Sox in trouble? Nothing new there

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - A week ago, the White Sox were dead and buried, facing three elimination games against huge odds, with tired arms and timid bats.

They were given no chance to survive.

And all they did was win three straight for the first time in a month.

But that was against Cleveland, Detroit and Minnesota.

If they're to do it again, they'll have to handle one of the best teams in baseball.

It's a daunting task, considering the Rays have beaten the White Sox twice at Tropicana Field without leading slugger Carlos Pena.

Still, there's no shame or surprise in being down a pair in this series after what the Sox endured the last few weeks, and though they've played two pretty solid games, they came into this series as mammoth underdogs and have lived up to advance billing.

They're simply a step slow in the field and on the bases, and a foot short on their fastballs, unable to make the big pitch or get the big hit, while facing a team that's basically unbeatable at home.

For a Sox team that continually looked in September like it was out of gas, what's new, right?

"Just the usual. It's our fourth must-win game in a week,'' said Sunday starter John Danks. "This isn't the position we wanted to be in. One win here would have been good, and two ideal.

"But we didn't, so now we just win one at a time. We can't win three on Sunday. We're going home, and we feel good about that.''

Prior to Friday's 6-2 defeat, Ozzie Guillen refused to call Game 2 a do-or-die contest, but he's good enough at math to know the Sox are now in trouble.

"Yeah, now it is must-win,'' Guillen said. "But someone has to lose three games or win three games before it's over, and that hasn't happened.

"I've seen one game change everything.''

Mark Buehrle took the loss Friday, but it would be a ghastly understatement to say the White Sox wouldn't have sniffed October without him.

He was 4-1 in 6 September starts, some on short rest, with a 2.29 ERA, and he was very good Friday night against the Rays, until he hit the wall.

It'd be a shame if he doesn't get to throw again this season, though Game 5 here next Wednesday seems a tad unlikely right now.

"I told the players that if we don't get to the World Series, then this is not a great season,'' Guillen said. "If we don't get to the World Series, then all we did was play a few more games.''

Even if all the Sox did was play three extra games, it's worth remembering that they weren't supposed to be here, that they were picked to finish last in the division, and that they were given up for fish bait just a week ago.

So it might also be a mistake to assume they'll go quietly at home Sunday, with a crowd that doesn't figure to be quiet at all.

"We didn't make it easy all year, so we know where we are,'' Paul Konerko said. "We've got a lot of guys in here with rings. We've been through it. We know our backs against the wall.

"We just need another three-game winning streak.''

What else is new, right?

Zimmer of hope

Former Cubs manager Don Zimmer is happy for old friends Joe Torre and Ned Colletti in Los Angeles, but he says too many strange things have occurred in five-game series to think the Dodgers' 2-0 lead is insurmountable, just as he knows the Rays still have work to do.

"That last one ain't so easy all the time,'' said Zimmer, who was the third-base coach on the '84 Cubs, who blew a 2-0 lead. "Everyone's looking for reasons why the Cubs do this or do that. You know, sometimes the other team's just better.''

Zimmer, a Rays senior adviser, is celebrating his 60th year in baseball and still loves being around the game.

"The game is great, but it's different. But it was different when I managed from when I played,'' Zimmer said. "There's so much money involved today. In some ways it was easier for us because we were playing for bread money. We were desperate.

"They can't spend all they make in 10 lifetimes.''

Danks a lot

John Danks is still beaming after his season-saving performance in Tuesday's tiebreaker with the Twins.

"It was fun. That's kind of the odd part. I was really having fun out there,'' Danks said. "It was great. Hard to come down from that, but it's over and we're on to something else.''

Said Ozzie Guillen: "That kid's a man. He did a tremendous job.

"I think it's one of the best games I've ever seen played, and he handled himself so well.''

Sold on Cell

Rays manager Joe Maddon didn't like the White Sox' home when it was built, but he's changed his mind as the Sox have changed the park.

"I think they've made some really nice adjustments,'' Maddon said. "It's turned into one of the better ballparks in the league.''

The rumor mill

Free agent Orlando Cabrera, who's winding up his short Sox career this month, is rumored to be a candidate for shortstop in Detroit next summer.

And finally -

Ozzie Guillen, on the Sox' 12 singles and 8 strikeouts Friday night: "I've never seen no one in baseball ever hit a home run with the bat on their shoulder. I've seen a lot of goofy stuff, but I've never seen that.''

brozner@dailyherald.com