Frustrated Contreras facing tough rehab

Sporting a protective boot on his left leg and moving gingerly on crutches, injured pitcher Jose Contreras (ruptured Achilles tendon) made a rare appearance in the White Sox locker room before Saturday's game.

"This is my first major injury and it's very frustrating to sit at home and watch the team knowing they are fighting for the division, and not being able to contribute," Contreras said through an interpreter. "But I feel very glad for the team that they are doing as good as they are."

And his teammates seemed glad to have the veteran righty back.

"I know he's feeling comfortable," said Sox manager Ozzie Guillen. "That happened to me, too. I came to the clubhouse. It's nice to be seen and I think the players like to see him, too."

Contreras is bracing for a rehab stint that may last as long as a year.

"I'm going to follow the doctor's strict orders as far as my rehab to get back as soon as possible," he said. "That's my goal."

On the brink: A day after tossing 15 pitches in an inning, reliever Scott Linebrink was all smiles over getting his first game action since July 22, when he went down with a shoulder injury.

"Just to get that first one under me and to know that I could go out there and do it," Linebrink said. "The biggest thing is going out there without pain."

Ozzie Guillen is taking a wait-and-see approach with his valuable commodity.

"That's a good sign, but I'm going to try to stay away from him (Saturday) to make sure we can continue to use him," Guillen said. "I thought he was going to be a little sore, feel a little uncomfortable ... but he's not."

Coming and going: Before Saturday's game, the Sox announced they had purchased the contract of infielder/outfielder Jason Bourgeois from Charlotte and designated right-handed knuckleballer Charlie Haeger for assignment.

Bourgeois, 26, batted .286 with 9 home runs, 48 RBI, 83 runs scored and 30 stolen bases in 127 games with Charlotte this season.

Haeger, 24, was 10-13 with a 4.45 ERA.

He said it: Ozzie Guillen on the Angels: "They say Mike Scioscia is a good manager? Who the (heck) isn't a good manager with that ballclub? Mike can leave and not come here for a week, and they will still win some games."