Teahen having fun in first playoff race

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Mark Teahen has been on the other side - the losing one.

Quite literally, Teahen used to play for the team in the home clubhouse at Kauffman Stadium, the Royals.

From 2005-09, Teahen used to dread this late stage of the season.

"We were never in contention," said Teahen, acquired by the White Sox in a Nov. 6 trade that send Chris Getz and Josh Fields to Kansas City. "It's completely different over here. It's awesome. Every game really matters down the stretch and it's not trying to grind and find that motivation, or trying to just let the role of spoiler motivate you.

"It's nice to be playing for something. I think we can control our destiny if we just play well down the stretch. It's fun."

It was the opposite during Teahen's five seasons with the Royals. They finished last in the AL Central three times and fourth twice.

Not only is he playing in his first pennant race, Teahen is trying to make a contribution after missing more than two months with a fractured right middle finger.

He came off the disabled list against the Tigers last Friday and was 2-for-4 with a 2-run homer. Heading into Friday night's game against his old team, which was rained out, Teahen was 6-for-16 with a home run and 5 RBI in four games since being activated off the DL.

After going 3-for-4 with 2 RBI in Thursday night's 11-0 win over the Twins, Teahen was back in the starting lineup as the designated hitter before the rains came in the bottom of the first inning.

"I think he's doing more than I thought he was going to do," Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "Especially offensively. He's hasn't been playing in the big leagues for three months. To come back and do what he's doing, he's been helping us every time at the plate. He has great at-bats. One thing about it, it's tough for him right now because I have to play him different positions because the way we play and what we need from him.

"I think he contributes more to the ballclub playing the way he plays, a little bit at third base, right field, DH. I keep saying, if he swings the bat the way he swings the bat, he's going to be in the lineup and I will find a way to do it."

Like most of the White Sox, Teahen got off to a slow start. He was batting as low as .212 in mid-May, but Teahen started picking it up before getting hurt and his average has climbed to .268.

"The first month of the season has always been my worst month," Teahen said. "This year it kind of went into the second month a little bit. But a lot of the guys struggled early on and it was kind of contagious. Thankfully, a lot of them have picked it up. I'm just trying to make sure I make the most of the last month and a half."

While he wasn't thrilled losing his starting job at third base to Omar Vizquel, Teahen is used to playing all over the field.

"It's all right," he said. "Everyone wants to play one position but at the same time, thankfully, I've done this in my career and I think it helps us out to be able to play matchups. I'm comfortable playing any outfield position and third and first, so we'll figure it out as we go."