It’s a fishy start for Ozzie Guillen in Miami

Ozzie Guillen might appreciate this blunt assessment of his first four months as Miami Marlins manager: He has been a bigger disaster than the water-spouting monstrosity beyond center field at Marlins Park.

Supposedly endearing for his say-anything demeanor, Guillen offended the Cuban community in the season’s first week when he voiced his admiration for dictator Fidel Castro.

His team has been such a massive underachiever despite an opening-day payroll of $98.3 million that the 2012 season could be remembered for the team turning chintzy at the trading deadline. The Marlins unloaded shortstop Hanley Ramirez and the $38 million remaining on his contract, with more players potentially set to depart as the team languishes near the bottom of the National League East.

Guillen blew it by sticking too long with ineffective closer Heath Bell and hasn’t sparked a lifeless offense with his lineup tinkering.

Meanwhile, the Chicago White Sox seem to be doing just fine without their longtime former manager. Having moved atop the American League Central, the White Sox may be thinking goodbye, and good riddance.

Halo and goodbye

A former Angels draft pick made a superb major league debut Thursday … for the New York Mets.

Matt Harvey, a third-round selection of the Angels in 2007, pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks, striking out 11 thanks in part to a fastball that topped out at 98 mph. He also singled and doubled in his two at-bats, becoming the first player since 1900 to strike out at least 10 batters while recording two hits, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Harvey declined to sign with the Angels out of high school, instead playing for North Carolina before the Mets made him the seventh overall pick in the 2010 draft.

Although the former Tar Heel stomped out the Mets’ losing streak at six games, Diamondbacks Manager Kirk Gibson wasn’t ready to anoint Harvey the next Dwight Gooden.

“It’s one start,” Gibson said. “Now, can he consistently do it? That’s the question.”

A surprise contributor

A.J. Burnett has been part of World Series championship teams in Florida and New York.

Yet, the right-hander may be in the midst of his most remarkable feat: turning the Pittsburgh Pirates into winners.

Burnett has helped the Pirates contend in the NL Central and inch closer to their first winning season since 1992 by going 12-3 with a 3.52 earned-run average, putting him on pace for his best season by far.

The 14-year veteran began the season having been a .500 pitcher for most of his career, including the last two seasons when his ERA crept over 5.00.

Life in Pittsburgh has been a refreshing change from New York, where Burnett was relentlessly booed late in his stint with the Yankees.

This month, Burnett was nearly in disbelief after the crowd at PNC Park showered him with affection when his bid to win a ninth consecutive start fell short.

“I’m like, ‘This crowd just cheered me off the field,’ ” he said. “I gave up 12 hits and six runs. I’m like, ‘That’s crazy.’ ”