Time will tell what the future holds for Sox' Vazquez
Not that it matters now, but Javier Vazquez pitched his way out of the White Sox' postseason plans with a dismal 4-inning effort against the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 1 of the American League division series.
It was a rough season for the 32-year-old starter, but what about Vazquez's future with the Sox?
"No matter if he is coming here or another place, he needs to clear his mind up and show people how good he is," said White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen. "He is good."
Vazquez has been good in the past, namely in 2007 when he was 15-8 (3.74 ERA) on a Sox team that lost 90 games.
The right-hander tailed way off this year, going 12-16 with a 4.67 ERA while seemingly incurring the wrath of 99.9 percent of White Sox fans.
Vazquez is still owed $11.5 million in each of the next two seasons, so a trade appears unlikely.
Further hindering Sox general manager Kenny William is the limited no-trade clause that prevents moving Vazquez to any of the nine West Coast teams.
Guillen said Vazquez still has the talent to be a top-flight starting pitcher.
"You go out there and strike out 200 and throw 200 innings, it's for a reason," Guillen said. "For some reason, a lot of stuff didn't go his way. He just has to continue to be what he can be. Hopefully, he has better luck next year."
Vazquez said he wants to return to the White Sox in 2009.
"It's not me to run away from anything," Vazquez said. "I want to stay here and see what happens."
Healing time: He finished strong, even going 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Monday's 6-2 elimination loss to the Rays.
But overall, it was a miserable season for Sox first baseman Paul Konerko, who batted just .240 with 22 home runs and 62 RBI.
Early in the season, the 33-year-old Konerko was slowed by a sore right hand. He went on the disabled list for the first time in his career from June 15 to July 7 with a strained left oblique muscle, and then he sprained the MCL in his right knee on Sept. 9.
"In a nutshell, my body just let me down this year," Konerko said. "That's the first time I can say that after 14 professional seasons. Some stuff you can't control. But I think I need to step back and look at maybe how I get ready to play, and maybe what I can do in the off-season to prevent some of that stuff.
"I felt a little outmanned out there a couple times. I need to get in better shape and control what I can control because that kind of snuck up on me this year."
Lesson learned: Nick Swisher also wrapped up a difficult season Monday.
After coming over from the Oakland A's in an off-season trade, Swisher batted just .219 and rode the bench for much of the final month.
"It's a lot different here in Chicago then it was in Oakland," Swisher said. "I've never been bashed like I was here, and it took a toll on me, I have to be honest. But I'm going to learn from it. I'm going to come back Chicago tough, like they say, and show everybody what I can do.
"But first, me and my lady are going to an island. I need to get away."