Miami Marlins suspend manager over Castro comments

MIAMI (Reuters) - The Miami Marlins baseball team suspended manager Ozzie Guillen for five games after he praised Cuba's Fidel Castro in a magazine interview, the team said on Tuesday.

The outspoken Guillen held a bilingual news conference on Tuesday in Miami - home to a large Cuban exile community - to apologize for a second time and said there were translation problems with the interview.

Guillen, who is in his first season as manager of the Marlins, has come under attack after saying he had "respect" for Cuba's ailing former leader.

"I love Fidel Castro," the Venezuelan-born Guillen told Time magazine's online edition. "You know why? A lot of people have wanted to kill Fidel Castro for the last 60 years but that motherfucker is still here."

He later apologized for the comments from Philadelphia, where the Marlins are playing the Phillies, saying he was deeply embarrassed by having offended Miami's large Cuban exile community.

"The Marlins acknowledge the seriousness of the comments attributed to Guillen," the team said in a statement. "The pain and the suffering caused by Fidel Castro cannot be minimized, especially in a community filled with victims of the dictatorship."

In an effort to make amends, Guillen, 48, traveled to Miami where he held a lengthy press conference on Tuesday, speaking in Spanish and English to further apologize.

"I'm here on my knees, apologizing to all the Latin American communities," said Guillen, who will not be paid while suspended.

He added that he was "very, very, very sorry," and felt "very embarrassed, very sad."

Known for making colorful and often controversial comments, Guillen blamed problems in translation in his interview.

"I was thinking in Spanish and said it wrong in English. I didn't say it correctly," he said. "What I wanted to say was I was surprised Fidel Castro stayed in power so long, considering what he's done. It was misinterpreted. I said I cannot believe someone who has hurt so many people is still alive."

"BIGGEST MISTAKE OF MY LIFE"

Struggling for words at times and frequently switching between English and Spanish, Guillen said he would learn from his mistake and make it up to the community. He said he planned to make Miami his permanent home, not just for the remainder of his baseball career.

"I'm going to be a Miami guy for the rest of my life," he said. "I want to walk in the street with my head up and feel not this bad the way I feel right now."

Guillen said his Castro comments were "the biggest mistake so far in my life" and that he had not been slept well for three days as a result.

Several local Cuban-American politicians and civic leaders called for Guillen's resignation but Miami's Cuban-American mayor said he accepted his apology and urged the community to move on.

About 100 protesters gathered outside the Marlins' stadium waving Cuban and American flags, calling Guillen a "communist," and shouting in Spanish, "Get rid of him."

The controversy over Guillen's comments comes only a few games into a new season and at a particularly sensitive time for the Marlins. The team was rebranded and relaunched this season after leaving behind its old home at the Miami Dolphins football stadium in north Miami for a new life in a $515 million ballpark in Little Havana, the historic heart of the city's Cuban-American community.

Since the team's inaugural season in 1993, the Marlins have struggled with low attendance and management was hoping the move into the city's Latin community, plus a new high-profile Hispanic manager, would help build a new fan base.

Guillen formerly managed the Chicago White Sox, leading them to a World Series title in 2005. As a player, he was an All-Star shortstop, playing for five teams in a career that spanned from 1985 to 2000.

The Marlins brought him in from the White Sox in a bid to help turn around a team that had struggled for wins on the field in recent years, after winning the World Series in 1997 and 2003.

Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig issued a statement supporting Guillen's suspension.

"Baseball is a social institution with important social responsibilities," he said.

"Mr. Guillen's remarks, which were offensive to an important part of the Miami community and others throughout the world, have no place in our game."

Nearing the end of his nearly hour-long press conference, Guillen said the experience had taught him a useful lesson. "This is the last time in my life that I will talk about politics," he said.

Guillen has previously come under fire for his comments, including his use of a gay slur to describe a sports columnist and his acknowledgement that he drinks after road games.

In 2005, he appeared on a Venezuelan radio show and expressed a liking for Venezuela's leftist President Hugo Chavez, adding, "My mom will kill me."

He has since criticized Chavez and on Tuesday said he ever supported the Venezuelan leader, who is a close friend of Castro.

(Additional reporting by Simon Evans, Evelyn Gruber and Joe Skipper; Editing by Bill Trott)

White Sox watch former manager Guillen from afar

CLEVELAND (AP) — As Ozzie Guillen tried to explain his way out of another mess he created with his mouth, Chicago's new manager felt compassion for his predecessor.

Robin Ventura watched and wished the best for Guillen.

"It's a tough day for him," Ventura said Tuesday, hours after Guillen apologized in South Florida for comments lauding Cuban dictator Fidel Castro, remarks that led some to call for his firing. "He's a friend, so it was not easy to watch. He looked sincere and meant it."

Ventura was Guillen's teammate for eight seasons in Chicago. This year, he replaced the outspoken manager, who led the White Sox to a World Series title in 2005 before leaving them after eight stormy seasons during which Guillen often made headlines with outrageous remarks.

Most of Chicago's players declined to talk about Guillen's situation.

One willing to talk was infielder Gordon Beckham, who said most White Sox players believe Guillen's true feelings did not come out in the Time magazine article in which he said he loves Castro and respects the retired Cuban leader for staying in power so long.

"You feel for Ozzie," said Beckham, who played three seasons for Guillen. "I think all of the guys in this clubhouse knew what he meant when he said it. It was like, this guy (Castro) has had people trying to get him, take a shot at him, and he's lasted 60 years. Sometimes Ozzie says more than he should."

Guillen's comments were particularly personal for White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez, a Cuban. Still, he's ready to forgive his former manager.

"Apologizing is definitely a big first step," said Ramirez, who played for Cuba in the Athens Olympics. "Everyone has their opinion. But I also feel people should be forgiven. So if he's going to apologize, I feel that hopefully he'll be accepted."

The 30-year-old Ramirez left Cuba in 2007 and joined the White Sox in 2008.

"I would just say whatever his thoughts or comments are, those are Ozzie's comments," he said. "That's more on him. It's one of those (situations) that there are some people who like Castro, and there are some people who don't. You're in Miami, it's definitely a different thought frame. But that's his opinion, and it's not the same opinion I have."

Ventura, who was a surprise pick to take over in Chicago because he had never managed at any level, hopes to learn from Guillen's faux pas.

"I'm going to stick to just talking about baseball," Ventura said before the White Sox and Indians were postponed because of rain and cold weather.

Before the game was called, Ventura had altered his lineup a bit, inserting Beckham into the leadoff spot and giving Kosuke Fukudome a start in the outfield.

"I'm just trying to get Kosuke in there," Ventura said. "I put Gordon up at the top. For the first 20-25 games we will be cutting out a lineup. Don't read anything into it. There are no signs to it."

Beckham was excited to see his name at the top of the order, and pretended to be angry when the game was called about two hours before the scheduled first pitch. He stormed into Ventura's office and put on a show.

"If I get dropped eight spots in the lineup because of the weather, I'm going to be (mad)," he yelled, smiling toward reporters outside Ventura's office.

Beckham, who normally hits in the lower third of the order, was serious that he wanted the chance to bat first.

"I don't know if I've done it in the big leagues, but I probably have somewhere along the line," Beckham said of hitting No. 1. "It was more about giving (Alejandro) De Aza a rest and they just needed somebody to fill in. I was happy and excited to do it. Heck, I led off an inning three times in a game in Texas earlier this week, so I'm confident. Just trying to get on base and get the lineup going, that's a lot of fun."

Ventura will skip right-hander Philip Humber in the rotation and use lefty John Danks on Wednesday — weather permitting — in the series finale. The forecast is foreboding: more rain and cold.

"I hated to do it because we wanted to get (Humber) going," Ventura said. "But you have to sacrifice one guy for the other four. We'll go with Danks and keep everybody else in their same slots. Humber will work out of the bullpen."

Notes: The White Sox acquired INF Jose Castro from Cincinnati for cash considerations. Castro was assigned to Triple-A Charlotte. ... After hearing the weather forecast, Indians manager Manny Acta was pleased the game was called. "It was not going to be baseball," he said. "It was going to be survival. It was going to be harsh out there." ... Chicago's bullpen, which includes three rookies, has a 0.93 ERA through four games. ... The White Sox are 0-15 with runners in scoring position in their two losses.

Marlins suspend manager Ozzie Guillen for 5 games

MIAMI (AP) — Miami Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen was suspended for five games Tuesday because of his comments lauding Fidel Castro. He again apologized and said he'll do what he can to repair relations with Cuban-Americans angered by the remarks.

The suspension by the team takes effect immediately. It was announced shortly before Guillen held a news conference to explain what he said.

The 48-year-old Venezuelan told Time magazine he loves Castro and respects the retired Cuban leader for staying in power so long. In response, at least two local officials said Guillen should lose his job.

At the news conference, Guillen said his comments were misinterpreted by the reporter, and he doesn't love or admire the dictator.

"I was saying I cannot believe somebody who hurt so many people over the years is still alive," Guillen told the news conference.

Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig said he supported the decision to suspend Guillen. He called Guillen's remarks in the magazine "offensive to an important part of the Miami community and others throughout the world" and "have no place in our game."

Guillen took responsibility for the uproar, and said it left him sad and embarrassed. He also said he accepted the team's punishment.

"I'm very sorry about the problem, what happened," said Guillen, who is only five games into his tenure with the Marlins. "I will do everything in my power to make it better. ... I know it's going to be a very bumpy ride."

Outside an entrance to the Marlins' new ballpark, about 100 demonstrators wanting Guillen's ouster shouted and chanted during the news conference. The team didn't consider firing Guillen or asking him to resign, Marlins President David Samson said.

"We believe in him," Samson said. "We believe in his apology. We believe everybody deserves a second chance."

With reaction to Guillen's praise of Castro escalating in South Florida, he left his team in Philadelphia and flew to Miami in an attempt at damage control. The Marlins and Phillies had the day off and resume their series in Philadelphia on Wednesday.

Guillen said he'll be there to apologize to his players — but he won't be in the dugout. Bench coach Joey Cora will be the interim manager. Samson said he expected no further punishment by Major League Baseball.

"The Marlins acknowledge the seriousness of the comments attributed to Guillen," read a statement from the team. "The pain and suffering caused by Fidel Castro cannot be minimized, especially in a community filled with victims of the dictatorship."

Selig said in his statement that "baseball is a social institution with important social responsibilities."

"All of our 30 clubs play significant roles within their local communities," he added. "And I expect those who represent Major League Baseball to act with the kind of respect and sensitivity that the game's many cultures deserve."

The suspension recalled the punishment given to Marge Schott, the late owner of the Cincinnati Reds. Schott so embarrassed baseball in the 1990s with inflammatory racial remarks and fond recollections of Adolf Hitler that she was suspended from ownership duties for a season.

About 100 reporters, photographers and cameramen attended the news conference. Guillen sat alone at the podium and began in Spanish, speaking without notes for several minutes before taking questions. Shortly after he started, his voice wavered in the middle of a sentence, and he paused to take a sip of water and clear his throat.

"This is the biggest mistake I've made so far in my life," Guillen said. "When you make a mistake like this, you can't sleep. ... When you're a sportsman, you shouldn't be involved with politics."

The news conference lasted nearly an hour, with about 80 percent of it in Spanish. Guillen said he was suspended without pay, but Samson later said the manager will be paid and will donate the money to Miami human-rights causes.

The firestorm came shortly after the Marlins opened their ballpark last week in the Little Havana neighborhood of Miami. The team is trying to rebuild its fan base with the help of South Florida's large Cuban-American population.

Guillen apologized over the weekend after the story broke, but some Cuban-Americans remained upset. One group planned a demonstration Tuesday before Guillen said he would fly to Miami.

Francis Suarez, chairman of the Miami city commission, said Guillen should be fired. Joe Martinez, chairman of the Miami-Dade County board of commissioners, said Guillen should resign.

Polarizing comments are nothing new for Guillen, who once used a gay slur referring to a reporter, defended illegal immigrants and just last week he said he drinks to excess after road games and has done so for years.

Guillen twice appeared on a radio show hosted by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in October 2005, when Guillen led the Chicago White Sox to the World Series title. At the time, Guillen said: "Not too many people like the president. I do."

Chavez is unpopular with many Venezuelans, especially those living in the United States.

Marlins suspend manager Ozzie Guillen for Castro comment

The Miami Marlins on Tuesday suspended manager Ozzie Guillen for five games, effective immediately, for stirring controversy by telling an interviewer, "I love Fidel Castro."

"The Marlins acknowledge the seriousness of the comments attributed to Guillen," the Major League Baseball team said in a statement.

"The pain and suffering caused by Fidel Castro cannot be minimized especially in a community filled with victims of the dictatorship."

At a news conference Tuesday, the Venezuelan-born former shortstop apologized as 300 people demonstrated outside the team stadium in the Little Havana section of Miami calling for his dismissal.

"I'm very disappointed and very -- very sad, I let those guys down," Guillen said.

"I let the ball club down... it's very important because that's the reason they hired me (was) to manage a ball club, not to talk about politics. And I think this is going to hurt me the most, not being with the ball club for that many days."

Guillen made the comments to Time Magazine. He later amended his remarks to say "I respect Fidel Castro. You know why? A lot of people have wanted to kill Fidel Castro for the last 60 years, but (he) is still there."

The team plays in a city with a large Cuban-American community, many of whom are rabid anti-Castro activists.

Guillen was an All-Star shortstop who played with the Chicago White Sox and other teams, then worked as a coach before managing the White Sox, winning the 2005 World Series. He began as manager in Miami this year.

After the controversy began, Guillen told reporters he did not intend to start a political debate.

"I think when I was talking about that specific man, it was personal. It wasn't politic," he said.

"I'm against the way he (Castro) treats people and the way (he) treats his country for a long time. I'm against that 100 percent."

Guillen said his comments to Time were made in Spanish and their meaning was lost in the translation, but added: "I don't want to make any excuses."

"I feel like I betrayed the Latin American community and I am here to say I am sorry," Guillen said in Spanish.

"I want to say I am sorry to all the people I hurt indirectly or directly from the bottom of my heart."

On Tuesday, state fire marshals restricted access to the interview room at Marlins Park, which holds about 200, after it was filled to capacity for the news conference.

Outside, protesters waved Cuban flags and held signs calling for Guillen's resignation.

News reports said some Miami officials were incensed by the comments and that the Cuban-American exile group Vigilia Mambisa planned to boycott the Marlins until Guillen steps down.