Marlins Face White Sox -- Minus Ozzie Guillen

TWITTER: @GeorgeRichards

How much fun would it have been had the Marlins gone to the south side of Chicago this weekend with Ozzie Guillen still managing?

Guillen, fired after one season with the Marlins, managed the White Sox for eight colorful seasons in which he won a World Series but also openly feuded with members of the media as well as players and front office staff.

On Wednesday, Guillen told the Jonathon Brandmeier Show on Chicago's WGN 720-AM it is a little strange being out of baseball. Guillen signed a four-year deal with the Marlins and is still being paid "a lot of money" by the organization.

"If I said I didn't miss it, I would be lying,'' said Guillen, who managed the Marlins at Wrigley Field last year but the team didn't visit the Sox.

"Things are better and simpler without the stress. But you miss the players, being around people, being on the field. My family has made it easier. I've been traveling a lot.''

Guillen also added that when you Google his name, the first thing that pops up "are Fidel Castro pictures. That's stupid, but it is what it is.''

Guillen also said the Marlins told him he should buy a house in Miami -- something that sounds a little familiar.

Guillen, like Jose Reyes, didn't take that advice.

The third-base coach for the Marlins' 2003 championship team, Guillen said he had a house in the Miami area that he sold while managing the White Sox.

"I've lived in Miami, but I'm not a Miami type of guy,'' Guillen said. "You need to be single. Then you'll have fun. .-.-. In Miami, you can walk around and no one knows who you are unless you are Shaquille O'Neal or LeBron.''

COMING UP
-- Friday: Marlins RHP Tom Koehler (0-2, 2.82 ERA) at Chicago White Sox LHP John Danks (3-4, 5.70 in 2012), 8:10 p.m., U.S. Cellular Field.

-- Saturday: Marlins RHP Ricky Nolasco (3-5, 3.96) at Chicago White Sox RHP Jake Peavy (5-2, 3.31), 7:15 p.m., U.S. Cellular Field.

-- Scouting report: The Marlins went 2-7 on their previous homestand and have lost two straight. Koehler had the best start of his career last week against the Diamondbacks when he gave up a run off three hits with seven strikeouts in six innings. Miami lost that game 1-0.

PHOTO: Al Diaz, Miami Herald Staff