Frustrating night for Sox, but GM still likes what he sees
If they were playing in the National League West with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the White Sox probably would be keeping a wary eye on the magic number for elimination.
The Dodgers (47-24) have the best record in the majors, and they showed why while carving up the Sox 5-2 in an interleague game Tuesday night at U.S. Cellular Field.
The White Sox (33-37), meanwhile, still are barely treading water in the AL Central, the leakiest division in baseball.
Returning home after going 5-3 on a road trip to Milwaukee, Wrigley Field and Cincinnati, the Sox continued their shoddy all-around play at the Cell while falling 6 games behind the Detroit Tigers in the Central.
Most mystifying is the offense, which managed just 1 run (Paul Konerko's solo homer) on 2 hits off Los Angeles starter Hiroki Kuroda through 8 innings before adding another run on a pair of hits in the ninth.
"We can't figure out how to get the offense going here," said White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, who was ejected in the eighth inning for questioning home-plate umpire Joe West's strike zone. "I don't know if we're too anxious or we have the wrong plan."
The Sox are hitting .216 at the Cell this season and .280 on the road.
It's one of many reasons the White Sox continue to look like a mediocre team that might be lucky finishing the season at 81-81.
With the July 31 nonwaiver trade deadline creeping up, there has been plenty of speculation the Sox are going to start shedding veteran players such as Jim Thome, Jermaine Dye, Jose Contreras and struggling relievers Octavio Dotel and Scott Linebrink.
"I know a lot of people call us for pitching," White Sox general manager Kenny Williams said. "We must have a little bit."
Williams might have changed his mind after seeing the Sox lose for the 10th time in their last 14 home games, but he was adamant beforehand about not becoming a "seller."
"Listen, guys who've been around here for a long time, you know it's going to take a lot for me to get my arms around a sell-off," Williams said. "I'm disappointed we're not in first place right now, because I think we have a team, particularly with our balance and our pitching from top to bottom, with what should be a better offense, with a guy coming in like (Scott) Podsednik to give us some energy at the top, with (Gordon) Beckham over there giving us a little more athletic type of infield, there are a lot of positives.
"But it just hasn't translated into success on a consistent basis. We haven't played very well at home, and I would anticipate that to change."
Even if it doesn't change on this homestand, which includes two more games against the high-flying Dodgers and a weekend rematch with the Cubs, don't expect Williams to change his mind.
"We've got young players that are growing and getting better seemingly each series," Williams said. "So they will be greater factors. And now you've got a Jim Thome, whose heel was really bothering him, so he should be back and ready to go. (Paul) Konerko's thumb. The veteran guys are getting healthier, and some of the other guys are picking it up a bit.
"The pitching staff, with the exception of a blip here and there, has really put a lot of things together. Over the course of however many games are left, I would anticipate we're going to give this thing a run for its money.
"So I can't put myself in the mind frame of a seller. People have kind of put us in that - are they buyers are sellers? Every time I go back there and look at that board, I'm looking for impact players."
Guillen said the Sox should know where they stand on July 5 following three games at Cleveland and four at Kansas City.
"That will dictate exactly where we are," Guillen said. "If we play good against them, that's going to be important to see what we're going to do in the summer. I expect them to go out there and play well, and that will dictate what we should do and not do."
Scot Gregor's game tracker
Dodgers 5, White Sox 2
Tuesday's grade: D. Listen to the home fans grumble about the White Sox' offense, which makes just about every opposing starter look like Cy Young.
Still struggling: Sox fans are also losing their patience with reliever Octavio Dotel, who faced four batters in the eighth inning and allowed 1 hit and 2 walks.
Danks does his job: Starter John Danks was a bit rough early, but he settled down and allowed 3 runs on 3 hits over 7 innings. The lefty has thrown at least 7 innings in 3 straight starts for the first time in his career.
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