Sox need healthy Quentin in second half

MINNEAPOLIS - A healthy Carlos Quentin put the White Sox on his back and helped carry them into first place in the AL Central.

Keeping the injury-prone right fielder on the field in the second half is a must for the Sox, but it's not going to be easy.

Quentin missed three games before the all-star break with a sore left knee.

When the second half resumed at Minnesota on Thursday night, Quentin was hit on the right hand by a pitch from Twins starter Kevin Slowey in the third inning.

Quentin remained in the game, walking in the fifth inning, grounding out in the sixth and popping out in the ninth.

Originally in Friday's lineup, Quentin was scratched after the White Sox took batting practice at Target Field.

"He seems like he's fine," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "I think it's a day-by-day thing. The last two at-bats (Thursday), I don't think he was right. I talked to him about don't be a hero. We don't need him for a day; we need him for months."

On the mend: The day after third baseman Mark Teahen had the pins removed from his fractured right middle finger, he was hitting in the indoor batting cage at Target Field on Friday.

However, he was only swinging with his left arm.

"Today was the first day I could start trying to bend it (finger), so at least that process has started," said Teahen, who has been on the disabled list since May 31. "I think we have to give it a couple of days and just kind of start feeling out what I can do as far as throwing a ball and hitting."

With rookie Dayan Viciedo struggling again at third base Friday night and looking more and more like he belongs at first, Teahen's eventual return could be a bonus for the Sox.

"I'd like to think so," Teahen said. "I struggled early, but I was kind of getting back to my game when I got hurt. It would be a guess as to when I'm going to be ready to play. But at least the pins are out of there and that's a step in the right direction."

Status quo? Manager Ozzie Guillen has talked to GM Kenny Williams about possible moves before the July 31 nonwavier trade deadline.

If the White Sox stand pat, that's OK with Guillen.

"Right now, in my position it would be unfair for my players to say I need this or I need that when we're winning and in first place," Guillen said. "I respect those guys too much. That is the first thing I said in the meeting (Thursday): 'That's the team I'm going to take.' But I think right now we don't need anything."