Notes: Raines' status unclear

09/21/2006

CHICAGO -- The end of the 2006 season not only could mark the last vestige of the White Sox 2005 championship run, but it also could signal the final days of Tim Raines as a part of the White Sox coaching staff.
Ozzie Guillen announced earlier this season that he would bring back his entire brain trust for 2007 and beyond. But no commitment was made at the time to the current White Sox bench coach.
When approached about the situation Wednesday, Raines diplomatically said that he didn't want to speculate on his chances to return and said he would wait for the end of the season for a decision to be made. Raines also expressed a strong desire to remain a part of Guillen's staff.
Prior to Thursday's series opener with Seattle, Guillen said that no decision had been made in regard to Raines' future. Some of his comments, though, sounded as if Raines' fate already had somewhat been sealed.
"Right now, it's hard for us," said Guillen of the decision with Raines. "I'm going to sit with [general manager] Kenny [Williams] and [chairman] Jerry [Reinsdorf] and see what direction we go, what we need and what we have to get done. Then we decide about it, what we are going to do.
"The quicker we get it done, the better for him and the better for us. Right now, as soon as the season is over, we find out what we are going to do."
Raines joined the White Sox staff prior to the 2005 season and served as the first-base coach for the World Series champions. Guillen switched the responsibilities of Raines and bench coach Harold Baines for 2006, having Raines on the bench to add his take immediately on baserunning situations.
If Raines had his ultimate wish granted, he would return to the White Sox and his initial position as first-base coach.
"I guess I prefer when I'm on the bases because that's what I'm more known as," Raines said. "I enjoy doing that, not to say I don't like what I'm doing now. I would like first base a little more, to go out and be a part of what's going on in the game.
"On the bench, you are a part of the game. If I see something out there, something goes wrong, I'll tell the guys let's do it this way or do it that way. It's really not that big of a deal for me. I just want to be a part of that staff."
Guillen credited Raines for "doing the job he was supposed to do." A decision to make a change would come from the team's desire to go in another direction.
"It's one thing about it, sometime you gotta make the decision," Guillen said.
"I don't think that what happens is going to be because what happened this season," Raines added. "It's whatever those guys want to do. Right now, I have not a clue."
Lessons from a legend: If Steve Sax wanders into the White Sox clubhouse anytime soon and chats up Brandon McCarthy, then the right-hander will have met all three of the players he idolized as a youngster learning the game.
First, McCarthy played alongside Frank Thomas in 2005 and then faced him this season. And prior to Wednesday's series finale against Detroit, McCarthy had the chance to talk with Orel Hershiser, who was in town for ESPN. Along with meeting one of his heroes, McCarthy picked up some valuable pitching knowledge from a hurler with 204 career victories and a style similar to his own.
"I've been struggling for a while, so it's nice to hear certain things to pick your spirits up," said McCarthy of his talk with Hershiser. "It was also good just to talk baseball with him and get some insight on things bugging me over the course of the year.
"The experience he has and lending that to me, that's pretty cool," McCarthy added.
McCarthy talked with Hershiser about the inner workings of specific pitches, such as his curve and change. But he also received a valuable lesson in attitude and how long it takes to truly develop at the Major League level.
"It took him three years before he could come in and kind of be cocky and self-assured, to the point where some won't like you," McCarthy said. "Just do your own thing. It was good to hear. You realize you are you not the only guy who is out there who feels like you are not in the element."
Rally killers: A little insight into the White Sox second-half struggles can be gained simply by going beyond the numbers for their highly-charged offense. According to STATS, Inc., the White Sox lead the Majors with 45.8 percent of their runs coming via the home run (378-of-825). They rank just ahead of the Reds (45.3) and the Phillies (41.4).
Having somewhat of a strong reliance on home runs is not very different in comparison to White Sox teams from the recent past, with the franchise in its seventh straight season knocking out at least 200 long balls. But leading the American League with 121 solo home runs doesn't exactly take advantage of the home run's full potential.
"We don't execute well, and we not get on base enough," said Guillen of his team's 2006 dependence on home runs. "The bottom of the lineup struggled all year. Obviously, the numbers show up. Last year we hit home runs and so did this year, but last year we do the little things that we don't do this year."
The White Sox also have hit into 21 double plays over their last 16 games. Those numbers point out a lack of overall speed combined with a number of players who have been hitting the ball hard but right at the opposing defense.
"We hit the [heck] out of the ball, but unfortunately it was right at people," said Guillen, whose team hit into seven double plays during the three-game series against the Tigers. "[Detroit third baseman Brandon] Inge did a tremendous job on a couple of plays.
"Those balls we hit killed the rally. But I don't have any complaints because those balls were hit the right way."
A look to the future? The White Sox held fast Thursday to the theory that they have 10 games remaining and will do everything possible to complete an improbable run to the postseason. But if Guillen's crew is eliminated even as early as the Cleveland series next week at Jacobs Field, Guillen still isn't set to revamp his lineup and start featuring youngsters such as Josh Fields and Jerry Owens in the field or Charlie Haeger in a spot-start role.
"I expect to have the same lineup every day because I want to win the most games we can," Guillen said. "People have to play for money. People have to play for pride. People have to play because they are getting paid.
"I'm not going to give up just like that. If we get eliminated, I plan to play the guys who should be playing. I might give a couple of the new kids a chance here and there but we are trying to finish as strong as we can."
Up next: After four consecutive starts on the road, Jose Contreras (13-8, 4.08) makes his final regular-season trip to the mound at U.S. Cellular Field against veteran Gil Meche (11-8, 4.34). The right-hander is 2-1 with a 2.86 ERA in his last three starts and 2-0 with a 2.51 ERA lifetime against the Mariners.

Source: http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/

Vazquez does his part in defeat

09/22/2006

CHICAGO -- White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said he was embarrassed after Thursday's loss to Seattle. For some reason, starter Javier Vazquez said he felt the same way.
"Personally, I was going to use that exact word," Vazquez said. "I feel embarrassed. We shouldn't be playing this way and I feel embarrassed."
These comments came following a superb start by Vazquez that was undone by errors and a lack of timely hitting.
The first error came with two outs and runners on first and second in the second inning. Vazquez got Chris Snelling to hit a high popup in the infield, but the ball glanced off of Juan Uribe's glove and the Mariners had their first run of the game.
The second error came with one out and a runner on first in the top of the eighth. Ichiro Suzuki hit a ground ball to Paul Konerko, who made a wild throw to second that pulled Uribe off the base. Everyone was safe and Adrian Beltre followed with a single to load the bases.
Vazquez then walked Kenji Johjima to bring a run home and bring Guillen out to make a pitching change.
"Javy had great command until the last inning," catcher A.J. Pierzynski said. "He was 125 pitches in and that's tough."
Two more runs were charged to Vazquez when Raul Ibanez hit a ball by Konerko for a two-run single. Guillen said the play should have been an error and the runs unearned.
"He deserved better and he deserved that error on Konerko on that play," Guillen said. "I don't know what kind of game [the official scorer] was watching."
Konerko said he couldn't have fielded the ball because the Seattle runner was in his line of sight.
"I got blocked out, but it was my mistake for positioning myself where I did," Konerko said. "So, my mistake was not that I didn't make the play when it was happening. My mistake was where I stood before the pitch was thrown."
The White Sox couldn't do anything right at the plate, either, going 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position against Seattle's Jake Woods.
The end result was Vazquez (11-10) taking the loss after giving up five runs -- three earned -- on seven hits and a walk in 7 1/3 innings. He struck out 12 Mariners and allowed one homer -- Ibanez's 29th in the top of the seventh.
"I think they should look themselves in the mirror and feel embarrassed the way they played today," Guillen said. "It's a shame seeing Javy pitch the way he pitch and we don't do anything right."
But little has gone Vazquez's way over his last eight starts. Despite having a 3.44 ERA during that time, Vazquez has not recorded a win.
Vazquez has also had double-digit strikeouts in three of his last four starts.
"He's been great his last three or four outings and it's a shame we can't score any runs for him," Pierzynski said.
So with performances like that, why does Vazquez feel embarrassed? Because the White Sox are a long way from the postseason with virtually no time to catch up.
"I was trying to help this team make the playoffs and that's what I was working for," Vazquez said. "Just try to make the playoffs and that was the most important thing in my mind and the other guy's minds

Source: http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/

Guillen rips effort in loss

09/22/2006

CHICAGO -- When the Detroit Tigers finished off a three-game series victory Wednesday night at U.S. Cellular Field, all but ending the White Sox hopes of repeating their 2005 World Series title, Ozzie Guillen said that particular setback made him feel as if he was hit by a truck.
Following Seattle's 9-0 victory over the White Sox before 33,976 at U.S. Cellular on Thursday night, Guillen became that same truck and it was his team baring the harsh impact. It didn't take much prompting for the indignant manager to lambaste his team following what he perceived as a truly subpar performance.
Actually, "subpar" might be too tame of a description in Guillen's mind.
"Right now, I feel embarrassed," said Guillen, after his team managed just five hits off of Jake Woods (6-3) in losing for the sixth time in seven games. "My team should feel embarrassed. There's people paying to watch us play and that's pathetic.
"Watching this team pitch the way we pitched and play the way we play, they should be embarrassed for Javy [Vazquez], and they should be embarrassed for the fans. They should be embarrassed for themselves.
"I always hope for the best and I always stay positive," Guillen added, finishing off just the first portion of his diatribe. "But if we keep playing like that, they better start packing today."
Vazquez (11-10) was the only individual who seemed to escape Guillen's wrath, which also included a shot at veteran official scorer Bob Rosenberg, for giving Raul Ibanez a two-run single in the eighth on what Guillen thought should have been ruled an error on first baseman Paul Konerko. Vazquez struck out 12 and allowed five runs over 7 1/3 innings, although three of those crossed the plate in the eighth, when his pitch count topped out at 124.
But without any support against Woods and reliever Joel Pineiro, it was impossible to end a winless streak for Vazquez dating back to Aug. 10. Guillen understands games like Thursday's arise in the course of a 162-game season, but he won't tolerate a lack of effort.
The criticism was not necessarily disputed by any of Guillen's charges.
"I agree 100 percent," said catcher A.J. Pierzynski, who has become the voice of reason for the White Sox during their dismal 26-37 second-half run. "To go out and play like that in a game we have to win, it's a shame. What can you do? I went out and did the best I could. You try the best you can and that's the way it goes some time."
"Personally, I was going to use that exact word," continued Vazquez, when told Guillen referred to the effort as embarrassing. "We shouldn't be playing this way and I feel embarrassed."
"It's just an ugly game, one of those games that you don't foresee happening before it starts," Konerko added. "It didn't get off to a good start. There really wasn't any good part to that whole game and it just got worse as it went. Definitely not how we drew it up, that's for sure."
Pablo Ozuna opened the White Sox at-bats in the first with a double to left, but he was stranded at second when Tadahito Iguchi struck out and Jermaine Dye and Jim Thome each grounded out to second. The White Sox (85-68) have gone hitless in their last 15 at-bats with runners in scoring position and are 6-for-43 in that same situation over their last seven games.
Thursday's loss was even more troubling because it was a rare chance to pick up ground on both Detroit (91-62), which lost in Baltimore, and Minnesota (90-62), which lost in Boston with Johan Santana on the mound. Instead, the White Sox watched their elimination numbers drop to four in the American League Central and five in the AL Wild Card.
A natural letdown figured to come after losing Wednesday's series finale to Detroit. But neither Guillen nor Pierzynski accepted that reason as legitimate.
"They get paid a lot of money to play hard for 162 games," Guillen said.
"You gotta find it. We are professionals," Pierzynski added. "We have a job to do. Thirty-three thousand people paid to watch us play baseball tonight and they expected more out of us."
Guillen added there was no need to express his sentiments to the players directly after the loss, because they already knew how he was feeling. The White Sox manager said there would not be wholesale changes in his lineup to spark this group, aside from possibly giving Joe Crede a brief rest at third base.
Pierzynski also scoffed at the concept of holding a team meeting, not with only nine games remaining. This veteran squad knows where it stands, at six games back and 5 1/2 games back, respectively. They don't need to be told it's a bad place to be.
"What the heck are they going to say now? We pretty much know where we stand, to be honest," Pierzynski said. "There's nothing that could be said that we don't know. You can have all the meetings you want. It doesn't matter.
"You are six out with nine to play, which means chances aren't so good. Let's be honest. Say whatever you want about how we are not mathematically eliminated, but let's be honest.
"I don't see the Tigers or Twins going 2-7 down the road and us going 9-0 with the way we are playing right now," Pierzynski added. "I hate to say that, but I'm a realist at the same time. Where we stand right now ain't good."

Source: http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/

Contreras strains hamstring in loss

09/23/2006

CHICAGO -- Brandon McCarthy was stationed out in the White Sox bullpen when Jose Contreras went down with an injury in the top of the second inning on Friday night at U.S. Cellular Field.
By the time McCarthy spotted Contreras laying on the ground near first base, writhing in pain, only one or two thoughts went through his mind in regard to the apparent injury.
"I thought he got hit in the head or got shot," said a concerned McCarthy after the White Sox dropped an 11-6 decision to the Mariners. "I didn't see what happened, because I looked over and all of the sudden, he'd just collapsed.
"He looked like he was holding his head and I had no idea. Then, all of a sudden, it registered quickly that he'd gone down last game with a hamstring thing, so I figured that's probably what it was."
McCarthy's analysis was right on the money, as the injury suffered by Contreras against the Mariners was eerily similar to the one that knocked him to the ground during his last start in Oakland. When Contreras went down while covering first base in the bottom of the third last Sunday, the injury was considered a cramp, and he was able to last through six fairly effective innings.
On Friday, Contreras already had been touched up for five runs on six hits in the second when Kenji Johjima hit a grounder to Paul Konerko. The White Sox first baseman fielded the ball and flipped to Contreras covering, but on the way to the bag, Contreras grabbed at his right hamstring and fell to the ground.
The ball rolled free, allowing Ichiro Suzuki to score the sixth run, and sending Johjima to second. But the result of the play was completely inconsequential in comparison to Contreras' health.
"I was running hard and I felt a pop," said Contreras through a translator. "It was very painful, and that's why I went down."
"With the way he go down, I mean, those kind of cramps are weird cramps," added White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen of Contreras. "He went down pretty good and I thought it was something pretty bad. [White Sox athletic trainer Herm Schneider] loosened him up a little bit, and right now, but it's up to Hermie to find out if it's another cramp."
McCarthy replaced Contreras and allowed Richie Sexson's mammoth home run over three innings, striking out four. Contreras' next turn in the rotation comes up Wednesday during the series finale against Cleveland at Jacobs Field, in what would be the right-hander's final start of the season.
According to Guillen, Friday might serve as Contreras' last start of the 2006 season. If that decision holds up, Contreras will finish with a 13-9 record and 4.27 ERA overall, but a 4-9 record and 5.40 ERA since the All-Star break.
"It happened in Oakland and happened here in the second inning," Guillen said of the Contreras' cramps. "I don't know yet, but I don't expect him to start another game, because we aren't going to do that [if] something could get worse.
"We might start McCarthy. I don't know right now the day we are going to start [him], but I'm not going to take any chance for something to get worse."
Although he has started one game in 52 appearances this season, McCarthy threw 70 pitches on Friday and feels comfortable returning to his past days in the rotation for one spot start. McCarthy pointed out that with the Minor League callups, there are plenty of arms to back him up and there aren't many concerns in regard to changing a pitcher's overall routine in the last week of the season.
A far greater concern for McCarthy was Contreras' condition. Contreras moved gingerly through the clubhouse after the loss, in which he allowed five earned runs on seven hits over 1 2/3 innings. But he would not make a snap decision on his status for Wednesday.
The White Sox have $29 million invested in the talented Contreras over the next three years. Factor in the Twins' 5 1/2-game lead in the American League Wild Card, with nine to play, and Guillen certainly figures to error on the side of caution with his ace.
"I will pitch again if I feel I'm 100 percent," said Contreras, who plans to work with Schneider on Saturday, as well as throwing during Monday's bullpen session. "I had this problem somewhat before in Oakland and I worked through it. I felt 100 percent and that's why I was pitching today.
"Right now, it's very tight and it's painful," Contreras added.

Source: http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/

White Sox fans win replica rings

09/22/2006
CHICAGO -- It's been about 38 years since Ernest Huelke has won any kind of raffle, drawing or contest.
The drought ended in a big way on Aug. 10 when Huelke won one of three exact replicas of the White Sox's 2005 World Series rings.
"The only other thing I've ever won were two tickets to a movie back when I was 14," said Huelke, who lives in River Forest. "But you couldn't get into the movie unless you were 17, so I had to give them away. So it was fantastic [to win this]."
Before Friday's game with the Seattle Mariners, Huelke, Marilyn Deming and Michael Silchuck were all presented with their rings.
Deming and Silchuck, both from Chicago, said they'd had similar luck when it came to winning raffles.
"I won a golf bag at the liquor store once," Deming said. "I never win anything. If I buy a lottery ticket, I get no numbers."
But out of the 43,550 tickets sold for the raffle, it was their numbers that were drawn. Deming said she bought just one ticket, while Silchuck said he bought three. The tickets were sold at $20 a piece and the raffle raised more than $870,000 for charities.
But a change in luck isn't the only thing the three winners had in common. They're all longtime White Sox fans as well.
Deming said she went to her first White Sox game with her husband in the early 1960s and has been a devoted fan ever since.
"[My husband] said he created a monster," Deming said. "My son says, 'She agonizes over every pitch.'"
So when they all received calls to tell them they had won the replica rings, which were made of 14-karat gold and featured 95 diamonds, they were pretty excited.
"I was on the El at the time, so I had to restrain myself," Silchuck said.
The White Sox began calling the winners to let them know around Aug. 17th, but Deming said she had to wait a while to find out.
"I was on vacation from [Aug.] 10th to 28th," Deming said. "I got home and there was a call from the White Sox on my machine, and I told my son, 'Ha, ha, maybe we won the ring.'"
Deming had won the ring and was on hand to receive it from former White Sox players Minnie Minoso, Moose Skowron and Bill Melton on Friday.
But while they received rings from last year's glory, the three loyal White Sox fans refused to give up hope for a similar finish this season.
"This year I would feel cheated if it didn't go down to the wire and whatever people say, this is not over," Huelke said. "We won it on the next-to-last game last year. We've got time, most definitely."

Source: http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/

Notes: Cora a candidate for manager

09/22/2006
CHICAGO -- An article in Friday's edition of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel quoted an unnamed source as stating that manager Joe Girardi's chances of returning to the Marlins as manager in 2007 were "zero" on a scale of 1 to 10.
That particular piece of news didn't really create a buzz around the White Sox clubhouse prior to Friday's contest with Seattle. But the inclusion of third-base coach Joey Cora in the article's list of possible managerial replacements drew some interest from at least the Chicago media.
Both Cora and manager Ozzie Guillen talked about Cora's desire to someday become a manager. They certainly would not or could not talk about this particular Florida rumor, with Girardi currently holding the position and the Marlins still alive for the National League Wild Card.
"That's why I don't think it's my place to comment about anyone else's job," Cora said. "That's just a report that just came out. It's flattering, whether it's true or not.
"But that's none of my business. Girardi is there, and he's done a great job. Nobody has contacted me for nowhere, let's put it that way."
Cora is a valued coach as part of the Guillen managerial regime, a staff Guillen announced earlier this season would be brought back in almost full force for 2007 and beyond. Bench coach Tim Raines remains the only member of his brain trust not certain for return.
Managing would be the next natural step for Cora, who previously called the shots for Kingsport in the Advanced Rookie Appalachian League during the 2001 and 2002 seasons, and for Savannah of the South Atlantic League in 2003. He had a 112-159 record during that time.
Being ready to manage at the Major League level, though, is only a question Cora believes he will be able to answer when given the actual opportunity.
"Do I want to manage some day? Sure, that's a goal, definitely," Cora said. "That's the next step, obviously, from coaching at the big-league level as a third base coach and learning from Ozzie all this stuff.
"Obviously, that will be a nice step to take. How far in the future? Who knows? We'll see what happens. But at this moment, it is all about the White Sox and the rest of the season."
More on Cora: In a style only Guillen could pull off, the White Sox manager sarcastically scoffed when asked if Cora would be missed if he moved to the next level of his coaching career.
"Joey? Joey don't score any runs, he don't pitch," Guillen said with a smile. "He helps me. He's my best friend and right-hand man, but Joey don't win or lose games. He's another coach like anybody else."
Even with the kidding about Cora's contributions, Guillen wholeheartedly backed Cora as a managerial candidate.
"If you're asking me is Joey ready to manage in the big leagues, I think so," Guillen said. "Like everything else, you have to learn a lot of stuff, like I did. You have to find the right coaches and the right people to work around you.
"Of course he's ready. He knows more about baseball than a lot of people I know and he will be a better manager than a lot of other managers in this game right now. I love people around me to love the game the way he does. I would feel so proud."
Guillen joked that he might coach for Cora some day, but not in the near future.
Quick change: Mired in a 0-for-25 slump and battling nagging injuries brought on by a long season, third baseman Joe Crede was given Friday night off. He was replaced by Josh Fields, who had some exciting news to break to his family.
"My family flew in today and I still haven't told them," said Fields, a few hours prior to first pitch, of his family making the trip from Oklahoma.
Fields homered in his first Major League at-bat, one of three players in franchise history to accomplish such a feat. He flew out to the wall in right in his second career at-bat. Surprisingly, Fields seemed just as pleased with the second trip to the plate as he did with the momentous first swings.
"I was excited the other night to be relaxed enough to put a good swing on the ball and line out to right," Fields said. "Normally, if I hit a home run, I'm trying to jack another one the next at-bat. Thank goodness I relaxed and hit a line drive.
"We are getting our second wind, getting called up. That adds excitement. If you are tired and get up here and you are still tired, then you have a problem. You make the transition from Triple-A, and come up here and see how this is, that's enough incentive to tell you that you never want to go back. You better find some energy."
Never surrender: When Guillen was asked during his pregame chat with the media on Friday if he felt better than Thursday's postgame conference, he said the answer wouldn't be known until a few hours later. Guillen's strong criticism for his team last night was aimed at keeping its focus and not letting it give up, despite the steep odds to reach the playoffs.
He reiterated that feeling, in slightly less harsher words, on Friday.
"It was time for me to say about how I felt," said Guillen of calling his team's effort pathetic and embarrassing on Thursday. "I didn't like it, if they care, they should feel the same way I feel. If they really care.
"That's why I said they should look themselves in the mirror and say 'I care about this.' I'm proud to wear this uniform. We all should be. I don't want my players to go out and be embarrassed on national TV with the way we play.
"There are a lot of people who said, 'They play like that because they quit, because they don't have a chance anymore. The chances are real slim. Look at what they're doing,'" Guillen added. "I hate that."
Third to first: Bobby Jenks was named as one of the 10 finalists for the DHL Delivery Man of the Year award. Fans can vote from Sept. 25 to Oct. 9 at MLB.com to select the winner. Other nominees are Trevor Hoffman (Padres), Joe Nathan (Twins), Jonathan Papelbon (Red Sox), J.J Putz (Mariners), Mariano Rivera (Yankees), Francisco Rodriguez (Angels), B.J. Ryan (Blue Jays), Billy Wagner (Mets) and Joel Zumaya (Tigers) ... Pablo Ozuna felt fine and ready to play after being struck in the head by a Jake Woods pitch in the third inning on Thursday. Ozuna left the game in the fourth ... Tyrus Thomas, one of the Chicago Bulls' 2006 first-round draft picks, was in attendance Friday.
Up next: Barring a miraculous White Sox comeback, Mark Buehrle (12-13, 4.79 ERA) makes his second-to-last start of the season on Saturday against Seattle's Felix Hernandez (11-14 ERA). Buehrle is 3-9 with a 6.78 ERA over his last 15 starts and is 6-4 with a 3.16 ERA lifetime against the Mariners.

Source: http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/

Contreras injured as White Sox fall

09/23/2006
CHICAGO -- While it seems that most people have buried the White Sox postseason hopes, the Minnesota Twins keep trying to give them a hand out of the grave.
For the second straight night, the Twins lost prior to the end of the White Sox game with the Seattle Mariners.
But the White Sox were unable to make up any ground in the Wild Card race after losing, 11-6, to the Mariners in front of 33,557 at U.S. Cellular Field on Friday.
Chicago remains 5 1/2 games back in the Wild Card, and its elimination number with Minnesota is down to four.
Manager Ozzie Guillen, who was clearly frustrated with Thursday's loss, said he wasn't looking at the Twins game on Friday.
"I don't look at the scoreboard anymore," Guillen said. "I just look in the dugout and try to kick someone's butt. I can't because they are too big for me."
After his team never seemed to have a chance on Thursday, Friday's loss was exasperating in a different way for Guillen. The White Sox battled back in spite of a disastrous six-run second inning, but still saw the team come up short.
Jose Contreras gave up a two-run homer to Richie Sexson to start the second. The Mariners followed that with four singles that led to three more runs.
Then with two outs in the inning, Contreras fell to the ground running to cover first base on what should've been an inning-ending ground ball. Paul Konerko was given an error on his toss to Contreras and another run scored for Seattle, giving it an early 6-1 lead.
Contreras (13-9) left the game with a strained right hamstring after giving up six runs (five earned) on seven hits in 1 2/3 innings.
Sexson added his second homer of the game and 31st of the year to make it 7-2 in the top of the third.
But unlike Thursday night, the White Sox battled back. Juan Uribe hit a two-run homer, his 20th, in the bottom of the fourth. Then in the fifth, Jermaine Dye hit an RBI single and Paul Konerko hit an RBI double to cut the lead to 7-6.
"You know, six runs in the second inning don't help, but we never give up," Guillen said. "We just keep coming back. We played a better game. In the end, we have a shot, but we give it away."
Ben Broussard tacked on a run for Seattle with two outs in the sixth when he doubled home Kenji Johjima, who was hit by a pitch.
Jose Lopez drove in two more runs with two outs in the top of the eighth to make it 10-6. Johjima scored one of the runs after reaching on a fielder's choice and Sexson scored the other after reaching on an intentional walk.
Guillen used six pitchers out of the bullpen, who combined to give up five earned runs on nine hits and six walks.
"It's to the point where I don't want to go back to the mound," Guillen said. "I don't want to feel embarrassed. Every time I go back and forth, I hear the boos.
"We have to get better," he added. "We are not overusing anybody. We try to give everyone the best opportunity we can where the matchups are fine. They score late in the game and that gives us less chance to win those games. The bullpen has to shape up and start to throw the ball better."
But if the bullpen does shape up over the last eight games, it's hard to imagine that the White Sox will be able to make up 5 1/2 games with Minnesota.
Right now for the players, it's difficult to look at the opening the Twins have given them the last two nights.
"It's tough," reliever Brandon McCarthy said. "It's kind of what our whole season has boiled down to. We've played well in stretches, but it seems like one of those years where any time you need to kick it into another gear and win games that need to be won with other teams not playing well, we haven't been able to do it. ... It's just one of those years where things aren't going your way and it's just an uphill climb."

Source: http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/