CHICAGO (AP) -Carlos Quentin was coming off shoulder surgery, but when Arizona traded him to the Chicago White Sox in the offseason, his new team let him compete for an outfield spot.
His potent bat dashed any idea that he might be just a fourth outfielder.
Quentin made the All-Star team and has given Chicago a productive No. 3 hitter with 22 homers and 68 RBIs – the biggest surprise of the first half for the first-place White Sox.
“My goals have been simple this entire year, it’s to help the team win and put quality at-bats out there,” Quentin said.
General manager Ken Williams’ offseason ventures have played a big role as the White Sox aim for a return to the playoffs for the first time since winning the World Series in 2005.
He traded for shortstop Orlando Cabrera, who has been steady in the field and given the White Sox a consistent leadoff hitter, even though he had a dugout run-in with teammate Jermaine Dye last week in Kansas City.
Chicago also signed Cuban star Alexei Ramirez, who has moved into the starter’s role at second base, and added Octavio Dotel and Scott Linebrink, who have stabilized a bullpen that was the team’s biggest weakness in 2007.
Young pitchers John Danks and Gavin Floyd have been the team’s top starters in the first half. Danks is 7-4 with a 2.67 ERA and Floyd 10-5 with a 3.63 ERA and has twice flirted with no-hitters. Mark Buehrle is only 6-8 but has a 3.68 ERA.
The White Sox’s biggest worries could be Javier Vazquez, whose ERA went up nearly a point in the final month before the All-Star break, and Jose Contreras, who has an ERA over eight runs in his last seven outings.
In the second half, the White Sox also need to get closer Bobby Jenks healthy from a sore shoulder blade. He spent the All-Star break on a rehab assignment.
Besides Quentin, Dye and A.J. Pierzynski also had strong first halves. Third baseman Joe Crede showed he’s recovered from back surgery and has 16 homers and 49 RBIs, despite a recent slump.
Designated hitter Jim Thome has increased his average to .253 after a slow start and has 18 homers. Another offseason acquisition, Nick Swisher, has 12 homers and only a .236 average, but has been a lively presence in the clubhouse.
Veteran Paul Konerko might the biggest concern after failing to shake a season-long slump. Konerko, who went to the DL with an oblique muscle problem before being activated the week before the break, is batting only .217 with nine homers.
And what would White Sox baseball be without some opinions from talkative manager Ozzie Guillen?
He had an outburst in June after the White Sox were punchless while losing three of four in Tampa, saying Williams needed to make changes and also mentioned the name of hitting coach Greg Walker. Guillen had to clear the air a short time later.
There had been an earlier tirade in Toronto during a winless road trip when Guillen said fans and media had forgotten quickly about the White Sox’s championship less than three years earlier.
Whether it was just Ozzie being Ozzie, the White Sox have stayed on top despite a furious rush by the surging Minnesota Twins, who are only 1 1/2 games out. Chicago can expect a strong second-half push from the talented Detroit Tigers, who despite a horrendous start and several key injuries are only seven games back.
“I won’t say I’m satisfied, but I’m happy where we are for now. I’d rather be here right now in this position than be in another position,” Guillen said.
At 54-40, the White Sox have 68 games remaining, starting Friday at home against the Royals.
“There’s a lot of baseball still to play,” Quentin said. “We’ll have that in mind and we’ll come back and be ready to play.”
Add A Comment