Decision on Uribe won't be easy one
DETROIT -- The White Sox aren't crazy about the .219 batting average, but they've seen Juan Uribe heat up and carry the offense for extended stretches in the past.
And the Sox aren't crazy about the frequent mental lapses, but they've frequently seen a focused Uribe play better defense than any other shortstop in the American League.
Therein lies the predicament.
With just under two months to go in a disappointing season, the White Sox are now focusing on next year's team. And they have a critical decision to make on Uribe, who has a $5 million club option for 2008.
"I don't have control on how they're going to do it,'' Uribe said after hitting a grand slam and making several slick fielding plays while helping the Sox beat the Tigers 7-4 at Comerica Field Friday night. "Whatever they want to, it's fine for me. I want to stay here. My family is here and I know Chicago. I like it here. I like Chicago, I like the fans, I like the team.''
And the Sox like Uribe, when he isn't making wild swings or wild throws.
"When he gets hot, he's helped us a lot,'' White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "Hopefully, he'll start swinging the bat better.''
Uribe was 2-for-4 against Detroit, but prior to that he was hitting just .160 with an equally disturbing .192 on-base percentage since the all-star break.
There are two factors working in Uribe's favor regarding a return to the Sox.
First, there are no shortstops in the minor-league system even close to being ready to challenge for a job. Second, the potential free-agent market in the off-season is weak, and 40-year-old Omar Vizquel looks like the best available player.
Uribe's defense has slipped, but not like his offense.
"I try to work hard,'' said Uribe, who batted .283 for the White Sox in 2004, .252 in '05 and .235 last year. "I work every day on my swing with my hitting coach (Greg Walker). I try to help the team every day. I feel happy. I helped my team (Friday). I have good swing now. I see the ball more.''
The Tigers looked bleary-eyed against Sox starter Mark Buehrle while losing for the eighth time in 10 games.
After the red-hot Jermaine Dye put the White Sox in front with a solo home run off Detroit starter Andrew Miller in the second inning, and Uribe added his third career grand slam the following inning, the Tigers scored 3 runs off Buehrle in the bottom of the fourth.
But that was about it for Detroit, as Buehrle (9-6) pitched 8 innings and allowed 3 runs on 7 hits.
"Over the course of the year you're going to go through aches and pains; I guess you call it that dead-arm period,'' Buehrle said. "My velocity seemed like it was up a bit. Body-wise, arm-wise, everything just felt good. I kind of wanted to go out that last inning.''
The White Sox have played better of late, winning 7 of their last 11, but they are still a distant fourth in the AL Central.
"I don't want to sit there and use the excuse about injuries,'' Buehrle said. "But obviously, when you've got so many guys going down ... I think if we had our guys here for most of the year, I think we'd be in a lot better position.''
White Sox 7, Tigers 4
At the plate: Juan Uribe hit a grand slam, the third of his career, in the fourth inning. Jermaine Dye was 2-for-5 with a solo home run. Dye is batting .321 with 10 home runs and 18 RBI since the all-star break.
On the mound: Mark Buehrle got the win after pitching 8 innings and allowing 3 runs on 7 hits. Ehren Wasserman pitched the ninth and gave up 1 run on 1 hit.
-- Scot Gregor