White Sox Are Very High on Their Ozzie : Guillen Has Big Name to Live Up to, and He Has Been Doing It

The mere mention of the name “Ozzie” stirs images of a shortstop diving to his right to snag a line drive or ranging far to his left to field a grounder and throw a runner out.

Guys named Ozzie are defensive wizards. They make the spectacular plays seem ordinary. They save as many runs with their gloves as they knock in with their bats.

But with the name comes the responsibility. If your name is Ozzie, you’d better be good.

That’s what the Chicago White Sox organization figured when it packaged second-year shortstop Ozzie Guillen on the cover of its 1986 media guide with former White Sox Hall of Famers Luke Appling and Luis Aparicio.

Guillen was coming off a fine 1985 season that included a .273 batting average, just 12 errors in 150 games, and rookie-of-the-year honors in the American League.

But to place Guillen, a 22-year-old from Venezuela who had played all of one full major league season, in the same class as Appling and Aparicio, who combined to play 31 seasons for Chicago, seemed a bit premature.

Then again, maybe it wasn’t. At least, not if Guillen continues to have games like the one he had against the Angels Monday night.

Guillen made three outstanding defensive plays to deprive the Angels of three baserunners and at least one run, and he hit a bases-loaded triple in the fifth inning to lead the White Sox to a 4-3 victory in Anaheim Stadium.

“I wish I could have played like him,” said Jim Fregosi, the new White Sox Manager and former Angel shortstop. “He has a chance to be a great player. He reminds me of a guy I saw quite a bit of in St. Louis. I forgot his name. . . . I think it was Ozzie Smith.”

Also known as the Wizard of Oz, the Cardinal shortstop whose work with a leather glove made him a millionaire. Smith is generally considered the best defensive shortstop in baseball, but it was Guillen who led all major league shortstops with a .980 fielding percentage last season.

He was at it again Monday night. In the fourth inning, Guillen fielded Rob Wilfong’s one-hop smash to his right and, from the outfield grass, threw Wilfong out.

After Dick Schofield walked, was balked to second and stole third, Bob Boone ripped a grounder that was headed for the hole between Guillen and third baseman Wayne Tolleson, who were playing in. But Guillen dived to his right to stop the ball, got up, and threw Boone out, holding Schofield at third. Ruppert Jones then flied out to end the inning.

With the Angels trailing, 4-3, Wilfong led off the eighth with a shot up the middle, but Guillen fielded it behind second base and threw Wilfong out.

“I saved a few runs and killed some rallies tonight, but no one can see that but management,” Guillen said. “They say Ozzie Smith only has 30 RBIs a year, but they don’t know how much he helps the team with his defense. I can help this team a lot more with my glove than with my bat.”

His bat didn’t hurt Monday night. Guillen, with Chicago trailing, 2-1, cleared the bases with a triple to center field off Kirk McCaskill in the fifth. The ball sailed well over the head of Gary Pettis, who was playing Guillen shallow and toward left-center field.

“I think he played me in a good spot,” said Guillen, who moved from the No. 8 spot in the order to No. 2 when Fregosi became manager eight games ago. “I got lucky and hit the ball in the gap. There was nothing he could do.”

Guillen’s average is down a bit this season (to .243), but he has 28 RBIs after finishing the 1985 season with 33. He has made 11 errors but none since May 26. His defensive skills are excellent, but what impresses teammate Julio Cruz, Chicago’s second baseman, is Guillen’s attitude.

“He has this aura about him,” Cruz said. “He plays like a guy who has been in the big leagues for 10 years. He has this air of confidence. He’s cocky in his own way, but he doesn’t show it to opponents.”