White Sox tip caps to Rays

The White Sox couldn't make it out of the first round either, but the mood inside their clubhouse Monday night at U.S. Cellular Field was night-and-day different from the funeral-like atmosphere that engulfed the Cubs as they dressed Saturday night at Dodger Stadium.

While the Cubs' sweep at the hands of the Dodgers could be viewed as choking after they finished with the best record in the National League, the White Sox had to claw their way just to make the playoffs as AL Central champion, then took the heavily favored Tampa Bay Rays to four games.

"I'm not down about this," said White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf, standing in the middle of his players following Monday's 6-2 loss. "I'm very proud of this team. I think Ozzie (Guillen) managed well and the guys played as hard as they could.

"Twenty-two teams went home before we did, and we didn't get swept. We gave it everything we had and we'll be back next year. Everybody should be proud of this team."

Certainly not everyone will be back. Shortstop Orlando Cabrera and center fielder Ken Griffey Jr. are free agents and likely won't return.

With general manager Kenny Williams agreeing that more speed is needed in the lineup, it would be difficult to imagine Griffey coming back as anything but a DH - and the Sox already have Jim Thome under contract for 2009.

Griffey turns 39 on Nov. 23 and has given no indication that he plans to retire, saying at one point he'd like to play three more years.

"I've got things to do," he said.

So he wants to stay with the Sox?

"We'll see. There are going to be some moves made and we'll see what happens."

Griffey was somewhat of a disappointment after being acquired in a trade with Cincinnati at the July 31 deadline. He hit .260 in 41 games with 3 homers and 18 RBI, then batted just .200 in the playoffs.

"It's been a great ride and a lot of fun," Griffey said. "I've had more ups than downs. The city, the fans, it's been great for me and my family. This team gave 100 percent every day and was fun to be around."

Cabrera had a controversial season after coming in a trade with the Los Angeles Angels for Jon Garland. Cabrera was outspoken and had his differences with Guillen.

He sounded Monday as if he were ready to go elsewhere.

"It's an option," Cabrera said. "They really made me feel welcome here, so it's an option. We'll see what happens. I don't know where I'm going to be."

Cabrera called his experience with the Sox really good.

"I've seen a lot of things I haven't seen before, so it was a lot of experience for me," Cabrera said. "The way people are so relaxed and enjoy their time and enjoy themselves. That's something that I've never seen and I like in a positive way."

Reinsdorf wasn't ready to discuss personnel matters so quickly after the season ended.

"I haven't the slightest idea of what's going happen next year," he said. "This isn't the time to make decisions. This is the time to get recharged, get rested and then we'll talk and make our plans. We have some ideas, but it will be awhile before we firm them up."