White Sox roll to 9th straight win at U.S. Cellular
Omar Vizquel obviously was looking at the big picture Tuesday when asked for his thoughts on Saturday's nonwaiver trade deadline.
"I think we need to add something," Vizquel said. "If it's not another pitcher, probably it's another hitter.
"This is a time where we really need to make a step toward getting better and to separate between the teams that are around, having a chance, and the teams that really need to go on to the playoffs.
"I guess the final cut is coming, this is the last time to make a change, and I think that with another guy on the team we might secure the next step."
White Sox general manager Kenny Williams wants to add a power bat such as Adam Dunn, but the asking price still is high and that could kill any potential deals.
In Tuesday night's 11-0 victory over the Mariners at U.S. Cellular Field, the Sox didn't need any help.
While rolling to their ninth straight victory at home, the White Sox jumped all over Ryan Rowland-Smith, Seattle's overmatched starting pitcher, scoring 4 runs in the first inning and 3 more in the second to put the game away early.
"Going back over the last month, we've had nice games here," Paul Konerko said after the Sox won for the 16th time in 17 games at the Cell. "We've had some guys swinging the bat well. This park, when it gets hot, it's good to hit in.
"It should be to our advantage with our pitchers; they shut down guys who can hit the ball out of the park a lot. That's how you draw it up, and that's been working."
The White Sox finally gave starter Gavin Floyd some backing, and the right-hander was happy to accept it. Coming in, Floyd had the third-lowest run support (3.28 per game) in the American League.
"Every pitcher wants to have run support, and 11 is nice," Floyd said. "I think when you get that many runs you don't want to hiccup and let them back in. You want to keep your focus."
Floyd did just that while the Sox beat Seattle for the seventh time in eight games this season. In the first two games of the series, they've outscored the Mariners 17-1.
No one has been hotter than shortstop Alexei Ramirez, who was 3-for-4 with a 2-run homer and 3 RBI Tuesday.
"The team is inspired," Ramirez said through a translator. "The goal is to keep winning every day, and that's what everyone has on their minds."
Do the White Sox need to make a move by Saturday's deadline?
"Kenny as a general manager and the head of the team, bringing people in and building this team, he has always been confident of myself and the team," Ramirez said. "When you are a player, you want to do well because if someone believes in you, you want to prove them right."
<p class="factboxheadblack">Scot Gregor's game tracker</p>
<p class="News"><b>Home-r happy:</b> While winning their ninth straight at U.S. Cellular Field, the Sox hit 3 home runs. Alexei Ramirez and Paul Konerko went deep off Ryan Rowland-Smith in the second inning, and Andruw Jones added a 3-run shot in the fifth.</p>
<p class="News"><b>Floyd flourishes:</b> White Sox starter Gavin Floyd pitched 7 innings and allowed 5 hits. He is 4-2 with a 1.04 ERA in his last 10 starts.</p>
<p class="News"><b>Looking up:</b> A.J. Pierzynski was 2-for-4 with 2 RBI. The catcher entered the game with 5 hits in his last 33 at-bats.</p>
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