Podsednik feeling 'blue' upon return to the Cell

The curiosity in Colorado Rockies outfielder Scott Podsednik made him glance toward the seats in right-center field immediately upon his return to U.S. Cellular Field on Friday.

Podsednik wanted to see if the front-row seat in right center, where his walk-off home run that won Game 2 of the 2005 World Series landed, was still painted blue in honor of the famous blast.

Indeed, Podsednik's blue chair is still there, as is the blue seat in the left-center field bleachers that commemorates Paul Konerko's grand slam in the same game.

"I peeked out there to see if it's still there," Podsednik said of his blue seat. "I had to mention it to the first couple of (teammates) that were there. 'See that chair? It has my name on it.'

"I'll think about that forever. Any time that I start thinking about the city or U.S. Cellular Field, I'm always going to reflect back on what we accomplished back in '05. It was a memorable year. It'll definitely be remembered, no question."

Podsednik appeared in just 62 games for the White Sox in 2007 because of separate stints on the disabled list caused by a strained right adductor and a strained left rib-cage muscle. He hit .243 with 11 RBI and 30 runs scored, his lowest totals since 2002.

Signed by Colorado as a free agent to a one-year contract in February, Podsednik entered Friday's series opener on a 2-for-29 skid that had dropped his average from .295 to .222. However, he said his recent woes have no connection to last year's injuries.

"I'm feeling good," Podsednik said. "I've had a full off-season to train and get some strength back in my legs. I'm running well again."

Podsednik appeared in the series opener as a pinch runner for Brad Hawpe with two outs in the ninth inning. Greeted with a mixed reaction, he stole second base and moved to third on a throwing error but was stranded.

Backing off: Jim Thome sat out Friday for a second straight game with back issues.

"He was a little stiff," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "He can play (today). We'll see how he feels. I don't know. I might give him another day. He'd have to feel real, real good to make him play. I'd rather leave him for one more day and have him rest."