A-Rod fails to join the party
NEW YORK -- Leave it to White Sox captain Paul Konerko to put Tuesday night's ugly 16-3 loss to the New York Yankees in perspective.
"They came to see history,'' Konerko said. "They got history. Not the one they were thinking of.''
Most of the sellout crowd of 53,958 at Yankee Stadium came to see Alex Rodriguez hit his 500th career home run. Rodriguez was 0-for-5, but New York tied a franchise record with 8 homers.
The Yankees previously hit 8 home runs in a game on June 28, 1939. The 8 home runs allowed were the most in White Sox history.
Sox starter Jose Contreras served up 3 of the long balls before exiting after 2ˆ¿ innings. Reliever Gavin Floyd also allowed 3 home runs.
"I've said it before, when you miss your location they're going to hit you,'' Contreras said through a translator. "When you leave pitches up high, they're going to hit you. This is the big leagues. You can't make mistakes.''
Contreras has been making myriad mistakes over his last 11 starts, which is why he's 1-10 with an 8.87 ERA. Afterward, manager Ozzie Guillen said Contreras might be pulled from the rotation.
"I'm wondering and worrying about it,'' Guillen said. "I think he's healthy, but there are other reasons. He will be discussed, I know that.''
Feeling blue: Manager Ozzie Guillen had some harsh postgame words for home-plate umpire Phil Cuzzi.
Cuzzi ejected Guillen in the first inning for arguing what appeared to be a strikeout by the Yankees' Derek Jeter. Cuzzi also tossed Paul Konerko in the sixth for arguing a called third strike.
"There are things about him,'' Guillen said. "He's always got his nose in the dugout. I don't think that's the way to respond.''
Guillen has been in major-league baseball since 1985, and he said he's never seen an umpire as confrontational as Cuzzi.
Painful departure: Even though he was traded to a team, the San Diego Padres, that has a realistic shot to make the playoffs, outfielder/infielder Rob Mackowiak was not happy about departing the White Sox on Tuesday.
"Extremely surprised,'' said Mackowiak, who batted .278 with 6 home runs and 36 RBI in 85 games with the Sox this season. "It hurts to go from a team that you grew up watching and to be with a group of guys you idolized as a kid. It's tough.''
Mackowiak, who was raised in south suburban Oak Lawn, has a $3.25 million club option for next season. If they choose, the Padres can buy out the contract for $300,000.
After being informed of the trade, Mackowiak spoke with Bud Black, his new manager.
"He said: 'Bring all your gloves and be ready,''' Mackowiak said. "That's been my job every year, to be ready for every position, so I'll take the assumption that being in the National League, that's kind of what you'll be used for. I'm probably more valuable in the National League than I am here because of all the double switches and pitcher's hitting. It's a difficult situation, but I'll make the most of it.''
In exchange for Mackowiak, the Sox received Jon Link, a minor-league pitcher.
Link, 23, was 2-1 with 13 saves and a 3.07 ERA in 41 relief appearances with Class A Lake Elsinore.