Harold Baines was sent to Triple-A Charlotte on Saturday for a two-game rehabilitation stint and is expected to be added to the White Sox’s roster before Tuesday’s doubleheader with Detroit.
The minor-league season will end Monday, at which point the Sox will likely call up a handful of players, including third baseman Joe Crede.
“The people we do call up will be ones who will be here for years to come,” manager Jerry Manuel said.
But the Sox are likely to leave top prospect Joe Borchard at Double-A Birmingham, where the Barons are in line to make the Southern League playoffs. A possible major-league work stoppage next season could mean Borchard will not be in a Sox uniform this September.
“It’s something to consider,” general manager Ken Williams said. “That doesn’t necessarily mean we wouldn’t [call Borchard up]. If there is a labor stoppage, he is on your 40-man roster, so it’s likely he won’t be able to play at the start of the [2002] season because all 40-man players are included [in a lockout]. Do you want to run the risk of that happening?”
Cleveland called up seven players Saturday, including ex-Sox reliever Scott Radinsky. Acting manager Grady Little, subbing one more day for Charlie Manuel while Manuel recovers from surgery on his colon, was asked if the Indians would have any edge with 32 available players to the Sox’s 25.
“The only way that will come into play is if both benches clear,” Little said jokingly.
U-turn: Whether the White Sox lose out to Cleveland or Minnesota for the AL Central Division title, the fact that they were still in contention in September despite being 15 games under .500 in May is a testament to the team’s cohesiveness.
Manuel takes no credit for his team’s comeback from oblivion.
“The players, for the most part, took it upon themselves,” Manuel said. “We’ve had some people who kind of stepped up, like Paul Konerko, and Magglio [Ordonez] got hot. I think the organization helped in that it was trying to solidify contracts, getting the club at peace. That helped them remain focused on the job and keep their minds off other things. When injuries decimate a club, their minds begin to wander and they think, `Will I be here?'”
The only Sox players signed to extensions were Ordonez and Bob Howry. Ordonez caught fire soon after signing a three-year deal July 22 and has hit .329 over his last 36 games.
As Ordonez heated up, so did the offense. The Sox ended August leading the American League with 51 home runs and a .513 slugging percentage, while their .288 average was second in the league. The 17-12 record in August was third best in the AL and the best of any Sox team since going 17-12 in 1993.
Foulke files: Keith Foulke won the Rolaids Relief Man Award for the month of August, when he recorded 12 saves, including one “tough save”–defined as a save with the tying run on base. Foulke also had one loss and one blown save in the month, both coming against Seattle on Aug. 11 when he blew a three-run ninth-inning lead in a crushing 4-3 loss.
When Foulke goes to his arbitration hearing next winter, he’s almost certain to hear the Sox argue that two of his three blown saves were momentum-killing losses against Minnesota and Seattle.
Foulke has only three “tough saves” all season; he typically comes in during the ninth with no one on base.
