The Sports Xchange
PHILADELPHIA - Milwaukee Brewers manager Ron Roenicke was telling a story after his team beat the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday afternoon, one that concerned former major league outfielder Jose Guillen.
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim traded him in the winter of 2004, after a single season with the club. And Roenicke - then an Angels coach - recalled that Guillen was not fondly remembered in Anaheim - so much so that when he returned with other teams in later years, he was booed vociferously.
And, Roenicke said, “Every time they booed him, he got a huge hit. I was just like, ‘Leave him alone.’”
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This came to mind on Tuesday, because Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun, having run afoul of major league baseball’s PED police last season, was accorded a chorus of catcalls Tuesday by the fans in Citizens Bank Park.
He responded with three homers and seven RBIs.
“I love it,” Braun said of his reception. “It’s great. Seriously, as a competitor, I really do enjoy it. ... I try to use it to my advantage. As a competitor I think the more hostile, the more enjoyable it can be.”
As Roenicke well knows.
“Those guys that can turn it up,” he said, “you don’t want to mess with them.”
