Weary Guillen needs vacation sans baseball
White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen already has made plans for an off-season vacation.
"I need one,'' Guillen said. "I need to go on vacation where nobody knows about baseball.''
It has been that kind of a season for Guillen … and the rest of the Sox for that matter.
But before opening the final homestand of the year Tuesday night, Guillen wasn't quite ready to pack his bags.
"Just get 6 wins,'' Guillen said. "That's all I care about. Get 6 wins. Hopefully we finish up on a good note, and hopefully we play good for the fans who are going to show up.''
After blowing a 5-1 lead and falling to the Royals 9-5 before an announced crowd of 31,607 at U.S. Cellular Field, the White Sox can try playing good today and winning their final five games.
They'll also try to avoid their first last-place finish since 1989. The Sox and K.C. are tied for the bottom at 68-89.
The Sox were held scoreless by six Kansas City relief pitchers after starter Brian Bannister exited with two outs in the first inning.
White Sox relievers allowed 4 runs in 2¿ innings.
"Their relievers did a tremendous job,'' Guillen said. "Our relievers didn't.''
Mike MacDougal had another rough night, allowing 2 runs on 2 hits over 1 inning. The right-hander has a 6.43 ERA.
"I have a pitching coach, not a magician,'' Guillen said when asked about MacDougal's struggles. "He goes out there and throws unbelievable, and the next day he can't find it. He gets wild, and when you get wild in the big leagues, you're going to get hit.''
Even if the Sox do manage to stay out of the AL Central cellar, it still has been a forgettable season for Guillen.
"A lot of people say: 2005 was great, you're not going to forget that one,''' Guillen said of the White Sox' World Series championship season. "Yes, you will. You will forget 2005. This one, you have to remember this, because that's one of the longest summers I ever spent.
"I never thought we would be in this situation. Well, now I learn how to lose. Hopefully from now on everything moves on and gets better.''
Even if the Sox stand pat during the off-season, they figure to be better in 2008. But general manager Kenny Williams is expected to make wholesale changes.
"I know we're not going to have another summer like this one,'' Guillen said. "It would never cross my mind the group of guys we have here would have another year like this. We had a lot of talent out there. I don't think those guys are going to go through this year once again.''
• The San Francisco Giants are preparing to cut ties with Barry Bonds at the end of the season, but don't expect baseball's all-time home run leader to be signing with the White Sox.
"I don't see him playing every day in left field,'' Ozzie Guillen said. "We have a DH (Jim Thome), and our DH is doing pretty good. I cannot say anything because I don't know what (GM) Kenny (Williams) has in mind.
"To me, I want some speed. But, like Kenny says, the only way you have speed is when people are on base. Right now he's not in my plans, but maybe he's in Kenny's plans.''
Thome is signed through next season, and the 37-year-old designated hitter has a club option for 2009.
Royals 9, White Sox 5
On the mound: Starter Jose Contreras pitched 61/3 innings and allowed 5 runs (4 earned) on 6 hits. Mike MacDougal pitched 1 inning of relief and allowed 2 runs on 2 hits. Over his last 101/3 innings, MacDougal has allowed 12 earned runs.
At the plate: Paul Konerko had a 2-run double in the first inning. Josh Fields drew 3 walks. Danny Richar (0-for-3) has 2 hits in his last 19 at-bats.
-- Scot Gregor