Ozzie Guillen looked tired and felt worse, but he was still in the lineup Friday night when the White Sox opened a three-game series with the Angels.
Guillen`s batting average has dropped close to a point a day for the last month. He was among the league leaders at .318 on July 16 but began the California series hitting .287.
Manager Jeff Torborg appreciates that Guillen is plagued by back and leg pains, but he doesn`t plan to give his shortstop a rest.
”Ozzie might be a step slower, but he`s still two steps faster than everybody else,” Torborg said.
”Even if he doesn`t swing the bat, what he does defensively is so important. The son of a gun is so valuable, the last time you want to take him out is when the club is struggling.”
The 26-year-old Guillen said he feels more worn out than he has at any time in his six years in the majors, but he insists on playing. ”If I played the last two games, I can play today.”
– The Sox`s recent five-game losing streak might have begun when Bobby Thigpen gave up a game-winning home run last Saturday night, but it continued because of the starting pitching. That`s why they need Eric King to return to his first-half form. He rejoined the club Friday and will pitch against Kansas City Monday night in Chicago.
”I`d like to anticipate that he`s going to pitch the way he did last year after he was sidelined,” pitching coach Sammy Ellis said.
In 1989, King went 5-2 after missing about six weeks with a similar shoulder injury.
– Pitchers Steve Rosenberg and Shawn Hillegas, outfielder Rodney McCray, catcher Jerry Willard and designated hitter Matt Stark will join the Sox when rosters expand Saturday. Stark set a club record at Double-A Birmingham with 109 RBIs. The others were recalled from Triple-A Vancouver.
– The Anaheim Stadium infield never has been among the most beloved by infielders and pitchers, but it`s even more of a sore spot now that the Los Angeles Rams are playing there. Substantial pockmarks and divots were apparent during batting practice.
