In Ozzie Guillen’s perfect world, reliever Cliff Politte overcomes his recent struggles and center fielder Brian Anderson’s offense catches up to his defense.
But those wishes aren’t desperate enough to make the White Sox’s manager seek help from outside the organization with fewer than four weeks left until the July 31 trading deadline.
“Right now, we haven’t talked about it,” Guillen said Tuesday. “We haven’t even mentioned what we need or what we have to do. Right now, I think it’s early. I have a chance to win with the people I have right now.”
Guillen concurred with general manager Ken Williams’ comments last week that he likes this team better than the 2005 version that won the World Series.
“The different thing is last year our division was playing real poorly,” Guillen said. “But these guys have gone about business the right way. Our pitching has been a little bit inconsistent and so has our defense. But I think this ballclub has better talent than last year.”
Guillen acknowledged the Sox are able to tolerate Anderson’s .174 average because of the recent surge of Juan Uribe, who cranked a three-run homer Tuesday to highlight his three-hit, five-RBI game. Uribe is batting .357 with seven home runs and 28 RBIs in his last 18 games.
“I don’t remember losing one game because of Brian,” Guillen said. “Brian could be one of the best center fielders in baseball right now. He swings the bat a lot better and hits the ball hard with no luck. I like his approach at the plate right now.”
Anderson hasn’t struck out in his last 22 at-bats and hit a two-run double Tuesday during a seven-run third inning.
The Sox dodged a serious injury Monday when second baseman Tadahito Iguchi suffered only a left ankle sprain that should heal in time for this weekend’s Boston series. And Politte took a baby step toward his recovery by pitching a perfect inning Monday.
