Guillen Talks to Counselor

Chicago White Sox Manager Ozzie Guillen discovered Monday that sensitivity training gave him some insights on language and allowed him to do something he really enjoys -- talk.

“I’m glad I did it. I’m glad it’s over with and a lot of people will be real excited to hear that Ozzie finally got punished and did what he was supposed to do,” Guillen said after a two-hour session with a certified counselor.

Guillen was fined and ordered by Commissioner Bud Selig to undergo sensitivity training after an obscenity-laden tirade last month against Chicago Sun-Times columnist Jay Mariotti. Guillen called Mariotti a “fag.”

“There are so many different languages you can use when you are going to talk to somebody. There are a lot of things you cannot say about anybody, even when you want to say them,” Guillen said.

Guillen said he has another session planned after he manages the American League team in the All-Star game next week in Pittsburgh.

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Houston Astros Manager Phil Garner passed up a chance to appeal his one-game suspension and served the penalty in the opener of a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs.

Garner was suspended after tossing a chair onto the field following his ejection during a loss in Detroit on June 26.

“When you have these things on film, there’s no plausible deniability,” Garner said.

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Pedro Martinez will get treatment for his sore hip and throw a light side session before a decision is made on whether he’ll get another start for the New York Mets before the All-Star break.

Martinez, who was selected for the National League All-Star team, sat out his scheduled start Monday against the Pittsburgh Pirates.