When the White Sox last saw U.S. Cellular Field on July 11, they had just won their eighth straight game to go a game ahead in the Central Division and were trying to play well enough to quiet trade rumors.
Nothing much has changed in the last two weeks as they started a seven-game homestand with a 6-1 victory over the Mariners, maintained a one-game lead over the Twins and tried to quell those persistent trade rumors.
Playing before a sellout crowd of 38,815, the Sox broke a two-game losing streak behind left-hander John Danks, who won his fourth straight decision and second straight over the Mariners.
He was aided by Paul Konerko’s 22nd home run and an offense that scored three of its first four runs with two outs.
“(The offense) did its job, and we’re 100 percent confident in them,” Danks said. “This is a good sign.”
But even that won’t stop general manager Ken Williams from looking for another bat before Saturday’s non-waiver trade deadline.
“I can’t wait till next week, so this (trade rumor) thing is over,” manager Ozzie Guillen said. “I don’t have any more answers about that. I don’t. It’s not my department.
“We’ve talked a lot about this. We went through it, Kenny gave us ideas, and to me, I think we have a good thing going, now and in the future. If we were in second place or third place chasing somebody, then maybe we’d say this will put us over the top.
“You’ve got to give up something to get something. Right now, I don’t think we’re in a position to lose what we have. I’m not in favor of any trade or any move.”
Williams said he understands Guillen’s position, if only because those are the players he has to manage if no trade is made.
“The business part of it and the reality part of it is that even though you want to start the season with the same 25 and end with the same 25, that rarely happens,” Williams said, “and when you’re in the position to add to the team, you try your best to do it.”
Danks was at his best Monday, winning for the seventh time in his last nine starts. He allowed six hits and one run in eight innings. “He’s got a huge heart,” Guillen said. “Every time out he fights for every pitch, even if he doesn’t have his best stuff.”
On Monday, he fell behind 1-0 in the third, but his teammates came roaring back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning.
The Sox tacked on two more against Mariners ace Felix Hernandez in the sixth, the first on Konerko’s homer and the second on back-to-back two-out doubles by A.J. Pierzynski and Ramirez.
Is that enough to finally stop the rumors?
“You just don’t know,” Konerko said. “You keep playing, and if something happens and you get a new face, you just shake his hand.”
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