Ozzie Guillén's honeymoon with Cuban fans of the Miami Marlins may have hit the rocks — less than a week after Opening Day.

The trouble was caused by an article on Time magazine's website, in which the Marlins' manager expresses admiration for the most reviled man in Miami, Fidel Castro.

"I respect Fidel Castro," Guillén is quoted as saying in the online article. "You know why? Many people have tried to kill Fidel Castro in the last 60 years, yet that [SOB] is still there."

In a perverse way, it was Guillén's official welcome-to-Miami moment, although he has lived here for years in the offseason. The Marlins, sensing that the manager's words would offend, issued a statement Saturday, saying: "We are aware of the article. There is nothing to respect about Fidel Castro. He is a brutal dictator who has caused unimaginable pain for more than 50 years. We live in a community full of victims of that dictatorship and people in Cuba are still suffering."

Damage control continued later in the day. As the Marlins were preparing to take batting practice at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati, the four beat writers who cover the team were summoned to Guillén's office, where he apologized in rambling fashion.

"I'm against the way he [Castro] treats people and the way [he has treated] his country for a long time. I'm against that 100 percent," he said. "…The way this man [has been] treating people for the last 60 years."

Guillén has long been known for his outspokenness. In Chicago, where he managed the White Sox to a World Series title, Guillén traded insults, sometimes profanely, with newspaper columnists, umpires, the crosstown Cubs, a radio talk show host, TV broadcasters and his own general manager.

Nor is it the first time he has wandered into a political briar patch.

After the White Sox won the World Series in 2005, someone posted a video on YouTube in which he appeared to be shouting "Viva Chávez!" amid the post-victory euphoria. That caused consternation among many in his native Venezuela, where President Hugo Chávez has been a divisive figure for his leftist politics and his close ties to the Castro brothers in Cuba.

In recent years, he has been critical of the Venezuelan leader. "I have never been a 'chavista.' I never supported him and, if I had, that's nobody's business," he said at one point. "I have not met him or talked to him. Besides, it's not my fault that he is the president of Venezuela."

The Castro comments came in the aftermath of yet another controversy, involving statements he made to CBS Sports. In that interview, Guillén related how he likes to get drunk after every ballgame, win or lose.

"I get drunk because I am happy for the victory or I get drunk because I am sad and concerned because we lost," the 48-year-old said, adding that he did so in his hotel room to avoid being seen in public.

When reporters asked if he was exaggerating, he said, "No. Why should I have to lie?"

A Marlins source confirmed that Guillén said what he is quoted as saying, but expressed doubt that he really meant it, calling the quotes "statements with no literal intention."

"Frankly, I don't believe he loves Fidel Castro, though he is in some way surprised by the time he has stayed in power," the source said.

"In any case," the source added, "it was badly said. and we hope it's just an isolated incident."

And if it's not?

"May God have mercy on us."