Ozzie -- yes, Ozzie -- at a loss for words after latest loss

Posted June 07, 2009 11:00 pm

Scot Gregor

A day after saying he still believes in his team and thinks it can win the AL Central, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen was nearly at a loss for words following Sunday's 8-4 loss to the Indians at U.S. Cellular Field.

"Well, I started thinking from the third inning about when I come here to talk to you guys," Guillen said after the Sox dropped to 2-5 on their 12-game homestand.

"I ran out of bullets. I don't have an explanation at all. It's so disappointing when you play like that. It takes the wind out of you right away.

"We don't know what to do. We've tried different lineups, we motivate people, we work hard, we try to be positive. Everything we try doesn't work. Maybe if I go crazy with the media and tell how my team, the way they play, I might wake them up.

"But it's wasting my time. I'm just going to say hopefully we show up tomorrow for those two games ready to play and see what happens."

Here's what has been happening to the White Sox since they arrived at the Cell a week ago following a promising 5-1 road trip to Los Angeles and Kansas City:

• They opened with a win over Oakland, last in the AL West, before dropping the next three to the Athletics.

• They followed up with 2 losses in three games against Cleveland, last in the AL Central.

• The White Sox are hitting .189 on the homestand, and they are 2-for-39 with runners in scoring position over their last six games.

• They lost Sunday to another rookie starter - David Huff this time - they had never faced before.

• In what might have been his last start in a White Sox uniform, Bartolo Colon lasted just 5 innings and allowed 6 runs (5 earned) on 8 hits, 4 of them solo home runs.

With Jose Contreras scheduled to rejoin the rotation Monday in Game 2 of a day-night doubleheader against the first-place Detroit Tigers, is it safe to assume Colon (3-6, 4.23 ERA) is finished?

"Not right now," Guillen said.

In 7 of his 12 starts this season, the 36-year-old Colon has failed to work into the sixth inning. The right-hander also is trying to get by with one pitch.

"Colon has to throw more than fastballs," Guillen said. "He's not going to lead the American League just with fastballs, I don't care how much the ball moves.

"That's my opinion. He has to come up with another pitch, slider, changeup, curveball, whatever it is, because he's not going to get anybody out in the American League with just fastballs."

Loudly booed as the Indians jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the fifth inning, Colon also was the latest White Sox starter to be victimized by a lack of run support.

Alexei Ramirez's 3-run homer off Huff later in the fifth cut the deficit in half, but the Sox managed just 1 run in the eighth inning after loading the bases with no outs. After Ramon Castro walked to force in Jermaine Dye, Brian Anderson and Jayson Nix struck out and Gordon Beckham lined out to end the rally.

"We had a great opportunity with the bases loaded, and we do what we do best, strike out," Guillen said.

Anderson is riding an 0-for-16 slump.

"I came up with the bases loaded there; I've got to put the ball in play," Anderson said. "I probably swung at some pitches down and in that were out of the zone, so I take the blame for that. I've got to put the ball in play and get us some runs right there."

White Sox starter Bartolo Colon tosses the ball in the fifth inning after giving up back-to-back home runs for the second time in Sunday's loss to the Indians at U.S. Cellular Field. Associated Press

Scot Gregor's game tracker Sunday's grade: D. The Sox lost to another starting pitcher they've never seen (David Huff), but at least they avoided their 10th shutout of the season. No pinching: With Jayson Nix's bases-loaded strikeout in the eighth inning, White Sox pinch-hitters are now 1-for-30 this season. Going deep: Sox starter Bartolo Colon allowed 4 home runs, matching his career high. Back to Charlotte? Reliever Wes Whisler got the quick hook after walking both hitters he faced. Scouting report White Sox vs. Detroit Tigers at U.S. Cellular Field TV: Channel 9 Game 1 Monday; Channel 26 Game 2 Monday; Comcast SportsNet Plus Tuesday; Comcast SportsNet Wednesday; Channel 9 Thursday Radio: WSCR 670-AM Pitching matchups: The Sox' Clayton Richard (2-1) vs. Armando Galarraga (3-6) Monday at 1:05 p.m.; Jose Contreras (0-5) vs. Jeremy Bonderman (0-0) Monday at 7:11 p.m.; Mark Buehrle (6-2) vs. Dontrelle Willis (1-3) Tuesday at 7:11 p.m.; John Danks (4-4) vs. Justin Verlander (6-2) Wednesday at 7:11 p.m.; Gavin Floyd (4-5) vs. Edwin Jackson (6-3) Thursday at 1:05 p.m. At a glance: The Sox are 2-5 on their longest homestand of the season. It concludes with five more games against the first-place Tigers, and it could get even uglier if the offense continues to slumber. Contreras is back after being demoted to Class AAA Charlotte in early May. The right-hander was 3-1 with a 2.70 ERA in 5 starts with Charlotte. Bonderman makes his first start since June 1 of last season. He's been sidelined after having shoulder surgery. The Sox are 2-1 vs. Detroit this season. Next: Milwaukee Brewers, Friday-Sunday at Miller Park

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