After fans at the Rogers Centre booed former Blue Jay Alex Rios when he returned for the first time as a member of the White Sox, Chicago's manager Ozzie Guillen wasted no time taking a shot at Toronto fans.
Guillen knocked the Toronto faithful for heckling Rios and then added a general swipe at the fanbase, according to the Chicago Tribune.
"We need people in the ballpark just to come out and boo Alex the next four days," Guillen told the Tribune. "Please, we haven't seen many fans here the last three or four years. Come out just to boo him."
The Jays were 22nd in MLB attendance last season, with an average turnout of 23,162, according to ESPN.com. The White Sox averaged 28,199, landing them 16th overall (the Dodgers were No. 1 at 46,440).
Thanks to an always-large home opener crowd of 46,321 on Monday night, the Jays can at least temporarily enjoy a higher average attendance in 2010 than the White Sox, who have brought out an average of 25,398 in six home games this year. The Jays typically see a big turnout for the home opener before attendance drops to a more normal level.
On Monday, Rios was booed by the audience during batting practice and during his pre-game introduction, leading the 29-year-old to tip his cap to the crowd in jest.
Chicago beat Toronto 8-7 in 11 innings on Monday, ending a 10-game losing streak at the Rogers Centre.
