White Sox Today, July 30, 2006

Despite the Sox recent swoon in which they have lost 13 of their last 17 games and the wild card lead, White Sox General Manager Ken Williams is satisfied with his team. “At the end of the day, we’re pretty good the way we are,” said Williams.  “We like who we are and what we are. I firmly believe if we play up to our capabilities, it doesn’t matter what Detroit or Minnesota goes out and gets,” Williams said. “It’s about us playing to our level, moreso than anything.” As is Williams’ habit, he acquired the players he wanted (RH relievers Mike Macdougal and David Riske and backup catcher Sandy Alomar) before the last-minute frenzy set in. 

Despite playing the sluggish Orioles, the Sox had to rally in the ninth on Friday (a game that Orioles announcers dubbed the most important win of the year for the Sox) and then weather a huge Baltimore rally on Saturday after leading 11-4.  “It was a really bad game,” Manager Ozzie Guillen said of Saturday’s contest, a 3 and ¾ hour affair in 97-degree heat. “When you score 13 runs and have your closer on the mound, it’s not a good sign. Good thing we won and swung the bat well.” The Sox good fortune could not hold in the final game of the series, however, as Jumbo Jenks lost the team’s one-run ninth inning lead and then lost the game.  “Our bullpen is doing a good job. It’s hard for the bullpen when it’s 104 degrees and the starter gives you five innings the last two days in a row,” Guillen said. “Those guys have been pitching literally without rest.”

During Saturday’s 13-11 barnburner, catcher A.J. Pierzynski went 5-for-5, making him the first Sox player to get five hits in a game during the 2006 season.  “Obviously, I had a nice game today, but the biggest thing is we won,” he said. “Getting five hits in a game is nice, obviously I’ve never done it before, but the biggest thing is when I got them. I got them with guys on base to drive in runs to give us a chance to win the game.” Pierzynski homered and drove in four runs in the game. 

The White Sox lead the majors in home runs (157) and in runs scored courtesy of the homer (47%).  “All year, the way the middle of the lineup has been is amazing,” Guillen said. “They are built to hit home runs . . . But it bugs me all year long that the rest of the guys don’t play the game consistently the way it should be played.” With 47% of their runs coming off the homer, the Sox total is 5% higher than last year’s total. 

Starter Jon Garland was ineffective on Saturday, thanks to a nasty sinus infection.  “I’ve thrown sick before,” Garland said. “The thing I don’t like about it is being on medication. You can’t really feel your body. You don’t know how good you feel or how bad you feel.”

First baseman Paul Konerko returned to the lineup on Sunday, after sitting out a game and a half with a bruised left shin.  His replacement, Ross Gload hit a grand slam to win Friday’s game. 

Ehren Wasserman of the AA Birmingham Barons lowered his ERA to 1.40 and picked up his 20th save on Saturday, but if history is any indicator then the Sox will trade the Wasserman before he makes the big club.  Wasserman is a funky side-arming right-hander, a commodity which the White Sox have tended to scorn in recent years.  See, Bradford, Chad and Bajenaru, Jeff.