Manager Ozzie Guillen claims he feels the same way about his White Sox as his general manager does.
But the colorful Guillen said he would have altered the words after Ken Williams described his players as “underachievers” when they blew a two-run lead Sunday in Oakland.
“No doubt about it, we’re on the same page,” Guillen said Tuesday. “I read it this morning, I said ‘Oh, good for you, that’s almost the same thing I was saying. Different language.’
Guillen added the club’s talent level has increased from the start of the season and he pointed out that earlier in the year the Sox were resigned to playing Josh Fields, Brian Anderson and Dewayne Wise while the back of the starting rotation was in flux with Bartolo Colon sidelined and Jose Contreras in the minors.
Thome update: Designated hitter Jim Thome said he would return to the starting lineup in Wednesday’s series finale after missing his second start because of a sore left heel that has nagged him since spring training.
Thome’s declaration came as a surprise to Guillen, who enjoys the luxury of resting his regulars with the additions of Alex Rios and Mark Kotsay.
“We’re in a situation where you want to be out there and you want to play,” Guillen said. “We have some guys, with the addition of Rios, we can juggle our lineup a little bit and give some guys a few days off.
“But for the most part, you want to be out there ready to play. And that’s how I tried to approach it.”
Thome said his foot began to hurt Saturday before he hit his 563rd career homer, which tied Reggie Jackson for 12th place on the all-time list.
Extra innings: Wise was placed on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Saturday, because of a strained AC joint in his right shoulder. … Pitcher Freddy Garcia wore jersey number 43. Gavin Floyd said Garcia didn’t approach him about regaining No. 34 that he wore with the Sox from 2004 to 2006.
