The swagger the White Sox had in June is long gone, but that doesn't mean anyone in the clubhouse is ready to raise a white flag.
On the contrary, the Sox contend that not only can they break out of their recent rut, they can overtake the AL Central-leading Minnesota Twins by the end of the regular season.
In Johan Santana the Twins have arguably the best starting pitcher in the division, but Sox manager Ozzie Guillen thinks his trio of Mark Buehrle, Freddy Garcia and recently acquired Jose Contreras are as good a 1-2-3 punch as any team in the Central has.
Therein lies Guillen's belief that the Sox can compete for a postseason berth.
"I think the starters have been doing a good job the last month or so," he said. "They've been keeping us in games. We just haven't hit."
But Guillen also sees signs his offense is turning it around.
"I think our lineup is still pretty strong," he said. "We miss (injured stars) Magglio (Ordonez) and Frank (Thomas), but we've played a month and a half without them and we're still winning. That's why I still believe we can win. Now we have Roberto (Alomar), and hopefully Roberto and Carl (Everett) get hot for a month and a half."
Still, the Sox must count on their pitching to keep them in games, since the offense remains an iffy proposition.
"Our pitchers have been doing a great job most of the year," shortstop Jose Valentin said. "If there's fingers to point, it's at the hitters. We're not getting the job done."
Guillen has been stressing to his players that with six games left this season against the Twins ? in late September ? the Sox still control their own destiny.
"It hasn't been beautiful, but there are plenty of chances and hopefully we will snap out of it," catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. said. "I've seen other teams do it and hopefully it's our turn."
Big winner?
The Sox are ecstatic about the strides Contreras has made since being acquired from the New York Yankees for Esteban Loaiza just before the trade deadline expired July 31.
Contreras is 1-0 with a 1.93 ERA in two starts for the Sox. He's made several minor adjustments in his delivery to help disguise his pitches a bit more.
Meanwhile, Loaiza had his second poor outing for the Yanks on Monday, allowing five runs on 10 hits in six innings in New York's 5-4 loss to Toronto. He now has a 6.75 ERA for the Yankees.
Loaiza was booed by the Yankee Stadium faithful when he was taken out of Monday's game. It didn't help his cause when he lashed back at the fans after the game.
"They're not playing the game," Loaiza told reporters. "They don't know what is going on. I really don't pay attention to fans that much until the end."
The Sox are thrilled about having the trio of Buehrle, Garcia and Contreras for at least two more seasons, and still feel 24-year-old Jon Garland will only get better with experience.
There needs to be an offseason search for a No. 5 starter, and Loaiza could be back in a Sox uniform. He has talked to several of his former Sox teammates in the last week, indicating the Sox would top his list when he becomes a free agent after the season.
If he drastically lowers the asking price he had several months ago ? almost $9 million a year ? his return would look a lot more realistic.
Below-average Joe
Joe Crede was benched for a third consecutive game Monday night, with Juan Uribe again getting the start at third base.
Guillen, however, does plan to use Crede (.233 batting average) at third for tonight's game against Kansas City. The Sox skipper maintained that he needs to see better at-bats from the third-year player.
"He needs some good at-bats to take the pressure off himself," Guillen said. "Just go out, play the game and have fun. That's what I expect my players to do and that's what I want him to do. I expected a lot of things and he's not having the year he wants to have."
Sending Crede down to the minor leagues is not an option, as far as Guillen is concerned.
"I don't think Crede belongs in the minor leagues," Guillen said. "I think Crede should be in the big leagues. He's got the tools and hopefully he stays that way. If you send him to the minor leagues, you might lose him."
Touch 'em all
Pitcher Scott Schoeneweis went to California to get a second opinion on his sore left (pitching) elbow, and the Sox are expected to have the results today. Schoeneweis (6-9, 5.56 ERA) is currently on the 15-day disabled list. ... Carlos Lee was back in left field Monday night, after being the designated hitter in Sunday's game to rest his sore knee.
On the contrary, the Sox contend that not only can they break out of their recent rut, they can overtake the AL Central-leading Minnesota Twins by the end of the regular season.
In Johan Santana the Twins have arguably the best starting pitcher in the division, but Sox manager Ozzie Guillen thinks his trio of Mark Buehrle, Freddy Garcia and recently acquired Jose Contreras are as good a 1-2-3 punch as any team in the Central has.
Therein lies Guillen's belief that the Sox can compete for a postseason berth.
"I think the starters have been doing a good job the last month or so," he said. "They've been keeping us in games. We just haven't hit."
But Guillen also sees signs his offense is turning it around.
"I think our lineup is still pretty strong," he said. "We miss (injured stars) Magglio (Ordonez) and Frank (Thomas), but we've played a month and a half without them and we're still winning. That's why I still believe we can win. Now we have Roberto (Alomar), and hopefully Roberto and Carl (Everett) get hot for a month and a half."
Still, the Sox must count on their pitching to keep them in games, since the offense remains an iffy proposition.
"Our pitchers have been doing a great job most of the year," shortstop Jose Valentin said. "If there's fingers to point, it's at the hitters. We're not getting the job done."
Guillen has been stressing to his players that with six games left this season against the Twins ? in late September ? the Sox still control their own destiny.
"It hasn't been beautiful, but there are plenty of chances and hopefully we will snap out of it," catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. said. "I've seen other teams do it and hopefully it's our turn."
Big winner?
The Sox are ecstatic about the strides Contreras has made since being acquired from the New York Yankees for Esteban Loaiza just before the trade deadline expired July 31.
Contreras is 1-0 with a 1.93 ERA in two starts for the Sox. He's made several minor adjustments in his delivery to help disguise his pitches a bit more.
Meanwhile, Loaiza had his second poor outing for the Yanks on Monday, allowing five runs on 10 hits in six innings in New York's 5-4 loss to Toronto. He now has a 6.75 ERA for the Yankees.
Loaiza was booed by the Yankee Stadium faithful when he was taken out of Monday's game. It didn't help his cause when he lashed back at the fans after the game.
"They're not playing the game," Loaiza told reporters. "They don't know what is going on. I really don't pay attention to fans that much until the end."
The Sox are thrilled about having the trio of Buehrle, Garcia and Contreras for at least two more seasons, and still feel 24-year-old Jon Garland will only get better with experience.
There needs to be an offseason search for a No. 5 starter, and Loaiza could be back in a Sox uniform. He has talked to several of his former Sox teammates in the last week, indicating the Sox would top his list when he becomes a free agent after the season.
If he drastically lowers the asking price he had several months ago ? almost $9 million a year ? his return would look a lot more realistic.
Below-average Joe
Joe Crede was benched for a third consecutive game Monday night, with Juan Uribe again getting the start at third base.
Guillen, however, does plan to use Crede (.233 batting average) at third for tonight's game against Kansas City. The Sox skipper maintained that he needs to see better at-bats from the third-year player.
"He needs some good at-bats to take the pressure off himself," Guillen said. "Just go out, play the game and have fun. That's what I expect my players to do and that's what I want him to do. I expected a lot of things and he's not having the year he wants to have."
Sending Crede down to the minor leagues is not an option, as far as Guillen is concerned.
"I don't think Crede belongs in the minor leagues," Guillen said. "I think Crede should be in the big leagues. He's got the tools and hopefully he stays that way. If you send him to the minor leagues, you might lose him."
Touch 'em all
Pitcher Scott Schoeneweis went to California to get a second opinion on his sore left (pitching) elbow, and the Sox are expected to have the results today. Schoeneweis (6-9, 5.56 ERA) is currently on the 15-day disabled list. ... Carlos Lee was back in left field Monday night, after being the designated hitter in Sunday's game to rest his sore knee.
