Monday, June 30, 2008

Tonight's Lineup

OC, SS; BA, CF, Q, LF, Dye, RF; Thome, DH; Crede, 3B; Swish, 1B; Ram, 2B; Hall, C.  Floyd pitching.

Random Notes

Heading toward another sell out tonight with absolutely beautiful weather ... Sox have won four straight ... pitching opponents the rest of this homestand are tough:  Lee, Sabathia, Duscherer, Blnton, Smith and Haren ... Sox finished interleague at 12-6 and lost ground ... White Sox are 16-9 so far on this stretch of 26 of 32 at home ... the White Sox own an AL-best +85 run differential and are 21-11 vs. the AL Central ...

Vote Early and Often

On-line voting ends Wednesday.  Vote as often as you can ...

Kenwo4life Where Were You?

I read yesterday that you were heading to the ballpark to sit in the last row of section 557, so I sent an intern up to find you in the first inning.  He had tickets for the 10th row.  Alas, he said he asked for you until he felt stupid but no one fessed up to being you.  Sorry.

The Stuff You Never See

Prior to tonight's game, Brian Anderson entertained a group from the Mercy Home for Boys.  Sporting "Team Anderson" t-shirts, Brian met with the group, signed autographs and talked during BP.  They will be sitting in center field during the game.

And Scott Linebrink entertained two Vietnam War veterans prior to the game as part of his "Scott's Heroes" program.

Anniversary Anyone

June 30, 1988 ring a bell?

At the stroke of midnight tonight (some would say the clock was magically stopped), 20 years ago, the Illinois General Assembly approved an amended stadium bill ensuring the club would remain in Chicago.

 

Sunday, June 29, 2008

What a Difference a Week Makes

From Ozzie Guillen:

Comparing this weekend to last weekend ...

"We pitched a lot better.  We had big hits.  Our defense this week was outstanding.  We pitched well.  The bullpen picked us up and we got the big hit.

On sweeping the team with the NL's best record on National TV ...

"Everytime you sweep somebody, win games, it's good.  Right now, I'm worried about Cleveland.

"White Sox fans will go home tonight with a smile on their face.  It will be a different Monday in Chicago.  White Sox fans can't wait to get to work tomorrow."

On Mark Buehrle's effort ...

"Strikes.  Strikes, commanding the ball well and movement.  It is Buehrle being Buehrle."

 

Sunday, June 29, 2008

Tonight's Lineup

OC, SS; AJ, C; Q, LF; Dye, RF; Thome, DH; Crede, 3B; Swisher, 1B; ARam, 2B; Anderson, CF.  Buehrle pitching.

Weather

Word from the weather service is that these off-and-on showers this afternoon should not impact the start of the game. 

AL vs. NL

Entering today's contests, the American League owns a dominating 141-96 (.595) edge over the National League in interleague play.  The Sox, 11-6 against NL foes, have lost 2.0 games in the standings to the Twins, who are 13-4 against the NL.  As several pointed out yesterday, that's where playing six games against the Cubs -- arguably the best team in the National League -- hurts the Sox when it comes to competing against the rest of the AL Central ...

DYK

The Sox have never swept the Cubs at home in Interleague play?

I'll try to post more later ...

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Carlos Quentin on his home run:

"For a period in the game, the shadows significantly affected the hitters.  It was a defensive swing at a fastball I didn't see that well.  I got the barrel on it.  Fortunately, it carried out.

"It feels good to come through for your team.  I was just fortunate to be in that situation at that point in the game."

Ozzie Guillen

On the end of the game:

"I wasn't going to put the go-ahead run on base in this ballpark.  I told Bobby, 'You got your best stuff.  This is the guy we are going to get.  Go after him.'"

On the bullpen:

"They are a big reason we are where we are.  It's fun to watch.  All those guys have been contributing all year long."

On the game:

"The beginning of the game was an ugly duel.  Sometimes in this ballpark, you've got to go by the wind, not necessarily the guy at bat."

On Lou Piniella's praise of the Sox and forecast they would win the division by six games:

"That's nice.  Thank you.  Lou knows a lot about baseball.  Last year, I said the same thing about the Cubs.  Coming from Lou, it's true.  Coming from Ozzie, it's crazy."

On Carlos Quentin:

"This kid has been great.  It's about 25 guys, not one.  Everytime he hits, we've got guys on base.  But he gets big hits."

 

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Today's Lineup

OC, SS; AJ, C; Q, LF; Dye, RF; Thome, DH; Crede, 3B; Swish, 1B; ARam, 2B; Wise, CF.  Vazquez pitching.

Happy Birthday

Saw Alexei and congratulated he and his wife, Mildred, on the birth of his son, Alexi.  It's the couple's third child, second son.

Matt's Take

Tune in to WSCR 670 AM from 10 am to noon Monday to hear Matt Thornton's in-studio take on the weekend series.  Thornton will be appearing with host Lawrence Holmes.

How The Sausage In Made

OK, maybe it's me, but here are actual conversations I had with media representatives yesterday ...

On my way into the press box in the top of the fourth, I run into a radio host, who is exiting ...

"This one should be called on the slaughter rule," he said.

"I don't know, " I demurred.  "They pounded us last week."

"Listen," he said, "when Nick Swisher hits a grand slam, you know it is your day."

Huh?  In his last three years, Nick has 21, 35 and 22 home runs.  It's not like an Ozzie Guillen homered.

Then I sit down ...

A reporter comes over and laughs, "Do you know how many writers right now are crying into their keyboard?  Let me see, 1, 2, 3 ... 4,5,6 ... 7.  I count seven Cubs fans right here," the reporter said, indicating the sections closest to where we were sitting.

So maybe it's not just Sox fans who feel this way about the rooting interests in the media.

Then I am sitting in a suite when a television producer calls.

"We've got a reporter outside the ballpark.  He just interviewed a fan who claims he was ejected for cursing.  He dropped a beer and said to his friend, what the (blank)?  Can you comment?"

As he's saying this, I'm thinking, what's the point ...

So I ask him if he knows a name so I can check incident reports.  In the meantime, I check with security.

They know who I am talking about immediately, since it is no surprise to them that this particular fan found a television camera as soon as they were ejected.

"It was the second instance," I am told.  "They were warned once and then ejected the second time the same thing happened" apparently uttering the profanities in front of fans who complained or our security (or directly in front of our security), who took action.

So what's the big deal?  You can be ejected for profanity -- it is a warning we have in writing at each gate to the ballpark.  And as a father of three who had to listen to an amazing amount of profanity last Friday as literally countless (they actually tried to count and couldn't) Mai Ti's were downed behind me, I'm glad we do.  How about the idea of going and standing outside a ballpark to interview fans who have been ejected?  Let's go stand outside a police station on a given Friday night and interview people who were arrested and have just been released?  I'm sure you'll get unbiased, accurate stories of their plight ...

Then, at dinner, I get a call from a newspaper reporter, who asks if I have any comment on the record number of incidents at today's game.

After each game, I get an update from our security staff about how things went, so I know that not only weren't there a record number of incidents at Friday's game, but there actually were very, very few.  The limited number of ejections were for smoking and profanity (see above).

So I explain all of this and ask, "Who said there were a lot of incidents?"

"Oh, we got a phone call saying there were ..."

To their credit, both organizations contacted me and asked for our information before running stories (or choosing not to).  I offer these stories only as examples of how people try to manipulate media and how, so often, everyone's assumptions are based on often-inaccurate stereotypes.

So then I open today's Sun-Times (I know, I know, it's almost impossible to find a Saturday Sun-Times, but I swung it).

Page 51 is titled, "Crosstown Showdown" and sub-headed, "Savoring the Sights at the Cell."

Of the five photos, one is of Derrick Rose in Sox garb with John Paxson (OK, makes sense), one is of two tailgating spreads, one Sox and one Cubs (OK, makes sense), one is of a Cubs fan looking at our misnamed (in the caption) "Championship Moments Wall" (OK, maybe the Cubs fan looking at a Sox monument angle works, but what about all of the other options you could shoot out there on that day ... we had to pick a Cubs fan in Cubs jersey?) ... and then the two kickers, for me, one an eight-year-old Cubs kid and another of Derrek Lee signing autographs.  I am sure that it was tough, if not impossible, to find an eight-year-old, jersey wearing Sox fan at yesterday's game, and of course, of all the players signing autographs yesterday and U.S. Cellular Field, where the newspaper wants to provide you with "Savoring the Sights at the Cell," we get a Cubs player ...

Look at the page, I know very few of you actually read the hard copy of this paper anymore, and tell me it is an equal representation of the fans at yesterday's game.  Someone picked those photos and made conscious decisions what to run, didn't they?  Was that person neutral, a Sox fan or a Cubs fan?

But maybe I'm too sensitive to this stuff ...

Finally

And this is absolutely true ... last Friday, I took my family to Wrigley Field for the game.  My kids can handle the profanity (see above), but the threesome behind us (and we were in row 1 just past our dugout), literally lost count of the number of drinks they had during the game.  They tried to remember and tried to count, but it was beyond their capacity.  Then, the very best part, one guy fell asleep.  Sox vs. Cubs. 40,000-plus crowd. Great seats. Great game, going down to the final pitch, and the guy FALLS ASLEEP!!! 

"Dad," my 11-year-old son whispers, "that guy's asleep at the game."

"Cubs fan," we both say in unison.

Have fun today, Sox fans, and do your best to stay awake.

 

From the White Sox Interview Room:

Ozzie Guillen on ...

Jose Contreras:

He couldn't command his fastball.  He was making the big pitch.  He fought through it.

JD:

"JD's been outstanding.  He and Derreck Lee are the most overlooked players in town.  Over the last five years, it's been amazing what they do.

"JD's been carrying us ... defensively and offensively."

On The Offense:

"When these guys start hitting the ball to the opposite field, good things happen."

Nick Swisher ...

On The Game:

"There's a huge difference playing here than when it is over there.  We're home.  We're in our backyard.  The atmosphere, with 40,000 people screaming, is great.  You try to think it's just another game, but it's not."

On The Grand Slam:

"I was just trying to get something into the air to score a run.  I swung through a fastball earlier in the at-bat and missed a slider.  At Wrigley, he got me out on a slider.  I saw a slider on the outside half of the plate, got lucky and put the barrel on it."

 

 

Friday, June 27, 2008

Juan Uribe will start at 2B in place of Alexi Ramirez, who is with his wife as she gives birth today.

Friday, June 27, 2008

Today's Lineup

OC, SS; AJ, C; Q, LF; Dye, RF; Thome, DH; Crede, 3B; Swish, 1B; Ramirez, 2B; Wise, CF.  Contreras pitching.

Coop Update

So most of the Western Hemisphere saw Don Cooper injury his left hamstring during yesterday's game in LA, and you couldn't miss the team's reaction ... most of which is because it was Coop, of all people, who was hurt.

The pitching coach was wheeled out to our team bus in a wheelchair.  During the trip to LAX from the ballpark, the players all watched his misstep on DVD and then the plane qould erupt again and again as players watched YouTube and the video.

Had to make Cooper feel great, although he took it like a champ.

"This won't affect my workout routine at all," said Cooper, who has none.  "I will be able to run as fast tomorrow (Friday) as I could today."

Cooper is no better this morning and won't be making any trips to the mound to talk to pitchers.  We did arrange for a motorized scooter for the weekend, labeled with his name and number, to help him roll around the ballpark. 

It's all meant in good fun.

Rose

Bulls first pick Derrick Rose will throw out the ceremonial first pitch before today's game.

 

Sox up, 2-0.  Jenks in to pitch.

Young, Dewitt (PH) and Maza due up.

Young tops a ball down the first base line.  Jenks fields it and tags him.  One out.

One hopper, 5-3.  Two out.

Maza up.

Count goes to 2-2.

3-2.

Fly ball to JD.  Game over.  Sox win.

 

Sox hold a 2-0 edge entering the ninth inning.

OC, BA and Q due up.  Jenks warming.

Lead off walk.

Sac, 3-4.  OC moves to second.

Quentin is out, 5-3.

OC steals third without a throw.

JD strikes out.  We head to the bottom with Big Bobby coming in.

 

Sox up, 2-0

RHP Ramon Troncoso in to pitch. 

Ramirez down swinging.

Don Cooper was ejected for the second time in his career.

Hall batting with Thome on deck.

Hall out swinging.

Thome out, 3-1, to end the inning.

Bottom

Scott Linebrink in to pitch.

Today's attendance, 37,000 and something.  I didn't type quickly enough.

37,000 people and the place looks empty.

Martin, GO 5-3, one out

Loney, broken bat pop up to second, two out.

LaRoche, routine 6-3.

 

Sox lead, 2-0.

Two runs, seven hits and two errors for the Sox.  No runs, four hits and one error for LA.

BA leading off.

Deep fly ball to right.  One out

Quentin is hit by a pitch and then steals second.

Dye walks.

Pitching coach to the mound as Swisher is announced.

Fly ball to medium center.  Two out.

Crede at the plate.  Full count.

Swing and a miss.

Bottom

Thornton in to pitch.

PH Maza singles up the middle.

PH Ethier flies to left.  One out.

Pierre at the plate.

Listening to Scully just now, he relates a story about Matt Thornton that is completely new to me.  He's really good a what he does, and maybe I'm bad at what I do.

Foul ball ... just foul, down the left field line.  Dodged it.

Fly out yo Q.  Two out.

Dotel in to face Kemp.

Strike out swinging.

 

Sox ahead, 2-0

DYK that the White Sox are averaging 6.0 runs per game in June, hitting .304 as a team this month.  I mention that now, trying to get our bats going this inning.

New LA pitcher, RHP Corey Wade.

Ramirez and Hall make outs.

Danks singles sharply up the middle for his first BIG LEAGUE hit.  Congrats John.

Line out to second.  Inning over.

Bottom

I had held out for two days, but I just broke down and am eating my first Dodger Dog of the series.  Check back with me during the flight home to find out how it went.

Minnesota and SD are tied, 3-3 in the fifth.

Upton Sinclair, aka KW, is sitting to my left shaking his head about me eating a Dodger Dog.

Loney flies out to left, LaRoche to center.  Young walks.  WP to second.

Swing and a miss for Berroa.

Inning over.

Sox up, 2-0.

So the Sox minor leaguers in the Futures Game are LHP Clayton Richard (US) and INF Chris Getz (US).

BA reaches on an E6.  Yet another lead-off hitter aboard.

WP moves BA to second. 

Walk to Quentin.

JD to the plate.  Torre to the mound.

RHP Brian Falkenborg the new Dodgers pitcher.

5-3, runners move up.

Here's Swisher with another run-scoring opportunity for the Sox.

Where's the Ohio State hater?

Intentional walk.

Crede up.

1-2-3 DP.  Another Ugh.

Bottom

Bobby Jenks, Scott Linebrink and Octavio Dotel head to the bullpen beyond right field.

Let's hope this isn't another instance of missed scoring opportunities coming back to hurt us ...

74 pitches for Danks entering this inning.

PH Mark Sweeney lines to left.

Nice running catch by Quentin on Pierre.  Two out.

Kemp walks. 

Nice catch by JD jumping up against the right-field wall.

Inning over.

Gulp

 

 

Sox up, 2-0.

The mister and fan are going strong in our dugout.  Steamy day in mid 70s.

Ramirez leading off.  Always amazing about baseball ... that whole thing about the great play then leads off thing ...

Scoreboard just showed the Dodgers 1959 banner.  Does it seem like 20 years, 1988, since the Dodgers last won a World Series ... wow.

Double off the center field wall.

Single to right by Toby.  ARam holds at third with no out.

Danks up

pitch out

bunts into a DP.  Ramirez has to hold.

Ugh

C'mon OC.

SO looking.

Bottom

LaRoche leading off

So the 10 Dodgers:

1   Pee Wee Reese

2   Tommy LaSorda

4   Duke Snider

19   Jim Gilliam

20   Don Sutton

24   Walter Alston

32   Sandy Koufax

39   Roy Campanella

42   Jackie Robinson

53   Don Drysdale

LaRoche doubled down the line past a sprawling Crede.

GO 4-3.  Runner moves up

ball back to Danks.  He makes a great play and then throws to third but LaRoche is back in time.  First and third, one out.

WOW.  Great play by Danks on a line drive to the box.  He turns and fires to first for a DP.

We caught a break!

 

 

 

 

Sox up, 1-0

OC leading off.

Vin Scully notes that we've played two innings and all four lead-off men have reached.  Only Dye scored.

Make that five.  OC walks.

BA up.

Can you name the 10 Dodgers players with retired numbers?  Answer next inning.

Strike out swinging.

Q up.

Hitting .278 with 17 home runs and 56 RBI.

Q was born in Bellflower, CA, same hometown as Jeff Kent.

WP moves OC to second.  RBI opportunity.

Cubs are getting hammered by Orioles.  Is that the same team that pounded us?

Single by Q scores OC.

2-0 Sox

JD to the plate.

"Let's go White Sox," a fan shouts.

Visit by the pitching coach as Kershaw's second pitch to Dye is way high (94 mph fastball)

GB to third (another nice play by Martin), throw to second for force is late/dropped.  Ruled a base hit.  First and second, one out.

Swisher up.

"Ohio State @#&*%," a fan shouts.

Fly out to the warning track in left.  Both runners advance.

Crede up.  Two-out opportunity.

Shattered bat, Quentin diving to avoid the barrel.  Out 5-3.

Inning over.

Bottom

MLB announced the Futures Games participants.  Class AA Birmingham manager Carlos Subero is coaching for the World Team.

E6

Kemp single to center.  Pierre to third.  No out.

Infield back.

Martin strikes out.

Loney up.  John reaches back for a 92 mph fastball.  Strike one.  Swinging strike two on a slider.  Now 2-2. 

Pretty, pretty GIDP with Ramirez flicking the ball to OC from his glove.

Inning over.

 

 

 

 

0-0

JD leads off

Kershaw's fastball is at about 92-93

walk to JD

Swish up.  Crede on deck.  Joe appears fine.

Great bunt down third by Swisher.  Even better play by Russell Martin to get him at first.  We can't catch a break.

Two-hopper to third.  Two out.

The rocket up.  Yesterday, within the same at-bat, he looked bad on a change up and then adjusted and singled on the next changeup he saw.

Broken bat single to left, RBI.  Took second on the throw from Pierre.

1-0 Sox

Intentional walk to Hall.

Danks up. 

Good cut by John. 

Strikeout swinging.

Bottom

Adam Sandler in the house.

Delwyn Young batting.  When he homered on Tuesday night, KW noted that as a teammate of Delwyn's dad, he used to bounce a little Delwyn on his knee.

Walked him on a 3-2 pitch after several foul balls.

John's thrown 31 pitches

FB at 89-90 mph

Berroa up.  Pitcher's best friend.  GIDP

Important because now the No. 8 hitter might be the last out of this inning.

Base hit.

So much for the pitcher leading off the third.

See ya.

41 pitches.

 

 

The smog (or Marine layer, according to Ed Farmer) has burnt off and exposed a beautiful day.

First pitch is scheduled for 12:10 p.m. LA time.  All three games here have drawn quite a few White Sox fans to Dodgers Stadium.  Sox jerseys are well represented in the ballpark.

Today, we are wearing our black alternate tops with our grey road pants.

Oh, look, another left-hander takes the mound against us. 

Jeff Cox trots down to the third-base coaches box.  Coxsie, always happy, spent yesterday with his mother on her birthday.  While he had to admit that he never played at Dodger Stadium as a high school athlete, he did proudly point out he was here to accept his first-team all-state honors for baseball (he also was named to the basketball team).

74 degrees

Kershaw is throwing hard.  OC takes him to right for a single.  Nice approach.

BA grounds to third on first pitch.  OC forced out as throw skips to LaRoche at second.

Q GIDP up the middle to second.  Inning over.

Bottom

E2 as Hall drops a foul pop. 

Crede is at third, bouncing up and down as Piere fouls pitches off ...

Lots of kids groups here today as the outfield bleachers are filled with a variety of colored t-shirts.

Pierre slaps a single to left.

Danks almost picks Pierre off first.

SB

Kemp walks on a check swing.

Foul pop to Swish.  One out

Double Steal.

Looping out to Cabrera.  He throws to third to try and double up Pierre.  Crede looks a little stiff trying to field the throw.

fly ball to right to get out of the inning.  John had to throw a lot of pitches.

 

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Today's Lineup

OC, SS; BA, CF; Q, LF; Dye, RF; Swish, 1B; Crede, 3B; ARam, 2B; Hall, C; Danks, P.  John enters today ranked third in the AL with a 2.80 ERA.

Pierre, LF; Kemp, CF; Martin, 3B; Loney, 1B; LaRoche, 2B; Young, RF; Berroa, SS; Ardoin, C; Kershaw, P.

As a little experiment today, I'll try to blog throughout the game, providing whatever thoughts and observations I might have from the press box.

Ozzie's Touch

We received this nice email from a fan:
 
Subject: Ozzie
 
Message:
I wanted too write too you and tell you what a fine Manager you have. My wife Susie,my son Andrew and I drove up to Chicago too see Ozzie at Binny's beverage on 13 June 2008 from the Quad Cities. My son and wife are hugh Sox fans and I am a Cubs fan. When we got too Binny's a lady over heard us telling someone that we had driven up from the Quad Cities. The night before we had some big storms and our power was knocked out. None the less I wanted my son too meet Ozzie. This lady told Ozzie that we had driven up from the Quad cities and Ozzie was very happy. When we got our turn too meet Ozzie he was nothing but spectacular. He asked if we were going too the game that night and we told him no that we were just up too meet him and we would be going to a game on the 23rd of August. He asked if we could stay and come too the game on the 13th and if we would like tickets. We said yes and left him our names. Ozzie left us tickets for section 132, row 27. That was a tremendous suprise. My son,wife and I had a great time. I am still a Cubs fan but if anyone ever bad mouths your organization or manager I will defend you guys to the end. Once again THANK-YOU Ozzie you made my fathers day because you made my son and wife smile. Thank you so very much. Sincerly Chip, Susie and Andrew. Your freinds and fans from the Quad Cities.
 

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Thoughts From LA

I tried to post yesterday but ran into computer problems, so sorry to leave you in the dark for so long.

I headed out to LA with the club Monday evening.  Dodger Stadium is one of the ballparks I had never visited (I missed our 2003 trip), I needed to meet with my counterpart at the Dodgers to talk spring training, and I like to walk around other ballparks in the league and steal ideas we might be able to implement.

Last Night

What a game by Mark Buehrle, what a play by Alexi Ramirez and what a blast by Jermaine Dye.

Congratulations to Mark on the victory and on topping 1,000 career strikeouts.

I asked him if his dad had made it out to LA.

"No, and he really wanted to see this," Mark said.  "When I got the one, I'm thinking he wasn't here.  Each time I got two strikes on a guy, I was thinking, maybe he'll hit a ground ball and I can get 1,000 in my next start at home."

And for those of you who stayed up ... thanks to Mark's 2:05 game it didn't end too late in Chicago, Alexei made an amazing catch and turned it into a double play.  Make sure you check out today's highlight shows to catch the catch.

Dodger Stadium

So this is my first visit to Dodger Stadium ...

As we walk in from the bus in mid afternoon, I see a guy in Sox uniform playing catch with a young boy in Sox garb right in front of our dugout.  I know those mannerisms, I say to Steve Stone as we walk in past first base.  It's Robin Ventura, playing catch with his son, Jack.  It's great to see Robin, I congratulated him on the great job he did during the College World Series, and then felt very old seeing Jack running around.

The playing surface at Dodger Stadium was immaculate.  It ranks up there with the very best in baseball.  The stadium itself was a mix between the 1980s and some of the newer work the Dodgers have done to the seating area.  Overall, the ballpark seemed older than I expected, but then it is now one of the oldest in baseball ... which is amazing.

I've said before that I believe all of us are 12 years old inside, which means for me, it's always 1977 in some spot in my mind.

So it was fun to see Vin Scully -- and great to listen to his telecast -- Steve Garvey, Fernando Valenzuela (1981, I know), Ron Cey and run into Charlie Hough in the press box.

World Series Redux

Down on the field during batting practice, I saw Steve Perry -- still sporting a 2005 World Series hat.  Also attending the game was Michael Clark Duncan, voice of our World Series video,  proudly wearing his Sox cap (courtesy of Ken Williams), and I was told Common was in the house cheering for the Sox.

Ozzie Being Ozzie

So Ozzie was looking for a way to "get" me for coming on the trip ...  his opportunity came during his media session when he told reporters, with a broad smile, that I had just told him some private information about our Spring Training plans.  This wasn't true.  He just wanted to see me squirm.  He spent the rest of BP laughing at me about it.

Typical Ozzie in his exchange with Juan Pierre during BP.  As Ozzie talked to media from Chicago and LA, Pierre took a lead from first base during Dodger BP. 

"Don't worry Juan," Ozzie yelled, laughing.  "You won't get there tonight."

"You're right," Pierre countered.  "I'll double."

"We'll see."

Prior to the game, Ozzie told the media one of the keys to JD's hot streak has been his patience and discipline at the plate.

"He's been swinging at strikes," Guillen said.  "That's the key for any player."

And then JD's at-bats during the game illustrated that perfectly.

Notes

Joe Crede was a late scratch last night with a stiff lower back.  They'll see how he feels today.  The victory snapped a nine-game road losing streak.

Lost Weekend

We got our butts kicked last weekend, but keep the bigger picture in mind.  As Ozzie said Tuesday, "I'd rather lose a game to the Cubs than to the Twins", meaning it's always better to drop a game to someone outside your division.

Wish I Had Seen

My favorite columnist scurrying down the hallway of the Wrigley Field press box to "escape" two reporters from his very own newspaper and calling for security.

When he excuses his absence from clubhouses and ballparks in terms of feeling threatened, maybe he isn't talking about players or staff after all.  Maybe it's the media who scare him.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Today's Lineup

OC, SS; AJ, C; Q, LF; Thome, DH; Dye, RF; Swish, 1B; Ramirez, 2B; BA, CF; Ozuna, 3B.  Floyd pitching.

June Production

The White Sox are hitting .309 with 30 home runs and 102 runs scored (6.4 per game) in June as the team batting average has risen from .246 to .261.

Chicago leads the majors in June for average, slugging (.538) and OBP plus SLG (.909) and ranks among the leaders in homers (T1st), runs per game (2nd) and OBP (2nd, .371).

History

Last night Mark Buehrle marked the fifth time this season a White Sox starting pitcher carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning ... Gavin Floyd threw 7.1 no-hit IP on 4/12 vs. Detroit and 8.1 on 5/6 vs. Minnesota ... John Danks went 5.0 hitless IP on 4/3 at Cleveland and 4/26-1 vs. Baltimore ...

Tomorrow

Heading north tomorrow for the first game of our series with the Cubs ... did you know that the all-time series between the two teams is tied, 30-30, with each team going 16-14 at home ... amazingly, both teams have scored 291 runs against the other ...

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Tonight's Lineup

OC, SS; Ramirez, 2B; Quentin, LF; Thome, DH; Dye, RF; Swish, 1B; Crede, 3B; BA, CF; Hall, C.  Buehrle pitching.

Who's On First

Ozzie told reporters before the game that he may still consider playing Jim Thome at first base this weekend at Wrigley Field, particularly with Paulie on the DL.

"But I told Jim not to take ground balls or anything (and risk injury)," Guillen said.  "It's not like he's going to get better in a day or two."

Impressive List

With his 521st home run last night, Jim Thome tied Hall of Famers Ted Williams and Willie McCovey last night for 16th on the all-time list.  Heady stuff ...

Happy Birthday To You

Sun-Times beat writer Joe Cowley turns 40 tonight.

Sad News

Former Sox pitcher Johnny Buzhardt passed away ...click here to read his obit.

 

 

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Tonight's Lineup

OC, SS; AJ, C; Q, LF; Thome, DH; Dye, RF; Swish, 1B; Crede, 3B; Ramirez, 2B; Wise, CF.  Vazquez pitching.

Great Off Day

Current players, staff, former players and front office employees joined Chicago celebrities and fans at the ninth annual Field of Greens Charity Golf Tournament yesterday at The Links of Carillon.

Gavin Floyd's group, at 19 under, edged out Nick Swisher's group by one stroke.  For anyone who cares, my group was 10 under.

I've enclosed some photos of the fun ...

The weather was great, the course was perfect and a good time seemed to be had by all.  Best of all, funds raised during the outing go to pediatric oncology research at Comer's Children's Hospital of the UC and Children's Memorial Hospital downtown.

Thanks to all who participated.

Ask Brooks

Anyone with a question for Brooks Boyer, our VP, CMO, make sure you log on to tomorrow's live chat at noon CT.  MLBAM will begin taking questions around 10:30 am and the chat begins promptly at noon.

Here's the link.

Series Previews

Already the pre-Series prognostications have begun for the Cubs-Sox showdown this weekend at Wrigley.  I love it because it is only more fodder for the underdogs ... that'd be us.

Sunday, June 16, 2008

Today's Lineup

OC, SS; AJ, C; Dye, RF; Thome, DH; PK, 1B; Swish, LF; Crede, 3B; BA, CF; Ramirez, 2B.  Contreras pitching.

 

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Tonight's Lineup

OC, SS; AJ, C; Q, LF; PK, 1B; Dye, DH; Swish, RF; Crede, 3B; BA, CF; Uribe, 2B.  Danks starting.

Birthday Wishes

To my daughter, Marley, who celebrates her 13th birthday tonight at the ballpark.

Home Sweet Home

The Sox have won nine straight, and 16 of their last 19, to improve to 21-9 (.700) at home ... during the nine-game winning streak, the White Sox have hit .323, scored 69 runs, hit 23 home runs and posted a 2.90 ERA ... the White Sox are now 4-0 in interleague play entering tonight.

Friendly Visit

My good friend Art Berke, life-long Sox fan, former SI PR staffer and currently at the Yogi Berra Museum in NJ, came to the game tonight.  Earlier in the day, he escorted his two parents, both in their 80s, to the monument in front of the ballpark to show them the family's brick.  His parents, South Siders to the core, can't make it to ballgames anymore but Art wanted them to see their brick.

I can't tell you how many stories like this I've heard and how many people I see posing for photos outside our ballpark at all times of the day.  Makes me smile every time.

Bricks are still available for purchase.  Check out whitesox.com for details.

 

Friday, June 13, 2008

Tonight's Lineup

OC, SS; AJ, C; Q, LF; PK, 1B; Thome, DH; Dye, RF; Swish, CF; Crede, 3B; Uribe, 2B.  Floyd pitching.

Welcome Pods

Good to see Scotty Pods during batting practice before tonight's game. 

Roster Move

Prior to tonight's game, we placed Esteban Loaiza on the 15-day disabled list and recalled Adam Russell from Class AAA Charlotte.  Esteban has right shoulder tendinitis and needs to strengthen his shoulder.  Russell is available tonight.

News & Notes

This is the first ever trip by the Rockies to US Cellular Field ... the White Sox have been in first place 53 days this season ... we are 7-3 so far in a stretch of 26 of 32 games at home ... we enter tonight having won a season-high eight straight at home ... we won 10 straight in 2006 ... Carlos Quentin was selected by fans in an on-line vote as the "Major League Baseball Clutch Performer of the Month Presented by Pepsi" (say that three times quickly) for May ... the Sox are 3-0 in interleague play, sweeping the Giants in May ... at 20-9, the Sox own the third-best home winning percentage in the majors ... the White Sox top the majors with a 3.36 ERA ... our starters lead the majors with 42 quality starts and rank second with a 3.61 ERA.

Thanks, Fans

The Sox have now sold more than 2 million tickets for the 2008 seasons ... this is just the 10th time in club history the team will top 2 million ... this is the fourth straight year the Sox will top the 2 million mark (also done in 1990-93).

 

 

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Today's Lineup

OC, SS; BA, CF; Q, LF; PK, DH; Dye, RF; Crede, 3B; Swisher, 1B; Ramirez, 2B; Hall, C.  Buehrle starting.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Tonight's Lineup

OC, SS; AJ, C; Q, LF; Thome, DH; JD, RF; Crede, 3B; Swish, 1B; Alexi, 2B; BA, CF.  Vazquez pitching.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Tonight's Lineup

OC, SS; AJ, C; Quentin, LF; PK, 1B; Thome, DH; Dye, RF; Swish, CF; Crede, 3B; Alexei, 2B.  Contreras pitching.

Notes

This from the Elias Sports Bureau:

The White Sox swept their seven-game homestand, matching the longest homestand that the team has swept in its 108-year history.  The three previous 7-0 Sox homestands came in May 1965, April 1972 and then in September 1983.

Chicago's offensive totals in those seven games: 61 runs on 91 hits, including 19 home runs.  Only two other teams in major league history have produced that many runs, hits and home runs during a seven-game winning streak: the Athletics did it in 2000 and the Braves followed suit two years ago.

Reports From The Front

It seems my friends at the Sun-Times may be embroiled once again in a bit of a Civil War.  See, it's not just me.  There is more to this story, I know some of it, but this could be fun to watch play out ...

Series By Series

Let's start winning the first game of each series ...

 

Monday, June 9, 2008

Nice Homestand

To quote one of the assistants here who answers many phone calls:

"Just think, one week ago people were calling and yelling at us ..."

What a difference a week makes.

Monday, June 9, 2008 -- Second Entry

Best Home Records

At 19-9, the White Sox rank third in the American League in home winning percentage.  The top 5:

Boston ... 25-6, .813

Tampa Bay ... 24-10, .706

White Sox ... 19-9, .667

Baltimore ... 17-11, .607

Oakland ... 21-15, .583

And you might find this article on home winning percentages of interest.

ERA

With a 3.29 ERA, the White Sox lead all of baseball.  In a stat usually dominated by NL clubs, the top three to date actually are AL teams in Chicago, Oakland (3.44), Toronto (3.56), then the Cubs (3.67) and Atlanta (3.70).

Nice Lid

Presidential hopeful Barack Obama went for a lake-side bike ride yesterday with his family, dodging rain drops along the way, and he sported a White Sox cap under his protective helmet.

 

Monday, June 9, 2008

Today's Lineup

OC, SS; Ramirez, 2B; Q, LF: PK, 1B; Thome, DH; Dye, RF; Swish, CF; Crede, 3B; Hall, C.  Danks on the mound.

Notes

The White Sox have won six in a row entering today and 18 of the last 24 to move a season high 10 games over .500 ... the AL Central lead now stands at 5.5 games ... the Sox have recorded 15 hits in three straight games for the first time since 7/23-24-2/32 (as in 1932) ... Sox are 20-8 vs. the Central ... with a win today, the White Sox would record just the fourth undefeated homestand of seven games or more in franchise history and first since 9/5-11/83 (7-0) ... Chicago also posted 7-0 homestands on 4/18-26/72 and 5/12-16/65 ... the Sox are in position to record their first four-game sweep at home since 9/1-4/05 vs. Detroit and first vs. Minnesota since 7/1-3/77 ... the last four-game sweep came at Tampa Bay on 6/25-28/07.

"Winning is fun," one AL manager once said, "and fun is winning."

It's sure nice to have warm weather and to play home games.

Rain Delay

As rain came down in waves yesterday, Lee Stern, a member of the White Sox board, spotted three lone sailors sitting in the center field stands.

"We need to do something for those guys," Stern said.

So we grabbed the three, brought them in out of the rain (no need for North Atlantic Training at a ballgame in June) and invited them up to Jerry Reinsdorf's VIP suite to watch the game.

The three, one from Chicago, the other two seeing their first MLB game, had just graduated from boot camp and were enjoying a weekend off downtown.

 

Sunday, June 8, 2008

Today's Lineup

OC, SS; AJ, C; Q, LF; PK, 1B; Thome, DH; Dye, RF; Swish, CF; Crede, 3B; Ramirez, 2B.  Floyd pitching.

Hmmm ...

So after decisively winning our fifth straight game to improve to nine games over .500 and build a 4 1/2-game lead over our nearest pursuer (Minnesota), what does today's Chicago Tribune report as the lede to the story about our 11-2 victory:

"They may have the worst winning percentage of any team leading a division, but the White Sox have a bigger lead than the best, the Cubs."

OK, allow me to go FireJoeMorgan on this for a second.

"They may have the worst winning percentage of any team leading a division ..."

This is just factually untrue.  We don't.  The White Sox are 35-26 (.574), while Arizona, the division leader in the National League West, is 34-28 (.548).

" ... but the White Sox have a bigger lead than the best, the Cubs."

Well, we actually have bigger leads than five other division leaders:  Boston (1/2), Philadelphia (3 1/2), the Cubs (2 1/2) and Arizona (4), but it's the Cubs reference that gets me.  What makes them the best?  Is it subjective or objective, because if you read today's standings objectively, you'd see that the Angels and Cubs enter today's game with the exact same record, 39-24 (.619), and LA tops its division by 5 1/2 games.

In the end, not really that big a deal, but where o' where are the fact checkers?

Three Runs or Less

Given some of the exchanges on the site over the past month, I asked our stand-out interns to pull together information on how teams perform when allowing three runs or less in games.

First, I always think you need to be careful when analyzing statistics with a very limited sample size or when you look at one team and try to extrapolate for the league or for a season.

So here is what we found to date:

All 14 American League teams win 78 percent of their games when allowing three or fewer runs (292-82, .781).

The White Sox are 25-9 in these games, for a .735 winning percentage.  That is the lowest of the three AL division leaders, Boston is 26-5 (.829) and the Angels are 25-5 (.833), but just two more wins or losses in these games would bring the Sox back to the league average. 

While you hate to lose well-pitched games, the fact is the Sox have played more of these than any team in AL except Toronto (26-10, .722) and have won more than all except Boston, Toronto and Tampa Bay (26 each).

Finally, if you compare the Sox to the other top two pitching staffs in the AL, you could argue more instances mean a little lower winning percentage (examples:  Toronto and Oakland, which is 24-9, .727).

My take:  We've underperformed by a victory or two in this area (based on the league average), but my sense is that 1. this is something that will move toward the league mean over the course of the season for all teams (is it called the Stein Principle?), and 2. the more instances (which is something you want), the tougher it is to have a high, high win percentage in these games.

I'm no statistician, so feel free to offer your own thoughts, criticisms and challenges.

Catching Up

One poster, jdevereaux, wrote at one point recently something like: once a month a sporting figure actually speaks his mind ...

Once a month?  HA!

I guess I need to introduce them to Ozzie ...

 

 

 

Sunday, June 8, 2008

Today's Lineup

OC, SS; AJ, C; Q, LF; PK, 1B; Thome, DH; Dye, RF; Swish, CF; Crede, 3B; Ramirez, 2B.  Floyd pitching.

Hmmm ...

So after decisively winning our fifth straight game to improve to nine games over .500 and build a 4 1/2-game lead over our nearest pursuer (Minnesota), what does today's Chicago Tribune report as the lede to the story about our 11-2 victory:

"They may have the worst winning percentage of any team leading a division, but the White Sox have a bigger lead than the best, the Cubs."

OK, allow me to go FireJoeMorgan on this for a second.

"They may have the worst winning percentage of any team leading a division ..."

This is just factually untrue.  We don't.  The White Sox are 35-26 (.574), while Arizona, the division leader in the National League West, is 34-28 (.548).

" ... but the White Sox have a bigger lead than the best, the Cubs."

Well, we actually have bigger leads than five other division leaders:  Boston (1/2), Philadelphia (3 1/2), the Cubs (2 1/2) and Arizona (4), but it's the Cubs reference that gets me.  What makes them the best?  Is it subjective or objective, because if you read today's standings objectively, you'd see that the Angels and Cubs enter today's game with the exact same record, 39-24 (.619), and LA tops its division by 5 1/2 games.

In the end, not really that big a deal, but where o' where are the fact checkers?

Three Runs or Less

Given some of the exchanges on the site over the past month, I asked our stand-out interns to pull together information on how teams perform when allowing three runs or less in games.

First, I always think you need to be careful when analyzing statistics with a very limited sample size or when you look at one team and try to extrapolate for the league or for a season.

So here is what we found to date:

All 14 American League teams win 78 percent of their games when allowing three or fewer runs (292-82, .781).

The White Sox are 25-9 in these games, for a .735 winning percentage.  That is the lowest of the three AL division leaders, Boston is 26-5 (.829) and the Angels are 25-5 (.833), but just two more wins or losses in these games would bring the Sox back to the league average. 

While you hate to lose well-pitched games, the fact is the Sox have played more of these than any team in AL except Toronto (26-10, .722) and have won more than all except Boston, Toronto and Tampa Bay (26 each).

Finally, if you compare the Sox to the other top two pitching staffs in the AL, you could argue more instances mean a little lower winning percentage (examples:  Toronto and Oakland, which is 24-9, .727).

My take:  We've underperformed by a victory or two in this area (based on the league average), but my sense is that 1. this is something that will move toward the league mean over the course of the season for all teams (is it called the Stein Principle?), and 2. the more instances (which is something you want), the tougher it is to have a high, high win percentage in these games.

I'm no statistician, so feel free to offer your own thoughts, criticisms and challenges.

Catching Up

One poster, jdevereaux, wrote at one point recently something like: once a month a sporting figure actually speaks his mind ...

Once a month?  HA!

I guess I need to introduce them to Ozzie ...

 

 

 

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Tonight's Lineup

OC, SS; AJ, C; Q, LF; PK, 1B; Thome, DH; Dye, RF; Swish, CF; Crede, 3B; Ramirez, 2B.  Buehrle pitching.

Windy City

It may have been the windiest I've ever seen it at the ballpark last night, although I'll take it because it certainly seemed to benefit our offense ... for once.  Outfielders had some interesting routes to the ball, and JD's diving catch of our No. 27 seemed right out of our commerical.

The wind at U.S. Cellular Field is an interesting phenomenon.  Robin Ventura first pointed it out to me in the early 90s.

A wind from the south/southwest (i.e. coming into the ballpark in right field), has some interesting effects.  Balls to right-center or center field get knocked down (think Swisher's shot last night), while balls to left center take a ride.  Right down the line and the ball might be pushed foul unless it is hit on a line.

The most interesting point is how the ball back out to right is helped.  If you check the flags the next time you are at the ballpark and the wind is howling from the south, you'll notice that the wind actually is blowing out to right.  That seems to be because the wind for the south hits the left field stands and the bowl-shape of the ballpark routes it around behind home plate (notice the swirling wind on pop ups) and then shoots the jet out to right.

I think that's why Robin noticed it immediately.  A left-handed hitter can actually hit a ball out to right on a day when the wind is blowing in ...

Swisher

Hit three balls on the nose last night and must lead the AL in line drives caught ... check out the piece on Swisher of 2008 compared to Swisher of 2007.

Lemont

Attended Opening Ceremonies at the new Lemont Park District's Miracle Field this morning along with Toby Hall and Scott Linebrink.  The guys signed autographs for kids, including the special Challenge Little League players who play the game from their wheelchairs, and then we all took part in on-field ceremonies.

What an honor and priviledge to attend.  This is the sixth Miracle League Field we have funded, in part, through Chicago White Sox Charities.

Several years ago, Jerry Reinsdorf was watching Real Sports at home when he saw a story on the Miracle League and what it means to wheel-chair bound and developmently challenged kids (not to mention wounded veterans), and he came into our offices saying, "This is something we have to do."

Since then, I am very proud to say we have partnered with many organizations, including the Mircale League of Illinois and Challenger Little League, to build six fields around Chicago and the suburbs.

Those smiles on kid faces as they were introduced next to Major League players are priceless.

 

Friday, June 6, 2008

Tonight's Lineup

OC, SS; AJ, C; Q, LF; PK, 1B; Thome, DH; Dye, RF; Swish, CF; Crede, 3B; Ramirez, 2B.  Vazquez pitching.

Odds and Ends

I was out yesterday at Ron Kittle's Indiana Sports Charities golf outing at Briar Ridge Golf Course in Scherville, Ind.  After a hot, humid afternoon of not golfing particularly well, I had to race back to the ballpark just in time for the first pitch.

Our scouting department is thrilled with our draft.  If you caught ESPN or ESPN2 today, you had a chance to see our first pick, SS Gordon Beckham of Georgia and sixth round pick Kenny Williams Jr. of Wichita State.  Both will play again tomorrow.

Early today, we selected John Danks' brother, Jordan, an OF from Texas.  Projected to go as high as a sandwich pick, Danks was still available in the seventh round.

Draft day is always fun in that it gives you a sense of re-birth and renewal.  Yesterday and today were no different.

Hmmm ...

Fans, the public and members of the media often grouse about salaries paid to professional athletes.  Often, baseball players seem especially called out as targets.

A recent list of the top 50 highest-paid American athletes, in terms of total compensation (salary plus endprsements), shows just nine are baseball players, the top ARod at 35M.

Jeter is 10th (30M), Manny is 20th (22.5M), followed by Giambi (23rd, 21.5), Torii Hunter (28th, 19), Pujols (T41st, 16.5), Delgado (T41st), Pettitte (T41st) and then Jason Schmidt (46th, 16.25).

I guess sometimes it is good to be a Yankee (and this kinda puts the Torii Hunter deal into some kind of perspective).

Ranking No. 1 ... Tiger at $127,902,706, more than twice ahead of Phil Mickelson, who ranks second at just over 62M.

 

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Esteban Returns

Prior to today's game, we signed Esteban Loaiza and optioned Ehren Wassermann to Class AAA Charlotte.

Loaiza is in uniform and available for tonight's game.

KW told the media that Loaiza fills two roles, 1. he will serve as a long man out of the bullpen allowing Ozzie and Don Cooper to use Nick Masset later in games when Octavio Dotel and Scott Linebrink may not be available, and 2. he gives us more depth and security for the rotation should a need arise over the course of the season.

 

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Tonight's Lineup

OC, SS; AJ, C; Q, LF; PK, 1B; Thome, DH; Dye, RF; Swish, LF; Crede, 3B; Ramirez, 2B.  Danks pitching.

Answering the Bell

People often ask, why does Ozzie sometimes say what he says ...

My answer often is that it sure seems to work.  Either our team responds to the motivation and/or our players are focused on the task at hand and remain oblivious to the swirling rumors around them.  Impressive either way.

I enjoyed reading this from the Tribune's Steve Rosenbloom yesterday.click here

Family Feud

Truly enjoyed Chris DeLuca's column from today and not-so-veiled shots at a certain other columnist working at his own paper.  To read Chris's piece, click here and laugh.

Which also brings me to my desktop file.  I recently came across a column from the October 22, 2003 Sun-Times.

Here are some interesting sections and quotes from the piece:

Headline:  Wave Him Home:  Guillen is the right choice for Sox

The lede:  "He fidgets, paces, scratches, spits, shouts, claps his hands and, when the mood strikes, turns and mugs for the fans.  What, you expected Ozzie Guillen to start standing still, just because he's going on 40 and coaching third base in a World Series?  Some think the box is where he belongs, forevermore, dismissing him as too hot a potato to manage in the big leagues and too zany a character for any serious job.

"Forgive them for not appreciating the energy of this man, this blizzard of Oz.

"He is precisely what the White Sox need in the dugout next season -- a fireball with deep roots in the organization, an enduring fan magnet who will sell tickets in a blue ghost of a ballpark, a legitimate conversation piece in a baseball town dominated by Dusty Baker and the Cubs.  Once the Series is over, it would behoove chairman Jerry Reinsdorf to follow up on his recent marathon phone chat with his former shortstop, get general manager Ken Williams on board, lure Guillen from the Florida Marlins and sign him to a deal."

Some other tidbits ...

"The question is whether Williams ... will have the guts to choose Guillen in a hire that could make or break him as a GM."

" ... a special hire is necessary.  The Sox need to make a splash that creates an offseason buzz and sells out the home opener at Whatever They're Calling Comiskey Park.  That would be Guillen ..."

Prescient, don't you think?

(P.S. I really, really had to fight off the urge to, like the guys on FireJoeMorgan.com, add my own comments to this piece as I typed it in ...)

Fun Concept

John O'Brien of the Southtown Star came up with this fun idea to promote White Sox outfielder Carlos Quentin for a spot on the All-Star Game.

Having been involved in Ozzie's picking the 2006 AL team, I know how tough it is and how few picks the manager even gets.

Either way, start sending those Q-Tips Tito's way in Boston.  I'm sure he'll love it.

And One

From Tony Reali, host of ESPN's Around The Horn:

"They (the show's panelists) really do get upset when they don't win.  I've gotten phone calls from columnists after a particularly slow week of points for them."

Gee, I wonder which columnist on that wonderful show would complain?

Congrats

To Sox fan and Illinois Senator Barack Obama on his historic first as nominee of the Democratic Party.

Reports had Obama leaving his morning basketball game yesterday sporting a White Sox cap.

Keep the Faith.

 

 

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Tonight's Lineup

OC, SS; AJ, C; Q, LF; PK, 1B; Thome, DH; Dye, RF; Swish, CF; Crede, 3B; Ramirez, 2B.  Floyd pitching.

No Fireworks

Many observors seemed to arrive at the ballpark this afternoon expecting fireworks that never materialized.

Ozzie Guillen and KW got together (they meet every day before games when both are in town) and discussed the road trip and Ozzie's postgame comments from Sunday.

It was, Guillen said, an uncomfortable conversation with KW because he was afraid Williams had taken his comments personally, not the way he had intended when he spoke after the frustrating loss.  Guillen stressed that he and KW did not have a problem with their partnership or friendship.

Guillen's postgame comments came out of his frustration with the end of a road trip that saw the club drop three of four games to Tampa Bay, all three winnable.

"If people expect me to have a happy face," Guillen said, "then they have the wrong guy.

"I'm the No. 1 fan of the White Sox.  It hurts when you lose.  Right now, we're on top, but I want us to get better.  We should be better, especially the way we've pitched.

"I need to push us hard -- in a positive way -- to make my team better.

"I still believe we've got a lot of talent on this team.  The people we have here, they're going to hit.  I know we have the material here.  They're my friends.  When they struggle, I suffer.  If we start hitting, my life is going to be easier, believe me."