not even a little bit. When you call someone a ‘fag,’ given it’s standard meaning in this culture, what you’re doing is ascribing those negative qualities (unmanliness, lack of courage, whatever it may be) to homosexuals. Whether you intended to or not, you’re using homosexuality as an insult. You’re saying that to be gay is to be something undesirable.

That may not be true in Ozzie’s culture. But, you know, he didn’t say this in Venezuela. He said it here, and it absolutely is offensive, and it absolutely cannot be tolerated. He should be suspended. No question about it. Major League Baseball can’t tolerate this; they can’t say it’s okay. I’m not saying Ozzie’s a bad person, I believe that he didn’t want to hurt anyone (except Jay Mariotti), but again… intent is not relevant. What he said, and the affect it has on people is relevant. And I think he gets that, at least somewhat:

I’ve been here 20 years, but people have to know I grew up in a different country. To me, that’s not an excuse. I called the guy a bad name.”

I think that’s fair. But I agree, it is not an excuse… so a suspension is called-for.

Ozzie went on to say that he has gay friends, went to a Madonna concert, and plans to attend the Gay Games in Chicago. And, my personal favorite… he goes to WNBA games. I bet the WNBA people loved that… “Hey, come on, I love gay people, I even go see women play basketball!” We’ll probably be seeing WNBA commercials in the near future with a brand new slogan: “The WNBA. Because sitting through one of our games is proof that you’re gay-friendly.”

Once again, the MLB All-Star game will determine who gets the home field advantage in the World Series, which I think is a very bad idea. It’s a tough situation for Major League Baseball… you don’t want the All-Star game to be a glorified T-ball game, but at the same time… you’ve got fan votes, players from every team (no matter how devoid of talent), and managers who manage just to appease players, and all of this affects something very consequential.

“I’m still a believer that it shouldn’t count,” Paul Konerko said. “We play 162 games that count. That’s what should decide who gets home-field advantage.”

Concur. Home field advantage matters. It gives one team a substantial advantage over another, and that’s something that should be earned in competition… not handed out after an exhibition game that only has a vague relationship with actual competition. Even if the thing was managed with the intention of winning at all costs… it’s still just an exhibition game, one in addition to the other 162, and in now way represents anyone earning anything.

I think it’s a bad plan. If you want players to try, give the winning team $30,000 per player… and give the winning manager $100,000. For $100,000, a manager will surely be able to ignore the feelings of whatever non-deserving Kansas City Royal gets stuck on the roster. And if it’s absolutely necessary to get everyone playing time… extend the All-Star break to one full week, and play a three-game series.

Anyway, on a related note, here’s why home-field advantage matters: testosterone. A recent study by Canadian scientists figured out the exact advantage that comes with playing at home, and it turns out to be testosterone and cortisol.

A study of the behaviour of sports teams suggests that playing at home not only guarantees more support and the comfort of familiar surroundings, but it also has a biological effect on the way players perform.

A study of football and ice- hockey teams carried out by scientists in Canada has revealed that team members playing at home experience higher levels of testosterone, the male sex hormone, compared with those playing away. And the authors of the report suggest an evolutionary behavioural link — relating to the basic need to protect territory.

Levels of the stress hormone cortisol were also found to be raised at home — indicating pressure not felt when on the road — as were levels of self-confidence.

The Mets have this young stud outfielder named Lastings Milledge. And with an injury to Xavier Nady, he’s been called up. And yesterday, Milledge hit a solo home run to tie the game in the 10th inning. When he ran out to take the field in the 11th, he made a stop along the way to high-five some fans sitting near the field.

And he’s been reprimanded for this. “It will not happen again,” says Mets manager Willie Randolph. Well… why the hell not?

Did Major League Baseball pass some sort of anti-happiness legislation in the off-season? I really don’t see the problem here… even the Sportscenter guys last night were saying, “Hey, you’re not in Norfolk anymore.” Is this interpreted as a sign of disrespect to the opposing pitcher? Is it just because a rookie shouldn’t be drawing that much attention to himself? What unwritten rule is there here that I am not aware of?

Because to me, it seemed like a pretty slick thing to do. It’s a young and excited guy, happy to be where he is, happy to have done what he did, spreading some love amongst the Shea faithful. Apparently, the young man finds baseball and competition exciting. It’s a crazy, maverick attitude to have, but for better or worse, it’s him. I think acknowledging and interacting with the fans should be a good thing.

So, take a quick guess… what percentage of players in Major League Baseball are African-American.

Eight percent. Man, that seems low. I mean, I knew it was diminishing, but I didn’t know it was that bad. It was 27% back in 1975. Now it’s down to 8%… the lowest figure since the Major Leagues were fully integrated back in 1959.

So we’re giving it up for Torii Hunter today, who has noticed the decline, and is doing something about it. He’s spearheading an effort to teach baseball and baseball history to kids in the inner cities so hopefully, that number will one day go back up. And I think the first step in raising that number is figuring out exactly what color Derek Jeter is.

Anyway, Torii and a bunch of other guys are kicking in $10,000 each to launch a nationwide Little League program, to get kids excited about baseball again. So I hope it works… and, you know, it’s not that I believe that a lack of black Americans in the majors is a huge problem that we as a society have an obligation to correct, but… promoting diversity is a good idea, getting more kids to learn about Jackie Robinson and the Negro Leagues is a good idea, and I compliment Torii Hunter for stepping up.

Between this, and his clubhouse naked time, he’s one of my favorite players.

Matthew LeCroy, third-string catcher for the Washington Nationals had some issues yesterday. I’m sure you’re aware by now. With LeCroy catching, the Astros just started stealing on him at will. Half the time, LeCroy didn’t bother to make a throw, and when he did, it sailed into centerfield. It happened again and again. The Astros finished with 7 stolen bases, and LeCroy with two throwing errors.

So Frank Robinson pulled him… replacing him in the middle of an inning. I’m not all that familiar with the unwritten rules of baseball, but… I guess that’s something that isn’t done. Managers don’t embarrass players like that… it’s just not something that happens. But Frank Robinson felt he had to do it.

The headline notwithstanding, I don’t know if there’s any way to feel about it other than just sad for both guys involved. LeCroy couldn’t throw anyone out to save his life, and everyone knew that beforehand. But Robinson didn’t have a choice but to throw him into the fire, due to some other roster issues. It didn’t work out, Robinson’s taking the blame for it (as he should), and as evidenced by his post-game tear-fest, he felt terrible about having to embarrass a guy like that. I think it’s admirable how much it hurt him to do it.

Maybe the AL would be a better place for Matt LeCroy.

In advance of the Mets/Yankees series this weekend, the players and managers seem to be saying to the fans, “Yeah, enjoy this, you uncultured sloths, but know that we, the players and managers, hate it. But we’re going to do it anyway, for you, so you better fucking enjoy it.”

Carlos Delgado says it’s “a pain.” Joe Torre says it “screws up the rest of the schedule.” I don’t get it… maybe one of you can help me understand it. I don’t know why it’s a pain, and I don’t know why it screws up the rest of the schedule. They were going to be playing baseball anyway, right? It’s not like this was going to be vacation time for them, but now they have to play the Mets. I don’t know why it’s a pain… I really don’t, someone help me out. It’s not like when the Mets play the Yankees, they have to play them at Australian Rules Football. It’s still baseball, I think.

I thought interleague play was a hit… I dunno. I thought people liked it. When did this change?