Podsednik's speed sets up win in ninth
Whether they make moves before Tuesday's trade deadline or wait until the off-season, the White Sox have already identified an obvious weakness -- team speed.
The Sox have 46 stolen bases this year, more than just two American League teams: the Blue Jays (27) and Athletics (40).
Putting pressure on the opposition with speed worked very well for the White Sox in 2005, and manager Ozzie Guillen wants to add as many players are possible that have the ability to run.
"I always love speed,'' Guillen said after the Sox rallied to beat the Tigers 4-3 at U.S. Cellular Field Thursday afternoon. "Obviously, power is involved in the game more often. With speed, you can make a lot of things happen. When you have speed and they get on base, a lot of great things can happen. That's what we were missing for a while.''
Injury-prone left fielder Scott Podsednik has been missing for most of the season, spending time on the disabled with a strained right adductor (April 16-June 22) and a strained left ribcage muscle (July 2-23).
Podsednik is back, he returned to the lineup on Tuesday, and he used his speed to score the winning run from first base in the ninth inning.
After Podsednik led off with a single against Detroit reliever Zach Miner, Josh Fields laid down a sacrifice bunt.
Miner made a wild throw to first base, and Podsednik, a premier base-stealer when healthy, rounded the bases and slid safely into home.
"It definitely helps in the lineup to have some guys who can distract the pitchers a little bit, and go first to third, score from first on doubles, things of that sort,'' Podsednik said. "It was there for us today. Fortunately, Fields did his job there in the ninth, and we were able to manufacture a run.''
With Podsednik's help, the White Sox seemed to manufacture runs at will en route to winning the World Series two years ago.
But as the injuries started popping up last season, and Podsednik has been unable to consistently spark the Sox with his legs. This year, he has 5 stolen bases in 8 attempts over 23 games.
"The year up to this point has been pretty frustrating,'' Podsednik said. "Just being out there is exciting alone. To get out there and run a little bit and score a run to win the ballgame is exciting. No question.''
Podsednik's future with the Sox is very much in question.
Last winter, general manager Kenny Williams gambled Podsednik could stay healthy, signing the 31-year-old outfielder to a one-year, $2.9-million contract.
Eligible for salary arbitration at the end of the season, Podsednik figures to be nontendered as the Sox shop for a more durable left fielder.
There is also a chance Podsednik could be moved before Tuesday's trade deadline.
"That's something you really can't control, just go out there and play,'' Podsednik said. "It starts creeping into your mind a little bit toward the end of the season about the future and the things that are going to unfold, but you can't let it distract you. You've got to go out there and perform.''
Podsednik did just that on Thursday, which makes it even tougher for the White Sox to swallow the bitter pill that has passed for the 2007 season.
"It shows what this ballclub is capable of,'' Podsednik said after the Sox won 3 of 5 from the first-place Tigers. "I think that's kind of the way they drew it up in spring training, a team that's going to go out there and battle. This team has heart; it's just a matter of bringing it out of us, digging down deep and getting it back.''
White Sox 4, Tigers 3
At the plate: Scott Podsednik singled leading off the ninth inning and scored the winning run when Detroit reliever Zach Miner fielded Josh Fields' sacrifice bunt and made a throwing error to first base. Podsednik had 2 of the Sox' 4 hits.
On the mound: Starter John Danks pitched 62/3 innings and allowed 3 runs on 6 hits. Bobby Jenks pitched a perfect ninth inning to get the win.
-- Scot Gregor