Ramirez looking for better results in second half with Chicago White Sox

Over the first three months of the season, Alexei Ramirez took much of the blame for the Chicago White Sox' shoddy play.

It was well deserved.

"I'm not happy with my performance in the first half, but I think it's going to turn around in a good way for me," Ramirez said through an interpreter. "The break and the All-Star Game is going to help me readjust and to think about what we can do in the second half."

If the Sox falter coming out of the break, Ramirez might be traded to a contending team before the July 31 nonwaiver deadline.

"I just don't try to think about it," Ramirez said. "I just try to play my game because it is something I can't control. It's not in my hands to stay here or go. It's the team's decision and my only concern right now is to play hard every day and try to win games."

Even though he has 11 hits in his last 31 at-bats, including an RBI single Saturday, Ramirez' hitting line is a subpar .227/.252/.294.

"You're going to see that go up," manager Robin Ventura said. "I think every year, you see him and look at the end of the year, he'll be at .270. So eventually that will get there. But I think defensively has been kind of the shining star for him right now from how the first part of the year started to where he is now."

First things first:

It's been quite a weekend for Tyler Saladino.

On Friday, he joined the White Sox from Class AAA Charlotte and made his first major-league start - against the rival Cubs at jam-packed Wrigley Field.

On Saturday, Saladino got his first hit, and it was a big one. After Adam Eaton led off the game with a triple against Jon Lester, Saladino followed with an RBI triple.

"It's the first thing I can actually say I'm speechless about," Saladino said. "I can't really put it into words. The whole thing, you know, Lester, triple, first hit, RBI, it's about as cool as it gets."

Saladino has kept very cool despite being thrown right into a heated rivalry.

If his first two games are any indication, Saladino is going to have a nice run with the Sox, either as a third baseman or shortstop, his natural position.

"Everybody's out here with one common goal and that's to win ballgames," Saladino said. "It helps when everybody's playing well, so right now it's just a lot fun. It's good."

All-star starter?

Chris Sale will learn on Monday if he is going to start for the American League in Tuesday night's All-Star Game at Cincinnati.

"I do the same thing I always do," said Sale, who is heading to his fourth straight All-Star Game. "Just shut up and do what I'm told."

Sale is the only White Sox player going to the All-Star Game.

"I've always enjoyed it," he said. "It is an honor. You don't get these opportunities a lot, so I definitely want to soak it all in and take it in."

Talking points:

Now that the White Sox have won 9 of 11 and are playing like a team with postseason aspirations, does manager Robin Ventura go to general manager Rick Hahn and executive vice president Kenny Williams and ask them to keep the roster intact?

"We talk all the time, so it's not a point of you now have to go to them," Ventura said. "They see what's going on. Again, I'm focusing on what these guys are doing more than having to go to them. And it's not imminent of anything right now for us. This team just continues to play and I want them to feel free to go out there and lay it all out."