White Sox take a bird bath in Baltimore
When a White Sox player isn't performing up to expectations, general manager Kenny Williams is quicker than most of his peers to make a change.
Take Tuesday for example.
Obviously fed up with Mike MacDougal, the Sox designated the erratic relief pitcher for assignment.
Should he clear waivers, there is a slight chance MacDougal would consent to yet another tour with Class AAA Charlotte. But after parts of four up and mostly down seasons, MacDougal (6 runs, 7 walks in 41/3 innings) finally looks to be finished with the White Sox.
"I think he has unbelievable stuff," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "He just doesn't throw strikes."
Commanding the ball has also been a problem for Sox starting pitcher Jose Contreras this season, and the trend continued in Tuesday night's 10-3 loss to the Orioles at Camden Yards.
In a game delayed by rain for 1 hour, 35 minutes, Contreras was wild for the third straight start this season while allowing 6 runs on 7 hits and 6 walks over 51/3 innings.
Contreras, who made a quick comeback from a torn Achilles' tendon, has pitched 152/3 innings on the season and allowed 14 earned runs on 19 hits and 11 walks.
Is it time to pull the plug on Contreras, too?
That's got to be the question many White Sox fans are asking, but given his long layoff, Contreras figures to get a few more starts to work out the kinks before Williams really starts pacing.
The Sox actually held a 3-2 lead over Baltimore and rookie starter Brad Bergesen, who was making his big-league debut.
But Contreras appeared to tire as the game progressed, and the Orioles scored 2 runs in the fifth inning to take the lead, added 2 more off Contreras in the sixth and wound up snapping a five-game losing streak.
Jack Egbert, recalled from Charlotte to take MacDougal's roster spot, also made his big-league debut and allowed 2 runs on 1 hit and 1 walk in 1 inning.
Talking to reporters before the game, Guillen said he was glad Williams broke the news to MacDougal.
"You feel bad because he's a great kid, he means well," Guillen said. "We've been pushing this guy, trying to give him an opportunity, because we believe he has one of the best arms in the game. It got to the point where he didn't give us any ammunition. It was hard to use him."
Gregor's game tracker
Tuesday's grade: D. Jose Contreras was painful to watch, and the White Sox' offense struggled against the league's worst pitching staff.
Missile launch: Alexei Ramirez came in with 1 hit in his last 18 at-bats. He snapped out a bit, going 2-for-4 with his first extra-base hit (double) of the season.
Quentin quiet: After homering in three straight games, Carlos Quentin was 0-for-3 with a walk.
Pods watch: Scott Podsednik was 0-for-4 for Class AAA Charlotte Tuesday, dropping his average to .150.
On tap: John Danks starts for the Sox tonight, and the lefty has allowed just 1 run over 12 innings in his first two outings. In 3 career starts vs. Baltimore, Danks is 1-2 with a 5.94 ERA.