White Sox flash flawless leather on homestand
The White Sox haven't had a Gold Glove winner since 1998, when third baseman Robin Ventura won his fifth coveted fielding award.
If they keep up the torrid defensive pace they've set through the season's first 13 games, the Sox are going to have to clear some space in their trophy case.
"They're probably the best defense in the big leagues,'' said White Sox starting pitcher John Danks after Tuesday's 4-1 win over Oakland.
Joe Crede is back at third base, and he's been as good as ever after missing most of last season with back surgery.
Orlando Cabrera has been as good as advertised at shortstop, and Juan Uribe has often been spectacular at second base after moving over from short.
In Tuesday's game against the A's, center fielder Alexei Ramirez made a bullet throw to second base and cut down Emil Brown, who was trying to stretch a single into a double.
Left fielder Carlos Quentin and first baseman Nick Swisher also made highlight plays for the Sox' defense, which did not commit an error on the seven-game homestand.
"Even though it's only 13 games, the pitching staff knows if they throw strikes and put the ball in play, we are going to make plays for them,'' said Cabrera, who won a Gold Glove with the Angels last season. "It's important that they have the confidence that we will make plays behind them.''
Crede's return has helped inspire the confidence.
"That's one of the key parts to our attack, pitching and defense,'' Crede said. "That's going to carry us throughout the season. That's the one part where you can be the most consistent at and that's one thing everyone stresses.''
Thome suspended: Already scheduled to sit out Tuesday's game against the Athletics, slumping White Sox designated hitter Jim Thome pulled up a chair in the penalty box.
Thome, batting .156, served a one-game suspension for arguing a called third strike with home-plate umpire James Hoye in Friday's loss to the Tigers.
In addition to being ejected for just the third time in his 18-year career, Thome was fined an undisclosed amount.
"To be honest, it kind of surprised me,'' Thome said of the suspension. "But with the day off today they were giving me, instead of taking the (suspension) later on, it was best just to get it over with and move on, move forward and not look back.''
Thome was livid after being called out by Hoye, and the suspension might have been longer if Sox manager Ozzie Guillen didn't get between the 37-year-old DH and umpire.
"If Jimmy has to be suspended, he has to be suspended by me because he bumped the crud out of me,'' Guillen said. "I got chest pains because he was hitting me so hard.''
Thome hit 2 home runs off Indians starter C.C. Sabathia on Opening Day. Since then, the left-hander has gone 5-for-43 with no homers and 3 RBI. That's why Thome was initially given Tuesday off.
"I'm one of those guys where it's never good to take a mental day off because that means you're not doing well,'' said Thome, who said his swing has been too quick. "Sometimes, you go through your ups and downs. It's a long haul and when you start the season out, you never want to start the year off bad.
"The fortunate thing that we've had, we've had some guys that have stepped up and have done a very good job. That's kind of a thing about a good club, when you get two or three guys to step up and say a guy or two or three guys aren't, then they eventually will pick those guys up later on.''