Guillen issues warning after Sox loss to Rangers
For the White Sox, status quo is still the way to go.
With the July 31 nonwaiver trade deadline right around the corner, neither general manager Kenny Williams nor manager Ozzie Guillen are anticipating any major changes heading into the stretch run.
But after Monday night's 6-1 loss to the Rangers at U.S. Cellular Field - the Sox' third in four games since the all-star break - Guillen did fire a warning shot at his struggling first-place team.
"It seems like a couple players aren't comfortable,'' Guillen said. "I'm not going to make it comfortable for anybody. If you don't do the job, we'll see what we can do with you. I thought we had a great chance to win. My time, my clock, it goes by minutes now.
"I don't want to be negative about the ballclub because we're playing well, we're still in first place, even if we're not playing good. But it's time for people to start stepping up and playing better.''
Guillen didn't mention any names, but he probably was talking about relief pitcher Boone Logan, who pitched 1 inning against Texas and allowed 3 runs on 4 hits. Over his last five games, Logan has pitched 2 innings and yielded 8 earned runs on 10 hits.
Maybe Guillen was talking about shortstop Orlando Cabrera, who is 1-for-15 in the second half. Maybe it's struggling relief pitcher Nick Masset. Or slumping first baseman Paul Konerko.
Or maybe it was an umbrella warming.
"The trade deadline is there,'' Guillen said after the White Sox lost for sixth time in eight games. "A lot of people ask if we're going to make a trade. I think I believe what I have.
"But they've got to show myself and Kenny we can count on them to win this season. I'm not saying making trades or not, just making it clear, just in case you guys (media) make a big deal about this, the people out there have to step it up and do it. Because they have more talent than what they show and I don't see it.''
Before the game, Williams said he didn't see a significant trade coming before July 31. That includes a deal for a starting pitcher to replace the injured Jose Contreras, who is on the disabled list with right elbow tendinitis.
"I don't think there's anything major that's out there to be had,'' Williams said. "I don't think that there's anything more than a healthy Jose Contreras can provide us.
"This would be different if we thought this was something that was more serious than it actually is. It's more tennis elbow than anything at this point.
"Even if it was more serious, you'd still have a very difficult time coming up with impact starters that you could bring into this situation or any situation.
"Those couple of guys (CC Sabathia, Rich Harden) have already been traded, and even those guys, or at least one of them, comes with a little bit of risk attached with him, and I don't know if we can afford that.''