Sox stink up joint again
Already firmly stationed at rock bottom, the White Sox broke out the jackhammers Saturday and shaved off another layer.
Losing for the 12th time in 14 games, the Sox looked a lot like a team that has simply given up during a 14-2 loss to the Boston Red Sox at U.S. Cellular Field.
Afterward, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen talked to his team, which at 56-73 is 17 games under .500 for the first time since Sept. 24, 1999.
Guillen's message?
"That everybody realizes that we (stink) and it can't really get much worse,'' said starting pitcher Mark Buehrle. "Obviously, nothing's going right for us right now, we're not getting good pitching, defense, hitting. Anyway you look at it, we just (stink). It's going to be a long last month if we keep playing this way.''
Guillen is hoping to avoid a sorry September.
"I told those guys that they will never quit on me, but I worry if they quit on themselves,'' Guillen said. "I just told them that they (haven't) quit on me. I know that. They play as hard as they can for me, they go by my rules the way they should go.
"But I don't want to see those guys with their head down, quit on themselves and feel sorry for themselves. I said we still have a job to do here, and I think if we continue to play like that, looking over each (other's) shoulders, it is going to be the worst September they are going to ever have.''
Already mired in a miserable season, the White Sox showed in the eighth inning why they have the second-worst record in major-league baseball.
Reliever Ryan Bukvich was on the mound when it started, and the overmatched right-hander hit the first two Boston batters and wound up allowing 5 runs on 2 hits and a walk without recording an out.
Mike MacDougal relieved Bukvich and delivered another forgettable effort, allowing 3 runs on 2 hits and 3 walks before Matt Thornton took over and promptly walked in a run.
Not that the White Sox' bullpen was solely to blame.
The offense managed just 6 hits, and the Red Sox had a shutout going until Paul Konerko hit a 2-run homer in the eighth inning. The Sox also fell asleep on defense during the Red Sox' 4-run sixth inning.
Catcher A.J. Pierzynski showed outward disgust on the field, but he tried to find some positives after the game.
"It is what it is, and it's out there,'' Pierzynski said. "We just have to find a way to do the best we can this last month and play as hard as we can. Nobody on this team has quit and nobody on this team has quit playing hard. We just need to do better.''
If the White Sox continue to slog along the way they've been, Guillen sounded like he'd strongly consider resigning his post.
"It is not a good feeling, guys,'' Guillen said. "It is not. If I'm going to have this job and feel this way every day, I'd rather be home, because I have pride. I am proud to win games. I am proud to wear a big-league uniform.''
Red Sox 14, White Sox 2
At the plate: Paul Konerko hit a 2-run homer in the eighth inning. Jermaine Dye doubled twice in 3 at-bats.
On the mound: Mark Buehrle took the loss after pitching 6 innings and allowing 4 runs on 6 hits. In his last 4 starts, the left-hander is 0-3 with a 6.45 ERA. Ryan Bukvich has not recorded an out over his last 4 outings (9 batters faced).
-- Scot Gregor