Guillen pleads for some pride
CLEVELAND -- The White Sox are road kill, and they have been for months.
Manager Ozzie Guillen grudgingly accepts the Sox' sorry status, but he is pleading for a little dignity as the season, thankfully, moves into the final month.
"I want to finish on a good note and let those guys know we died the right way,'' Guillen said. "Don't just sit here and take a beating. That's what I want from my players. If we're going to die, just fight for it and fight all the way to the end.''
Offensively, the White Sox were lifeless again in Saturday night's 7-0 loss to the Indians at Jacobs Field, managing just 4 singles against starter Paul Byrd while failing to advance a runner past first base until the ninth inning.
Not a good way to start the month of September, especially after the Sox went 9-20 in August, the worst record in baseball. It was also the White Sox' first 20-loss month since June of 1987 (7-21).
There's seemingly nothing to play for, but Guillen keeps trying to stress the pride factor.
"I told a couple of guys, 'August is gone, it wasn't a fun one,' '' Guillen said. "It's time to go out there and play September like we're still in a pennant race. Show people we still care, whatever happened yesterday doesn't mean anything tomorrow. Just try to finish on a good note, at least a happy ending. Don't just go scratching our head like another bad month.
"This month can be pretty tough. It can be pretty fast or it can be a real slow one. I want the faster one, with some smiles on their face, some pride, walking out with pride, 'At least we didn't give up, at least we play hard all year long.' That's all we can do now.''
Maybe they'll head down that road today. Or, more likely, the Sox will lose their 12th straight road game.
After starting against Cleveland on Saturday and allowing 4 runs (3 earned) on 8 hits over 6 innings, Javier Vazquez said he is not waving the surrender flag.
"I still have a few starts left and I want to win,'' Vazquez said. "Everybody still has to go out there and try to win.''
That might be easier said than done.
"It seems like we go out there with no emotion or anything,'' Vazquez said. "It does surprise me. I think we should go out there with more fire, but when you're struggling like we are, it seems like everything goes wrong.''
After blasting the White Sox following Wednesday's extra-inning loss at Texas, Guillen doesn't know what else to say.
"Just keep you head up and keep competing,'' Guillen said. "You have a schedule to play and you have to finish as strong as you can. We're not the only one in this situation. There are a few teams in the pennant race, and the rest of the teams will continue to play.''
Guillen did give Byrd credit for pitching a strong game.
"Byrd threw the ball outstanding,'' Guillen said. "He was throwing strikes, changing speeds. He threw the ball the best I've ever seen.''
Indians 7, White Sox 0
On the mound: Relievers Matt Thornton and Ryan Bukvich each pitched 1 inning, combining to allow 3 runs on 3 hits and a walk.
At the plate: Jerry Owens was 2-for-4. A.J. Pierzynski (0-for-2) is hitless in 16 at-bats on the road trip.
-- Scot Gregor