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Do IT this week: Layering
Guillen says slump won't last, rotation one of best
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Thursday, May 22, 2008
CHICAGO: Ozzie Guillen probably has something to say about nearly everything, certainly he is ready with a quip or an opinion concerning all aspects of baseball.
So it was no surprise that the Chicago White Sox manager had an observation about the Indians' season-long batting slump.
''I don't think it's just them, it's [all of] baseball,'' Guillen said Wednesday. ''They are going to come out of it. Hopefully, they will panic and won't come out of it, but I know they will.''
The White Sox have had serious hitting problems of their own. Heading into Wednesday night's game, their team batting average of .247 was 13th in the American League, one spot ahead of the Tribe's .234 mark.
However, Guillen has been fortunate to be guiding a club that ranks second in the league in home runs (54). Only the Rangers (55) have hit more. By contrast, the Indians, with 36 homers, rank 10th in the AL.
Even so, Guillen is keenly aware that three Sox batters who are supposed to carry much of the load are in a slump: Jim Thome, batting .206, Paul Konerko, with a .215 average, and Nick Swisher, who is hitting just .208.
When someone mentioned that Travis Hafner was batting .221, Guillen said with a laugh, ''Yeah, we got three guys, and they only have one.''
Asked if he knew why run production is down almost everywhere in baseball, Guillen said, ''Good pitching. Good pitching will stop good offense.''
In that regard, he feels the Tribe has an advantage over most teams.
''To me, their rotation is one of the best in the league, if not the best,'' Guillen said. ''A lot of people talk about the bullpen. But you don't need a good bullpen if your starters are throwing eight or nine innings. . . . well, of course, sometimes you do.
''I know that they are missing [Jake] Westbrook. But when they get all five of their starters together, it's pretty impressive.''
Move it
Major League Baseball is on the case. Games are taking too long, and there is a move afoot to trim several minutes off each one.
On Wednesday, MLB held a series of conference calls with managers, GMs, in-game entertainment personnel and umpire crew chiefs to see what can be done to alter the ''pace'' of the game.
''I do have an opinion about that, but I think I'll keep it to myself,'' manager Eric Wedge said. ''I will say this: They have had an agenda about the pace of the game for awhile now. So they're doing what they think is important.''
For now, umpires will urge batters to move from the on-deck circle the batter's box and not grant time out to a batter after the pitcher has started his windup. If a batter dawdles outside the box between pitches, he will be warned and an automatic strike can be called (even if no pitch has been thrown) if the batter doesn't return to the box quickly.
Pitchers will be warned to deliver a pitch in 12 seconds if nobody is on base. If there is a subsequent violation, a ball will be called.
Diminished playing time
With Ben Francisco playing almost daily, Franklin Gutierrez has been on the bench more.
''I still want to get him in there against left-handers and some righties,'' said Wedge, who indicated that the Francisco-Gutierrez tandem would not be used strictly as a platoon in right field. ''We saw Gutierrez do better against right-handers last year and in spring training, but he's gotten away from that recently.''
One man's opinion
Guillen was asked if Hall of Fame catcher Carlton Fisk, who is returning to Chicago to work for the Sox, would make a good coach.
''I don't think that would work for him,'' Guillen said. ''To me, coaching is the worst job in baseball.''
Another start
Michael Aubrey got his second big-league start at first in place of Ryan Garko.
''I'm not sure how long he's going to be up here,'' Wedge said, ''but as long as he is, I want to give him a little opportunity to play.''
The first time Aubrey was in the lineup, against the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday, he homered. He homered again off of White Sox starter Javier Vazquez on Wednesday night.
Farm facts
Shin-Soo Choo homered, singled twice and drove in a run, raising his average to .353 (6-for-17), as Buffalo lost a 10-inning decision to Lehigh Valley 6-5 in Class AAA. Adam Miller threw five scoreless innings, allowing two hits and three walks. . . . Hector Rondon gave up three runs in five innings, as Kinston defeated Myrtle Beach 4-3 in Class A. . . . Kelvin De La Cruz yielded one run and two hits in five innings, but West Virginia edged Lake County 3-2 in Class A.
Sheldon Ocker can be reached at socker@thebeaconjournal.com.
CHICAGO: Ozzie Guillen probably has something to say about nearly everything, certainly he is ready with a quip or an opinion concerning all aspects of baseball.
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