Beckham happy to be enjoying brighter days

His batting average is up, and so is his self-esteem.

"I can walk down the street now and not feel ashamed," said White Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham. "It was a rough couple months, but I'm through that now and it feels good to swing and hit like I'm supposed to and I know I can."

Beckham is not going to win a batting title this season, but his .239 average heading into Monday night's game was 40 points higher than a month ago.

The turnaround has been great for the Sox, but it also has pushed Beckham's name to the rumor mill.

It's pretty safe to say the 23-year-old infielder isn't going anywhere before Saturday afternoon's nonwaiver trade deadline.

A few weeks ago, the Washington Nationals reportedly asked for either Beckham or Carlos Quentin in exchange for power-hitting first baseman Adam Dunn.

"There's been a lot that's been talked about some guys that may be moved and I have no intention of moving them," said White Sox general manager Kenny Williams.

"Most of what comes out is coming out from other teams. When names are mentioned, it's because teams desire your players and that's always a good thing."

If trade rumors are bothering Beckham, he's doing a good of masking his emotions.

"I think it's kind of funny, everybody that freaks out about the trade deadline," Beckham said. "Here's what I think - if you are traded for a big player, you see some guys get traded for a big-time name, I think that's a compliment to the players that get traded. You can't really worry about it. I don't really worry about it.

"If I get traded, I get traded. And if I do, that means that the other team wants me more than the team I'm with. So I don't really pay that much attention to it.

"But I think it's hilarious that everybody freaks out up until this deadline and almost nothing happens, usually. There are trades, but usually nothing happens. Maybe not with the White Sox."

Much like manager Ozzie Guillen, and probably even Williams, Beckham isn't seeing a pressing need for change.

"Unfortunately, I don't make those decisions," Beckham said. "I'm saying unfortunately, but I'm glad I don't.

"I think we've got a good team. I think that if they do add somebody then great, but if they don't, I think we'll be OK.

"We've shown that we can hit, we've shown that we can pitch, and now all we've got to do is take it on down the home stretch."