Sox hitting on all cylinders in 9-2 win over Angels
Another week, another trade rumor involving the White Sox.
It was Washington Nationals slugger Adam Dunn joining the Sox last week. This time it's another powerful left-handed bat - the Milwaukee Brewers' Prince Fielder.
"If Kenny thinks we need somebody, he will get it," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "Believe me, he will get it. That's the way he is. Kenny is always very aggressive. He knows exactly what we need."
Have Guillen and Williams had a meeting to discuss possible additions?
"We don't have a meeting about anything," Guillen said. "Every time me and Kenny have a meeting, it's just because of something stupid I did."
Guillen is looking pretty smart these days, and the White Sox continue playing like a team that might only need a minor tweak or two as the July 31 nonwaiver trade deadline approaches.
"We have a bunch of fighters in this group," right fielder Carlos Quentin said after sparking the Sox to a 9-2 romp over the Los Angeles Angels on Monday night at sold-out U.S. Cellular Field. "And at the plate, guys are bearing down and giving good at-bats."
The starting rotation has been among baseball's best over the last month, and Gavin Floyd continued that pattern with 7 strong innings Monday. He allowed just 1 run on 5 hits and is 2-1 with a 1.27 ERA over his last 6 starts.
Suffice to say, the Sox are not shopping for any upgrades in the starting five.
"We're playing good baseball," Floyd said. "I think we're feeding off each other and just trying to go out there and have fun and play good ball."
The rotation has been carrying its weight, and so has the back end of the bullpen.
As for the offense, which has been the biggest concern all season, the White Sox have been getting solid production from several hitters - Quentin, Paul Konerko, Alexei Ramirez, Juan Pierre, A.J. Pierzynski, Mark Kotsay, even Brent Lillibridge.
Dayan Viciedo joined the party Monday, going 2-for-4 with 2 RBI. In the seventh inning, the rookie third baseman hit his first major-league home run.
"I feel happy that I had a good game and hopefully I have continued success the rest of the way," Viciedo said through translator Joey Cora before taking a towel full of shaving cream in the face from Ramirez.
With so many pieces going so good, Guillen is almost hoping Williams stands pat instead of adding outside help.
"Right now we're fine," Guillen said. "We're playing the way we think we're going to play. Hopefully we don't need anyone. That's hopefully, because all of the sudden something's missing with this ballclub. Right now we're not missing too much."
Creeping closer to the first-place Detroit Tigers and second-place Minnesota Twins in the AL Central, the Sox have won 15 of their last 19.
"I think the good thing about this streak, or this good month, it's not the same guy every day," Guillen said. "It's always somebody else. Big hits here, big play, make a big pitch.
"That's how teams win games. You don't have to rely on one guy to win. Everybody out there chips in and helps to win games."
<p class="factboxheadblack">Scot Gregor's game tracker</p>
<p class="News">White Sox 9, Angels 2</p>
<p class="News"><b>Doing it all:</b> Right fielder Carlos Quentin made a highlight catch in the first inning, robbing Torii Hunter of an RBI extra-base hit. Quentin then hit 2 homers and drove in 3 runs.</p>
<p class="News">First for Viciedo: Dayan Viciedo hit his first major-league home run, a solo shot off Los Angeles starter Scott Kazmir in the seventh inning.</p>
<p class="News"><b>Home cooking:</b> The Sox won for the eighth time in nine games at U.S. Cellular Field. They also had a capacity crowd Monday, their fourth straight sellout and fifth of the season.</p>
<p class="News"><b>Shaking off the rust:</b> In his first relief appearance since June 24, Bobby Jenks allowed 1 run on 1 hit and 2 walks in two-thirds of an inning.</p>
<div class="infoBox">
<h1>More Coverage</h1>
<div class="infoBoxContent">
<div class="infoArea">
<h2>Stories</h2>
<ul class="links">
<li><a href="/story/?id=392157">Quentin's play in first grabs Sox' attention<span class="date"> [7/5/10]</span></a></li>
<li><a href="/story/?id=392146">Konerko not sweating out Final Vote balloting<span class="date"> [7/5/10]</span></a></li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
</div>