Williams shrugs off constant criticism

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kenny Williams has gotten used to the abuse.

He's made 56 trades since taking over as general manager shortly after the White Sox were swept out of the 2000 American League division series, and most have been panned.

Williams also is routinely fired on for failing to make the "right" trade or sign big-name free agents.

That was pretty much the case again with Thursday's deal for Ken Griffey Jr.

The major complaints? Griffey's too old, too slow, and Williams should have traded for pitching help.

So be it, the Sox' GM said

"It's kind of like everything we've done has been criticized, and unfairly, because it's not even been allowed to play out," Williams said. "That's my opinion. What it does is it makes it feel like you've got to do what you've got to do to the best of your ability, and whatever comes from it comes from it."

Uribe replaces Fields: The addition of Ken Griffey Jr. gives the White Sox' offense another weapon, but manager Ozzie Guillen is concerned about the defense's lackluster play of late.

That's the main reason Juan Uribe started at third base in place of Josh Fields Friday night. Fields has been filling in for Joe Crede (back), who is on the disabled list.

"Uribe plays third base pretty good," Guillen said. "And I don't right now Fields is swinging the bat the way we think he can swing the bat. I'm going to sacrifice a little bit of offense for some defense. I need better defense right now. I think the offense is going to be fine, I just need Uribe to catch the ball most of the time."

Uribe made a standout defensive play with the game on the line Friday. Trying to tally from a 4-2 deficit, the Royals had runners on second and third when Uribe gloved a grounder off the bat of Mike Aviles and threw him out at first.

After going 0-for-3 with 3 strikeouts in Thursday night's loss to the Twins, Fields is batting .200 since coming up from Class AAA Charlotte.

Crede update: In his first rehab game with Charlotte Friday night, Joe Crede was 0-for-3 and he also made an error. rede (sore back) is expected to come off the disabled list on Wednesday.