Advertisement

More Marlin mayhem: Guillen says Bell will find his troubles in a mirror

Miami Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen said he'll continue trying to help Heath Bell finish the season strong. As for whether Guillen respects Bell as a person, that's another matter.

Guillen on Tuesday laughed off comments Bell made to a Miami radio station on Monday when he suggested he did not respect the Marlins manager.

But Guillen said he does not like Bell's pattern of blaming others this season for his chronic struggles.

"It was my turn this week," Guillen said. "Last week it was somebody else, it was the pitching coach. The week before, it was the catchers. The week before that it was the scouting report. When all these things pile it, then you don't have respect for someone."

Guillen said he has the support of the majority of his players based on phone messages from them and conversations he has had since Bell's comments surfaced Monday night.

"You have to learn how to look yourself in the mirror and blame yourself," Guillen said.

As for Bell's contention that his words were twisted and taken out of context, Guillen said: "I can get away with that because my English is not that well. When you got this in your hands," Guillen said, touching a reporter's voice recorder, "then you can't hide."

Bell pitched a scoreless eighth inning Tuesday, but Mike Dunn was unable to get an out in the ninth and the Marlins lost 4-3 at Atlanta on Freddie Freeman's two-run walk-off homer.