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September 7, 2008

Every Given Sunday

Scoops of all Sizes from Around the Major Leagues

by John Perrotto

White Sox skipper Ozzie Guillen was chatting with a group of reporters this past week, when the talk turned to analyzing the remaining schedules of the two contenders in the American League Central. Some felt that the Sox had the easier path to winning their first division title since 2005, a season in which they also won their first World Series since 1917. Others believed that the Twins had the clearer path to a second AL Central crown in three years.

The always-colorful Guillen waved his hand to put a stop to the talk. "I hate to think about stuff like this," he said. "It just clutters my mind because I start thinking about 50 different things. Let's just play the games and see what happens. That's the way I approach managing this team, because you never know what you're going to get with these guys. Every day is something new. Trying to figure out my team is a full-time job, and I haven't figured them out yet." Guillen smiled as he said it.

It has indeed been an interesting season for the White Sox and the AL Central. The Tigers were the pre-season favorites to win the division after acquiring slugger Miguel Cabrera and left-hander Dontrelle Willis from the Marlins in a big deal at the Winter Meetings, and the Indians figured to be a formidable club again after winning the division last season and coming within a win of getting to the World Series. Now, with less than a month remaining in the season, it's the White Sox and Twins battling for the division title, while the Tigers and Indians are playing for third place. The White Sox hold a 2½-game lead.

The Sox will have to hang on without their breakout player; left fielder Carlos Quentin suffered a broken left wrist Monday in a game against the Indians, and will undergo surgery tomorrow. Quentin will almost certainly miss the rest of the regular season, and his chances of returning for the postseason are doubtful.

That wasn't the only injury the White Sox suffered during the series at Progressive Field. On Tuesday night, third baseman Joe Crede left the game with soreness in his back, which he had surgically repaired last year. Guillen is not counting on Crede to play again in the regular season. "As much as you really want to dwell on it, you can't," said Nick Swisher, who takes over for Quentin in left after spending time at first base and center this season. "We know where this train is headed. You're either on it or you're not. We've been headed in the right direction all year, and we're not going to stop now."