- Nobody predicted Ozzie Guillén and Bobby Jenks would beef.
Sure, the White Sox manager from 2004 to 2011
has a tendency to criticize, loudly.
And sure, his closer from 2005 to 2010
was once known for his immaturity,
but in their first year together,
they won the World Series.
What's to beef about?
Oh, maybe all those other years they spent together.
One reason nobody saw this beef coming,
Bobby Jenks would not have a career
if it weren't for the White Sox.
I'll explain.
With the Angels' farm system in the early 2000s,
Jenks could throw triple-digit fastballs.
He was called the best arm in the Minor Leagues.
But trouble with alcohol sabotaged all that talent.
He fought with teammates, his manager,
and allegedly a bar window
that must've said something to him.
He was suspended and demoted to Single-A in 2002
when he wouldn't stop bringing beer on the team bus.
When he needed elbow surgery in 2004,
the Angels said: "Forget it," and waived him.
Branded too immature for Pro Ball,
it seemed like Jenks's career was over before it started.
But the White Sox looked at the numbers;
the ones on the radar gun, and the ones on the price tag,
and picked the kid up off waivers.
In spring training, Guillén counseled Jenks,
in Guillén's own words: "Like a father."
He encouraged Jenks to find the strength
to start a new chapter, one entitled:
"Bobby Jenks, The Hero Everyone Likes."
Chicago brought him up from the minors in July 2005.
In September, he filled in for injured closer,
Dustin Hermanson, and recorded three straight saves.
Jenks made such a strong impression,
Guillén kept playing the rookie,
even when the Sox went deep into the post-season.
In game one of the World Series,
with the Sox clinging to a 4-3 lead
in the 8th, Ozzie brought in Jenks.
He called him by making a tall, fat guy signal,
but there were no hard feelings.
After the game, Bobby said he thought it was funny,
probably because he was in a super-good mood after the game.
The Big Guy threw all fast balls,
several in the 99 to 100 miles-per-hour range.
He struck out three batters,
and saved game one of the World Series.
In World Series clenching-game four, he got another save,
bringing the White Sox their first title since 1917.
And just like that, his past was erased,
and he took on a new identity.
And as far as Guillén, you better believe
winning the World Series endeared him to Chicago.
When he was hired for the 2004 season,
not everyone was pleased.
But now, he was beloved and nobody remembered doubting him.
Awash in glory, Jenks and Guillén had nothing
to be upset about, but as that glory faded,
something started to smell like beef.
In 2007, just two seasons out from
the World Series title, the Sox lost 90 games.
Jenks was still good, but that didn't mean
he was immune from Ozzie comments.
Suddenly, Jenks's weight wasn't something to joke about.
Instead, Guillén got blunt, and sort of issued a warning.
A few years later, Jenks stopped getting people out as much.
His velocity was declining.
In 2009, he allowed a career high nine home runs,
then a calf injury ended his season early.
Why was Jenks struggling?
According to the team, his weight and lack of conditioning.
This hurt Jenks's feelings; he felt like a scapegoat,
who had been betrayed by management.
He went on to have his worst season yet.
On May 9th, 2010, he blew a save, giving up four runs
and turning a two-run lead into a 9-7 loss,
causing Guillén to question his role as closer.
But before Guillén could think too hard on it,
Jenks injured his other calf.
When he was healthy, he came back as closer.
On July 21st, he blew a 1-0 lead in the 11th inning
for a 2-1 loss.
In his previous four outings, he had given up seven runs.
Guillén took the closer spot away from Bobby,
but in a supportive, tough-love kind of way.
His plan was to use Bobby in non-pressure,
non-save situations while he tried to regroup.
Guillén later brought him back at closer,
but it didn't always go so great.
On August 5th, he allowed a three-run homer in the 9th.
After the game, when asked if Jenks was going
to continue as closer, a frustrated Guillén said:
"Ask Bobby what he wants to do."
It seems Guillén was done with
supportive tough love, and instead, just fed-up.
A month later, yet another injury ended Jenks's year.
After the season, Guillén made some comments
on a familiar topic. He didn't name names,
but come on, we all know who he was talking about.
The White Sox non-tendered Jenks's contract,
which meant he could come back if he only wanted
a little bit of money.
Oh, and, Guillén told him
he'd have to earn the closer role in spring training.
Jenks ended up signing with the Red Socks for 12 million.
He had wanted to stay in Chicago,
and took their rejection hard.
So hard, in fact, he trash-talked Guillén in the media.
Seems he didn't consider his demotion
from closer to be full of supportive tough love.
Jenks didn't find much sympathy, cuz, - remember? -
the White Sox gave him a second life.
Jenks was seen as ungrateful,
and made himself the villain of this beef.
Until a new character
-background character, really - emerged.
Let's welcome to the beef Oney Guillén,
the middle son of Ozzie Guillén.
Oney was drafted by his father's team
in the 36th round in '07.
He played two years in the Minors,
where he was unsuccessful.
He worked in the White Sox video department
up until the spring of 2010, but he had to resign
due to a Twitter outburst.
When the team wouldn't let him start a website
about his Dad and the Sox, he Tweeted that the team
"screwed over his family."
He made fun of the team,
and said he didn't like the restaurant
GM Ken Williams owned.
He did provide a restaurant alternative,
if you're ever in Chicago.
Ozzie was the one who asked Oney to resign,
but he forgave him and still wanted him around.
(soft violin music)
Aw, that's nice.
And Oney still had love for the team,
or at least his Dad, because after Jenks
leveled his complaints, Oney went back to Twitter
- why not? - to respond.
He called Jenks a "punk," a "coward," a "piece of shit,"
and a "yellow beard dipping idiot."
I think because he dyed his beard?
He claimed management helped Jenks with marital problems,
drinking problems, and even covered for him
when he allegedly punched an Arizona clubby.
It wasn't clear if Oney's anecdotes were true,
but it was clear he had gone too far.
Bobby might have been ungrateful,
but he didn't deserve to have his secrets blabbed
by a guy who shouldn't have known them in the first place.
Jenks said he wasn't going to respond to Oney,
but in the same breath he got in a little jab,
alluding to Oney's lack of fame or success.
About 10 days later, Jenks decided to get in
some sharper jabs along the same vein.
And it was hard to blame Jenks for it;
probably some truth to what he was saying.
But you could blame Jenks for what he said next,
doubling down on his critique of Ozzie Guillén.
For those who have been wondering where Ozzie
and his sharp tongue have been, here they are.
In a seven-minute rant, Ozzie Guillén finally
responded to Jenks.
And when I say "responded," I of course mean "attacked."
He implied that what Oney Tweeted was true,
and that there was a lot more dirt out there,
which was he was liable to spill at any moment.
He accused Jenks of not working hard,
which echoes his many comments
about Jenks's weight and conditioning.
He introduced new insults, too,
claiming none of Jenks's former teammates liked him enough
to have his phone number.
And, he got a little angry.
Or actually, I guess, this isn't Ozzie Guillén angry.
But before we got a chance to see Ozzie mad,
Jenks's new manager, Terry Francona,
stepped in and squashed the beef.
When the White Sox next saw Bobby in the Red Socks
in June 2011, Jenks said he regretted his comments
about his former manager.
And his former manager said he loved him.
So, yeah, beef over.
Kind of abrupt, right?
But this beef was never going to linger.
Their partnership started in glory,
giving both guys a second career:
Jenks as a dominant closer, Guillén as a dominant manager.
But relations soured as the team started losing
and the Big Guy's fastball slowed.
When it was time for the partnership to end,
tempers flared and that sourness let loose,
with a little help from a background character.
But that's all that needed to happen.
The beef got to its hottest point and,
instead of exploding, melted away.
Perhaps because the resentments and nasty comments
weren't enough to overtake the good times,
which were as good as they could possibly be.
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