White Sox Today, June 8, 2006

Jose Contreras won his 14th consecutive regular-season game on Wednesday when the Sox beat the first place Detroit Tigers, 4-3.  Contreras’ last loss came on August 15, 2005 to the Twins.  Manager Ozzie Guillen believes that Contreras can be better. “He needs to pick one or two angles, not three or four,” said Guillen of Contreras. “He’s not going to throw a strike that way. Jose was struggling, but he has good enough stuff to get through the problems.”

Sean Tracey was called up from AAA Charlotte yesterday to replace Cliff Politte, who went on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder inflammation.  “It’s my first time in Chicago. It’s been four years almost to the day since I signed. In a nutshell, it was just overwhelming.” Politte has been complaining of shoulder soreness for the last three or four weeks, but he believed that could pitch through it.  ”It was my fault for not saying something earlier,” said Politte, “but the way things were going you don’t feel like you have room to say anything.”

Veteran reliever Jeff Nelson’s career is likely over now that he will undergo surgery next week to re-attach a nerve in his throwing elbow.  The recovery time for the 39-year old Nelson is at least three months.  “I enjoyed this game,” Nelson said. “I’ve given my heart and soul to this game. I’ve always gone out there and taken the ball and there have never been any excuses. They told me if I don’t get this thing done, I can do more damage then good.” Agustin Montero was recalled from Charlotte on June 4 to replace Nelson.  Montero gave up two runs on four hits and walk in five innings during a May stint with the Sox. 

As one might expect, the White Sox were beaming about their top picks in this week’s amateur draft. With the 29th overall pick they too 6’3” right-hander Kyle McCullough out of the University of Texas.  “He’s polished, but there’s a lot of upside left in him,” Texas coach Augie Garrido said. “He’ll adjust well.” McCullough’s fastball touches 94 m.p.h. but the changeup is his best pitch.  Scouting Director Duane Shaffer is confident that the team will sign McCullough quickly.  The Sox took Miami of Ohio reliever Matt Long in the second round.  Long is two years removed from elbow surgery, but some organizations consider this a plus nowadays, figuring that the player has already gotten his Tommy John surgery “out of the way.”

The White Sox drafted Scottsdale high school second baseman Kyle Williams, the son of General Manager Kenny Williams, in the 47th round of the amateur draft.  This kind of nepotism is commonplace around major league baseball.  The younger Williams expected to play football and baseball Arizona State. 

Centerfielder Brian Anderson continues to teeter on the uncertain ledge between the big leagues and the minors.  Guillen has declared that he will decide Anderson’s immediate future “in the next couple of days, if there’s no improvement.” “We’re getting to the point where we’re going to hurt him,’’ Guillen said. “We’re going to hurt his confidence to play at the big-league level, and we can’t do that if this kid is our future.” Guillen says that neither Jerry Owens nor Ryan Sweeney, Charlotte’s most prominent outfield prospects, are an options since neither are ready for the big leagues and since both are left-handed.  “If I’m going to do something, it’s bring another pitcher up and take my chance with Rob Mackowiak [as the regular centerfielder].”

Nelson and Guillen have taken issue with Ross Grimsley’s naming-names to the federal government.  “This guy really is not a known ballplayer, as far as a superstar or something like that. So, he’s going to come out, he gets caught with it, and he’s going to go ahead and name other guys,” said Nelson.  “That’s wrong.” “Take blame, take the hit and don’t be putting it on anyone else,” said Nelson. “This is a big fraternity, and you just don’t do that.” Nelson and Grimsley were teammates on the 1999-2000 New York Yankees and Nelson says that Grimsley is “nice guy” who he “enjoyed being around.” Guillen was typically blunt in his criticisms of Grimsley.  “Only thing I can say is that a former player should shut up and go,” Guillen said. “Shut up and move on. We don’t need these guys here. Baseball is better without him.”