Guillen thinks twice before arguing

DETROIT -- When second-base umpire Chris Tiller butchered an obvious call in the ninth inning Wednesday night, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen ran out to the field and you just knew what was going to happen.

Guillen was going to rip into Tiller, a fill-in ump, for calling Brian Anderson out at second base even though he clearly beat the Tigers' Placido Polanco to the bag.

On his way out, Guillen abruptly stopped, turned and headed back to the dugout.

"It's not worth having a conversation with him,'' Guillen said after the Sox' 5-1 loss at Comerica Park. "How do you miss a call like that?''

Anderson also was stunned over Tiller's ruling.

"He's not a robot,'' Anderson said. "They're going to make mistakes, but right there, in a key situation, you hope he comes through and maybe we get something going.''

At least Tiller was consistent. In the first inning, Polanco was called out on a force at second even though he appeared to beat Alexei Ramirez to the bag.

There is a potential for more controversy today when umpire Phil Cuzzi works the plate. Cuzzi ejected Guillen during an April game at U.S. Cellular Field, and the White Sox' manager also was tossed by Cuzzi at Yankee Stadium last season.

Guillen talked to crew chief Ed Montague during Tuesday's game against Detroit and said there will be no further trouble.

"I don't have anything against (Cuzzi),'' Guillen said. "I have a job to do. I'm not going to hold a grudge.''

Konerko sits out: Paul Konerko was held out of the starting lineup Wednesday night, but Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said his career .125 (3-for-24) average against Tigers starter Justin Verlander did not factor into the decision.

"He needs a break,'' Guillen said. "Besides that, the last couple weeks he's maxed out mentally about hitting and needs to shut it down for a couple days.''

Konerko is scheduled to be the Sox' designated hitter today against Kenny Rogers. Konerko is a career 15-for-46 (.326) against the veteran lefty.

Guillen said the White Sox have reached the point of the season where the bench becomes more important.

"I just look at how the player feels,'' Guillen said. "Right now it starts warming up and it gets hot and humid and you'll see bench players get more playing time.''

Nick Swisher played first base Wednesday, and Brian Anderson got the start in center field.